Jaxon loves Science Fiction!

Aaron and I took Jaxon to the Science Fiction Convention that they were having in Stockholm. We had nothing else going on that day so we decided to check it out! Jaxon brought his Doctor Who Sonic Screwdriver for the occasion :)

 We tried to get pictures with a lot of the characters walking around!

Venice and Bologna Italy

Aaron had to go to Italy for work so we decided that I should tag along! We have always made an effort that once a year we would get away without the kids and we were long overdue. We left on a Friday and flew straight to Venice. We took a boat taxi to get to the island and as we were coming into the port I felt like I was coming into Stockholm. It looks similar in many ways!

The first night we ate at a nice little restaurant and enjoyed some risotto. Food was great!

There are no cars in Venice. It is all narrow walking streets and waterways.

So picturesque!

The Grand Canal which runs in the middle of Venice.

Aaron is standing in the Piazza San Marco with the bell tower behind him.

View from the top of the tower.

Gondolas on the Grand Canal.

We visited a glass factory, one of many on the island of Murano, next to Venice. This man was amazingly talented. The horse on the right is what he made in mere minutes.

On the island of Murano.

We would recommend our hotel to everyone. It was centrally located and nice and clean and had a nice breakfast! The only problem was that the english tv channel only played The Simpsons :)

Sunday afternoon we took a train to Bologna. It only took about an hour and 40 minutes. 

When we arrived to Bologna it was a very busy and bustling evening in the city. Our hotel was right in the middle of downtown so after dropping our bags off we walked around. Just down the street is the Piazza Maggiore where this large Christmas tree is standing.

This is also that same Piazza in the daytime. Looking at the Fountain of Neptune.

 Coming down one of the streets from Piazza Maggiore is the Due Torri, which translates to two towers. These medieval structures are the landmark of the city. 

The tower in the front is actually leaning. You can tell more in the photo below.

The taller tower is open for visitors to climb.

We climbed 498 steps!

Made it to the top. Nice view!

Coming down was sometimes tricky with its narrow steps.

Here and there you can still see reminders of ancient times. Above is a picture of an old gate to the city. There used to be a wall that surrounded the entire city and many of the gates still stand today.

An ancient roman aqueduct still in use today.

When we got back to the airport we discovered that our flight had been cancelled! There were no other flights that evening that we could switch to so the airline put us up in a hotel by the airport and then we flew home the following morning.

Thanksgiving

This year we had Thanksgiving twice! In the first part of the week we had been invited to President and Sister Newell's home to celebrate with a few other American families. It was a very nice evening.

On Thanksgiving day we invited the missionaries that were currently serving in our ward as well as the Christensen's and Darby's close friend Eleanor.

Eleanor, from Ireland, has never participated in a Thanksgiving feast!

 Two Americans, A Finnish Elder and a Brit! 

Ben (originally from Salt Lake City) and Jonna (originally from Finland) are currently living in our area while they are in school. Jonna sang us a beautiful song that she is currently working on for her next album. She is amazing!

Good Food and Great Friends - Perfect Combination!

Special visitors from London!

My cousin Alex and his girlfriend Elaine came to Stockholm for a little getaway from London. I was so happy that they took time out to stay a night with us. It was such a treat for me to have some time with them and get to know them better. They are such a sweet couple!

All Saints Day

All Saints Day, Allahelgonadagen, is the first Saturday in November in Sweden. However this holiday is typically an entire weekend event with many businesses getting out a half day early on the Friday before. This is a time when people come to cemeteries to honor their relatives who have passed on. People will come anytime between Friday and Sunday and will light candles in remembrance of their loved ones.

On that Sunday we visited Skogskyrkogården, The Woodland Cemetery, with some of our friends. This cemetery is one of the largest cemeteries in Sweden with about 100,000 graves. It is also a Unesco World Heritage site.

Here is Jaxon lighting a candle for his Nana.

Darby and Melynn with Emma.

Here I am with my sweet friend, and running buddy, Mirjam.

Jaxon with Hadde and Jurre.

The kids enjoyed each others company on the way home to Mirjam's where we enjoyed
a nice dinner together. It is so nice to have great friends that just live up the street!