AIK Animal Day

We had a busy, fun weekend that included Mama Swede's birthday dinner, an afternoon and evening with The Swede's buddies and their wives, a drive in the country, a couple of naps, and AIK football club's family day at the national arena.

The team brought in a bunch of animals and set up games and activities for their smallest fans, so we, being both animal and AIK enthusiasts, spent almost the entire day there. There were calves, goats, sheep, turtles, puppies, birds, rats, guinea pigs, a lizard, frog, giant centipede and more and Jamie looked at and pet whatever he could at least three times each. He was especially taken by a tortoise who he kept feeding watermelon. So taken, in fact, that the two of them even shared a piece.

The pony-riding was also a big hit. I told Jamie he looked like a cowboy and I don't thing he's ever grinned so much. The day ended with an actual match, Jamie's first and my first since we won the league in 2009. I had forgotten how emotional the fans get and I think Jamie and I were both a little stunned by all the shouting, but it was cool to see and I definitely understand why The Swede likes it so much. Jamie, well, I think he'll sit out the next couple of seasons. But if there's a variety of animal poop to check out or any reptiles to feed, he'll be there.

 

Daily Jamie

August 9th

August 10th

Daily Jamie

Daily Jamie

Oops. 

Daily Jamie

Flufferbröd

My colleagues weren't the only ones shaking their heads when I purchased the Marshmallow Fluff (one of the dozens of totally rando items usually found in the American selection) at the supermarket on our lunch break last week. I wasn't quite sure what exactly I was going to do with it either, besides rock Jamie's world with a fluffernutter. I have yet to make the sandwich, but I did have the brilliant idea this morning to spread some fluff on a sesame seed and sea salt knäckebröd and ended up rocking my own world. If you live in Sweden and can get your hands on some Marshmallow Fluff and the knäckebröd, try this, I insist. And if you're in the States, you may choose to see this post as a reminder that Marshmallow Fluff is waiting at a grocer near you and is dying to be paired with something a little bit salty.

Daily Jamie

Bronzed

I think I just discovered my dream job. If spray painting is a job, that is. Is it? Seriously, if you know anyone who's hiring I'll send them my resumé post haste. And then, if I get the job, I will spray paint with more joy than you've ever seen. Because this here is my new favorite thing to do and there are now many, many items in my home now earmarked for a coating of bronze and I'm sure my husband would appreciate if I could earn a paycheck with my passion instead of just embellishing everything we own. So, yeah, get back to me.

Daily Jamie

August 1st

August 2nd

August 3rd

Easing In

 

My husband is the coolest. There we were, at work on a slow Friday afternoon debating what we should do with our weekend. The weather has continued to be incredible here for almost a month straight and, listen, if you live in the north you take advantage of the good weather when it comes, so we weren't about to waste it by hanging around at home. So The Swede got online and booked a cabin on a cruise to Helsinki leaving that evening.   

Jamie was pumped to ride on the big boat, mostly because it was outfitted with two gigantic playrooms, both of which had amenities like magazines so that we could chillax while Jambo went buck wild with the PlayStation. They also had professional dance shows, which Jamie was totally enthralled by, and mini-discos in the evening.

We arrived in Helsinki on Saturday morning and spent about five hours wandering around the city, checking some of the sights that were near the harbor. 

We didn't venture far, but what we did see was really beautiful and everyone we spoke with was very friendly.  No offense, Swedes, but despite the Finns' reputation for being even more introverted, I found them to be much more smiley and helpful than I'm used to in Stockholm.

Tourism may not be Jamie's cup of tea as much as it is ours, but he found opportunities for play wherever he could. 

Since The Swede has been on vacation and parental leave most of July, I can understand that he needed to ease back into reality with a weekend abroad. With a couple more international trips to look forward to next month, though, it could be a long transition.

Daily Jamie

Daily Jamie

Fitting

My grandparents sent Jamie a package for his birthday and enclosed was this spread from the Cleveland Plain Dealer about LeBron James' return to Cleveland. The Swede was thrilled and devoured the entire four-page article immediately. I thought it was so thoughtful that they sent something that The Swede would so clearly appreciate until I looked at it a little more closely today and discovered that it was actually meant to be something for both of us: an awesome (and likely expensive - it's sharing a section with LeBron) ad for Swagelok! And it's thanking Swagelok associates - that's us! - for making Swagelok such a great place to work. Well thank YOU, Swagelok, as you are directly responsible for some of the best things in my life. And thanks, Grandma and Grandpa, for the article AND the ad! 

