Svensk Jul!

For Christmas Eve and celebration #TWO!, we drive from Malmö to their mother's mother's house- a bit more old-fashioned but very fun with Jonny there. We arrive at 4pm and start with some glögg (pronounced glug) with almonds and raisins. Their grandparents, Karin and Gunnar, don't speak a word of English, but hardly ask me anything anyway. Jonny is super nice and cool- he's 38 with 2 young boys but he's the "cool" uncle. Anci, their mother is in a chipper mood tonight, which is good to get her out of her depression. We start the meal with another smörgåsbord of meats, sausages, fish, eel and gratins. Food is not as good as yesterday...But dinner is fun, I just love Malin and Louise- they're so giggly and lovable and snuggly; Malin is such a sweetheart and Louise is such a snuggly-bunny! Jonny looks and talks a bit like a vampire - his canine teeth is so pointy! And his accent is a bit Italian. For dessert, more rice pudding, and better than yesterday! After dessert, we play the "gift game" where you roll the dice for a 1 or a 6 and have 10 min to steal someone's present- oh, we had a laugh. Jonny and I got so competitive for this little box, which turns out to be clay! Haha- after we open all the gifts, we play again to steal each other's presents, but I wind up with my candles :) Malin was getting so into it! hahaha We did real presents afterward with J as the Santa Claus to hand out gifts. M&L get me a white tee and an adorable vernis black clutch- it's perfect! Jonny was so nice to think of me and gets me some nice hand lotion. We turn on a creole swing dancing CD and Jonny and I dance around, then with the twins! hahah We are all doing the boogie and shakin' thing- even Grandma is doing a little shake of the hands! We laugh and laugh and laugh. Malin and I go for a walk outside and take silly pictures. Off to bed early to go out tomorrow night

CHRISTMAS DAY 2008
Merry Christmas! I sleep until the glorious hour of 1pm- ahhh. I told this week is good for my health! The twins and I hardly move from the kitchen table, we just sit around all afternoon and talk and talk and talk- mostly about the future. I'm seriously considering taking a year off, maybe with Malin. Louise wants to go to New Zealand to work- but she still has a lot of growing up to od. I want to work abroad, maybe Japan or Thailand. We get ready to go to Nils in the late afternoon; coffee and cookies, and old pictures of M&L as babies! so cute! I play a bit on the piano, which makes Nils sooo so happy, even though I sound like a broken record. And my favorite part of the day, the best Christmas present I could have asked for- old movies from
1 9 6 2 of Nils' and Arvid's first trip to the States. I see old clips of Dad running around as a 5 yr old- he is SO adorable, such a munchkin. Nearly brought me to tears, I feel so privileged to see the movies of Grandma back in the day when he was still a stud- so much more than a picture. And Grandpa! I got to see Grandpa! Edmands! Live! He is so so handsome and has such a kind, gentle face and deep, deep dimples. Dad reminds me so much of him. And Jeffrey! He is so adorable and such a little mischief maker- he has the same sparkling, crinkly eyes, even at age 5 :) In the movie, he does that that hand wiggly thing where he puts his hands on his head like a moose and sticks his tongue out! Christie has a deep side part, and Laurie is trying to be a girly girl but you can see her just doing everything Jeff does. It's funny to see her in the little pink dress. And GRANDMA! She is stunning. And radiant! She is straight out of Vogue or something-magnificient; even with 4 kids in tow, she maintains her elegance with a flashy, white smile and high heels. There's all this footage of Grandpa riding around on the old red tractor with the 4 kids climbing alllll over his lap- everybody is happy, carefree; Dad is the little runt in back, falling behind trying to keep up, then op! Falls down! What a cutie...
Next we watch videos from M&L's visit to the States back in 2003, footage that I never ever want to see of myself ever again. Oh god, horrified. Do teenages GET any more obnoxious than me? I kind of had an identity crisis afterwards, not understanding how I used to be that person, and so incredibly rude/loud/obnoxious/....a teenager. Thank god that phase of my life is OVER. Can we move on now ? Sorry Mom and Dad for my behavior in the past-- and for putting up with it. Saints? I think so.
It takes up about 15 min to get out the door with all the hugs and kisses from Nils and Greta. I really tried to pay attention to Nils, even though he sounds like a broken record! M&L have changed SO much since their last visit! And Nils has gotten so much older...
Malin and Louise teach me cute phrases of Swedish translated directly into English; for example, she asked me if this phrase made any sense: "How plenty is the bell?" (meaning "What time is it")or "What are you for one? I don't feel again you!" meaning "I don't think we've met before." Haha! Had no idea what they were talking about at first..
We eat a quick dinner at home of salmon, rice and veggies and white wine to get the night rolling. Swedish Christmas tradition (and my new favorite) PARTY ON CHRISTMAS!!! So hard to leave on time with these girls but we made it on time to catch the bus to Malmö, brought beers on the bus and were chugging them (!) Pre-party at their friend's house, all guys and us 3 girls. Nice. None of them were cute though, although they were all doing lines which really didn't settle well with me and freaaaked me out. Never seen it before and I never want to again. Kevin is the druggie who's tried them all and lived to tell the tale (that's his only purpose in life apparently), Nils is the guy with the hairsprayed lion's mane, Peter and Yann who want to talk with me all night. Christian meets us there and we all drive to ???? nightclub, packed with nearly 2000 people! It is huge and packed, yet the music is PUMPIN and so so good. Louise is already falling all over the place. I tearrr up the dancefloor with Malin, who is so so so much fun to dance with. The music is amazing techno songs- ah, heaven. Since there is a lot of pushing going on, Christian and I hang out outside half the night, where it's more of a party out there! This guy Yann is trying to get my attention all night by waving, and then standing next to me out of nowhere. Unfortunately, I just ignore him bc I'm having WAY too much fun dancing with Christian. Me, Christian and Malin have SO so much fun dancing all together- we owned that dancefloor. Finally have to call it a night around 4am but Louise is gone, disappeared. Malin is worried, but hears that she's made it home safely back to Svedala. We all walk to Max's for late night munchies (and new word that I've taught all the Swedes). Andres gives me a piggy back ride while I try some snooze.