Valborgmässoafton - Walpurgis Night

The two days before Annia's first birthday marked two separate holidays here. The first, April 30th, is called Valborgsmässoafton, Walpurgis Night, (what a mouthful) Valborg for short. It marks the last day of winter. In some parts of the world the first day of Spring is considered to be in March. Not so in the frozen north, I am afraid! Valborg is celebrated by choir and by bonfire. The choir sings of the winter that has ruled, welcoming the month of May and the glorious Swedish summer (which has no equal anywhere on earth that I have been) with which our God has blessed Scandinavians with for enduring the long, long, dreary winter.

We attended an extremely small bonfire (but the Isak and Elina loved it) in Sjövik, the home of many of my ancestors, living aunts, uncles and first cousins on my dad's side. My second home, in many ways. I saw a friend, Johanna, I used to ride horses with in my early teens. She too has 3 kids. Here are some pictures from the occasion.

American Cake for the Birthday Girl

Annia

Annia turned one yesterday! Outfitted with the latest Swedish fashion she celebrated her birthday with a small family crowd, the same people that have attended most of my own birthdays. (Being not so clothes-conscious, I myself, just realized as I uploaded pictures that I am wearing the exact same shirt in almost every picture on this blog.)

I baked American cakes and chocolate chip cookies for the occasion, which were well received, I think. And Mark is here!! He arrived on May 1st!

Annia birthday from Victoria Akselsen on Vimeo.

Mikael (my dad), Victoria, Elina

The West Coast - of Sweden, that is

My aunt Hanna and I

I have a car while here. My cousin Malin has lent me her Volkswagen Jetta, 1991. All three kids fit in the back seat and though the Swedish bus and train system is unexcelled, it is nice to have wheels. (Never mind the $7 /gallon gas prices. No JOKE! People here drive very fuel efficient cars, if they drive. But keep in mind the dollar is extremely weak and the actual gas prices for a Swede is not quite as bad as when buying Swedish kronor with your dollar before paying for gas.)

On Saturday we went to the coast. We are less than an hour away from the ocean here. We visited my aunt Hanna (my deceased father's sister), my favorite aunt in the world, with whom I am extremely close. My cousin Malin, Hanna's daughter who lent me the car, came with us as well. It was a a great visit. The kids could not get enough of the place, especially the boat.

Here are some recent pictures, including ones taken by the sea.

Malin, Isak and Elina hanging out on carpet - very rare in this country

Hanna, Victoria, Malin

Isak in his newfound, true element

he walked the rocks for a quarter mile


Segelbåt from Victoria Akselsen on Vimeo.

So we went to church here in Alingsås for the second time this trip and I can't believe how time is flying by. We also took a walk this evening and went inside one of the Swedish Lutheran churches, Landskyrkan. My sister was christened in this one, in fact. While Isak climbed the steps to the preacher stand (prediko stolen) and tampered with the microphone, Elina could not get enough of the Christus.

Memory Lane

There is something extremely comforting and grounding to belong somewhere. I know every stick and stone around here, it seems.

More pictures from Alingsås, Sweden.

I have no idea how he manages this...

Nolhaga Slott

Elina at Nolhaga

Elina at Nolhaga

Annia with the new soccer ball

my parents' house, from the back

my parents' house, from the street

The house I grew up in, ages 7-12. My room was the second story far right window.

My elementary school which was directly across the street from our house

my mom, Elina and Isak

yours truly, the kids, my friend Josephine and her niece Felicia


At Nolhaga Park in Alingsås from Victoria Akselsen on Vimeo.


goats from Victoria Akselsen on Vimeo.

From the Land of the Sooners to Alingsås

We had a stop in Chicago and in Copenhagen, which is not my normal route. We most often land in Memphis and Amsterdam, but I think this was smoother. We were blessed with four seats instead of three on the long flight! This helped especially at meal times when I did not have to wrestle a baby for the food tray contents.

before boarding

on the nine hour flight

Isak remembers a lot from our last trip, but Elina does not, even though she has been here twice before. Or, actually, I take that back. In the car on the way from the airport she asked my mother about a pair of scissors with a blue and glittery handle! My mom was astonished beyond belief since Elina was only just over a year and a half when we were here last (my parents came to see us instead, last year, and she did not bring the scissors). When we came home my mom took the scissors out of her drawer and Elina was dead on - a blue and glittery handle.

Our first adventure was a walk to the supermarket, Maxi. Oh, the fun to be had there! On our second trip there, I resisted the one hundred urges to buy things, except two audio books and two story books. Mormor (grandma) got Isak a proper Swedish soccer outfit. Isak and Elina spent their hour in the nursery at the store, you know the kind where you drop your kids off while shopping.

the coolest looking player on the field when he gets home?

Today we went to church and it was so awesome to see everyone in the ward. Isak and Elina were both amazed at the fact that Primary was in Swedish, particularly the songs. I borrowed a children's song book so we can learn some of them in Swedish. Not having grown up in the church here, I have no clue as to the lyrics in Swedish without a book. But most of all Elina and Isak were not accustomed to the sandwich break between classes and sharing time - not that they complained.

