It took a while, but I arrived. Hello to all from Norway. I arrived on Friday afternoon, very tired from the flight. Elin and Madelyn picked me up at the airport an off to Oslo we went for a quick shower and then a drive to Fredrikstad.
We have been pretty busy in Fredrikstad, but I have been pretty jet lagged from the trip. We relaxed and had a nice BBQ with Elin's family. Elin's parents, Solberg and Per Christina, plus Elin's brother, Christian, wife Tina and daughters, Madelyn and Mia.
Saturday, 4th of July was spent at the cabin. It is in Holden, just down the cost from Olso, but up from Sweden, for those looking. It has been pretty warm here, about 82-85 since arriving, and there is no AC here, so the cabin on the water if great. Elin and I took a walk on the beach, picked up a nice rock and headed back for dinner.
Elin's parent were having 12 for dinner. It was a fantastic evening with singing and dinner. Everyone was so nice to me and made me feel very welcome.
Oh, funny, as usual, I ran into someone at the airport. Ole Gram, my former Danish teacher was also on the flight, so while our flight was delayed we visited and caught up. Once arriving in Amsterdam, we changed flights, with gates close by, so we visited again. Yes, I do seem to run into people, everywhere!
Elin's computer died right before I arrived, so I might not be able to update until Sweden, unless we hit a cyber cafe.
Tomorrow, it is back to Olso, for 2 days of touring. Wedneday, if it off to Stockholm.
It is very difficult to type on a keyboard with other languages. There are keys in places that are odd! Å see what
Sunday, July 5, 2009
Thursday, July 2, 2009
I am headed out soon!
I can't believe, today has finally arrived. After only a year in planning, I am all packed and ready to leave. I have a couple things left to pick up, but then, I am off.
I will be visiting Elin, in Oslo first. I haven't seen Elin since I was visiting back in 2005. It will be great to see her again.
Next stop, Stockholm with Anna, Jesper, Eva, Peter and Gustaf. I will spend a few days there and I think we are headed to the summer house in Dalarna. I haven't been there since 1976! I will then be switching families in Stockholm and visiting with Mimmi and the Nilsson's. We will spend only a couple days in Stockholm before heading to their summer house, in Oland, an island, just off the east cost of Sweden.
From Oland, I will be headed to Copenhagen and Camilla, where I will spend only about 3 days. I will depart for Odense to see Preben and family. Preben is a cousin in Denmark, who I haven't seen for a few years either. He came to visit here last. I will then head back to Copenhagen and visit a few more days with Camilla, who is the first exchange student I hosted in 2002-03 school year. I saw her last in 2007, but I miss her just as much as the rest of them.
On August 3, I head home, but not before a quick stop in Amsterdam. Well, it is really a 6 hour lay over, so my friend Bill Jorgensen, from my Danish class , way back in the 90's, will be meeting me at the airport and showing me around for a few hours, before I head for home!
I hope to update often and put on a lot of pictures. I hope you enjoy my travels!
I will be visiting Elin, in Oslo first. I haven't seen Elin since I was visiting back in 2005. It will be great to see her again.
Next stop, Stockholm with Anna, Jesper, Eva, Peter and Gustaf. I will spend a few days there and I think we are headed to the summer house in Dalarna. I haven't been there since 1976! I will then be switching families in Stockholm and visiting with Mimmi and the Nilsson's. We will spend only a couple days in Stockholm before heading to their summer house, in Oland, an island, just off the east cost of Sweden.
From Oland, I will be headed to Copenhagen and Camilla, where I will spend only about 3 days. I will depart for Odense to see Preben and family. Preben is a cousin in Denmark, who I haven't seen for a few years either. He came to visit here last. I will then head back to Copenhagen and visit a few more days with Camilla, who is the first exchange student I hosted in 2002-03 school year. I saw her last in 2007, but I miss her just as much as the rest of them.
On August 3, I head home, but not before a quick stop in Amsterdam. Well, it is really a 6 hour lay over, so my friend Bill Jorgensen, from my Danish class , way back in the 90's, will be meeting me at the airport and showing me around for a few hours, before I head for home!
I hope to update often and put on a lot of pictures. I hope you enjoy my travels!
