A Low Key Weekend

I had a pretty low key weekend- movies Friday night with Marcia. Then Saturday I went to Pleasanton- I know-- what a surprise! This is Brooke's last weekend to train for her marathon next week in Utah. So I thought I could help with the kids since Evan had to work. I stayed with Brynn while Brooke and McKenzie went to a birthday party. After their party we went shopping- that is always an adventure with 2 small children! Then I stayed with the kids while Brooke went to the RS Broadcast at church. I love to play with the girls. Entertaining 2 young ones is exhausting yet so satisfying. So I have a picture or two and a cute video of Brynn..... Proud Grandma strikes again!

more videos

Here are a few more videos from the wedding....


This was a fun song all the Swedes love to sing at parties. Notice the Americans are not singing!! Even Cami, who is fluent, did not know this one!


This group is Tandoori Hill- they are friends of Klas and Camille's and they also played during the wedding. This is the only song of theirs that I recorded- regrettably!


This is one dance of a few that Klas's mom and step-dad, Ann-Christin and Michael, performed for us. It was so fun!

Swedish Wedding Hymn

I still want to share more from the wedding--- there was so much music the whole week leading up to the wedding and the wedding reception! So I am posting a video to give a glimpse of some of the music. I wish so much I had recorded more!!! This site is not taking the other videos yet. I think they are too big of a file. So for now-- here is a hymn that was sung in the church- in Swedish of course!

Staying Connected

I had such a fun weekend with McKenzie and Brynn- and oh yea- Brooke and Evan! It's true what they say- when your kids have kids the whole game changes. I go to see the grandkids and if I see Brooke and Evan then that's great too! =) Sorry Brooke- but I think you already knew this! I can't wait until Christmas when I finally get to go see Reagan and Jenna again.

When I went through my cancer 13 years ago I just prayed to live long enough to see my kids graduate from high school. Now I am greedy and want to live long enough for my grandkids to remember me!!! And since I have more grandkids to come I plan on being around for a long time. My grandchildren inspire me all the time-- to do better. They are my do-overs....... what I failed at as a parent I get another chance to do it better this time. Even though I am not the parent I can still look at this opportunity as a grandmother to be a better example, to be more patient, to have more fun. You get the point. I love my girls!!!!!!


Reagan is 7 and in 2nd grade!


Jenna will be 4 in October


McKenzie turned 4 in August


Brynn is 15 months

To expand further - Staying connected to family is so important..... Today was a great day for that. I talked with my brother, John. He recently relocated back to the U.S. after living in Costa Rica for 2 years. I am happy we will be able to talk more now that he is more easily available.

John surfing in Costa Rica

Then I talked to my Aunt Rosemary--- yesterday was her 89th birthday. Two years ago she was the subject of my very first blog. I love her so much - she has been my surrogate mom for over 30 years.

My visit to see Rosemary last March in Oklahoma.

After talking to Rosemary for an hour I talked to my sister, Leigh. She is in Houston and I will be seeing her at Christmas time too. Then I called my other sister, Patti, but she didn't answer.

My sisters, Leigh and Patti

Next I was able to talk to my sister, Susie. She is in Seattle. Thank goodness her husband's family is in the Bay Area- so I am able to see them a couple of times a year usually.

My sister, Susie, and her family.

In between all of my other family calls I also manage to stay in touch with my kids. Those are the calls that get me through my routine days. That is what really matters to me--- staying connected.

California State Fair

For the 6 years I have lived in Sacramento I have never gone to the State Fair. I did the County Fair in Pleasanton many many times when the kids were growing up. So I never felt the need to go here. But they were selling the tickets at work and decided that I should go. Brooke and her family came last night so that we could go to the fair today. McKenzie and Brynn were so cute. They had fun- Kenzie with a few rides and Brynn loved the animals. Kenzie was not a fan of any of the animals!!!

McKenzie thought she was pretty cool on this little jeep!


Brynn loved petting all the animals.

We were also able to go to Bryan and Lisa's for dinner last night. Kenzie had a blast playing with Ayden. They have a bunch of great toys for the kids, and they have a pool! So it was a fun night hanging out with friends, in between herding the kids from the pool to the bounce house to the bikes and to the playhouse. Kenzie was in heaven and Brynn tagged along!!!


McKenzie and Ayden kept sharing the helmet as they took turn on the bike!


Brynn loved the slide in the bounce house!!

