Monday, June 08, 2009

Four Weeks in Malmö

Guest blogger: Suzanne Wade (aka Mom, aka Grandma Suzie)

May 10, Sunday
What a perfect way to start a vacation... in church! I was greeted enthusiastically by friends inquiring abut my surgery & recovery then happily over news of my trip. It was a great feeling & comfort to have so many concerned well-wishers. Gladys took me to Chilli's for Mother's Day... had fried onion rings... excellent! Interesting flight. The meal, which we ate at 11:15pm, had a beef stew. The meat kept "growing" in my mouth. I ate only that & packed up the rest. Sitting on the aisle the attendents kept bumping my arm with never an 'excuse me.'

May 11, Monday
Was served a ham & cheese sandwich & yogurt for breakfast. Jenn & the kids met me at the airport. They've bot gotten soooo tall. Tipton was a great help with the luggage. Lilli was Lilli. Malmö i sbeautiful in the spring... lots of big flowering trees. After unpacking Jenn fixed a dinner provided by Sam (she cleaned her frezer & pantry before moving to the US) - baked fish (that I loved) and macaroni & cheese & sugar snap peas. The sun was still up at 9:45pm.

May 12, Tuesday
The sun was up in my eyes when I woke up at 4:00am. I went back to sleep. When we took the kids to school I was greeted warmly by all of Jenn's friends that I had met on previous trips... everyone remembered me!! Today was yoga day, I 'walked the streets' while Jenn did her thing. It was a little breezy, but I enjoyed walkign slowly along the cobblestones & looking in the windows (the stored don't open untl 10:00am) I had a cup of hot tea & a pastry at a bakery & read, ate & warmed up. I bought a daisy plant for the dining room table from a stall set up in a small square.

After a lunch at home, we picked up the kids from school and headed to tennis. Tipton is improving nicely. From tennis it was off to Little Gym for Lilli. From there it was back to Bladins for soccer for Tipton. Dave was working late, so we had tamales for supper!

Before yoga - went to ICA Maxi at the harbor to finish the items for the figt basket. Chantal drove - neat lady.

May 13 - Wednesday
Had breakfast at a cafe with a buffet (Sisters & Brothers)... got stuffed. From there we walked downtown and I mean way way downtown. The people are fascinating. Some of the small stores have water bowls in front for the dogs! We stopped for a chai latte at Expresso House & split a pastry (and rested my aching legs.) We finally got to Tiger!! Then the loooooong walk back to the car. Stopped at Malmborgs for supper items. We had Cookie Monster's Mini Meatloaves, mashed potatoes & broccoli... mmmm.

May 14, Thursday
Oh! My aching legs! Spent the morning cleaning the kids desks then picked up Jenni from the train. Had lunch at the "pizza place at the harbor" (Pizzaria 01). I got enchiladas... it was a flour tortilla filled with a ground beef mixture that tasted mroe like a sloppy joe and was crammed full of red, yellow & green peppers, mozzerella cheese & more peppers on top. Served with a side of lettuce, 2 tomatoe wedges & some cucumber strips. Met with the real estate agent & looked at a townhouse. It was nice but no yard. Picked up the kids who were thrilled that Aunt Jenni was there. She spent a couple of hours entertaining the kids while I knitted. After Jenn took her to the train we fixed dinner... leftovers. Meatloaves were better the second day. I got Lilli to eat ALL of her dinner - even 9 peas!!!

Had my last "slug" today.

May 15, Friday
Festival Day! Delivered the figt basket along with the kids then home to bake. Jenn made 4 dozen brownies and 4 dozen rice krispie treats. Lunch. Then back to school to set up the booth... EGG HUNT. The cake walk (they used hula hoops!) was across from us. Lilli loved that. She won 5 times (3 or 4 cup cakes in a baggie each time) and Tipton won 3 times. I stood in line for 30 minutes with Tipton waiting for cotton candy. They had sushi, waffles, pizza, hot dogs & turkis/Mediteranian food. Jenn won a basket filled with Belgian chocolate. It was cold (we were in the shade)... I wore my jacket the whole time.

May 16, Saturday
Took apart Lilli's crib & cleaned her room. Jenn went through and weeded out the books then had Lilli weed out her stuffed animals. Jenn held onto Tipton's cow (his first toy.)

