Midsummer Festivities

Midsummer (about June 21) is one of the most highly celebrated holidays in Sweden. Last year, we didn't do anything special, and we therefore missed out on the whole cultural experience of this day.

This year, we decided to go to one of the many manors that is close by -- Löfstad Slott -- to check out this bit of Swedish culture. While we didn't stay long, we participated in the dancing around the Maypole, a part that I think is probably the most fun for kids (and maybe adults). They had a small band playing some traditional Swedish songs, and many people crowded in numerous circles around the Maypole. It was fun dancing with the kids, and I look forward to next year when my belly isn't so big.

Sitting around, waiting for things to start -- you can see the Maypole in the center.

The "band": a group of old men who played the accordians, bass, and sang.

Dancing around the Maypole

Timothy and AJ dancing around the Maypole.

Kristen participating in a dance that involved acting like different animals.

Some Swedes dressed in traditional costumes

Asphalt

It is very rare here to see a concrete driveway like those you see everywhere in the US. When we bought our house, we had a gravel drive. We had been talking about getting asphalt since last summer, and, with the dollar strengthening considerably since we moved here, this spring was a good time to have it done.

The whole process was quite exciting for the kids. To be able to see the excavator right outside our kitchen window, scooping away the gravel was thrilling, especially for AJ.

Taking away the gravel.

AJ watching the excavator load the dump truck.

The dump truck that took our gravel away.

Laying the asphalt.

Rolling it out

Refilling the asphalt spreader.

Since they finished the asphalt, the kids have had a ton of fun with sidewalk chalk, riding their bikes up and down the long driveway, and splashing in the small puddles after the rain. As for me, I enjoy that the entryway is a little cleaner without random pieces of gravel mysteriously finding their way inside.

Sunday Afternoons

The past couple of Sundays, we have been invited by different friends to join them at their church services, with fellowship afterwards.

A couple of weeks ago, we visited our dear friends, Åke and Lise, who live about an hour north of us. After church and lunch, we went back to their house for an afternoon of fika, fellowship, and fun. Åke recently moved one of his beehives into his back yard, and the kids enjoyed looking at the bees hard at work. Åke shared his vast knowledge of bees with Timo while I sat and chatted with Lise. The kids played around their house, and Kristen met some neighbor kids and made some new Swedish friends.

AJ watching the bees hard at work.

Last Sunday, we attended a short service with one of Timo's co-workers, Hans. This was followed by a kind of hay-ride. I chose to ride in a car, but Timo, AJ, and K all rode behind the tractor. AJ was very disappointed that he did not get to actually drive the tractor. The destination was a farm, where we enjoyed fika, then went on an interesting walk.

What made the walk interesting is that they had questions posted going out and coming back for both adults and kids to answer. Whoever got the most questions right won a prize. While I had not participated in such an event before, this type of thing is very common in Sweden. Timo and I didn't win anything, but Kristen tied for 3rd place and won some candy. AJ wandered around the tractors, admiring them from every angle. Afterwards, they took the kids back to the church in the trailer again, and we headed to Hans' house for some lunch.

After lunch, I hit a wall and needed to lie down for a while. Meanwhile, the kids went swimming in their pool while the adults talked. By the time I got up, K and AJ were done swimming, and everyone was ready for some fika. Afterwards, we headed back home as it was late, and AJ still hadn't taken a nap. Apparently, we took a little too long getting out of there as Kristen fell asleep on the grass behind the car while waiting for us. Both kids slept the whole way home, and, after a late dinner, we struggled to get them to go to bed at the usual time.

It has been nice to get out of the house a little more. The winter can be kind of depressing as people keep to themselves more here, and, when you do make plans (as we have), kids have a tendency to take that opportunity to get sick.