A Fig in Sweden

potatis = two thumbs down

back to boring

I didn't think our life in Älmhult was boring until we left it. But now that I've been in the U.S. for the entire month of June, partying with friends and family, the pace seems even slower here than I remember it. That's partly because the whole country is on vacation now. Sweden shuts down in July.

The trip was great. I think Sophie enjoyed it the most. She seemed to thrive on the adventure. So now my mission is to try and continue that with weekly outings to new places. The girl clearly likes being on the go.

I realized a few things about myself on this trip too. Or at least how Sweden has changed me. When I arrived in the States on June 1, the thing that struck me the most was the large number of "no-good-niks" hanging around and the high level of poverty. We don't see that in Sweden at all. We drove by our old house in Denver and decided we were glad we sold it. The neighborhood seems scarier than when we left it. I don't think it's changed. I think we have.

By the end of our whirlwind tour from D.C. to Indiana to Denver to San Antonio, Sophie made a few discoveries/observations as well:

1. Big toes are good for sucking
2. White wine is a refreshing summer drink
3. Airports get boring after 8 hours (we were stuck in the San Antonio airport after a canceled flight)
4. Being carried in a Baby Björn is a great way to see the world
5. Americans love babies
6. Mom and Dad actually have friends
7. Carpets are much better to play on than wood floors
8. Sunrise at 6 a.m. (instead of 4 a.m.) makes it easier to sleep in
9. Mom can discreetly whip out her boob anywhere, even running through the Copenhagen airport
10. The fist STILL won't fit!

Cousin Brittany reading Goodnight Moon

Trying to go after my wine!

Dad makes airports more fun

sophie's future playground

Of all the places we've been to in the world, there's one spot that stands out as our favorite vacation destination: Gunnison, Colorado. Several years ago we even bought a piece of land there with the hopes of building a vacation home on it. We figured that if we ever wanted to do it we might not be able to afford it, so we thought it would be smart to at least buy the lot. There it is behind Lewis and Sophie. Someday our front door will face the "W."

We can't wait to spend weekends here... teaching Sophie how to snowboard at Crested Butte in the winter and taking her on her first 14er hike in Lake City in the summer. We took her on her first real hike yesterday. And as mountain bikers passed us, I couldn't help but think that someday we'll be teaching her how to mountain bike on that same trail.

pogy

Sophie has slept in 6 different places so far on this journey. And she has slept very well thanks to her little Pogy travel bed. It's a German-designed gadget that's available online at Target. It even comes with insect netting you can put over the top for naps in the park.

no place like home

Ahhh... I forgot how nice it is to enjoy a bagel breakfast sandwich from Einstein's while sitting out on the patio. Almost everyone who walked by had something sweet to say to Sophie. We always forget how friendly everyone is here in the States. It's wonderful.

We arrived in Colorado on Father's Day, and our friends Cory and Vicky knew just how to help Lewis celebrate. We devoured some awesome food from our favorite Indian joint and laughed harder than we have in at least a year. 

We have not heard Sophie cry in weeks. She's smiling and laughing most of the time, and seems to love the adventure.

Sweden feels very far away right now.