The next part of our holiday was a week in Småland, to relax, explore, and meet up with a big part of our family. On the road down we stopped at an ancient runestone. Dated at two thousand years old, historians believe it was made by a father after his son's death.
After a few hours on country roads we made it to our country lake house in Grimstorp. The weather was warm and sunny and everyone got busy doing what Swedes do best in the summer: relaxing, swimming, and eating and drinking outside.
It didn't take long for the rest of the Karlsson family to arrive. Five kids and nine adults from California, North Carolina, and Borås, we had a lot to catch up on. We played in the very shallow water and never tired of the view. With the sun setting very late each night we enjoyed sitting out on the deck with a glass of wine.
The forest is always nearby and one of my favorite traditions is berry picking and jam making. I dragged all the boys out for the event, because what's the benefit of children if you can't occasionally use the for labor? In under an hour we took home several large containers that made 4 pints of blueberry jam.
That Saturday we head to our family reunion spot, Pallarp. It was all hands on deck to unload and set up for the party, which began with a casual sandwich bar.
The lake and the sauna are always a big part of the party. The entire family walked to the dock to see the big gädda fish that was gifted to us by a family friend.
With the expansive lawn us non-swimmers had plenty of space to stretch out and catch up, play games, or run around.
It's amazing how many connections and memories we made in less then 24 hours. Pallarp is a special place that we all make every effort to return to.
Tired but not hungover, East and West Coast Karlssons took to the road the next day to visit High Chaparral. The last time we visited the boys were 3, 5, and 8 and they absolutely loved it. High Chaparral is little out of the way for sure, but high on the list for value:effort.
The main attraction is the Western stunt show, complete with horses, pyrotechnics, and crowd participation.
Wandering the grounds is half the fun, especially for us Westerners. This time around the boys ripped around a miniature town, where they were allowed to climb on the roof and chase bad guys.
The train ride is also a must-- this trip our car was the one that got robbed. At gunpoint the robber asked him "What's in your bag?" to which Magnus responded "Bajs! (Poo)"
The day was truly long, but for this kind of fun, not long enough.
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