I have some free time tonight and thought I'd plunk out some things while I have a chance. The last weeks we've had some seriously busy weeks. The weekend after Hanna's birthday was Påskvecka (Easter week) at the school and dagis. The kids celebrated by dressing as Påskskäring (Easter witches), a tradition from hundreds of years ago when some women were accused of being witches and they fled to an island called Blåkulla, on the East coast of Sweden.
After school we had Påsklov, (Easter break) and took a trip to the mountains in Jamtland where Mattias' family has a cabin. While the girls and I have been there many times, Mattias hadn't been there since I was pregnant with Liv. That's how many years? Well she's 6 1/2 now! I was anxious for him to spend time at his beloved childhood cabin as it's a place that we've come to love too. We packed the car and drove along with Ingrid in tow. The cabin itself is about a 12 hour drive from Göteborg so we made the first night stop in Mora, a lovely city in Dalarna, most famous for the Mora Vasaloppet ski race. We actually stayed at a hostel (vandrahem) that is on the line for the race. This was Easter week and apparently quiet in comparison as we were the only people inhabiting the entire hostel. It was great!! After a long car ride, the girls could run up and down the long hallway to burn off energy while we cooked tacos for dinner in the communal kitchen. Off to bed, we realized we had only brought 2 sets of sheets--enough for the girls. Luckily for Mattias and I, Ingrid had ironed and packed two tablecloths so we used those as bed sheets!
The next day we made it to Kolåsen by around 2:30 in the afternoon which gave us time to dig into the cabin since there we many feet of snow surrounding it and to unpack. The girls immediately put on their snow gear and headed outside, which for the most part of the week, is where they spent their time. The cabin sits on a hill which during the summertime is covered with wildflowers. In winter it's snow-racer, skier wonderland! We all enjoyed a bit of something whether cross country skiing, taking wild rides down hill on the spark (kick-sled), or as in Hanna's case, being pulled in the pulka, the same one Mattias rode in as a child. We spent Easter at the cabin and enjoyed a hefty meal washed down by snaps and a sweet marzipan freshly prepared by Ingrid and the girls for dessert. Mattias even took some relaxing time hemming his pants on the sewing machine.
We were not done with vacation yet. The tail end of the trip required a visit to Stockholm for Mattias' Great Uncle's 80th birthday party. Ingrid and Mattias' Dad's cousin, Gudrun, stayed in the apartment and our family stayed at a surprisingly nice vandrahem in the Söder section of Stockholm, just a short walk from the gathering being held the following day. We had pizza at Carl Axel and Åsa's on Friday night and we had time to stroll around Saturday morning before the party. Liv wanted some new pants as a sudden growth spurt has made her pants in to "floods"--something she was not too happy about. After the party we had the car packed and drove again a couple of hours to Ingrid's family farm where we spent the night at her house there. Up the next morning to look at a 250 year old army officer's farm that sits on some family land and needs work and TLC. Because of it's age and historic status it can't be torn down so could be considered a project for someone. Despite the mouse droppings inside, it sure was charming with the little house, small barn and playhouse. Hmmm?
We arrived back to Gbg. Sunday night and got ready for the week ahead. Mattias took this past week off to do some home projects and work and the girls and I got back into the school routine. At the end of the week, today, we officially bought the home we've been waiting to buy! It was the easiest process I've seen as Mattias literally signed only about 4 documents. This week he was already working with the carpenter to start some remodeling--this job yesterday was opening up a wall for french doors from our guest bedroom to the lr/dr area. I dropped Liv and Hanna off at their Grandma's for the weekend and since we have agreed on colors, I will start painting tomorrow. With any luck, we'll move in May.
So, the girls are with Grandma, Mattias is at the other house and I've just finished a frozen vegetarian falafel with chickpeas, a glass of 3.5% beer and a taste of chocolate pudding. Swedes have this fascination with sing-a-long show so I am watching a fairly good edition of one now after the Simpsons just wrapped up.
Think Spring!
Carrie
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