A Fig in Sweden Portland

yummy drinks, headless people and a toothy alligator

Mommy and daddy said they needed to "get the hell out of Älmhult," so we went to a mall in Copenhagen. The sofas sure were stylie. But I didn't sit still for very long. Most of the time I wanted to go up and down the escalator. Mommy held my hand so tight it hurt.

These people seemed to have good fashion sense, but no heads and really white hands.

We ate lunch at an American diner, and I didn't even use the high chair the man brought us. I drank most of mommy's chocolate milkshake. She didn't seem to mind and was just relieved that I didn't throw one of my infamous fits.

My grandpa "Doc" was a dentist, and I really wanted to make him proud. But, hey, I'm a toddler. And toddlers have fits. Did you see all those scary instruments?

Plus, errr, why does that alligator have a full set of human teeth?!

New adventures are fun but exhausting.

label shopping at easter

Sure, we Americans have our egg nog at Christmas. But the Swedes win big-time when it comes to holiday-themed beverages. Christmas here includes Julmust (Christmas soda), glögg and an assortment of Christmas beers. 

Then there's Easter, and its Påskmust (Easter soda), Easter ales and apparently Easter coffee. I drank this Oppigårds Easter Ale last night and wish it came out year-round.

Oh how I love a country that makes food such an important part of celebrating.

Food is even the whole reason for holidays here. Like Cinnamon Bun day and Waffle Day, which we'll be celebrating on Thursday.

It may be damn cold here, but at least you don't go hungry. Or thirsty.

if it looks like a seat...

Further proof that kids decide what makes a good seat, reading nook, toy... you name it.

(And yet another post that has absolutely nothing to do with life in Sweden! Just life with a little Swede.)

things that go thump in the night

It was somewhere between 2 and 3 in the morning. Sophie had woken us up, and Lewis had gone in there to lull her back to sleep. Her requests for waffles and Abby (aka Sesame Street) were ignored, and she was not too happy about it.

Anyway, it seemed to get quiet again in her room when all of a sudden there was a thump."What was that," Lewis asked. I brushed it off. It sounded like a typical house sound.

Well, then we heard footsteps.

Both of us flew out of bed. Somebody had broken into the house and was coming up the stairs. My heart was racing as Lewis swung open the door with force to meet whoever it was at the top of the stairs, outside Sophie's room.

We didn't meet the intruder face to face. Because she isn't even a meter tall yet.

Yup, it was Sophie. She climbed out of her crib, opened her door and was trying to get into our room. (!!!) Thank god the door that swung wildly open did not hit her. 

We are still stunned that she managed to do it. And that she did it so gracefully. But we don't want her to practice her escape artist moves again tonight or any other night. Which means we have a date with IKEA after work today, where we will pick out a new big-girl bed. 

Wow, our big girl...

our cookie-baking monster

And the cookies? They were delicious!