My parents have truly pulled out the red carpet for us. It's great to be here, but I feel we are invading their home with our brood. My dad has played for hours with Elina especially. And my sister Daniella received a specially prepared 'treasure' from Elina. My mom's cooking is superb as always and the bread - oh, the bread! It is good we do lots of walking here or the bread alone would cause me to pop out of my pants. And I have already eaten a pound of chocolate and that is no joke.

This evening I visited with two of my dearest girlfriends, Malin and Josephine. Only Hanna was missing from our quartet, but she lives in town so it'll be some other night. Life is good.

Delerium

Five of six suitcases are packed. It is almost midnight. Tomorrow the kids and I leave. The usual pre-travel madness abounds. So what do parents do to cope with the demands of life, and relax after a long day filled with to-do lists? Two words: Inhale, baby!


Mark inhales a substance after a long day from Victoria Akselsen on Vimeo.


Victoria recites part of a Swedish poem from Victoria Akselsen on Vimeo.

Packing the Bags

I am packing, and thinking about packing. And going to the store, and to the doctor and all those last minute errands before a 7 week trip with three kids. I used to never get the so called travel-fever, but these days I do. It must be the three little passengers that are doing it.

To the delight of those of you cannot come with us to the stunning land of deep green forests and clear blue lakes: Keep checking here and I will update so you can feel like you too were with us.

In the meantime, a video clip that I am actually in. Very boring, though.


Walking home from the Medieval Fair from Victoria Akselsen on Vimeo.

Soccer Time

The local Mormon Soccer experience. An incredible volunteer achievement. Isak's very first time playing soccer. Ever. Elina was too young, sadly. How do you explain that she is "too little" when she can clearly see that she is a head taller than many of the kids that were playing? (She missed the cut-off by 2 months.) The curse of being tall. I promised her next time we would kick a ball just she and I beside the field.

Praise to my Parents

For so many reasons, my parents deserve praise. Too many to list here. But specifically, and with regards to a recent entry, I have a NEW CAMERA. Hence I can post a picture taken yesterday of Isak and Elina. They came out looking like this after a period of play in their room. The Brave Knight and the Fair Maiden, with, eh, Ye Auld sunglasses and, uh, Ye Auld Turtle Dress... Inspired, perhaps, by the Medieval Fair this weekend?

Did You Cut Your Hair?

Elina a year ago

...is a phrase that needs to be officially deleted from the English language. Instead it should say: Did you have your hair cut by someone? Or better yet: Did you have someone professional or someone else who knows how to properly cut hair cut your hair? (Just to make no room for misunderstandings)

It is phrases like "Did you cut your hair?" being tossed about carelessly by adults that causes children to think that they probably should cut their hair, since every time they have had a haircut people ask them if THEY CUT THEIR HAIR.

Parents: In the future when some one asks your child if they cut their hair, it is your duty to interrupt and say: "No, absolutely not! Little Johnny/Jane is not allowed to cut their own hair. In fact we, his mom and dad, do not even cut our own hair. _____ (fill in the blank) cut Johnny's/Jane's hair."

Elina cut her hair yesterday. Five inches on the side of her head, above her ear. This comes only two months after Isak had a go on the opposite side and left a half inch tuft on the top of her head right at the middle part. (The portrait in a post below shows the "after" look)

I know, I know it is only hair. And I try not to emphasize looks too much with our kids, especially the girls. It sickens me how much attention is paid to looks in our society. Focusing on being cute and well-dressed gives kids a lop sided sense of self worth and the world, and they will be far too inclined to plunge into depression in life whenever they don't look as they think they ought. So I focus on other things to compliment, the things that matter: kindness, smarts, patience, selflessness, hard work, creativity, humor, talents etc.

That said: Elina has the most gorgeous hair on planet earth. Perfect ringlets that are golden and shimmering. And the more windblown they are the more beautiful they become. She is the only one I know who can go out in the Oklahoma wind and look even better for it. But I am not mourning the loss of her hair solely because of its beauty.

Elina has since age 6 months twirled and pulled on her hair at the sides. She does it absentmindedly, sort of, but manages to get a chunk daily. It is called trichotillomania. She also fits the term trichofagia since 6 months of age, which I am told she will outgrow, but in the meantime it is a huge concern. The fact that her hair two months ago was LONG on the sides was such an amazing accomplishment. Curly hair takes four times as long to grow long since it spirals on its way. And when it is being pulled out routinely it obviously takes even longer to grow. But the longer it is the less she pulls on it because we can braid it, pull it up and it is generally not as "pullable" Elina-style.

I totally lost my cool when I discovered Elina with my sewing scissors (I sewed a Princess Leia dress for Elina yesterday) and found blond lock after blond lock littered on the floor, along with chunks from Annia's head (she has a few choice bald spots now).

Elina cried when I had to trim several inches off the back of her hair and round off a new hair style. "Don't cut very much, Mamma!" she pleaded. "I am cutting as little as I can! But why did you cut your hair so much if you don't want short hair?" "Because I am a little child! And I don't understand anything."