Sunday, August 17, 2008
Celebrating 95year with Grandma at the Twins
It was the "Johnson" clan celebrating the 95th Birthday of Grandma Marie. Every year, I take my Grandma for her birthday, to the Twins game. It is a fun task each year. It started years ago, when my cousin Debbie and I would take Grandma to the game and sing and carry on, and Grandma would pretend to be embarrassed. We all would have a great time.
Years later, my mom would join us at the games, even though mom never really enjoyed sports. She only would enjoy it if one of us kids were playing or WAY back when my dad played for the Gophers. Since Grandma really loves the Twins, mom would go along, just because Grandma enjoyed it.
I have been working part time for the Twins for 11 years now. It has been a great time. Five years ago, I decided that mom, Debbie and I shouldn't have all the fun, so I invited all the family that I could to come to the game with us, and it would be a surprise! Well, what a surprise that was. My aunt and uncle came in from Boise for the party. There were probably about 40 of us that went to the game that day. As always, Grandma claims it will be 'her last game!"
Two years ago, mom died and Grandma fell and broke her hip. No game that year, since it all happened just days before Grandma's birthday, so we thought that Grandma really wouldn't go anymore.
A couple months ago, Susan and I talked her into going to a game. Since we don't know if it will REALLY be her last game, we invited everyone to celebrate her 95th birthday in a big way. We had about 30 people attend and as you can see, we thought we would with our great signs get on national tv, and the rest of our family could join in via tv. Even though we had some pretty impressive signs and we made sure everyone could see us, we didn't make it on tv. There were lots of shots of the roof of the Dome, but few closer up crowd shots.Too bad. Many family members around the country watch the game and tried to see us.
It was a great game and Twins won! Grandma really enjoyed the game. Of course, she did tell us again that this was 'her last game.
We will see!!
Years later, my mom would join us at the games, even though mom never really enjoyed sports. She only would enjoy it if one of us kids were playing or WAY back when my dad played for the Gophers. Since Grandma really loves the Twins, mom would go along, just because Grandma enjoyed it.
I have been working part time for the Twins for 11 years now. It has been a great time. Five years ago, I decided that mom, Debbie and I shouldn't have all the fun, so I invited all the family that I could to come to the game with us, and it would be a surprise! Well, what a surprise that was. My aunt and uncle came in from Boise for the party. There were probably about 40 of us that went to the game that day. As always, Grandma claims it will be 'her last game!"
Two years ago, mom died and Grandma fell and broke her hip. No game that year, since it all happened just days before Grandma's birthday, so we thought that Grandma really wouldn't go anymore.
A couple months ago, Susan and I talked her into going to a game. Since we don't know if it will REALLY be her last game, we invited everyone to celebrate her 95th birthday in a big way. We had about 30 people attend and as you can see, we thought we would with our great signs get on national tv, and the rest of our family could join in via tv. Even though we had some pretty impressive signs and we made sure everyone could see us, we didn't make it on tv. There were lots of shots of the roof of the Dome, but few closer up crowd shots.Too bad. Many family members around the country watch the game and tried to see us.
It was a great game and Twins won! Grandma really enjoyed the game. Of course, she did tell us again that this was 'her last game.
We will see!!
Friday, June 13, 2008
Bye Jesper
Well, our time has come to and end. Jesper has gone home to Sweden and I am home and back to work. The time has gone by so quickly it seem like he just arrived.
I am sure that Jesper is happy to be back at home, but also wishing he could still be here with all his new friends. It is always hard to say goodbye!
Hopefully, he will be back to visit again soon!
I am sure that Jesper is happy to be back at home, but also wishing he could still be here with all his new friends. It is always hard to say goodbye!
Hopefully, he will be back to visit again soon!
Monday, June 2, 2008
Time is flying by
Where has the time gone. It is now June and Jesper will be leaving in a few short days. It seems like it was just the other day he arrived for his year in the USA.
These last few days will go by in a blur. We have so many things yet to do. Eva and Peter arrive on Tuesday. Graduation is on Wednesday, followed by the All Night Party. Friday begins a new round of graduation parties to attend. Jesper's party is Saturday afternoon. Sunday, Eva and Peter return to Sweden and we have 2 parties that day too. Once that is over, there will be a flurry of goodbyes and packing to go home. Then, it will be time to say goodbye to me.
