Second Saturday...

Have I ever mentioned how much I love Saturdays??  Today is a particularly wonderful Saturday with clear blue skies and low 80 degree weather.  Perfect. 

The kids and I relaxed in our PJs into the late morning over my breakfast experiment...Chocolate pancakes. Odd woke with sun and golfed.  More pancakes for us.  ;-)

Pancakes are Elliot and Sofia approved. 


Once Odd got home he was not allowed to rest.  It was time to enjoy the sunshine.  We decide a long walk was on the agenda.  We had a stop at Odd's former Army housing, Itolv (or E-TOLV).  It has now been turned into a very attractive office complex. 

Then it was time to feed the ducks.  Eksjö has some hunger ducks.  They ate all our stale bread in no time and may have ate the kids fingers if they had been slower.  We had our snack next at Lennarts, the old fashioned bakery where Odd's uncle once worked.

Guess what we did next!  FIKA!!

Stay on the big stones

Sofia and an old friend

 The rest of the day was full of playing in the yard and enjoying the best part of the end of the day!

Playing with the neighbors

Saturday candy!!

 

Work day...lake day

Långanäs badplats cafe

While the family played at the lake.
I studied.  I read. I ran. I window-shopped (so much shopping yesterday). 
It was a nice quite day. 
Odd got Elliot to golf with him and Sofia had an afternoon with her Farmor.  We also had the kids try some new things today.  This had various results.

Elliot tries Nypons Soup

Trying new "swedish" Lego game

Day 8: Ullared Day

Today was something new: Ullared.  This is a town that is dedicated to the fine art of bargain shopping.  Granted we are talking about Swedish bargains but a bargain is a bargain, right? It was a nearly 3 hour drive from Eksjö.  Annette and a friend, Camilla, picked me up a 7:30 AM and we made tracks! 

Let the shopping begin!

Shopping wagons up the shopping highway.

I have heard my sister-in-law, Annette, talk about Ullared for 14 years.  I was not disappointed. It was a fun day.  I think I can compare it to Walmart with a Swedish accent on steroids with a bunch of outlets sprinkled around the borders.  This place has gained popularity around Northern Europe and has recently been the subject of a reality show here in Sweden.   People take vacations here!

They have some of almost anything you can imagine.  Since I am only a visitor and everything I buy must travel back in a suitcase, I had to pass on the Soda Machine, doll house, and many other interesting things that I found.  :-)  I did manage for pick up a few gifts for family and friends, so the drive way definitely not a waste.

 

The painful part...paying!

It was a relaxing trip back to Eksjö after a full day of shopping.  Camilla has a cool hybid car!  Then when I get back to the Gingerbread House ( Östbergs House) I have this nice view. Thanks for babysitting, Karin!

Cozy!

 

Astrid Lindgren's World

Today we traveled with Karin and Lasse to Vimmerby, where we visited Astrid Lingren's World.  This has been a favorite place to go when ever we travel to Sweden.  We wonder if this is possibly the last time we may come.  Not that we don't still think it is great, because we do, it is only that it was clear that Eliiot and Sofia were some of the older kids visiting.  It makes me sad to know that we have reached the "I'm too old for Pippi" time. ;-(

The weather was much nicer today.  It was a great day to walk through the park and visit all of the characters from the Astrid Lindgren books. 
The kids had a few highlights at the park that they had to reach....

Sofia lands on the picnic table

1) Climb on the giant furniture at Nils Pislings place...

Climbing again...

2) Complete the "keep off the ground" path...

Sofia and Elliot as Brothers Lionheart

3) Make some pictures at the "your face here" walls!

Check, check, and check!

I love that this a wonderful full amusing day for the family without a constant bombardment of commercials. We could bring a full picnic into the park.

It is definitely a kids place. The kids get to lead the way.  It is exciting for them without a single roller coaster is involved.  The fun is mostly from the joy of placing yourself into the wonderful stories. 

When I first came to Sweden 14 years ago, I was not aware of any Astrid Lindgren story other then Pippi Longstocking.  These trips, over the years, to this park have made me aware of the huge variety of stories other then Pippi.  I am so happy that I have been made aware and have shared the books and films with my kids.  

