Happy Birthday TWO you!

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- I feel like my blog recently has turned into one of those "mommy blogs" that some people find slightly annoying.  While I don't apologize, I whole heartedly admit that I quite enjoy being an aunt.  So, for the time being we can dub this an "aunty blog" until further notice.

This little guy (my oldest nephew) turned TWO today. And even though he can't yet read, I wanted to give him a birthday shout-out.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MICHAEL MICHAEL!!!

One day he won't think it's so cool to hang out with his aunt, so I have to have fun with it while I can.  This video is kind of random, but it cracks me up.  This particular night at dinner he was told he had two options, so in the video he is trying to explain them, before he gets distracted by practicing his emotions. Check it out: 

I Skyped with him on Sunday and he politely demanded, "Aunt Andewa come to Michael's house!"  Oh how I wish I could take vacations there more often.

More Vacations, Please

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- I love vacations. I. LOVE. VACATIONS.  I live for vacations. I wish Americans would just hurry up already and implement the European mentality of having several months a year worth of vacation time. Out of all the bits and pieces that American culture has borrowed from other countries, it will forever blow my mind that this simple concept was never implemented.

I tried explaining this to someone at work this week and their response was, "Yeah, but those countries aren't very productive."  Well, you tell me which "productive" country's economy seems to be struggling right now?  (Hint: Starts with an U and ends with an SA) They seem to be doing just fine in Sweden. So, it seems to me a little more r & r time could do America some good. Agreed?   

On that note, my latest vacation to Stockholm was just the rejuvenation I was craving.  But, as all vacations go, it ended much too quickly. And now I'm already ready for the next one.  I'm thinking somewhere with warm weather, and a beach, should be calling my name in the next few months. In the meantime, I will think of these wonderful people and places with fondness:  

Thanks Rob and Lorena for being so hospitable!  

First Time for Everything

STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN -- The other day, my hilarious nephew Michael and I went on a little outing to a shopping center not far from his house. It was such a nice, sunny day that I decided to buy him an ice cream cone. After all, what two-year-old doesn't like ice cream?

It wasn't until we got home that I realized why it took him more than two hours to eat it. His mother informed me that he had never had an ice cream cone before. This was his first.  WHAT?!  Really?!  Well then, I guess that would explain the several minutes of confusion (in several locations, I might add) that ensued, before he finally figured out exactly how to eat it. 

When we finally made it home, we played a little game of "what does ice cream taste like." This kid cracks me up. Evidently, the feeling is mutual: