stockholm weekend pics

it's christmas next week!  having been quite busy with unpacking boxes and figuring out everything's place in our new space, it doesn't feel like christmas is just around the corner.  i don't have a tree or presents bought yet.  so what was i up to this weekend then if not some holiday merriment?  

first, stefan and i had our breakfast made by kai.  in one of the boxes we unpacked he rediscovered his kids around the world cookbook.  he decided to cook us quesadilla with tomato salsa and guacamole.  stefan was his sous-chef but kai held his own and prepared 90% of the breakfast.  i know i'm biased but it was delicious.

we perused some shops (got some ideas for gifts!), tried a new to us coffee shop, and laughed and laughed at the cat smitten with kai's scooter.  it was pretty cute and funny.

 

 

we went on a nice walk along the water.  it was a rare clear day and the view was pretty lovely. i planned that we'd walk the whole way round sodermalm -  the stockholm island we live on - but we left the house too late for that considering the sun sets in the middle of the afternoon and it was too chilly for my boys who didn't dress warm enough.  the "muscle beach" we came across was fun and then when we headed back into town we came across an outdoor market where we warmed up with food and glögg.

city hall 

impromptu gatherings are a lovely thing.  we met up with ximena and her lovely family at the neighborhood pop-up skating rink where the kiddos had some fun.  we then warmed up with tea and saffron biscuits at our place.  it was short but sweet :)

hope you had a fabulous weekend!

49 / 52 weeks

 

kai:  making pepparkakor (gingerbread cookies) and they are full of spice!

stockholm weekend pics

i caught a stomach bug accompanied by waves of nausea so i stayed indoors all weekend, but at least the sun came out for a bit, its rays shining in through the windows.  and, our stuff arrived early!  we are surrounded by boxes and boxes and boxes in every single room and i simply couldn't just rest in bed, i had to start unpacking.  now, we have a well-equipped kitchen with my favourite dishes (not even one broke) carefully put away in the cupboards and a living room with a (non-static!) sofa, pillows, and a damaged marble coffee table top (thank goodness for insurance).

kai had fun with the boxes :)

hope you had a healthy and lovely weekend. 

48 / 52 weeks

 

kai: trying, for the very first time, glögg (swedish mulled wine with spices like cinnamon, cardamom, ginger and cloves served warm and with almonds) and saffranskorpor (swedish saffron cookies).  he thought both were "really, really good".

*kai tried non-alcoholic glögg :-)

stockholm weekend pics

homemaking... that's what this weekend was mostly about... preparing an upside down pear cake for a party we were invited to, taking kai to soccer, cleaning the house, doing the laundry, and tending to kai's homework.  

we had a lovely saturday evening (evenings in sweden start at 3pm!) with friends, ximena and petter, and a few of their friends for an american thanksgiving dinner (their youngest was born in the states).  there was candle light and laughter and communal preparing of food.  thinking about it warms me up - we ate very well (i'm still thinking about that stuffing!) and mingled with such beautiful and funny people. so thankful for those moments of friendship and camaraderie.

the american :)

the best stuffing ever!

 

 

while kai was at soccer on sunday afternoon, stefan and i found a path along the water and meandered for awhile in the cold.  do you get a sense of cold from the photos?  i can imagine what a beauty this strip becomes in the summer with the boats on the water, leaves on the tree and the sun in the sky.  but for now, we can enjoy the winter trees, crisp air, and the naked branches.

after soccer we meandered to a little cafe, katarina, stefan had been to the week before with a friend to try out their beer menu.  he knew it was a winner; we had our fill of pastrami and tuna melt sandwiches served with pickled veggies.  it's only been open a few weeks, with the focus being on the local beer but the sandwiches served alongside the beer are fantastic and well worth the visit just for them.  kai loved the bubbly swedish drink, trocadero!

 

  

hope you had a lovely and relaxing weekend too.