May 17, Sunday
A lasy family day. Jenn played Wii with Tipton then mowed the back & front yards. Lilli played in the hard pitching horse shoes with Jenn. When Dave finished putting the new pattery in Jenn's car, he took over horse shoe duties. Leftovers for lunch. Supper was grilled pork. I spent the day knitting Tipton his tree.

May 18, Monday
There was a special play at school involving PYP1, PYP2 and PYP3. PYP1 provided the music, PYP2 provided the dancers (Tipton was an excellent tree) and PYP3 the actors. Everyoen was very enthusiastic. Went to Lidl (the snack store) & shopped. Home for lunch then back to Bladins for Jenn to help Tipton's class with their spelling. Dave worked late, so we had tamales! Yummy!

May 19, Tuesday
It's hectic Tuesday. Got the kids to school then went to Malmborgs for groceries. At 10?30 we went to yoga... Jenn did, I walked the streets again. Had a pastry & hot tea at the best bakery in town. After yoga we went to Mr Changs for dumplings. 5 in an order, each the size of a small orange... I had beef & Jenn had pork. Off to pick up the kids then on to tennis. Next was Little Gym for Lilli, then it was soccer for Tipton. I'm tired just writing about it! Jenn had a meeting at Bladins, so I got to read the kids their bedtime story.

May 20, Wednesday
No school! Had Swedish pancakes & bacon for breakfast - delicious. Went to look at two houses. The first had an unfenced swimming pool & open sided stairway. The yard wasn't "playable." The second had a little better yard & a c9ommunity play area for the children. Met Alexandra & her 3 boys at Fun House for lunch and a fun filled (for the kids) afternoon. After about 1/2 hour we were the only ones there except for 2 three eyar old girls. The kids had a great time. I liked the ice cream... vanilla/strawberry/pear. Jenn & Dave had some errands so I got to read to the kids again.

May 21, Thursday
We're off to Lego Land! Got away by 8:00am - 3 hour drive. Went over 3 looooon bridges. Beautiful countryside. Rolling hills covered in yellow flowers... they are used in teh canola oil. People going into the park looked like ants heading to a picnic. They were even pulling wagons loaded with food & coolers. About every 5th person was pushing a stroller/baby carriage or pulling a wagon. Dogs are allowed as long as they are leashed... water bolws ar eprovided for them. The french fries at lunch were in the shape of Legos! I went on at least 3 rides. The flowers & small shrubs were incredible. The weather was perfect... sunshine & short sleeves. About 6:30pm it started to rain, so we headed inside for supper... so did every else. Afterward we toured the LEgo store - they had Legos in bins like a candy store... every size, shape & color. Prices were wild. .. Denmark is very expensive. The kids slept in my room - Tipton on an upper bunk and Lilli on a trundle.

There was a beautifull rainbow as we came out of the park.

Passed a group of antiue/classic cars... saw some really neat ones.

There were wind turbines EVERYWHERE!

May 22, Friday
Had a terrific continental breakfast at the hotel (the Zleep Hotel in Bilund, DK) Delicious fresh bread, meats, cheeses, spreads, etc with different juices & teas. Then off to the park... parked across from the entrance (the early bird gets the parkins pace.) It was cold so we got a jacket (waterproff) for Tipton. I got Jenn's sweater, so she froze, I watched the kids so Dave & Jenn could ride the big roller coaster. After lunch it started to rain. I stood under a cover while the rest wen ton a ride. The rain slowed down but Dave got Lego rain ponchos for everyone... they were very warm. After making our purchases at the Lego store we strolled through the Lego Town & it started raining again. Then it started to hail. It hurt. We finally left about 5:30pm. after the rain & hail had stopped. Stopped at a McDonald's in a small town in Denmark going home. A good, tiring time was had by all.

May 23, Saturday
Don't remember Saturday. Must have spent it recovering from Lego Land

May 24, Sunday
Had the Trively's over for girlled hamburgers & hot dogs which entailed a bit of house cleaning. Had McDonald's for lunch at Triangeln.

