Happy Birthday Rowan!

Today, Rowan is two. He has doubled in age since his last birthday. Amazing to reflect on the last year, all that he experienced and of this year's adventures to come. Also, as a parent I feel the day to day monotony of parenting, but in retrospect it goes fast. Yeah Rowan! We love you and all that you bring us everyday....

Rowan's birth day!


Rowan's one year birthday:


Rowan's second birthday:

Snow Butterfly

I just wanted to share this pic with you of Saniya after having her faced painted at the Stockholm Children's Museum; Junibacken. Rob and she had a special day there together, just the two of them. She asked the face painter to make her a blue butterfly. She then named herself a "Snow Butterfly".

Eesti

Estonia, or Eesti as they say in the Estonian language, is a small country of 3 and a half million people. There are 300,000+ people in the capital city, Tallinn. It is located across the Baltic sea from Sweden. It is south of Finland and west of St. Petersburg, Russia. My friend, Jessica, and I left Stockholm on the SS Victoria for an overnight crossing:

We arrived in to Tallinn 10 A.M. the next morning rested and excited. I have never traveled by boat and this was so fun and relaxing. It feels like a hotel that takes you places as you sleep. Here is Tallinn as we arrived:

Also, here is Jessica near the flower market:

We stayed at a great hostel within the old walls of the old town area. The name is The Old House (http://www.oldhouse.ee/). Here are some pictures of the old town area:

Here is an aerial view from a tower we climbed (The platform on the top of the tower was so scary, I left the platform after taking this shot! Jessica was more ambitious and stayed up there for quite awhile):

The old town is walled and has all of it's original look out towers. They are almost completely intact and well preserved, as you can see:

We stumbled on an outdoor concert with traditional Estonian music one night. It was all Estonians and us. What a treat. From a back window in a museum, Jessica saw a stage and some people singing. We went to check it out. It was an outdoor community theatre in a huge courtyard that backed a whole block of old buildings. We found out there was to be a concert there that night. We went back and listenedthat evening and it was beautiful. A definite highlight of the trip.

So, it was a few days of meandering the old cobblestone streets and eating yummy food. We were able to relax, enjoy our meals and meander in an a way only the parents of small children being away from their kids can. Heaven!

The last day before getting on the ship for our overnight crossing back to Stockholm, we spent our time at a Palace that was built by Peter the Great. It was very Baroque and small, but interesting as a time piece. But, the highlight of the day was a new museum that opened a year ago in the same park as the palace. It is called the KUMU Muuseum (how they spell museum in Estonian). It is an incredible building, designed by a Finnish architect. It house their Estonian art from the 1800's to modern day. What a great building and really a nice collection.

http://www.ekm.ee/eng/kumu.php?id=38

In all, we loved it and enjoyed every minute away. It is a city (and country) that really values it's culture and it's independence, as shown by how they are beautifully preserving and refurbishing all of the buildings within the walled area.

Two thumbs up Estonia!
Yasmiene

Ahhhhhh

Let's see. Lot's to update you all about. My friend, Jessica, left this morning. What a great visit! We both loved Estonia. The old town of Tallinn is a walled medieval village. It has great character and many original buildings that are being refurbished. Lot's of updating and growth was felt while there. I just kept feeling so happy for the people that they are experiencing prosperity. I will post some pixs in the next few days. We also had Jessica here in Stockholm for a week and that was great to see some museums and the sights.

Saniya and Rowan are back in school. Rowan started daycare 2 and a half hours per day. He is happy to go, but cries when I leave. He seems fine though and I am loving the time off! It was great to have Jessica here and be out with her kid free! Saniya is going to school 9-3 everyday. She is loving it and after the first day asked to stay until 3:00 to be able to go to snack time. Very important for her...

Rob is busy with work. He says his projects are working right now. He is also writing a paper. As well, he seems positive with job search. He told me, recently, he is looking into a related field with engineering proteins, as well as looking for something in his current field. So, we will see what happens there.

I am really just happy to not be going anywhere for the next few months. I want to get cozy for the winter and just hang out with my crew. I love that Rowan and Saniya are gone a few hours a day. I am excited to pursue my own thing again and feeling positive that it is time to begin that new phase of "non-stay at home" status. Whatever that means, we will see.

Ok, I will share more details about Estonia and some pixs over the weekend. Hope all are well at home (in the U.S).

The leaves are just turning here. It is beautiful and crisp and very much Fall.

Yasmiene

How can 12 be so great!

You are my love and my life. Everyday, I love you more than the day before. We have been together 12 years. It feels like yesterday. Happy Anniversay!
Yasmiene

Back from Norway and a bit drenched

It has been a few weeks. We loved the fjords and Oslo. It is different from Sweden. Beautiful, as well, but more rugged and remote. It is a great place to camp and kayak and hike. We saw the fjords on two different day long boat excursions and a day's train ride between Bergen and Oslo. The beginning of the trip was incredibly rainy and wet in Bergen. The rain lasted for the first three days and then it was clear and beautiful. Here are some pictures of Bergen:

On the waterfront in Bergen.

By our apartment in Bergen.

Along the waterfront in Bergen.

Overlooking Bergen. We took a funicular to see the view.

Our first day of the fjords.

Off the boat for an hour in the town of Mo.

On the boat with Grandma.

At the waterfall in Mo.

A view from the boat.

Now; these are from the second day excursion on a different boat. We saw the Sognerfjord:

Beautiful day on the water.

Amazing views.

A village we passed.

Below is a Vigland Park in Oslo:

There are 160 sculptures by Vigland park. This is from a series of sculpture surrounding a monolith on the top of the park.

Looking from the monolith onto the sculpture garden in the park.

So, that is a pictorial nutshell. There is so much to write about. But, I think that is a good flavor of Norway and our experience. We will write more later.

My Mom left this morning. We had a week together in Stockholm after Norway. My friend, Jessica, is coming in a few days. We will spend next weekend, just the gals, in Tallinn Estonia. We will tell ya all about it. Rob will be home with the kids so that should be fun for them., and really fun for us!

Hope everyone is doing well.

Yasmiene