Christmas in Sweden

So Marlee and I got home ok and spent one night at home before going to Fårö, where my family was waiting. My mum picked us up at the airport and went with us to Fårö.

After speed-wrapping all the Christmas gifts we had a nice Christmas dinner and then - presents! Once again, Marlee, god a lot of very nice presents. He even got tired of opening them and prefered to play with the ones he had already opened... Is that a sign of healthyness or "spoildness"??

Anyways, we had a very good night, even if we were both rather yetlagged.

Christmas tree, though a pine instead of a pruce

Santa could come even if it was off working hours (day)

Not sure if I can trust Santa yet

Bye Bye Santa (see video, too)

Wow, interesting wrapping

It was a tractor!

Bye bye Santa

Going home

The trip back to Sweden went fine. Marlee behaved very good even if he did not sleep much. He was still happy.

Before leaing Miami in the morning

Waiting for mummy in the bathroom

Ups, it was not a good idea to "jump"
on my butt on this chair

Our last day in Miami

We spent the last day in Miami (Alex is staying another week and a half) on Sonny's boat out on the ocean in nice sunny weather. Gorgeous day with snokeling and good company!

Fell asleep on the boat

Exploring Gables by the Sea

Back home again...

... and a warm jacucci was waiting! Nice!

Had a yummy dinner at Shorty's

Christmas Eve

Great evening with lots of guests and way too many presents for Marlee ;-) Thanks everyone!!!

Julafton in Miami

GOD JUL OCH GOTT NYTT ÅR

TILL ALLA VÅRA SVENSKA VÄNNER OCH SLÄKT!!!

What a nice day!

First part of the day was spent by the pool. After Marlee's nap we did some shopping with farmor (boy did she have to work hard in order to prevent him from making the store a big mess while I was shopping!) and then went to the pee hole again. It rained when we got there but it was still nice and warm. It stopped pretty soon. Marlee really enjoyed going swimming and Alex enjoyed building a sand castle with a inappropriate roof design. I enjoyed watching Marlee and swing him in the water. We drove to the beach in farfar's convertible (a Volvo) :-D Though, Marlee enjoyed the door lamp switch next to his car seat more than the ride...

Meeting up with the Chambery girls last night!! So good to see them!

Being busy, as always!

Let's go, Dad!

By the Pee hole

Resting after the swim

Totally ready to go home, so tired!

Alex's sand castle

Beautiful sun set by the Pee hole

Trying out one of the Christmas gifts from farmor and farfar,

The Elephant

There was car coming so the video ends kind of abruptly

Going in farfar's convertible

The convertible turns into a "Transformer"!

Swimming :-)

Back in Miami, visiting the "Pee hole" (Matheson Hammock)

Yesterday we drove down to Miami from Ormond. Marlee slept a lot during the car ride and I was worried that he would not go to sleep at night, but that was no problem.

Today Marlee and I started the day by the pool. Marlee got wet to his belly but no more. I did not go in properly, just made sure to hold on to Marlee :-) I really need to get him some small "arm floaters"! The ones he has are still too big.

After lunch and nap we all (Alex, Marlee and I) went to the little beach in Matheson Hammock, "the Pee hole". The water was nice and warm (for a Swede) so both Marlee and I went in. Marlee was in the water most of the time while we were there. Some friends came to visit, too, and we had a good time!

Had a good dinner at an Italian restaurant. Now Marlee has just gone to sleep and I am about to hit the road and go shopping. Some stores here are open until 1 am!!! That is crazy and I am going to take the chance to do some shopping while Marlee sleeps!

Eating raisins in Ormond

Running on the beach, but the shadow is standing still!!!

Eating apples bits

Miami skyline in the background

The sound on this video is very strange, and you can hardly hear anything, for some reason... But it is cute! The next video is "normal" :-)



North Florida Video Clips

We are back in Ormond again and enjoying sun and walks on the beach. Today it has been really nice. A little windy but very sunny. Even dared to put on shorts while taking Marlee for a nap-walk in the stroller :-)

Before lunch Marlee, farmor and I took a walk on the beach. Marlee did not enjoy it for some reason that we could not really figure out but he surely enjoyed a big whole that we found in the sand, while meeting up with farfar (last video).

Aside from walking we have also done some minor shopping as well as spent some time in a playground.

Yesterday Alex and I drove back from Madison to Ormond. We passed through Gainesville to see Alex and Jorge, and their children - Lucas who is becoming such a handsome big boy and little Lucia, only 6 weeks old and so cute! It was so good to see them again but why am I so bad a taking the chance to take pictures!!!!???

On the way from Ormond to Madison

Somewhere around Madison

Playing on Ormond Beach

... And now Florida...

We left Sweden Wednesday. The trip went very good. At the airport in Stockholm they had built a miniature land for children inspired by books of Elsa Beskow. Good fun for Marlee!



Climbing up into a giant Chantarelle (Mushroom)
with a slide on the other side.

 Well, in Florida we spent the first night in Miami with farmor and farfar. We were able to stay up and Marlee actually stayed up until nine (Florida time) and slept until 7.30 in the morning. Except for 1,5 hours break around 3.30 when he woke up and I thought that he had decided to get up. He ate some porridge and apple but then went back to sleep again after some reading and singing. What a relief!!! I was like a zombie!!!

Thursday we took two cars and drove up to the house in Ormond together with farmor and farfar. We stayed there one night.

Having some lunch in Ormond
 before leaving for Madison.

Around lunch time we left Ormond to go the land Alex and his parents have bought in Madison County, FL. Exciting to see what the land was like!!! Jackie and Doug was there, too, and they have set everything up so that it is possible to stay in the trailer :-)

Marlee being silly in the car, on the
way to Madison



The trailer on the property in Madison. Aunt Jacke had put
out some nice Christmas decorations.



Marlee is chasing a lizzard. Can you see it?

Can you see it now?

Marlee in his new Cowboy outfit

At the property next to ours there is a horse living. Today we got it some apples in a store since it unfortunately does not have so much yummy grass to eat...

Marlee with the horse in the background

Climbing the highest point on the property

First Looking back on Lucia

For the Lucia celebration Marlee was dressed up as a mini Santa. He is the shortest guy in the middle and he was soo cute!

Marlee's daymum, Annelie, is the woman sitting infront of the little Lucia train.

Getting ready for warmer weather!!

We only have two more days left in Sweden now, before leaving for a Christmas in Florida. The list of things to do and fix before the departure is long but the boring weather makes it easy to stay inside and be efficient :-) I have heard that the weather has not been this warm in Sweden during this time of the year since they started keeping track (end of 18-hundred).

I think Marlee is about to learn how to jump. He is doing it a lot in our big bed :-) but today he also did it when standing on my lap. He has also started to repeat what we say which is so charming! Though, when we are angry with him it is kind of difficult to stay serious and not start laughing :-D

Solving a jigsaw puzzle while drooling

Playing with water while mummy is making dinner

Ok, maybe these boots are too big after all...

The artist!

Today Marlee got to try out his new finger paint. So much fun!!!

Picasso! Do not try this at home!!



More civilized painting...



"Porridge face stuffing"

And daddy says that porrige is not yummy!!!!!