Sunday afternoon I went out to Helena’s for what I thought was a brunch with Helena, Debbie, and Melanie and what turned out to be a surprise baby shower with the three of them and my mother-in-law and sister-in-law! It was a complete surprise, and all of them–and Olof–kept the secret very well! It was a fun afternoon with lots of bi-lingual chit-chat and baby stories and presents and, of course, FOOD! I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, I have the best in-laws ever and I am so thankful to have them close at hand. They really are the next best thing to having my own family nearby. And my friends aren’t so bad, either (even if Helena’s celebrity crushes leave me scratching my head a little). 🙂

Yesterday was Sweden’s National Day, and this year is the first year that it’s been an official holiday (meaning a day off for most people). Compared with American Independence Day celebrations, the holiday went largely unremarked. Patriotism isn’t really the done thing in Sweden, and since Swedes haven’t had much practice at celebrating their National Day it will probably take a few years before they hit their stride with backyard barbecues and the like.

Today was back to school for Lydia, though since it’s the last week they’re not really doing much of anything scholarly now. They had a dress-up day today for grades K-5, and at noon the kids paraded through the town to show off. Lydia decided weeks ago that she wanted to be a cheerleader, and she was happy as a clam in the new outfit that I surprised her with this morning:

And that’s all the news that’s fit to print.