Goodbye Sweden

Bella and her bear looking at Stockholm as we take off.

Noah got some early sleep in... literally on the way to the airport in Stockholm he just passed out

Relaxing out with Ansi and Johan

We had such nice visits with Ansi and Johan.  Karl and Jessica came up from Småland to see us.  We made plans for their visit next year.  We can't wait!!!

Noah and Bella are excited to open some gifts from Aunt Jessica

Take a look at Johan in the background... he is having more fun with the kids gifts than the kids

Johan dresses Bella up with her new ribbons

How sharp

Bella and Karl

Hugging Emma

Fredrica's Birthday in Sältsjobaden

We had quite a nice birthday for Fredrica.  It started as a lazy afternoon at home with the kids... a nice Swedish breakfast.

Afternoon involved some mommy shopping time.  After being in Sweden for almost three weeks and resisting the urge... Fredrica and Amanda went shopping.  And they could only buy for themselves.

After that it was the big surprise, a hotel room at the Grand Hotel in Sältsjobaden.  A favorite place of ours and a place Fredrica's mom worked at when she was about Isabella's age.  When we had breakfast in the morning, Fredrica had a flash back as a kid sitting at one of the tables and drawing.  

Quick Video Diary

View from our Room

Playing in the park mid-day... a beautiful sunny morning and mid-day

Then the weather shifted in the afternoon... just a bit :-)

Maui

Fredrica and the kids, along with Amanda had a wonderful week in Maui.  They were in Spreckelsville Maui. Dad missed going because he had to work.  

Here are some pictures of the wonderful week they spent.  

The house had its own pool... just beyond that was the beach 

Trip to Karlstad

Our salute to McDonalds.  We have a friend on the road who is updating Facebook at every fast food restaurant they stop at so we had to have a little fun here :-)

Big sister was so good at entertaining Noah on the 3 and a half hour car drive

Our friend Harriett... looking forward to your visit to us in Sept!

Harriett and Fredrica's mom were best friends

We stayed at the Stadshotell in Karlstad.  It was super nice and restful

Noah had so much fun in the backyard at Nina and Håkan's

Molly and Pauline

Pauline and Dad... early Saturday Morning

I always thought Håkan made a good tree

Buddies... they played so well together on this trip

Amanda shows the kids how it is done

We stopped at this nice spot for lunch and a rest on the drive home

Singing (all the time :-)

Bye... snif, snif...

ZZzzzzzz

Beach Day

We had a wonderful day out at saltsjöbaden... it inspired me to bring Fredrica back here a few days later for her birthday.

The kids are getting to such a great age to take to the beach

Time to hit the water!

The boys...

...being boys

At 18 months, there is not better toy than sand

Pretty Girl

Fredrica and Bella in front of the Grand Hotel. Fredrica and I came back a couple days later and stayed in the Grand Hotel behind them for a night

I love the eyes