Now the evening is spent eating huge marshmallow balls that Odd purchased in Mariannelunds Candy shop. Another fun day in Sweden...check!

Elliot goes coco for Cocos balls!

Day 6:Rainy, Lazy Day

Any day is better with a Popsicle!

Well...not completely lazy...
Odd and I did get in an after-breakfast run in between the rain drops but all other plans were put on hold. (Thank you, Joakim for making sure the kids didn't flood the house.  Linda and Magnus would thank you too!)

At first Elliot and Sofia were bummed, because the delays the mini-golfing they were looking forward to doing.  Only when we told them they could watch more Star Wars movies!  Hurray!  Thanks again to Mr. Lucas! 

When we aren't watching Star Wars we are creating our own Star Wars movies.  Check out our latest JibJab, starting Elliot, Sofia, Ludvig, Odd, Darth Vader and various storm troopers.


Click here to see our Star War JibJab

After computer animated fun, the rain slowed down and we make it to Adventure Golf  Eksjö, at  Eksjö Camping.

Our Mini golf spot

I will add more pictures of the golfing on my Facebook page.  Hope everyone had a great July 4th!

July 4th, Eksjo style

Chocolate chip cookies are baked. Hamburgers and fries ready to go. We just needed the Budweiser!  Odd insisted that no American celebration could be complete without a proper American beer.  ( I voted for Sam Adams and I was overruled!?)

Before we could head to the "big town" of Jönköping for a little shopping, we had an American breakfast of buttermilk pancakes.

It was a busy place on a cloudy day, maybe a little too busy for us.  The kids loved the lunch at McDonald's but shopping is not easy on any day with excited kids.  Shopping is also NO fun when everything interesting is so costly.  Good shopping for Swedes mean no shopping for Americans.  The Dollar stinks!

Sorry I know it is the day for fireworks in the USA but it is true.  The Dollar stinks.
 OK moving on....
pancakes, check...McDonald's, check....Hamburgers, fries, Oreos, Chocolate Chip cookies.....(food is easy to share!)

How about an even better American import...Star Wars!!  This even little Ludvig can enjoy!

After dinner and a soccer match in the backyard everyone piled in for some time with Jar Jar Binks.  (I can hear the people born before 1990 groaning!  What can I say the kids love him! SERIOUSLY.)

Family bonding via George Lucas

 

Day 4: Bikes and Baking

I woke up this morning only wanting to sleep...not a good start!  Elliot was already on the Wii. (Which had woken me.) While Odd and Sofia continued to snore contentedly.  "Not fair" was all my tired brain could muster.  I decided this was the moment to start Odd on the running routine he wanted to begin. (Really, he did want too!)
I was not going to let him get extra ZZZZ's.  Maybe sometimes, I am an evil wife?  I was able to lure him to consciousness with murmers of yummy breakfast treats at the food store.  So, out the door we ran to the store...it's Sunday...it was closed....silly American! Only you would assume stores are open on Sunday!?

Post run with baked goods

Luckily, we discovered we just needed patience. (also not an American trait.)  The food store opened at 10.  Success and Sweets!

The brothers enjoy morning

After a bit of relaxing with coffee and computers, our little gang decided to try a bike trip around town.  This is more of an adventure then intended.  Biking is much more important to the average Swede then to an average American.  We just don't have the opportunities to bike as much as Swedes. (good excuse)

I think Elliot and Sofia are great little bicyclers, they just need to get comfortable with the rules of the road/ bike lane.  There could be heard in the streets of Eksjo a constant nagging "...say on the right, stop, slow down, watch for cars, stop, the right, the right...."

After the first ride. Great rides!

It went fine...I was a nervous Mamma! But practice makes perfect... we shall continue.  

Our next events of the day split Odd and I up.  He and Joakim went to hit some golf balls while the kids and I attempted to make traditional chocolate chip cookies to share with the family in celebration of the 4th of July.

Maybe we'll have fireworks of the taste buds instead of in the sky this year?