It is kind of hard when the kids leave, but knowing they always come back and visit, makes it easier. I plan to go visit next summer as well, so that will make it just a bit easier as well.
These last few days will go by in a blur. We have so many things yet to do. Eva and Peter arrive on Tuesday. Graduation is on Wednesday, followed by the All Night Party. Friday begins a new round of graduation parties to attend. Jesper's party is Saturday afternoon. Sunday, Eva and Peter return to Sweden and we have 2 parties that day too. Once that is over, there will be a flurry of goodbyes and packing to go home. Then, it will be time to say goodbye to me.
It is kind of hard when the kids leave, but knowing they always come back and visit, makes it easier. I plan to go visit next summer as well, so that will make it just a bit easier as well.
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Nice day for golf
We finally have a nice day for golf. I took off work for part of the day, so I could be the "crazy mom" following around the boys at he golf meet. It was a beautiful day, but the breeze was still a bit cold. They golfed 18 holes, but I only followed them around for about 10. I got too tired and I wasn't even carrying a bag, just cameras. I am glad that I finally got to go to a meet, I just wish it would have been at Bunker, instead of Elk River. That was a long drive.
Good news, we all got a bit of a tan, but Jesper's looks like a 'farmer tan'. Mine is just my nose and cheeks.
Good news, we all got a bit of a tan, but Jesper's looks like a 'farmer tan'. Mine is just my nose and cheeks.
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
It's been a while
Wow, I can't believe it has been a long time since I last updated. So much has been happening, yet there really isn't much going on.
Jesper has been golfing on the golf team this year. It has been terrible weather all spring long. Cold and rain most days. Mondays seem to be the nicest weather, but by Thursday it is going down hill fast and that is the day of most meets. The weekends are the worst. Hopefully, that cycle will break soon, since Jesper has 3 more meets and I haven't been able to get to any of them. I plan to see the meet on Thursday this week and next Tuesday, his last official meet.
It was Mother's Day on Sunday. We had a great time at my house. Some of my family came over for a pot luck brunch. Two of my sisters and their families, 2 aunts and some of their kids and grandchildren as well, and of course, Grandma. We have a really nice time. Grandma was still sad, since she is missing her 3 oldest daughters. It must be really hard for a parent to outlive so many of their children. Anyway, after brunch, Jesper took me to the movie for my Mother's Day gift. We had a really nice time.
The count down is on. Only 1 month left before Jesper returns to Sweden. Time is flying by. With graduation fast approaching and party planning going on, we are really busy. Invitation for Graduation parties are arriving as well. If we are doing our own thing, we will be attending many parties in his last few days. He will have to decide which ones he will be able to attend. Unfortunately, several will be after he leaves.
Check back later for updates on the golf match! I hope I am able to get to the meets and get some pictures.
Jesper has been golfing on the golf team this year. It has been terrible weather all spring long. Cold and rain most days. Mondays seem to be the nicest weather, but by Thursday it is going down hill fast and that is the day of most meets. The weekends are the worst. Hopefully, that cycle will break soon, since Jesper has 3 more meets and I haven't been able to get to any of them. I plan to see the meet on Thursday this week and next Tuesday, his last official meet.
It was Mother's Day on Sunday. We had a great time at my house. Some of my family came over for a pot luck brunch. Two of my sisters and their families, 2 aunts and some of their kids and grandchildren as well, and of course, Grandma. We have a really nice time. Grandma was still sad, since she is missing her 3 oldest daughters. It must be really hard for a parent to outlive so many of their children. Anyway, after brunch, Jesper took me to the movie for my Mother's Day gift. We had a really nice time.
The count down is on. Only 1 month left before Jesper returns to Sweden. Time is flying by. With graduation fast approaching and party planning going on, we are really busy. Invitation for Graduation parties are arriving as well. If we are doing our own thing, we will be attending many parties in his last few days. He will have to decide which ones he will be able to attend. Unfortunately, several will be after he leaves.
Check back later for updates on the golf match! I hope I am able to get to the meets and get some pictures.
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