Stegesund, Sweden

Today we wrap up an amazing eight day vacation in Stockholm and Stegesund, Sweden. We spent the first day and a half in Stockholm roaming the city. In all, we must have walked five or six miles. We found the Swedes to be extremely helpful as we tried to navigate through the city.

We then headed out by ferry to Stegesund, a small island near Vaxholm where we rented a gorgeous cottage that came with a sauna and a boat, which we could take back a forth to Vaxholm. Orrie and Scott jumped into the Baltic following a sauna and described the experience as rather cold, but not as cold as Stockholm's famous Ice bar. The island that we stayed on had no stores, didn't allow any cars, but did have a wooden tennis court which gave some crazy bounces.

We made a long day trip to the beautiful island of Sandhamn (made famous by Stieg Larsson). Sandhamn looked like Michigan's UP with rocky beaches and pristine forests. We had an amazing lunch there as well.

We hit many museums, including the famous Vasa museum which houses a 300 year old viking ship and Skansen, a huge outdoor park with old Swedish farms and a zoo, where we met this very happy seal. Call us happy too!

killer bass

Cooper: Today I went to the beach club. And I went fishing with nets of the dock. There are millions of Panfish but one giant bass named big Ben. We tried to catch him but we did not. Well we were going for big Ben we also caught some panfish.
But he disappeared. so I got bored and decided to leave. But when I threw the fish in big Ben shot out ate the fish. We threw the other fish in and he ate that fish to.

Cooper Catches a Pike

I caught my first pike!!! It was one big freshwater fight. It was exactly 24 in. when I first hooked it papa and I thought it was another weed but when I stopped reeling the end twitched.
Then my pole bent under water and a huge fish swam passed our boat. I started reeling in slowly and before you know it I have a 2 foot pike.
P.S we had it for dinner and it was goood.

orrie : Today, I learned how to sail and I went all the way across the lake and back by myself. Also when I do the splits normally I can with 12in to the flour, but today I got it down to 6in to the flour. Also my kick is up past my head. I had a good day. 

Cooper: Today we had pancakes and bacon for breakfast. In first period at camp I played box hockey. I lost most of the games. At second period, Evan, me, Orrie, and Nate were all telling scary stories. I ate one sandwich and one brownie. And I told my first joke it was, what does a king do when he burps? He issues a royal pardon. At third period, I lost a box hockey tournament. At fourth I made a origami boxes.

Orrie: Today we had pancakes for breakfast. At camp, I did nature hike, swimming, and origami box. I had a good day.

July 11: The Wall

Cooper: Today we went to to the Vietnam war memorial. Not the real one in Washington d.c. The moving wall. I liked the wall. We took some pictures and saw the first and last people who died was named Richard Vandegeer.



And I saw my first a-k47! and we also looked at some of the trucks and tents one was made of leaves. I guess their tent was destroyed and they built a new one out of leaves and sticks.

orrie: Today we saw the moving wall. I really liked how they organized the names.The wall was not straight, it was more like this >_|, and where the two points met was the name of the first person who died and the last person who died. The first person who died was a man named Dale Buis and the last person who died was a man named Richard Vandegeer. A major from the war wrote this poem. "If you are able, save for them a
place inside of you and save one
backward glance when you are leaving
for the places they can no longer go.

Be not ashamed to say you loved
them , though you may or may not
have always . Take what they have
taught you with their dying and keep it
with your own.

And in that time when men decide
and feel safe to call the war insane,
take one moment to embrace those
gentle heroes you left behind.

Santa Fe 2010, June 30

Papa: Today we went to Bishop's Lodge for dinner.  I had farm raised venison.  It was the first place we had taken Zozo after she joined our family.

We saw the little grass yard with the low stone fence that prevented Zozo from escaping.  

Orrie: Today at camp we went rock climbing!!!!!!!  Then we went to Bishop's Lodge for dinner.  After that we had frozen yogurt for dessert.  Then we bought pocket knives for whittling. I had a great day.

Cooper: Today I went to Abique Lake. We found a godmother and a godfather crawfish.  They were the size of an average lobster.  The god mother was missing a claw. We also found one that was dying and we buried it. Then we went back to camp and I played sketchfighter for the first time.