The spotted pig

On our last night we went to a well known New York pub called the Spotted Pig for dinner. Gettin a table is not easy and you can't make reservations. Since Tuesdays are not very busy we were quite lucky and only had to wait for about an hour. It may have helped us that the rain was pouring down outisde.

This photo was taken when having a beer at another bar while waiting for a table.

This pub has been rewarded with a Michelin star so our expectations were quite high. We ordered the recommended meal: hambureger with chips. What do I say... we all started eating without talking too much... but after a while when sharing our thoughts we were all quite disappointed. The actual pub was great, really cosy with a friendly and cool atmosphere, but the food... We all ordered it medium rare, as recommended by the chef. Something I regretted. It was raw inside and as soon as I moved the burger towards my mouth I could smell uncooked raw mince. And even for a salt freak like me, the meal was just too salty. I should have ordered it well done but I am not sure if I had enjoyed it that much anyway. We all came to the conclusion that we should have tried something different from the menue.

After all we were very happy that we went there and it was a great experience!

Last day in New York!

On our last day in NY our only plan was to have a nice brunch somwhere west of Centeral Park. We got off the tram in what we thought would be a nice area and we were right. We also managed to pick a great place with really really nice food. Without doubt the best breakfast we had during our stay.
Zara and me happy over our great holiday and that we will be home with the kids soon!

But also a bit sad that the trip we have been looking forward to for so long now is over. Luckily I am pretty good at living on memories from my travels!!

Piteå caravan park!

Jane, the kids and I spent a day with my brother and his family at the caravan park in Piteå where they stayed with their caravan for 10 days. I am bit jealous of them since I really like the caravan life... but it is not too bad just visiting for the day. Jakob had a great day and made some new friends very quickly.
Anders who is a bit crazy suggested we went for a swim. Jakob and Moa were very brave and joined him but I think Anders was the only one who actually got wet above the knees.

Lucas did a great job setting the kids table!

Fun playing in the park! Isak unfortnatley had a very bad day, something that doesn't happen very often. He was tired, hot and just not happy. When we came home and checked his temperature he had 39.7 which explained it all. Poor thing.

Ice cream is a must!

Walking back to the caravan along the water!

Jakob wanted to stay in the caravan but we managed to get him in to the car to come with us back to Luleå.

Kallax

Lunch by the swimming pool at Karin and Andreas new house in Kallax! the first people we know in Luleå that have a pool! the air was pretty cold but I pushed myself and had a very very quick swim.

They also had a ping pong table in the garage. I loooove playing table tennis!!

Elsa and mum

The other week mum and her cousin Elsa went on a road trip to the mountains to attend a wedding. Elsa lives in Skåne (southern parts of Sweden) and I haven't seen her for nearly 20 years. She came past to say hello and to see the children.
Jakob thanking Elsa for a nice present with a hug.

Elsa, mum and Jane

Elsa, mum, John and Isak

New phone!

A few weeks ago I finally bought a new mobile phone. I am now a proud owner of a Samsung Galaxy S2 and I love it!!

More visitors!

Emma and Stephen (who got married in May, I went to the wedding in the south of Sweden) came past us on their honey moon a few weeks ago. They bought a caravan to travel through Sweden, Finland and Norway to celebrate life as married. Stpehen is from Adelaide and Emma lived there with him for a few years so of course we had lots to talk about. Jens and Ann-Helen also came for dinner. Just like in the old days in Australia. Almost.

Dinner at Lerbäcken.

One night when Adam's parents were here we were invited to my brother Anders place for dinner.
Moa trying out her new bike and Jakob going crazy with his kickbike.

Maybe this could be the reason to why Isak sleeps so well?

Ice cream and strawberries, yummy!!

A night out with the kids

After lunch in Lövskär we decided to go a step further and try dinner out with the kids. We picked Toscana, a place with good reputation but not too fancy. The start was pretty tough since all Isak wanted to do was to run out through the front door and Jakob who had running competitions around the tables with another boy in the restaurant. When the food came out they calmed down and the rest of the night went really well.

Lunch in Lövskär

Last time Adam's parents were here in summer (two years ago) we had lunch at the restaurant in Lövskär, owned by a man from Wales (I think) and his family. This summer we went back and had another nice experience.
Good place to go to for people like us who have children that don't like sitting still...

Finally Jakob has a life west and I don't have to worry as much when he is walking and running around close to the water.

Family dinner!

Dinner at our place with Adam's parents, mum and Anders with his family.
Isak finally gets to sit at the kids table and not in a high chair!

The little ones having a party in the car drawer!

Wedding!

A few weeks ago my cousin Andreas and his Karin got married here in Luleå. The ceremony was held in the church in Gammelstad and the recpetion in Rutvik.
Tjalle giving the happy two a lift to Rutvik!

Adam and Anders walking back after having checked out the golf course next door to the party.

The wedding couple and their parents getting ready for a game - who can wrap up a book the fastest when doing it together using one arm each?

The night was great with really good food and happy people. We got home 3.30 in the morning feeling very average the following day...

Kickbike!

After months of waiting grandma and poppa arrived from Australia in the beginning of July and finally Jakob got the kickbike he has been loning for for a long time.


Isak recognised his grandparents straight away and was happy to have some more people in the house looking after him.

Vilmer

In the middle of June my cousin Åsa had a baby boy called Vilmer. It is all going really well and Vilmer is very cute!
Maggi - proud first time grandmother!

Karin visiting

The week after Midsummer Karin and her Gustav came to visit for a couple of nights. She studied here in Luleå a few years ago but I met her in Adelaide when she came to do her Master thesis at the company where I worked. She also ended up doing my job when I was on parental leave after I had Jakob.
Jakob and Isak love having visitors!

Hägnan

Since Karin has only lived in Luleå in the winter we did some summer sight seeing. After a nice lunch at Kolarens cafe in Karlsvik, with a view over the river, we went to Hägnan. There are lots of things to do there for the children, playing with water is one of them.

Hay jumping was Jakob's favourite!

Isak's happy face when looking at the rabbits. He just loves animals.

I am surprised we have not lost Isak yet (touch wood) because this is what he does. He quietly just walks away from us without even looking back. Very naughty.