Swan family update?

A really friendly swan family was hanging around as we were fishing the other day. Didn't know if it was the same one from around midsommar which had five chicks instead of three. We definitely got the impression the tourists have been feeding the local wildlife. Their 'hiss' turned from a threatening noise to one of asking for food.

Gone fishin' (the sequel)

Brothers fishing. Why do I want to whistle the Andy Griffith song?

pumpkin patch update

Update on the pumpkin patch. The top plant was the original one pictured when we started this. The plants have really taken off in the past week or two. May get some pumpkins afterall.

he did it!

Jake's training wheels came off on Friday. He's riding like a pro.

pumpkin patch update

Getting a little bigger. Dad is starting to wonder if we'll have pumpkins by Halloween. I think we'll be fine, even if they are small. Dad says next year we'll start them inside earlier so they will have a longer growing season than this year.

this is the good stuff

To me, this picture epitomizes why we came. Mormor offers Sam a taste after 'icing' a birthday cake with whip cream and fresh strawberries for cousin Jonaton.

winterharbor

Every day or every other day Dad and the boys ride bike up to winterhamn (the winter harbor, as opposed to the summer harbor for pleasure boats). This boat is one of the biggest ones and takes people out to Sandhamn, a nearby island.

first visit from the toothfairy

I have had a loose tooth for a while and it finally came out! The tooth fairy is going to come tonight so I am going to put it underneath my pillow. My new tooth is already showing, you can't really see it in the picture.

great pumpkin patch (bake-n-spam exclusive!)

Dad and the boys and cousin Jon planted & sprouted pumpkin seeds. They are now in the garden and we are hoping to have pumpkins to share with our friends by fall.

road trip play

Even more uses for Mooses.

On a road trip with mormor.

A cool 'basket' swing.

Teeter totter that even Daddy liked.

tics me off

Every night we have tic check. Count: Sam 12, Jakob 11, John 8, Mon 4. Jake swears it's not a race but he is proud of every tic that gets him closer to Sam's count.

swan song

The other day there was a mother swan and her chicks down by our beach. Daddy wouldn't let us throw rocks so they'd come back again.

knodden

We go and feed a little pony almost every day. He likes carrots, apples and knäckebröd (that is hard bread, kind of like crackers). The pony's name is Knodden.

junibacken

Pippi Sam Stockings.

We went to Junibacken -- a museum on Stockholm bay devoted to the stories of Astrid Lingren, a famous Swedish kid book writer. It is a whimisical world where kids can play and see many characters from the books.

Interestingly in the stories, the kids are the good guys(even when they are mischievous) and the adults are often the antagonists. In other words, it's similar to the premise of Peter Pan.

Jakob as Karlsson, the boy who flies

The boys outside the museum.

Emil!!!!

fun in sweden

We got new bikes when we got to Sweden.

One of our favorite times of the day is fika - Swedish afternoon cookie break!

Sam says hi!

opening day parade

Dad promised to take us to the Reds' Opening Day Parade. He says it may be the last opportunity to see one for a while.

Mmm... GoldStar Chili.

more funny faces

I hung my family up without any Dad pictures last time.

Popeye. (taken by Jakob)

Fun with painter's tape.

Jakob. (okay, so this one's not so funny)

fun with friends

We ocassionally go to an open gym with some friends where the guys can climb and tumble on mats, shoot a basket ball or ride on a scooter.

Buddy Jack (taken by Jakob)
Buddy Greg(taken by Jakob)

random shots

Random shots that haven't made it onto any blog yet. Jake. First warm day of the year.

Sammy. Taken by Jake. Say Cheeeeese!

Sammy acting like a cat with Kitty. It's his default animal.

Sam in Mommy's bathrobe.

Cousin Grace driving equipment at the Museum Center.

train

Jake drew a train at school the other day.