Today we had to get up early to finish packing and leave for the train station. I was reminded again about how much STUFF we packed with us. WHY??? I forget how many things the kids need ... food, medicine, clothes, diapers, wipes, boots, coats, toys, etc. I don't know if I can do it again unless we can survive with less things. I even left a few bags of items that I couldn't get to fit otherwise. It was just some toys, food, and clothes that don't fit anymore. I packed way too many kids clothes because I was packing in the middle of doing laundry and packed things that I thought MIGHT be too small but it was better than nothing. Then clean laundry appeared and I packed those things that I KNEW fit so it ended up with a lot of unnecessary things. I already gave a small bag to Cattis of clothes that are too small for Davin now. Ebbe is almost the same size but it seemed to work out great. I also have a larger pile of Linnea's clothes too. I swear she has grown out of some things while she has been here. I will give them to Farmor to keep and hopefully she will have a new granddaughter to give them to next year. I did mention that both Cattis and Anna are expecting? They are both due in August within about a week of each other. It's very exciting to have more cousins in the family!
Anyway, it took us a good half hour to load up the two cars with our gear. Farmor and Jan came to the apartment at 7:30am to help out and we left at 8:15am. Of course, this was the one day that the kids had to be woken up so we could leave the apartment. We left for the train station in Linköping since we decided it would be nicer to take a newer and faster train that goes from Linköping to Stockholm and then another train to Hudiksvall. The other option was an older and slower train from Motala to Gävle and then about 2 hours by car to Hudik. Well, I don't know which option would have been better really but we made it alright. It was a bit hectic getting on the train in Linköping ... we got there in plenty of time ... had a bit of coffee and pastry ... went potty ... changed diapers. However, Davin wanted to show me one last thing in the convenience store before we left and we thought we had enough time so I let him. Well, it turns out that the elevators are really slow and so the train had arrived by the time we got there and it was ready to go too! We had to hurry and find our train car and as quickly as we could load up our 4 large bags of luggage, our 5 carry ons (computer bags, purse, diaper bag, potty seat, etc.) and the stroller. Oh and the people too! We didn't get much of a goodbye to Farmor and Jan but we knew we would be seeing them in a few days when they would head up to Järvsö where Farmor's sister lives.
The train ride to Stockholm was pleasant and Davin had fun watching the different houses and cars go by. Farfar found us right away and helped us get all the luggage off the train. It was stashed in a number of different cars so it took a bit of time. It was a good thing this was the train's final destination. I really don't know what we would have done with only the two of us. I suppose we would have had to take a direct (slower) train instead. Anyway, Farfar and Fredrik went off to get luggage carts and I maned the stroller. Off we went to find our next train. It didn't take long and I decided to grab something to eat while we waited. It was a nice Asian baguette sandwich and I almost managed to finish it when they announced that our train was ready to board. So we hurried to get on the train so we can find spots for our massive amounts of luggage. It wasn't a problem really and off we went to Hudiksvall.
I don't remember if Linnea slept much on the train but I think she was getting pretty fussy by the time we arrived. I think she gets really frustrated being strapped into her car seat all day long. She can crawl around a bit on the train but it's hard too since lots of people want to do the same thing and she just gets in the way. I tried to sleep a little and Fredrik too so Davin and Farfar played a game or read something together? It was good for them to bond a bit.
Irene picked us up in Hudiksvall and we also saw Katrin who is Fredrik's step-sister. She is Irene's daughter from a previous marriage. I guess she now lives in Hudik so she just came to the train station to see us and help with the bags. She told us we would visit later but it was nice to see her even if it was brief. It is only a 5 or 10 minute drive to Irene and Farfar's home so it was nice to not be traveling anymore.
I don't really remember much after this since we were so tired. We ate a nice meal and met Kent who is Fredrik's step-brother. Kent lives in Stockholm but was staying with his mom for the holiday. He was having a party downstairs in the guest apartment so we saw him for dinner and then he headed back downstairs. I think we all headed off to bed fairly early. It was nice to have a REAL bed to sleep in. We got Irene and Farfar's room which has a proper bed in it where the apartment only had these folding cot-like beds that weren't terribly comfortable. Davin got his own room and it was the same one he slept in last time we visited and it is directly across from our room. Linnea also got her own "closet" that is right next to ours. There is also a little living room area between our room and Davin's. Farfar slept in the room Fredrik and I stayed in last time. It has a couch with a fold out bed. I will try to get some photos which should help out.
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