a long awaited visit

Al....I know it's been a while, but it's been busy here lately. I wanted you to see some pictures of our weekend visiting with Nicole. We had such a great time and it was so special getting to see her again. It was a like seeing an old friend that we haven't seen in a really long time, but also like a sister because she looks and acts so much like us. I was so thankful that Mama was able to see her too. I know she's been praying and dreaming about that day for a really long time, not really knowing if it would become a reality. We wish you could've been there too....it was definitely not complete without you, so we told her you guys would be back in November for Thanksgiving...But for now, a lot of pictures will have to do:)

When we first got to the hospital with Nicole....Mama was so happy to see her!

What's a boiling hot summer day without some Tropical Sno?

Sam: I'm confused, guys what flavor should I get??? hahaha.

Oh, yeah...strawberry with cream is where it's at:)

Dad was honing his master chef skills over the weekend....all the better for us:)

Ever since we got back from France...we have been making this tomato dish...a product of Dad's hard work.

yum.

Nicole talking to you on Skype on Sunday....I'm glad we finally got ahold of you!

Mom and Dad looking adorable in their coats...haha...yes..she has a pink stethoscope.

Seeing Mama again before Nicole left to fly back to Virginia.

So I hope you made it through all those pictures! I know Mama looks kind of bad in these pictures but she was actually sitting up in a chair the day after with her feeding tube out. So that was encouraging. I hope you liked the update! Let me know how your week has been when you can!

love,

Whiggle

After the American Invasion

Hey Whiggle,

Finally getting back to the blog after the break, but I must say it was nice to just be able to talk to you when you were here. It was seriously so much fun having yall here. And pretty entertaining too.

We had an interesting trip back to the airport in Paris. We were on the RER going to CDG and it just stopped a few stations before Gare du Nord. They made announcements that something was wrong and they had no idea if or when the train would start moving again. So I went and asked a French girl if she had any more info and she said she didn't know, but she asked if we wanted to share a cab to the airport if the train didn't start back in 15 minutes. The train stayed put so we left with her. The problem was that most of the other people on the train had to leave too and we all needed taxis. Luckily, she had the number of a taxi company and had one meet us on the street. There is no telling how long it would have taken Bjorn and I on our own to find a taxi. So we get to the airport and were going to pay for the taxi since she was so helpful but she stopped us and said she talked to her boss and he agreed to pay for it. Pretty cool, huh? I don't know if we would have made our flight at all without her help.

I have a few pictures from the trip, but for the most part I kind of knew you and Dad would take enough for the rest of us:) Here's what I have though...

Logan meditating:)

Austin was a little tired...

At Kaffekoppan

Dinner at Pelikan

So we got back to Malmo and picked up a lot of things from Bjorn's dad's house, including the very "special" table I told you about... I can't believe we fit it all in the car, I don't think we would have except for his dad helping to strap the table to the top of the car...





An Italian friend of Bjorn's named Barbara was at the wedding and let us know that she got her family in Sardinia to send us a package full of things traditionally from that area. Well, when we got back we had a slip in the mail that said we had a package to pick up. It also said it was a 40 lb package. When we went to pick it up it was too big and heavy to carry normally, so Bjorn had to carry it on his head for a while...

And this is what was inside. Pretty impressive.

By the way, look who's already making good use of his Auburn shirt:)

I can't believe you and Sam bought a baby pool. That is awesome. I'm sure the new neighbor who came by to introduce himself didn't think it was weird at all to find the two on you in there...haha:)


That's all I've got for now, but I hope you're having a good week. I miss yall alot. Keep me updated about this weekend!

Love you,
Allie

Back to Reality

Hey Al,

I hope you guys are doing good back in the real world. I can't believe that we were in Paris just last weekend! That seems so crazy....I had so much fun with you guys while we were over there. Stockholm is definitely one of the most beautiful places I've been to and one of the cleanest! I wish 'ol B'ham was more like that:) I think since I posted like 258 7 albums on Facebook of the trip, I'll just put a few pictures of the highlights/favorite spots, people that make me laugh, in no particular order.

This was super scary really entertaining. Sorry about your hair, Al.

Vik, Sweden is one of the most beautiful places I've ever seen.

Your hair turned out pretty good, if I do say so my self.

I loved being their with my husband:)

The Wedding Party was a definitely favorite time of the trip....Loved every minute of it-even the 47 toasts throughout the night.

This was hilarious...do have paranoid dreams that a bunch of men will line up to kiss you if Bjorn goes to the bathroom in public? haha.

Glad Austin enjoyed the boat tour of Copenhagen!

Meet Marley...the 180 lbs Great Dane I found on the streets of Copenhagen...they are all the same....just want you to rub their rear-ends and they are slap happy.

I'm really glad you guys could come to Paris!

Wait, I think I saw this couple pictured in a Swedish model magazine?...haha. You guys could pass for it...

How many pounds of food do you think we ate all together....wow.

He makes me laugh:)

Haha! ("ugly face" impersonations)

Can you see the Eiffel Tower? I shot this from my plane window as we were taking off last Sunday.

Now back to reality..... Going to work on Tuesday was a little weird. It's hard getting back to an office setting after roaming the streets of Europe for two weeks. Talk about a change of scenery. May I also add that I about had a heat stroke getting off the plane in Atlanta. It was about 95 degrees Sunday afternoon, and it's been close to 100 everyday this week. Quite an adjustment, so don't hate the cool weather over there...at least your husband doesn't sweat every time he breathes!

We were very much looking forward to a weekend at home after all the travel, and for the most part it's been pretty enjoyable. Friday we went out to run some errands after work. We've been wanting one of those plastic baby pools to just sit in the front yard and soak in on a hot day....I apparently was a little too excited about going to get one because I forgot that I wasn't parked in my normal spot in the driveway, and backed right into the front right side of Sam's car! Oh...the frustration! All I heard was "crunch!" Sam: "WHOWWW...THAT'S MY CAR!!!" Fortunately, it didn't break the front light, and it only dented the side in a little bit, and chipped some paint off. My car only took minor paint damage. But what's the big deal when money just grows on trees, you know?

I have to brag on the hubs though...he didn't yell at me one time after this, even though he had good reason to. He did, however, mention several times that I might want to consider driving school. We did eventually make it to the store to get a pool.

I couldn't stop laughing as he carried this thing out to the car. I don't know how, but he squeezed it in their, and we enjoyed a splash on Saturday. Hope your week is good!

Love you,

Whiggle