Newsletter 2007

This year has been the year of no big projects. We work and the kids grow. This year’s big adventure was the trip to France in April by motorail. The excitement of going by train must be experienced, it cannot be described. The intense feeling when the three-year-old climbs the highest couchette and almost falls down, or when the five-year-old discovers that the windows can be opened and shut and opened and shut and… The advantage of traveling without babies is that you do not have to bring the pacifier, a spare pacifier, the extra pacifier and the pacifier you bring just in case. The disadvantage of traveling with somewhat bigger kids is that you have to bring entertainment, or you have to be very entertaining. Traveling by motorail means that you can bring the car and pack everything that is needed, almost like having a car-sized suitcase. The grown-ups appreciated French culture, the special French atmosphere, the quiet French medieval villages and all the tourist traps. The kids appreciated French Coca Cola and French toy stores. Cacke actually had a good Mac Donald’s hamburger in France!
 

We also visited Öland, a small island just off the coast about 250 kilometers north from here. It is considered as much of a holiday paradise as is possible to find in Sweden. We visited friends and the kids discovered the joys of miniature golf. The joys were enhanced by a complicated set of home made rules. The mean parents made the kids take swim lessons three cold summer weeks. This changed the kids from unwilling swimmers to fishes. They did not learn how to swim though, but I suppose that was not part of the curriculum.

Our basement is slowly becoming a well-equipped workshop. One of the latest additions, which makes Cacke very happy, is a band saw. What separates men from boys is only the price of their toys… A band saw is a must for all serious giraffe builders and is also typically a thing that is good to have.

Axel is almost grown up now: he has started school. As there are three Axel in his class he is now known as Axel A, and one of his new best friends is Axel R. Axel loves school, and he rides his bike every day. This summer Axel spent all his pocket money on a winch, ropes and a water hose. He actually tried to move trees in the garden, but did not quite succeed. From September he has spent all his pocket money on Lego, and he dreams with all his heart of having all the Star Wars Lego models. His best moments in life are spent by the computer where he plays Star Wars Lego.
 

Johan talks happily and much. He learns words quickly, and when there are no suitable words he invents them. Other words are improved as for example propeller, which is now known as twirlpeller. His heroes are Spiderman, Superman and Batman, and preferably all clothes should be decorated with either or all the heroes. Even in mid winter he dresses in shorts and t-shirt, something that makes all grown-ups shiver just looking at him. Mid-October his mean parents actually made him wear shoes instead of sandals. Although we had surprisingly few building projects this year we have put the finishing touches to the garage, and we are in the process of putting new floorboards in the attic. Last year we had a balcony animal competition, and the big winner all categories is Cacke’s mother Kerstin. Kerstin also received the special honor price in the category black cat.

Kersti & Cacke

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Last update: Feb. 18, 2008