Isak's 9th Birthday

Isak has not had a party for every one of his birthdays, but this year he did - and ON his actual birthday, July 5th, to boot. He had an all-boy pool party at our sweet neighbor's pool, next door. After an hour and a half of swimming we came over here for birthday cake and some presents. It was by far the best, funnest, easiest (cheapest?) party I have ever hosted. We might repeat next year.

 from left: Luke, Ethan, Daniel, Isak, Benjamin, Sam, Nathan and Isaac. 

And below, reverse:

 Ready for cake!

Happy Birthday, Isak! How did you get to be NINE already? 

Halfway to leaving the nest...

Sailing!

 Isak rigging the optimist pram.

Isak spent 6 days at the lake learning how to sail. I almost cried from happiness when I found this camp. In 2 years Elina will be able to do it as well. Mostly they sailed optimist prams, but they learned about all kinds of boats, and kayaked and canoed as well. They learned how to tie knots, which knots to use for what purpose and how to rig the boats and a plethora of other boat related fun. Isak was the youngest sailor at his camp, most of the kids being 3 or 4 years older. On the last day Isak got awarded "most improved sailor'. They took a test on the last day which Isak passed with an 'A' . 

What a pretty sight! Being at the lake are always the most memorable events of the summer. The kids fell in love with sailing in Sweden in 2008. A very few pictures can be seen HERE  from that summer.


Other boating experiences have been just as loved, here is ONE documented and here are glimpses of ANOTHER. We have talked about getting a boat for years, but I think it is another year out before we actually do.

Julia agreed to smile for the camera, but in reality she wanted to swim. 

And she knows how! 

 Putting on the rudder.

 Ready to go!

 I never saw him get into the opti, but I guess he knew how to climb on board without capsizing.

 Anja and Elina on the big sailboat.

Julia loved it, too. 

There we are (I'm waving).

Han har båt i blodet, den ungen!

 Group photo on the last day.

Isak and his teacher, Cap'n Les.


For another 350 pictures from the camp week, go HERE.

Sooner Flight Academy

Isak attended Sooner Flight Academy day camp - a one week camp that is held at the OU flight school, by Max Westheimer Airport. He had a great week filled with hands-on, flight-related fun projects. But the highlight of the week was Thursday when he got to fly in a small airplane and see Lake Thunderbird and Norman from above. These pictures are from the graduation. Upon viewing my son in the camera I could stand it no longer and ignored his pleas: I chopped off his hair that very afternoon.

Summer At Home

 Elina "grew" caterpillars into butterflies - she bought them with her own money. 
Then she released them.

5 Painted Ladies.

 The Oasis: The neighbor's pool that we use every day, pretty much.

If it rains, the kids RUN outside to play. Praying for more rain, because it has been SOOO hot and dry this summer. Elina has her shirt on backwards, but her smile is on right side up.

Closing

 On June 8th we finally closed on our second investment house. 

We had waited for a cloud on the title to clear for 6 months.
This is Mark at the Title Company. What a dreadful office to work in...

Here is the living room of the house. Now painted beige. 

Mark has spent a lot of time fixing it up to rent this past month and a half.

Julia Turns Two

 Julia turned 2 years old on June 4th. All her dreams came true.

 A baby doll to feed!

 And a baby doll high chair from Oldemor in Sweden.

Left: Pappa and Isak put it together.

Right: Other party attenders... 

Isak's First Pinewood Derby

Isak participated in his first pinewood derby. It was a good experience for everyone in the family. His car did okay - he was satisfied that he did not lose any heats, but neither did he win any, though one was very close.

 Isak's car has been weighed and entered.

 Ready to go!

Some of the competing cars. 

 The track. Isak is waiting for his car to compete in this heat.

Cousin Karolina, newly arrived from Sweden, is here seen trying her first ever corn dog! 

Isak's car received the "most realistic" award.

June

Two days after I returned from my trip to Sweden, my cousin Karolina arrived. She spent 6 weeks with us. I had summer school in June and we hired Karolina as our summer Au Pair. It worked out very well. Unfortunately I was not so good at remembering to take pictures in June as I normally am, and then I couldn't find my camera battery charger and the excuses go on as to why I have not taken very many pictures. Karolina has some and I'll try and get them from her and upload some.

We did some fun things while Karolina was here though, like: go to the Sam Noble Museum of Natural History, the Bass Pro Shop, the Science Museum and we also attended 4 different plays. We saw "Oliver" at the Civic center in Oklahoma City (Isak and Elina loved it!), "Seussical the Musical" in Edmond at UCO (fantastic! I cried at the end), and two small productions at OU "Around the World in 80 days" (Isak really liked this one), and "The Secret Garden" (Elina read the book in anticipation for this one, and loved it). I try to expose the kids to culture, so that they will not be bottom-feeders in their entertainment choices, and live plays are just so great, especially at the Universities, because the price is affordable.

Karolina also took part in our church's Youth Conference which put on a huge performance on July 8th, featuring 900 youth ages 14-19. Karolina sang in the choir and had lots of rehearsals to attend in preparation for this. The performance ended up being very, very good. A synopsis of the first act can be seen HERE, though the choir is pretty much ignored, though it is seen at the 14.05 mark.

 Karolina and I outside the Civic Centre.

Elina and "Oliver." (Sam Brown). She got his autograph, too. 
At first she did not want this picture taken - she was so shy. 
But afterwards she wanted to put it on her wall next to her bed.

The last of Sweden 2011

 Morfar patient - in both definitions of the word.

 Fika!

 Outside church.

Anja and Nike. 

Julia and Nike.

Karolinas Student

In Sweden at graduation from Gymnasium (High School) we wear funny white hats and most people wear white clothes. We hang flowers around the graduates necks with yellow and blue ribbon. My youngest cousin, Karolina, graduated while I was home. It was wonderful to be there for such a family gathering. Compare the 2008 graduation of my SISTER.

 Here she is, having just run out of the school onto the lawn to greet waiting family and friends, in the traditional manner. 

 My aunt Hanna (Karolina's mom) and I.

 My cousins Sofia and Marcus.

 Karolina and Anja.

 My aunt and I.

Here we are: all NINE Ericsson cousins, for the first time in a single photograph. 
We decided to stand according to birth order, oldest to youngest:

Victoria, Malin, Marcus, Sofia, Magnus, Thomas, Linn, Louise & Karolina.

This picture means a lot to me. 

May I add that FOUR of the people in this photograph, according to Swedish trend, have their various shades of BLONDE hair dyed DARK. (nrs 2,4,6,8).  Only in Sweden.