Daily Jamie

Daily Jamie

July 26th

July 27th

Happy Birthday Time

Sunday afternoon we threw up some balloons, fixed some snacks, and invited over some friends for Jamie's birthday party. It couldn't have come soon enough, according to Jamie, who has been talking about his party for literally months. "Balloons? Bubbles?" he'd ask. Check, check. "CAKE?!?!" Two cakes. World's Best Mom, I know.

"PRESENTS???" You know it, kid. Most of Jamie's classmates are on vacation, but his best bud Axel got to come, plus a bunch of other friends whose parents happen to also by my friends. It was a loud, crazy, fun afternoon and at least one of us is already looking forward to next year. Indeed, Jamie asked me on the way to school today if it was "happy birthday time" again yet. 

Daily Jamie

Cuteness captured by Sarianne

Daily Jamie

Three Years Old

Oh, this Jambo. Yesterday he turned three and I can't believe it. I'm quite sure no parents have ever loved a child as much as we love him. They couldn't possibly. It takes my breath away every day. He is a singing, dancing chatterbox of enthusiasm, observation, and curiosity. Sure, being three years old necessarily makes you egocentric and willful, but other than that hitch, Jamie is living life the way it should be, taking joy and finding humor in practically everything. As much as his world has grown to include his friendships and his own world at school, The Swede and I continue to be the center of his life just as he is the center of ours. He doesn't fault us for our flaws and mistakes and there's nothing better to him than being, as he says, "together". Jamie understands essentially everything I say to him in English, but only uses the language for some colors and numbers and to say "I love you." Otherwise he speaks Swedish so well that sometimes I have to ask The Swede to translate for me. This is so unexpected since as recently as spring he was seeing a specialist to develop his vocabulary. It probably helps that now that he really can, he absolutely loves to talk. I guess we know where he got that from. He is a dirty, sticky, rough-and-tumble little boy who loves helicopters, motorcycles, and airplanes. He asks me to read the same three books every night before bed and still twirls my hair in his fingers as he falls asleep. He is a challenge and a joy and being his mom is the most fun I've ever had.

Summer Vacay Part Three - Tylösand

The last leg of our vacation was a couple of days at the beach in Tylösand. Wow, what a place. We stayed in a hotel right on the shore where hundreds of young, tan, blonde Swedes were sunning during the day, partying at night, and looking gorgeous the whole time.

 

It had long been a dream of The Swede's to go to the After Beach party at our hotel and he wasn't about to let his age and family situation stop him. Actually, I think Jamie helped make the whole experience; he was approached by several young ladies asking to take a picture of the hot dad and his cute kid. I guess I was in the bathroom.

 

The last night we were there we went to a seafood restaurant and pigged out on shellfish while Jamie ate aoli, straight-up, with a spoon instead of his burger. We took a walk on the beach at sunset and the boys did some skinny dipping and trampled a sand sculpture before the tide could get to it. The perfect way to end the week. It seems like ages ago now, but it was such an awesome vacation and I'll remember it forever. Thank you, Sweden, for the generous holiday laws and all the wonderful things to see and do!

Daily Jamie

July 21st

July 22nd

Summer Vacay Part Two - Göteborg

Our next stop was Göteborg! It's a five-hour-plus drive from home, so we needed to stretch our legs along the way, and what better place than the polkagris factory where they make tons of flavors of thick candy canes. Naturally we picked up a few and The Swede had to listen to Jamie and I slobbering in the back seat for the rest of the trip. 

Once in the Göteborg area, we stayed in a rented room in Jesper and Isa's new neighborhood and finally got to spend some time with them, August and their new little one Frans after almost three years. Jamie and August were like long-lost besties and got along better than I even knew two toddlers could. We all went to the amusement park, Liseberg, on Wednesday and the boys rode and rode till almost eleven at night.

August helping Jamie look at the camera.

The next day, while Frans napped at home with his mama, Jesper took us to the shore to do some crab fishing.

I had forgotten how amazing the ocean smells and Jamie loved all the new things there were to see between the rocks and under the water.

After a very earnest effort, the papas managed to catch five crabs, which were totally fascinating, skittering around in their bucket, until we tossed them back out to sea.

Later that afternoon, we drove to Varbergs fästning, a thirteenth-century fortress that faces the North Sea on one side and the town of Varberg on the other.

They had a water-skiing competition going on in the mote and a great playground so there was plenty to see and do, which made for another satisfying day and late bedtime.