Graduation

My sister graduated on Friday. And no, that is not my "other" sister, as some might think, when possibly remembering other pictures of my sister posted 3 weeks ago, when she was platinum blonde. ;-) I only have one sister.

On graduation day the world was bathed in flowers, yellow and blue ribbon, matching balloons, white dresses (or black suits, in the case of the boys). Daniella looked smart in her graduation hat, which she should, after 12 years of school - or wait, only 11 in her case, as she skipped one grade because of her unusual intelligence. She was blessed with 82 F (or 28 C) degrees and sun.

Daniella opening presents at the reception in the evening

below: three generations

I have nine cousins, two are missing from this picture

partial family shot

Summer in Sweden

Did you know that a Swedish sunset in summer lasts for many hours? That late evening slowly setting sun begins in March or so, and gradually gets longer and later. Even though we have not been here during the official summer, the weather for the past 6 weeks has been terrific, based on Nordic standards. I am filled with Scandinavian summer feeling and so I am posting some, for me, summery pictures.

Elina i Slottskogen, Göteborg

Isak och Elina i Slottskogen, Göteborg

Alingsås

Alingsås

Oslo (okay, so this is not Sweden...)

Alingsås (at Rolf and Annya Hägglund's house)

Elina and friend in Ödenäs

Isak in Ödenäs

Anja sailing

Elina sailing

Isak sailing

Isak at Skår, Alingsås (1 minute before he fell in the lake!)

collecting snails for pets: a dear summer time activity

The Top Ten Reasons to be a Norwegian

After four days in Oslo, Norway and a visit to Lilleström, Mark declared a need for a blog post about "Why I want to be a Norwegian when I grow up," in honor of his new favorite Scandinavian city, Oslo. The list was meant to be TOP 20, but in the interest of time, we're doing 10.

We celebrated Norwegian Independence Day, on the 17th of May. It rained. But the vikings were undeterred in their march to the royal castle to greet and honor their king, who, with the royal family, waved from the balcony of the castle as he recieved the cheers of his people. We stood just below, and like good Norwegian off spring, Isak and Elina with 25% pure Norwegian blood in their veins, dressed up in their bunads, too.

NUMBER TEN: Long hi-tech tunnels. The kids loved them.

taken from the bus on the way to Oslo

NUMBER NINE: Really old, awesome looking buildings

NUMBER EIGHT: Fjords.

NUMBER SEVEN: Modern bathroom fixtures are common, and a fraction of the cost in the US

water off

water on
(taken at Victoria's relatives Kjell-Erik and Aase's house)

NUMBER SIX: Space saving shower 'stalls'

Not in use
In use
(captured at Anita and Johannes house)

NUMBER FIVE: Unequaled National Pride.
NUMBER FOUR: Bunads.

NUMBER THREE: Superior hosting

compliments to Aase, ever the perfect hostess

NUMBER TWO: The after-meal treat.

at Anita and Johannes'

NUMBER ONE: Wonderful women.

Three sisters: Liv, Inger and Magna (two are missing)

Elina and Ingunn (the latter being 100% Nowegian)

Not to forget more watered down versions: Annia 25% Norwegian, and Victoria at 50 %.

A Town Called Underwear

A street in the town of Trosa

We packed the whole family onto a train and went to see our friends, (and former residents of Norman, Oklahoma) Linda and Johan and their two children Sara and Holger. They live at the outskirts of a town named Trosa - which also is the name for panty in Swedish. Going by train is really very comfortable, but Isak and Elina fought the whole way there, or so it seemed.

getting along on the train - for the moment

as per the two pics above: trains are usually outfitted with a restaurant and a playground

During our two and a half day stay in Vagnhärad (by Trosa), we discovered that Isak's second favorite sport in the world (after sailing) is orienteering. This is bitter-sweet, as it is an awesome sport but only exists in a few pockets on the east coast in the US, from what I know.

meal time at Johan and Linda's

orienteering: running through the forest, from station to station (orange and white traingle) guided by a map and a compass, and at each station stamping your card as proof you were there. Isak caught the vision of this immediately and raced the whole way.

Sara and Elina studied nature and collected snails, Elina's new favorite thing. She has kept snails for pets for over a month a now.

Johan and Linda (it was Johan's birthday)

Elina and mom in Trosa (the canal empties into the sea half a mile later)


fare well at the train station

looking out at the end of the train

Family

We were blessed to be here to attend my aunt Marie's wedding, as she married her Peter, in Ödenäs Kyrka. I am so glad to have been here for that, since I usually miss the major birthdays, graduations, christenings and other occasion that mark the passage of life. Here are a few pictures taken that day, of that which matters most: family. I may post some videos, later, of some serious dancing that took place after dinner, at the reception. The party lasted late, but we left right before midnight, though the kids were still having a good time.

Oh, and my sweet sister caught the bouquet, bless her! No contest.

First: The Happy Couple.

inside the church after the ceremony

cutting the cake

Ossian (w/ Annia hypnotized in his arms), Daniella, Ingunn, Mikael, Mark, Victoria
front row: Elina and Isak

Daniella, Ingunn (mom), Mikael (dad), Victoria

mother and her daughters

The bride's side of the family