Pigtails, Painted Toes and Mohawks

Lilli's hair is getting long. Long enough that we can put it into pigtails.

Her hair isn't the only thing that's growing... Lilli is getting pretty 'long' too!

Such a sweet face...

Lilli got new pink (of course) sandals this summer. She wanted sandals so that she could show off her pretty toenails. Here they are painted blue with silver sparkles (for the 4th of July.)

Tipton has been wanting to get a mohawk for a long time now. I finally talked Dave into allowing him to get one. It's not very tall... we've called it a 'mohawk in training' or a 'faux-hawk.' Tipton LOVES it!

4th of July

We had several American families over for 4th of July. We cooked burgers and hotdogs and salmon on the grill. There was potato salad, pasta salad and cole slaw. For dessert we had jello and rice krispie treats and star shaped sugar cookies with red, white and blue sprinkles.

My Mom (aka Grandma Suzie) had mailed us red, white & blue flower leis. Aunt Jenni brought us American flags and red, white and blue stars to decorate the yard with. Grama Kay and Papa sent the kids 4th of July t-shirts.

The kids ran around being crazy while the adults relaxed and talked. A good time was had by all!

The Pool

When the summer finnally got warm, we brought out the pool. The kids were very excited...

They like splashing.

Tipton liked to jump up and see how big a splash he could make when he came down.

A good time was had by all.

Totally unrelated... Lilli rediscovered the bow clips she wore when she was a baby. And she decided to wear them all at once.

I think it's a great look for her!

Ven

Went to the island of Ven with the Trively's.

On the boat ride over:

Tipton, Lilli, Clare, Mia, Anna.

Jenn

On top of the island, near the old, white church.

At the Tycho Brahe museum:

Lilli in what we refered to as the 'whirl & hurl.'

There was a game where you had to swing a rope with a ring on the end of it, and get the ring to hook around a peg. Tipton was really good at it. He got the ring on the peg almost every time!

Martin tried out the stilts.

A really cool statue of the sun.

Mommy & Lilli, relaxing before the boat ride back.

Future Engineer

My computer died this summer. So Dave decided to build me a new one. Tipton helped.

Midsommar!

This year we went to the Midsommar celebration festivities in Folkets Park. We met the Trively's and the Anderson's there.

The kids got to help decorate the midsommar pole and make flower crowns to wear. Then we stood in circles around the midsommar pole and danced and sang traditional midsommar songs.

A rare picture of the elusive Mommy. Daddy must have had control of the camera.

Tipton and Lilli in their flower crowns. I like that Tipton is wearing his USA shirt.

The whole gang! From the back, left to right: Clare, Ryan, Tipton, Mia, Natalie, Anna, Lilli

Incidentally, Lilli and Anna were featured in one of the local papers! A photographer took their pictures and a reporter interviewed them.

Later that afternoon we all met up again at the Trively's, along with a few other families, for more Midsommar celebrations. There was aquavit (traditional liquor of Midsommar celebrations) and several different flavors of herring. There was also grilled salmon, hot dogs and hamburgers for the less adventurous (who far outnumbered the adventurous...). For dessert we had several different strawberry cakes, along with the limited edition Maribu Midsommar chocolate with dried strawberries.

The celebration lasted long into the night. Fortunately, we had ridden our bikes over to the Trively's.

Summertime: Strawberries and Short Hair

You know summer has arrived in Sweden when the strawberry stands spring up all over the city. (And yes, she is wearing a coat and a scarf. I said it was summer. I didn't say it was warm.)

Lots of Tipton's friends got buzz cuts at the end of the school year - their 'summer cuts.' Tipton decided that he wanted to get one, too...

I documented the occasion.

Before: He's all smiles and can't wait to get his hair cut!

About two passes of the razor and he wasn't so sure...

Having major second thoughts at this point.

He's starting to like it now.

He seems happy with the results!

That night, after his shower, we photographed his new 'do from all angles:

Front:

Side:

Back:

Other side:

He really, really likes it!

Last Day of School (2009)

Preschool had an End of School party. Everyone brought in a treat to share.

Lilli and Mia - best friends.

Birgit and her son, Jonas. Birgit was the Parent Rep for the preschool class. She did an excellent job of organizing festivities and keeping us informed!

The kids got certificates and a small gift. Lilli's gift was a 'bug catcher.'

Malin (Lilli's teacher), Luciana (the assitant for Lilli's class), Lilli & Tina (who will be Lilli's teacher in the fall.)

Tipton and Kumari. Kumari took over teaching Tipton's class in January.

Tipton and Chris. Chris taught Tipton's class up until January.

Little Gym End of Term

On the last day of the Little Gym term the kids put on a show to demonstrate what they've been working on. Friends and family are invited into the gym to watch.

Lilli absolutely LOVES Little Gym.

This skill prepares them for when they will be able to flip themselves up an over the bar all on thier own.

Here Lilli is laying the foundation for doing a forward roll on the balance beam.

Hanging from the HIGH bar!

Waiting patiently while watching one of her friends.

Lilli loves to do Forward Rolls.

At the end of the class they all got a medal!