In Berlin

I am on my way to Sweden but stopped over in Germany for some business on the way. I got in late this evening and went out for a walk around my hotel. Just down the street from where I'm staying I ran into Checkpoint Charlie.

Back home again

When we got home to our house at Älgö, it was like all energy just disapeared and it was quite a sorry lot who soldiered on through the day - all waiting for bed time! Axel and Vera both fell aslepp during the day - Kajsa was just a little teary. She was a real trouper on the tennis court and had fun, as did Axel and Vera, rolling in the gravel.
As one does!

We also went down to barnbadet a little while. Ran into an old school friend, Anna. We used to play flute together... There were tons of people, as it's finally hot!

I can't believe that weäll be going back again in a few days.
And pappa comes on Friday!

Bye bye, Finland

Our trip back was even better than the first one. Practice makes perfect! The children were almost absurdly well behaved. I'm very proud of them. And of myself!
The ship on the way back was Silja Symphony, which means that it was Serenade on the way to Helsinki. I'd recommend the Serenade. They are supposed to be identical, but there were a few things that just felt a little "tired" on this ship. Nothing major, just stuff like, no "oyster shell" for babies in the play room, and much better bread at breakfast on the way to Finland.
I also recommend families to go on the party boats, i e weekends, since there are a lot fewer kids and therefore more room for your offspring in the play rooms and restaurants!

We went to our cabin - same number as on the first leg - and then straight to the play room. I would have loved to have stood outside on the gangway to see Helsinki and generally enjoyed the beautiful summer's day, but that'll have to wait a few years. We then had dinner at the same restaurant - theoretically speaking - as on the way there, and thad a very nice meal. With an audience, since there were a looooong line waiting to get in. Afterwards, we went up to the sun deck. Some people were playing miniature golf, but maybe it was too late or too windy to be there for most people.

Down to the Pirate Island Adventure play room for a quick run around before bedtime. I thought they would be exhausted from having had very little sleep the last few days, and Axel asked to go "home and bed", but he was the one up until past 11pm, Finnish time. I was barely aware of my surroundings at that point!
In the morning we got up at 7 Swedish time (1h difference) and went down to have breakfast with Moominmamma again... Very popular. I took all the gear with me down to the restaurant, so not to have to go up and down again together with the rest of the passengers.

More pictues from the same day

Going to Finland - Part 2

As I thought, nobody was particularly keen to get up this morning, which is why I set the alarm. The idea of having breakfast with Moominmamma however, was incentive enough to get up and get ready.
For the kids, that is.
That meant having breakfast inside the Pirate Island adventure playroom. It was easily the most expensive sandwich I ever had, that 1/2 piece of toast with jam that Vera didn't want to finish, which was all I had time to eat between toilet visits with children and saying hello to Moominmamma. There are no pictures of this, since Axel held on to my hand with a vice-like grip, while shaking hands with her.
Kajsa and Vera didn't want to leave the boat, but the thought of seeing Tom and Freddie, Henri and their boat, they agreed.
A 45 minute car ride and we were in our friends lovely summer house. The pictures speak for themselves.
More of this tomorrow, though the big boys are at sailing camp, and then it's back to the Moominship!
I think I deserve to do a little bit of shopping.
If I get a minute!

Going to Finland - Part 1

There are few ways to travel alone with 4 kids under 7, that are as easy and pleasant as going on a ferry to Finland. After our city adventure in Stockholm, we set out to Värtahamnen by bus (free if you travel with kids) and then onto the big Silja Symphony. Or possibly Serenade.
Can't remember.
We were greeted by Moomin and that's where I could relax. We were in a cabin with a sea view, that we could all fit into if we just stood still, and after dumping our bags, we went down to the playsroom. There everybody had a grand old time and went to the toilet about 46 times each. Around 6.30 Finnish time, we were hungry and went across the "road" to a restaurant, which had meatballs, beef, vegetables with dip and a perfectly decent half bottle of wine. The children were on their very best behaviour and the looks we got were not ones of horror this time!

After dinner we went for a walk outside and watched the archipelago quickly turn into open sea and we went to get som Lördagsgodis and then to the cabin for some calming tv.
Ha!
23.30 the children were asleep. And so was I!

Busy day. Again!

Today we are going to Finland. No car. So we set out to take the bus, then the train and then the tube to get to mormor's house. The three "big" children got to hang out with her and have lunch, while Astrid and I went to meet up with a few girlfriends at a very odd Thai restaurant next to ikea!

...but Friday was rainy

Mormor was a life saver, coming to have a sewing class with Kajsa. Axel was miserable for no particular reason, but we got through the day and even got a little hair cut done! Very proud that i got the lawn mowed yesterday and wish I'd had the wherewithal to prune some bushes. Oh well. Astrid passed out on the girls' bed. Sweetie.

Thursday was sunny...

A beautiful day. Kajsa had her tennis lesson and we bullied our friends to come and visit, which they did. It turned in to an very nice picnick lunch at Barnbadet and then sauntering back to our house for cake, as it was Kajsa's Name's Day. It's not a widely celebrated event, even in Sweden, but we do and we were happy to have company.
Axel was totally filthy after a day of G-d knows what, so he spent some quality time in the tub!