Swedish cheese

The Swedes have a custom of eating cheese with just about every meal. They put it on the table with Flatbread. I love it! So when I got home--- I decided to get some and do the same thing. Especially since Brooke and her family were coming this weekend, I knew she would love it too. But finding the cheese is a challenge. Swedes have a whole section in the grocery store just for the big blocks of cheese. My deli doesn't have anything that compares. Finally when I went to Sam's club- I found "Swedish Fontina Cheese". So I bought it. Then had to find the cheese slicer and the flatbread. Well, I found the slicer. But haven't found the flatbread. I know it's out there. Just haven't found it yet! I found flatbread crackers for now. But in the meantime---- I like to relive the memories of being in Sweden.... not to mention-- I really like the cheese.

What a trip (part 2)!

So...... after 10 days in Stockholm, I then flew over to Amsterdam. Originally, I was going to go and stay in a hotel and be by myself. But, after my brother John's girlfriend, Jeannette, found out I was coming to Amsterdam, which is close to where she lives..... she invited me to stay with her. I could not have been more blessed!!! She has a beautiful home with room for a guest. I could not have asked for a better situation. She met me at the airport-- which is also connected to the train station. We got on the train and went to her town, Lelystad. I had never met her face to face before! After 10 minutes of being with her I knew we would get along really well. Not only that -- I had a blast! The next morning we got up and got back on the train to go into Amsterdam. She was an excellent tour guide. We walked for miles and miles!! What a city it is.... all the buildings are out of the 1500's and 1600's. AMAZING. Canals and bridges everywhere. People everywhere. Bicycles EVERYWHERE!!!!!! We shopped and ate and shopped and ate! That night we went to her daughter's house warming gathering. I met Ilse, her boyfriend, Daniel, Jeannette's parents, Peter (Pete) and Matilda (Til), and Daniel's family. It was a fun night- listening to everyone speaking Dutch most of the time.


Jeannette



One of many beautiful old churches in Amsterdam


Beautiful flowers were all over the place!


Apple Pie and Coca Cola Light for a snack.(In Europe they don't sell Diet Coke- they have Coca Cola Light, and it tastes different)


Christiann (sister-in-law), Til, the other grandmother, Jeannette, Ilse, Daniel and Pete.

My 2nd full day in The Netherlands, I went into Amsterdam by myself. Because Jeannette had done such a good job showing me around the first day, I knew where to go. I took the Canal Cruise- The "Museum Hop On Hop Off". So after awhile on the boat- I got off to do the tour of the Ann Frank House. What an emotional tour that was. I heard the church bells she heard that she talks about in her book. I walked behind the bookcase the hid the stairs up to their living quarters- and walked up the stairs. I stood in each room that she shared with 7 other people. I saw the toilet that they used. And at the end of the tour of each of the small rooms, I saw the actual diary that she wrote in. It is under glass. Her handwriting is beautiful. I have known her story all of my life. But to see where they actually were hiding for 2 years....well, all I can say is WOW. After the tour of the house, I got back on the boat for awhile. I got back off to go see the Rijks Museum. I was there for 2 hours- looking at Rembrandts, Vermeers, and other beautiful paintings. After I got my cultural fill I got back on the boat and finished the canal tour. Then I shopped and got back on the train back to Lelystad. That night we ate at home and I met Nils, Jeannette's gorgeous son! ( and I forgot to get a picture of him.... darn!!!!)


This is a parking garage for bikes!


This is the Ann Frank House- the original building is covered up to protect it- but the inside is the real thing.


The entrance to the Rijks Museum. No pictures allowed inside.


I loved this beautiful house.


Another beautiful church.


On the train back to Lelystad- I saw this windmill!


My 3rd day Jeannette was off work again- so we decided to go shopping right in Lelystad. But the exciting part of the day was that we went shopping- not by car but by bicycle!!! I had not ridden a bike in years!!! But what they say is true- you never forget. We had a crazy fun day shopping, eating lunch out, shopping, and then eating dinner out. In between all of these adventures over the 4 nights and 3 days I was there, I also met her sister, Petra, that lives next door. And we talked and talked and talked and talked!!!!! I even got to speak to John several times..... Jeannette is a very special person. She is a good listener, has such a great sense of humor, and I must say... good taste in men! She loves my brother doesn't she?!! I have a new wonderful friend, and can't wait to see her again. So Jeannette, thank you for making my trip to The Netherlands so memorable. Please come see me in California so that I can reciprocate!!!!


Jeannette's home.


Ready to ride my bike to go shopping!


A Dutch ship from the 1600's.


Jeannette with her sister, Petra.