After a travel hiatus, 2023 is year of the visitor to Sweden! Erica was the first Canadian guest we hosted last year, and this year we have several. The first summer vacation guests were Jordan and Lil C. I went to meet them at the airport, and then we headed to Tullinge to start 10 days of Swedish fun. Graham started out the week in Finland for work, so we started with some girl-time, tour of the neighbourhood and visit to the Canoe Club. Unfortunately Jordan had a really limiting back pain episode (ooof, been there) and was laid up for a few days, so we stayed close to home and did some short forays with Lil C. Graham got back in time for Midsommar and his birthday celebration, and we were fortunate to have fantastic weather the whole time. Jordan felt better after a few days and then we all went into the city for some touristy visits to Skansen and Junibacken. Both were fun, and I’d give a special shout-out to the story train at Junibacken and the staff at Skansen’s Café Petissan. We didn’t get to do everything on the list of fun stuff for kids, but great that we left something for the next visit!
Essential end to a midsommar meal – strawberry cake with just-harvested smultron (wild strawberries) on top! 
Graham got some special Canadian treats for his birthday! 
Graham’s birthday cake was almond with mango and strawberry layers 
Our fridge got a real glow-up following some colouring sessions. 
Graham’s birthday card shows him watering the garden, and also a smultron birthday cake 
We did yoga on midsommar morning 
Leftover midsommer treats become a portable picnic 
We ate it up on the ridgeline by our house 
Lil C looking out at the view… 
…here is the view! 
Hiking through the woods 
Catherine did some solo rock scaling 
Our trip into Stockholm started with a ferry ride to Djurgården 
Vintage truck ride at Skansen 
En snook at the children’s zoo 
Fika in the charming garden at Café Petissan 
‘Banana tree’ at Junibackan 
Findus the cat at Junibacken 
the Moomintroll garden playground!