May 25, Monday
Ikea day! Got there at opening time - 10:00am - no crowd! Covered the entire store (I went to bed early.) Found lots of goodies, Jenn got some cushions for her patio furiture. Jenn pu the purchases in the car, then came back adn we went to lunch upstairs... Swedish meatballs... yummy. Got a package of the gravy mix that they use. Went to look at another house - great yard but that was it. Dave worked late so we had leftovers... potato salad & bbq & hot dogs while watching Ice Age 2.

May 26, Tuesday
Not quiet as frantic. Tennis is over for the season. Jenn took me to Plantagen... a huge nursery gift shop. Saw som ereally strange but neat looking plants and the most georgeous artificial flowers I have ever seen. Lots of neat garden accessories. Even a hovering lawn mower. First we checked out a rental house in Bunkeflostrand that Jenn fell in love with... also a local maket (yes, it carried her favorite items.) After Little Gym there was Samba Football (soccer). Had my choice of taking off Lilli's bandaids from Sunday's fall or making dinner. My spaghetti was very good.

May 27, Wedensday
I was wrong. Today is the day we looked at the house. Yesterday we stood around the school & talked (Jenn's Mafia.) Then we went to the trash store (like our goodwill.) Then went to Entre, the new mall... like an American mall. We had lunch at the food court... Jenn had steadk & I had grilled chicken (I still can't chew "real" meat.) We looked at sneakers for Lilli then took the 'catwalk" to the extension across the street. Went into a fantistic kitches store (Cervera) and got soem neat things. Then went downstairs for dessert... Jenn had rhubarb pie & I had pear/cardamon cake w/ sliced almonds. Then it was time to pick up the kids and make the goodies for book club. Jenn took sopapilla cheesecake & Sweet Spicy Bacon Chicken Wraps. Melisa brought a fantastic salsa (I got the recipe) & Jackie made Banoffee pie. It was exsquisit. We finally got home at 10:30pm! Had a great time.

May 28, Thursday
Field trip for Tipn's class. Dropped Lilli at Betsy's then headed for the train station. Got there at 8:10am. Wound up with 21 kids and 6 adults plus me. The train took us to Copenhagen, then we had to take a bus, then walk a block and a half to the Experimentarium. It was all "hands on" science stuff & was packed with kids from 1st grade through high school. You can imagine the noise. Had sack lunches in a designated area then back into the melee. Then to the gift shop!!! Tpton got 2 quartz rocks. Had perfect timing catching our bus then our train back. Thirty minutes after we got home the bottom fell out of the sky (rain, rain, rain!)

May 29, Friday
Off to Lund!!! Hardly any traffic in the city... college must be out. Did see some seniors - they wore white sailor caps and the men wear a suit & tie and the women wear white dresses. After the uphill climb from the car park we stopped at Expresso house for breakfast... orange juice, chia latte and a plane scone. It came with 2 slices of cheese, butter & preserves. Was delicious. Then we ambled down the pedestrian mall. We stopped in the kitting shop... oh, such yarns! I got some short #5 needles and some yarn made of Bamboo!! We stopped to use the toilet (that's how they refer to it here.) Then headed to Tiger... many neat bargains. Just down teh way was a square with many produce stands. There was every fruit & vegetable imaginable. Jenn got some delicious strawberries & some cherries - she had never eaten fresh cherries before. Back to Malmö & Malmborgs to pick up snacks for the park. 15 kids & no fights or arguments in 2 1/2 hours... hooray! Home for showers, pizza & a Star Wars movie (Empire Strikes Back)

May 30, Saturday
We went to Sofiero. About an hours drive from Malmö. We met the Trively's and the Anderson's there (Selese Anderson is an assistant in Tipton's class. Her son, Ryan, is in PYP2. Her daughter, Natalie, is in PYP3.) It was the summer palace for King Gustav. Famous for its rhodedendron bushes - over 5000 of them! Some of them were more like trees. The colors were amazing. Lots of walking. Up and down hills. Had lunch next to the small playground where the royal children would play. Had some ice cream right before we left. While we were eating the ice cream a wedding party arrived. When the old, classic car arrived with the bride and groom the kids ran along beside it so they could see the bride. When we got back to Malmö we stopped by Malmborgs for a few things, then went to the Trively's house for a cookout. We ate outside. Around 7:30 it started to get chilly, so Martin brought me a blanket - just like they do at the restaurants downtown!

