When we got to the birthday party this afternoon, Tage decided that he could stay there on his own, as long as I promised not to forget where to pick him up (“Remember,”  he said, pointing to the house across the street, “it’s by a blue house with the number 7.”).  I think once he realized that there would be people there he knew — the birthday boy, of course, and at least one other guest, who arrived at the same time we did — he felt less nervous.

So, instead of spending two hours making awkward and idle chit-chat with superficial acquaintances, I made a little trip to town with Olof and the girls (I think it may actually have been the first time that we went somewhere in that particular familial combination;  it felt a little weird).  First we dropped Lydia off at her friend’s house for a much-longed-for overnight stay, then Olof, Petra, and I continued to the big supermarket, where we stocked up on junk food and other impulse buys.

Afterward we hurried back to collect Tage from the party, and found him in good spirits.  He said he had a good time, and the bag of candy and balloons he came home with was the icing on the cake (and also very popular with his little sister).  The rest of the afternoon and evening have been pretty low-key, a minor miracle considering how much sugar the kids must have coursing through their veins.  Maybe I should take advantage of the quiet and get to bed now, while the getting’s good.