101

In Rita's class they have been counting how many milk teeth has been changed since January. Rita hasn't been a big contributor but yesterday she added tooth number 101 to the collection. She was very happy and proud.

On grass

Erik has been longing for his first soccer match of the season. It took place yesterday. The boys played very well but got behind half way through the game. They had a lot of ball possession but also had a hard time getting the ball into the goal. But in the end things started to work for them and they ended up with 3-3. It was very exciting.

Got new suit?

Ellen had mailordered some summer clothes for the kids. The package arrived today while Ellen is away on school this weekend. I had a lot of scruples if we could open the package. It was after all a project between Ellen, Rita and Axel. Well, I needn't think too much. Once Rita saw the box it was open!

Salmon and lentils

Once again Erik helped us to a very special meal. He had picked up this recipe for salmon and lentils at the grocey store. The salmon was put on top of a salad mixed with lentils, orange, red onion and mush room. It was exquisite.

Marshmallow

We have had amazing weather over the holidays. Sunday night we made a bon fire. Axel enjoyed roasting marshmallows over the fire.

Yesterday, the kids had talked us into going to the beach after the opera. The weather changed completely during the performance. So we ended up sitting with blankets over our shoulders eating pizza waiting for the kids to work up enough nerve to jump in the water.

The Brothers Lionheart

This afternoon we were at the Royal Opera to see a new opera made over the book "The brothers Lionheart" by Astrid Lindgren. The music was dramatic and the singers really good. At one part of the piece drummers were placed on 3 floors - in fact one of the drummers were just 3 meters from us - playing a tribal rhytm that echoed through all of the theatre. It was a spectacular!

I have always liked the tale of the brothers Lionheart. It's about heroism and fraternal love when deepest. As I get older though - and perhaps also being a father, the part I find the most is the mother losing her two sons.

Copenhagen wrestling cup

Krister emailed us last week. Anton, Conny and Elly-Britt's oldest grandson, was to wrestle in the Copenhagen wrestling cup. The cup was in Skovlunde 15 minutes drive from our house. Neither of us had ever seen a wrestling match before went. It was a huge tournament with 350 competitors from more than 5 countries, including Sweden and Denmark. I don't know why, but it surprised us that both boys and girls would wrestle.

It was amazing to watch the intensity of the kids before going on the floor. They were so focused on the game. Their pulse high and breathing heavy. Prepared to the forthcoming battle.

Anton was very good at wrestling. He showed great muscle and intellect in the way he handled his competitor. Basically, he just threw them to the floor. He made it all the way to the final and won silver. It was great!

9 cm

It's not nice to brag, but that's how much I have had to reduce the lining since I've started to work out at a fitness studio.

Lawns of summer

One of my favorite short stories is by Ray Bradbury. It's among other things about the joy associated with the smell of freshly cut green grass.

Well, for poor Erik it wasn't any joy to cut grass today. The grass had grown too tall to cut with the push lawn mower. Nonetheless, Erik put a lot of labor and muscle in to pushing the machine but to no avail. Needless to say, Erik was very happy when the neighbor came over and offered to lend out his electric lawn mower. Erik didn' even have to think twice before accepting the offer.

Forces of nature

It looks very dramatic. In reality it is a daddy long leg which has just left its cocoon. We came upon it when we went for a walk in Broslätt. As a can see the insect must just have left its shelter. The wings were all soft and it was obviously drying.

The daddy long leg was just one of several insects we came upon that day. It must have been the warm spring weather that brought them out.

I believe the kids most likely will remember the beetle we fished out of the water in the creek. It had two very long strings (10-15 cm) attached to its behind. The strings broke off when the beetle got up on land. And they moved back in to the water!!! We could not decide if it was an intestinal worm, the beetle was laying eggs or perhaps just pooping.

Girls in a tree

Rita had Emily visit her. Suddenly we had 4 girls climbing the trees in front of the house. They enjoyed themselves and so did Ellen and I while working in the garden. Although from time to time we heard language which would make a sailor blush.

Blue monday

It's just a wee bit after midnight and I just picked up a very happy son at the school. He was just so full of good spirits and stories: "A waiter spilled soda down the neck of Chris", and "I ate 3 bowls of ice cream for dessert it was so sick" and"We played laser tag, my team won and I got most hits - 15.000 points" and and...

What else can I say, parenthood is great :-)

New job

Today I started my new job. My office is right next to the Botanical gardens. This is the view from my desk. I'm looking forward to realizing some of my ideas and projects for the organization: Openness/dialague and gender are some of the issues I hope to raise on the short term.

This day Erik also went on "Blue Monday" in Copenhagen. "Blue Monday" is a custom where the children who has just been confirmed are allowed to take a day out of school and spend it on their own hand in the city. It's possible since we have a state church where all the children in 7th grade on our school are confirmed on the same weekend - if they are members of the state church of course. Eventhough Erik's confirmation is not until next year, he was invited along with all of his friends.

Erik had looked so much forward to it. Normally he has easy to sleep and sleeps late if allowed, but last night he couldn't fall asleep and he was almost the first up this morning. I can understand him. Part of the program was to eat at a restaurant downtown and then visit Tivoli. A couple of the parents from the class accompanied the group to keep an eye on them and help if needed.

3 hours ago

The weather has been amazing this weekend. This evening we grilled and had dinner outside. It was a real summer meal - green asparagus, potato salad and the lots.

I should perhaps add that spring time in Southern Sweden is synonymous with fresh green asparagus. The greens we had was, however, from Hungary - although purchased in Sweden.

Fooling around

I'll let it speak for itself. It really was a fun weekend.

Treat

What a wake up call. Friday, the kids prepared waffles-breadrolls-bacon-sausages-scrampled eggs-fried egg-cheese and coffee for breakfast. What a treat!

Fun in Sweden

Ascension Thursday usually means a 4 day weekend in Denmark. Ellen unfortunately had to work, but the kids and I went to the house in Sweden. Rita and Axel had a blast Thursday fooling around with the wheel barrow. Rita had to "pay" to ride for a ride. It meant she had to run 3 times around the house before Axel would do the same with her in the barrow.