Sleigh or Sled

On our way back from the science museum, we stopped by our friends' house for a visit.  Åke took the kids out to try out these sleds. Or sleighs. They kind of seem like a cross between the two. I want one. You stand on the back , and push yourself along with your foot, putting it on the other side once you've got some speed or to go downhill. How fun. Apparently, these are extremely common in northern Sweden. I had never seen one before, even though I have lived here three years. I need to get out more.



Åke  and AJ sledding



K trying it out



Happy girl



AJ going solo



K pushing H on one

 After the kids became too cold for more, we went inside for some food and fellowship. At the end of the day, H decided to try out this, this, what is this? It's not a lute. It's not an oud. Maybe a domra? Most likely a balalaika. Anyway, H didn't care what it is called. He was having fun.

What a busy day. These days make good memories, though. :)

Day 5

K has been suffering from the common childhood malady of chicken pox. Day three was by far the worst, but today she seems to be mostly back to her old self -- plus a couple hundred red spots. Here are some morning shots of the kids enjoying the snow.



H sitting in a snow pile



H and K playing together in the snow



K pulling H in the sled



H on the sled



K pulling H down the driveway.



A Visit to Florida

After leaving Turks and Caicos, we stopped in Florida to visit my sister, Jaime, and her family who were vacationing there.
Upon arriving at the airport, I notice my sister walking next to us. I didn't expect her to meet us there, as we had rented a car and had directions to our hotel. She watched our kids while Timo and I walked to the rental car counter. While Timothy was wrapping things up there, I headed back to my kiddos. To my surprise, I saw two familiar people talking to Jaime and my children. My parents had suprised me by flying up to Florida for the same time we would be there. I was so overwhelmed with emotion that I forced myself to blink back tears until I was able to hug them. Then the floodgates broke and the tears streamed down.

The first two days, I was fighting illness, and I mostly rested. Thankfully, I felt better on the afternoon of the second day, and I was able to join the rest of my family to hang out inside and out.

The kids enjoyed playing games, digging in the sand, swimming with thier cousins, and hunting for shells. This was the first time that K had really ever hunted shells since Turks and Caicos had none to speak of, and she loved it. My parents took her out since I was still not up for it, and she came back with a bucketful of beautiful shells.

In addition to spending time with my kids, I took a walk with my oldest niece, Erika, enjoyed conversations with my parents, played games, ran on the beach, and just enjoyed the company of my family. I also went on a couple of dates with my wonderful hubby. We went ocean kayaking (I was hoping to see dolphins while we were out there since we had sighted them the first day -- no such luck), and, after a family dinner, we went to the movie theater together for the first time since before K was born. It was so nice to get out alone with my hubby, and I felt refreshed afterwards.

AJ playing Candyland with Daddy

K playing Rummikub with Grandma and Grandpa



What a sweet face



H and Jaime playing on the beach



AJ playing in the sand



K playing in the sand



My sister, Jaime, playing in the sand. :)



Her final product



Darling K



Sweet AJ



Sunset over the ocean



Sunset over the dunes




A lonely ocean kayak resting on the sand at sunset




A typical site: my dad reading the Wall Street Journal :)



H trying on Daddy's shoes, while AJ gives a sweet grin for the camera




Playing Candyland with Grandma





K, Erin, and Ellie



Edith, Erin, and H



Erin and AJ

It was a great trip, and it was difficult for me to say goodbye. Living so far away from my family, I treasure this time in my heart. 

Turks and Caicos

My white Christmas this year consisted of white sand instead of snow and bathing suits instead of snow suits. My in-laws invited all of their children and thier families to a resort on the Caribbean island of Turks and Caicos for Christmas. We all enjoyed a fabulous time, and I was more than happy to trade the cold, dark days of Sweden for a warmer, sunnier climate.

 As to be expected, most of our days were spent by the pool or at the beach. K decided she wanted to learn to swim, and, after the first day she ditched all her swim gear except her goggles. I was thrilled that she finally overcame her reservations about the water. She enjoyed diving for rings, turning summersaults underwater, and braving the water slides solo.



K waiting for lunch



H and K swimming the first day





Braving the water slide solo

 

Splash!

Playing in the sand





My little fish

 AJ also developed a level of comfort in the water, although he is not quite swimming, yet. He occasionally donned his water wings, but he did not constantly rely on them. Timo spent some time trying to teach him to body surf on the small waves that crashed on the beach, and I know he enjoyed the time with Daddy.



AJ at the water park



Playing at the beach



All bundled up in a towel



Sliding with Uncle Brien



Splashing around the water park



Pretending to be Buzz as he plays at the water park



Snuggling next to his cousin, Abigail



AJ catching a wave



AJ floating around the swimming pool with Uncle Brien



Drinking a Shirley Temple -- he discovered them on this trip, and they quickly became his favorite drink.

 

AJ and Patrick partially buried in the sand



H still relies on his jacket and water wings, but he was like a little buoy, floating around the pool and enjoying himself. He also received a body surfing lesson, but to a lesser degree than AJ.


AJ and H also enjoyed the sand immensely, but in two entirely different manners. AJ liked to fill the buckets to build sand castles and sculptures, while H found pleasure in destroying each and every bucketful of sand that had been tipped over. H also enjoyed throwing sand, making his sun goggles that much more essential. Thankfully, he didn't really throw it at people.



H playing in the waves with Daddy



H riding on Daddy's back

Running on the beach

Playing in the pool

 

Sifting through the sand



Throwing sand



Destroying sand castles



Catching waves with Daddy



Sitting on a sand chair Daddy made

 

Happy Boy



AJ being buried

Buried



Running away from the waves



AJ playing in the sand



Playing games with Jonah, Anne-Marie, and Daniel



I spent time with the kids, but I also managed to participate in some activities on my own. I braved the artificial surfing pool, kayaked and snorkeled with Timo's sister, Sarah, in the ocean, ran barefoot on the beach, and raced down the water slides. This was all thanks to Timo and his wonderful siblings who helped with the kiddos.

Timo built sand sculptures with the kiddos, swam in the ocean and pools with them, took care of his share of dirty diapers, and still managed some beach volleyball and water slides.


Timo playing in the sand



We spent one afternoon on an island tour, where we visited a conch farm, a different beach, and a huge sink hole. Timo and the boys stayed behind, but K and I went with almost everyone else.





An adult conch



A baby conch -- 2 months, I believe.



A sea turtle the conch farm adopted

A big tank where they grow algae to feed to the baby conches



The mid-sized conches. There used to be a lot more before a hurricane almost wiped them out.



A marine biologist ship-wrecked on the island and decided to start the farm. This is K by the shipwreck.



Sarah and I at the conch farm



Sarah helping K hear the ocean.



Visiting another beach



Everyone looking for shells at the beach



The sink hole. The picture doesn't really do it justice.



On the plane leaving the island, I sat next to a native, or, as they like to call themselves, a "belonger." He spent much of the flight answering my questions about the island, and I felt like I learned more from him in one short flight than I did during our entire visit.

Looking back, we created a lot of memories, enjoyed some quality family time, and just had fun. It was a great trip.