May 31, Sunday
Two kinds of cinnamon buns for breakfast... yum. Did some washing & some Wii playing. Went to lunch at McDonald's at Triangeln, then WALKED in teh SUN all the way down to the large square to H&M (clothng store) then all the way back... still in the sun. This was my 4th day in a row that I have walked a minimum of 3 miles!!!! The kids rode theri bikes when we got back. Supper was rotiserie chicken from Maxi & mac&cheese & snow peas. Strawberries for dessert. I went to bed at 8:00pm... talk about exhausted!

June 1, Monday
Happy June! They got the house in Bunkeflostrand! Jenn is estactic. Took the recycle... had to go to Coop as the first place was full. Picked up breakfast & brought it home to ead. Did some more laundry. Went to the farmer's market (Molevang) in the Middle Eastern district Got a black watermellon. Stopped at a Persian bakery & bought a loaf of sesame flat bread (still warm from the oven.) Then went to a tiny Asian market for a can of cream soda... the only place in Malmö where you can get it. Next we went to Jättekul (toy store.) Home for lunch & more laundry, then off to Bladins for spelling. The kids had frozen yogurt popsicles for snack (home made) - Lilli even had it on her forehead!

June 2, Tuesday
Had to shop for going away gifts for Lola & luca which meant walking all over downtown on cobblestones. The football shop didn't open for another hour, so we walked down to Tiger then to Lagerhous, then over to the wooden shoe shop for shoes for Lola. Then back tot he football shop for Luca's shirt. Had to wait 20 minutes for the proprietor to show up then wait while he made the sirt. Then home to unlaod purchases & off to Mobilia (mall) for lunch at Knife & Fork. I had a baked potato & jenn had lasagne. Then off to a larger Lagerhous which had the candle thingies (rotary candles) I wanted. Also found some gloves for Esther! Pick up kids, home for snack then off to Little Gym. From there to football. Home for supper.

June 3, Wednesday
Melisa's going away party. Jenn made Parmesan zuchini bread. I watched while it cooked & she took the kids to school then hit Malmborgs for cream cheese for the pumpkin dip (which I made!) Finally found Selese's house - very nice. Great food... delicious blueberries & strawberries; good, mild cheese; a breakfast casserole; etc. Betsy made some thingies - pretzel crackers with a rolo & pecan half melting onto it. Scrumptious. Then met Lina at Lotus for some Thai buffet. Long walk back to the car then kid pick-up. Brought Ryan home to play with Tipton. Ravioli for the kids for supper & the Scooby Doo movie.

June 4, Thursday
Did some house cleaning & Facebook work then went to TRU for the birthday present for Oskar. Stopped at Coop on the way home for my walking sticks (finally got them to fit in the largest suitcase.) Also some delicious strawberries. Home to start packing. At 7:00pm after potato chip chicken, we went to Bunkeflostrand to see the new house - inside. There is a saunain the master bath & a 2 1/2 foot tub; an office; all 3 bedrooms are twice the size of the ones now. Separate laundry rooom; and an Ikea kitchen to die for.

June 5, Friday
Lilli's zoo trip. Dave was one of the chaperones, along with Martin. Jenn & Dave both left their house keys inside the house & Jenn had left her goat inside also. Went on to ICA Maxi to shop. Human Entrance called a locksmith for Jenn. I stocked up on coffee, cocoa, cinnamon buns - frozen & not, lingonberry jam for Melanie & me, and pepparkakor! Home for the locksmith, then downtown to Entre & Cervera to get the magnificant peelers & glass "people." Found guitar ice cube trays for Brian. Home for lunch - leftover mozzerella pie. Off for the last time to Bladins to pick up the kids then off to John Ericsson Park. Good eats. Jenn got delicious strawberries. Home to finish packing - EVERYTHING fits with room to spare. Pizza & movie night. I put Lilli's hair up in foam rollers... hope they stay in. 3 hurs later the curlers are still in! Cleane dup most of the email on People PC. Lilli had to have the curlers out - couldn't sleep on them. Had a few curls & got some pictures.

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