Random Photos from November

Here are photos of a few of the other things we were up to in November. 

We went bowling with friends. 

The sun started setting earlier and earlier in the day.  In the darkest part of winter the sun didn't really get all that much higher than this, even at midday. 

Silly six year old

Independent three year old walking along what used to be the old city wall.

Every time we walked through town it was even more decorated for Christmas. 

We went to a Thanksgiving dinner put together by some of the students in W's department.  The girls were the only kids there and even though we'd brought all kinds of entertainment (E's knitting, toys, books, etc) what they really wanted to do was hide in a corner and play on my iPod Touch.

Little honey. 

Christmas Market

Here in Sweden, all through December, there are Christmas markets everywhere.  They are so much fun!  You can find all kinds of yummy food and pretty crafts at great prices, all while enjoying the festive holiday atmosphere.  The first Christmas market we went to was at Kulturen, the outdoor cultural museum.  We went with friends and had a great time.

The girls were especially interested in this paper painting. 

The finished product. 

S (in the pink snowpants) and friend - heading to the playground in the middle of the museum. 

The museum playground has a working water pump. 

And finally a lunch break.  The kids enjoyed their juice boxes... 

...while the dads cooked lunch. 

Excellent hot dog chefs! 

As we ate lunch, an accordion player showed up and started playing Christmas tunes.  Some people in the crowd spontaneously jumped up, grabbed each others' hands and started dancing and following the accordion player.  Here they are on a stage...

Out to Lunch

The girls love to meet Daddy for lunch on a weekday.  Here we are at a restaurant near W's work.  See S behind the bread basket?  

There she is!

And E, tackling an enormous sandwich at a popular student hang out. 

Binoculars

I love this series of photos.  We brought very few toys with us and we haven't bought all that many here.  It has been really nice to live without all the excess.  Since we left the USA I have really seen the girls' imaginations blossom.  They can now entertain themselves for much, much longer than they could before we made this move.

On this day, E had made them each a set of binoculars (tape, empty toilet rolls and a little yarn can be so useful).  We had to pause a few times on our walk in to school so that they could inspect the park through their new binoculars.

Playdate

We had a playdate in our favorite park with some new friends.

S & friend

No playdate would be complete without a coffee shop stop, right?   

These girls made quick work of the goodies we picked out at the bakery. 

Just hanging out at home in November...

Here is E, working away at her homework.  Her school teaches in English but mostly we see British English. She knows how to spell "aeroplane" and "Mum" the UK way now and every once in a while she'll come out with a word she's learned recently said in a perfect British accent. 

S, working away at her homework.  

Making clove oranges ...  mmmm, yummy. 

For the record, the Swedish for clove is kryddnejlika.  In general, grocery store shopping hasn't been all that difficult.  But try finding a spice in a huge, alphabetically sorted spice rack when you only know the English name of the spice.  You get lucky if the Swedish version begins with the same letter.  I've spent a lot of time standing in that spice aisle, typing into my iPod translator!  

Speaking of spices, I've been teaching a Conversational English class to a group of PhD students and post-docs.  Recently I found myself trying to describe what cinnamon and cloves are.  I learned that I am not very good at sketching spices!  And in the end I needed to figure out the Swedish for the spices anyway because even though many departments at Lund University use English as a primary language, the grocery stores do not!!

Final few photos from Stockholm

Here is E looking our our hotel room.  The island we were staying on, in Gamla Stan, is one big hill.  We entered our hotel at the top of the hill on the first floor but then went downstairs to our room.  When we looked out the window at the back of the hotel, we were three floors above the street level.  

E loved trying to wrap her head around that concept!  

Our very first Swedish souvenir shopping.  Yay! 

Amazing food hall.  If I lived here I'd be in this place a few times a week! 

Look at that, doesn't it make you want to shop for yummy fruits and veggies? 

I fell in love with these dresses! 

Back at the hotel, time for a snack. 

Inside the German Church of Gamla Stan