Sailing in the Archipelago

Isak is named for my great grandfather, Isak Akselsen, fisherman and boatsman from Herjangen in northern Norway. There are more sea people in my geneaology than I could ever count. On my Swedish and Norwegian side there are oodles boat craftsmen and both my grandfathers (Swedish and Norwegian) were sailors.

Perhaps this is why Isak has taken to sailing so passionately and easily. To be fair, Elina was not far behind. Completely fearless they climbed on the rocking boat. This would surprise people who know my kids. They are more cautious than most children. They both suffer from fear of heights and are not dare devils like some kids I have seen. Isak watches from the ground when others take on high climbing on the playground. Elina is generally the slightly braver one, but on the boat Isak was in his true element. We finally put leashes on them for fear that they would topple overboard as the boat leaned a fair bit, but Isak protested so heavily we relented after a while.

The weather was beautiful as we sailed from Kullavik to Styrsö (an island in the Gothenburgian archipelago) with my aunt Hanna and her Captain, Lars.

Mark - considering switching political parties

Lars and Hanna

Elina

Annia's first boat ride

Isak, future Captain? (note: my old life jacket!)

the banner

Victoria

Kullavik harbor


The sail from Victoria Akselsen on Vimeo.



gothenburg archipelago from Victoria Akselsen on Vimeo.

The CIRCUS

Circus Maximum came to Alingsås and Mormor (grandma) declared that the circus is a special occasion in a child's life and generously paid for our visit there. The kids were enthralled! I felt like a kid myself. Elina and Isak rode camels, but it was hard to get good pictures.

Isak, Elina och Mormor

Souvenirs from the Circus. They spin and glow in the dark.

Nature's Bingo and Other Adventures

play date: Isak, Elina, Ebba and Saga

play date: Elsa, Elina, Isak, Arvid

right before Isak slipped on the gooey cliff into the freezing lake...

play date: Tuva-Li, Saga, Elina and Isak

The kids had a Primary Activity on May 3rd. They played Nature's Bingo where the board was filled with words such as "dry leaf" "funny stick" "rock" "flower" and the first to fill a row, well you get the point. Then they played another game and made a rock troll with moss hair (see picture of Elina). Mark was grill meister for the hot dogs.

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.