Stockholm architecture museum

Stockholm had a very nice architecture museum with a good area for kids to play in with architecture-related blocks and books. Chris and Eliot set up some dominoe games with the blocks. Chris is a domino expert.

Stockholm

A few weekends ago we had a great trip to Stockholm. I will put up the photo album but the actual blog posts need to wait until Chris can spare his laptop for a few hours. In the meantime, here are some videos. The first two three are from Skansen, an outdoor museum that showcases Swedish homes and other buildings that have been transplanted from their original locations in the country. Kind of like Dearborn Village in Detroit.

We were in Stockholm for the midsummer's festival so there was music and dancing at Skansen to celebrate. Eliot loved both, dancing for the music and insisting that I take him into the dance area for some more "formal" dancing.

The Sing-Along at Eliot's School

This event was one of the best memories from the year. All parents were invited to attend a sing-along with Eliot's class. Eliot sang and did motions enthusiastically. I was seated next to him which was not the best vantage point for filming, but these videos show his enthusiasm pretty well.

My drive to work

One Saturday we went to a park near my office (Kessel-Lo post) and took my route home so I could take some photographs/video. I think it is a beautiful drive (for part of it) and have loved seeing the rolling farms transition through the seasons of our year here. Here's a taste.

A taste of Lucerne

Here is a short video of Lucerne, Switzerland from the vantage point of a paddleboat.

Eliot and Chris have philosophical discussion on friends and sharing

Eliot is, according to what I've read and other children I have observed, a typical 2-year-old in that sharing is not his favorite thing. With some coaching, however, he can generally come around to sharing. Here we are back in Lugano where Chris and Eliot had a discussion about sharing a dinosaur statue with other children.

Eliot's last day of school

June 23 was Eliot's last day of school. There was a potluck picnic and it was bittersweet because we have been very happy with the school, the teachers, and families. The setting, an old farmhouse, is wonderful. Here is a picnic table with Eliot and some buddies.

The picnic is in what the school calls the garden. The final picture is of his class. Peaceful, organized, and fun. Soon I will post videos from the sing a long that was at his school a couple of weeks before the last day.

Kessel-Lo

A few weekends ago we checked out this big recreational area with farm animals and a great playground. First, we made friends with some animals.

Then we checked out the big playgrounds!


The first playground was wooded and had lots of hanging bridges and big slides. The other playground had lots of ways to move and play with the sand that made up the playground floor. It was essentially a little industrial-themed playground for sand play. Eliot did not want to leave when it was time to go.....