IKEA x 2

Vi åkte till både IKEA i Austin (Round Rock) och IKEA i Dallas (Frisco). Det var oplanerat att vi stannade i Austin för jag ogillar planlösningen där. Det är inte 2 våningar och man måste gå igenom HELA affären innan man kommer till resturangen. Men det var nästan tomt på IKEA när vi kom dit vid middagstid och hör och häpna men på TISDAGAR äter barn gratis! Det oplanerade infallet att äta middag på IKEA föreföll plötsligt både inspirerat och genialt. Vi betalade 8 dollar för hela familjen att sitta ner och äta i lugn och ro i en stort sett tom restaurang.

Dagen efter (vi övernattade på hotell i Waco) besökte vi IKEA igen, i Dallas. Vi åt lunch denna gången till fullpris, men det är ju inte fasligt dyrt. Elina och Anja var i Småland medan jag tog med mig Isak och Julia in i affären - Isak aldeles för lång och Julia för kort för att vara i Småland. Isak var med rätta sur för det fanns en 10 åring där inne! Längd-diskriminering! Mark hade parkerat bilen i skuggan och tog sig en tupplur i det perfekta vädret.

 Middag i Austin.

 "Titta, mamma! Labradorer!"

"En sån här bäbis vill jag ha i julklapp!"

 Julskyltningen hade redan börjat...

Leka lite. 

 Och mysa.

Julia spenderade säkert 10 minuter i den här stolen,

med "locket på."

San Antonio Temple

We stopped by the Temple on our way out of the city. It was Elina's favorite part of our trip (that - and when we saw a 2 month old Pug puppy and got to pet it). We then drove the back roads and through the Hill Country (beautiful!) from Marble Falls (I could live there) to Cedar Park - north of Austin - (I could not live there). On the whole, I am not a Texas fan. And the severe drought plaguing Texas and Oklahoma both, makes Texas even less appealing to me. We may get rain this weekend. Pray for floods!!

 The San Antonio Temple has beautiful stained glass windows.

And Anja picked just a FEW of the "Temple flowers."

All 4 cooperate for ONE picture? Not likely. 

We decided on individual pictures instead:

(Even that is hard).

San Antonio River Walk

Here are some pictures of the classic river walk in San Antonio. 

 Vi hade båten nästan för oss själva.

Hela familjen!

San Antonio, Third Time's a Charm?

This is our THIRD family vacation to San Antonio. We like it, but it is rather a coincidence that we are here a third time. We're not going to Sea World this time. Instead we are lounging in the condo and the hotel pool. Tomorrow we are going to Dinosaur Quest.

 Elina and Anja in their bed.

 Isak sharing his bed with Julia.

 Classic: The girls checking out the balcony and Isak is figuring out how the technology works.

Made me nervous, but they played here for hours. 

 Isak on dish duty.

 "Room service? Yes, I'd like to order..."

 H.E.B Central Market on Broadway across from University of the Incarnate Word,

our FAVORITE PLACE in San Antonio. For real.

 In the cheese section there was a cow...

 ...and cheese from Norway and Sweden!

 Och hushållsost!! <3

Den köpte vi. Och brunosten med!

Vi har ju tagit 3 dagar ledigt från skolan, 

så ett par timmar här och där spenderas med att göra "make-up work" 

 Men mest simmade vi i den KALLA (med Texas-mått mätt) saltvattenspoolen. 

Underbart!

 Och värmde oss i den VARMA bubbelpoolen. 

Elina och Anja verkligen ÄLSKADE det.

Craig and Cecilia

Craig and Cecilia got married in Italy on July 4th. They celebrated their wedding with a cocktail party in downtown Dallas at the Joule hotel Oct 1st (incidentally Craig's birthday). The kids were babysat by sweet nieces of Cecilia's at the hotel since the party was adults only.

 Pizza at Craig and Cecilia's house.

Elina and Anja had meltdowns at drop-off. 

Elina would not even be in the picture. But they had a wonderful time.

When we came to pick them up they were all asleep. 

 The Wedding dance.

 Kendra, Gary and Mark.

 Troy, Victoria and Mark.

 Sisters-in-law - The Mrs. Fishers.

 Time to cut the cake.

 The Fisher Four: Jim, Mark, Craig and Troy.

 The Fishers: Troy, Jim, Cecilia, Craig, Donna, Mark & Victoria

The Brothers and their Mother.

Anja and Elina on Craig and Cecilia's indoor balcony.

Primary Temple Trip

A few weekends ago Mark took the kids to the Temple grounds for a picnic with the rest of the Primary kids. I was at home immersed in school work. :( Isak brought his camera. Here are some of the pictures.

 Getting ready to hear the Temple President address them.

 Julia and Elina enjoying the grounds.

 Picnic.

 Pioneer Talk.

 Friends at Express Farms after the Temple visit.

 Landrun stage? Well, replica anyway.

Clydesdale horse.

Mark and the kids at Express Farms.