Au pair friends- Kirsten from Rhode Island and Jami from Seattle.
A very sad attempt at ice skating. This is an ice rink in the middle of Stockholm, but it is considered a family event to go skating on frozen lakes in the winter (yes it gets that cold!) and bring hot cocoa on a Saturday or Sunday.
Kirsten and I ready for a night out in Stockholm.
Jami and I.
Kirsten and I at Spy Bar a night club in Stockholm.
Proof that my family's Christmas gifts actually looked cute when I sent them. Hopefully everything will get there in one piece!
3D Snowflakes made by Ella and I.
Kirsten and I.
Winter wonderland.
My jaw literally dropped when I saw a man entering the train with these on. I quickly sped up and followed him on the train just to get a better look. He wasn't the only one I saw wearing these though. It turns out many guys wear them in the rain to protect their shoes. There's the practical Swedes for you. My host dad even has a pair, but in black, but he makes fun of the guys wearing the bright orange ones.
Ella and I baking Molasses crinkles for Gabriel's Christmas fair at school.
Christmas lights on houses are seen, but less common than in the US. Large, beautiful, white or gold stars replace Christmas lights and cover entire windows. The stars are in every single window of homes, shops and restaurants and are so lovely to see when walking up to the house in the dark. It gets dark around 2:30/3PM here now. Depressing.
Snow covered Gamla Stan (photo taken from the train)
This large body of water would actually freeze during the winter here if it were not for the large cruise ships constantly passing back and forth.
Walking around the island on a cold sunny day.
Looking back on the houses of Brevik (our village).
Sail boat.
Children sledding down the hill in Brevik.
Brr...
Lidingö.
Långängens Gård: An adorable, cozy cottage in the woods on Lidingö. Kirsten and I took a walk to this house on Saturday this past weekend. After getting lost a handful of times, and asking every person we saw where "some cute little cafe" was, we finally found it. Im still not sure how to pronounce the name of the cafe. It is old fashioned on the inside, and serves coffee, fika, and lunch. It was great to warm up with a latte after trekking in the negative celsius degree weather.
View from my house. Can you tell I'm absolutely loving life here?!
