Happy Midsummer!

Today I actually slept in until 7:30am so we didn't have as much time to get ready as we usually do. We ate breakfast and I took a shower. Somehow it was 11am already and Erik was due to arrive at 11:30am! I better start lunch.

I didn't have much but I did have the food that Farmor bought for us. This was the first time that I cooked anything in the kitchen at our house so that was fun! I sent a photo of the cooking instructions to Fredrik last night to translate so that worked out fine. We had a bag of frozen chicken which I defrosted last night and we just cooked it in butter in the oven. Then we boiled some potatoes and I made a salad. We also had leftover meatballs which some people had too since we only had 4 chicken breasts. It was fun to have 5 adults and 4 kids at the table. We scrambled to have enough plates, knives, forks and glasses for everyone. Some people used their coffee cups to have some water. We also didn't have enough chairs but we had some stools and one kid sat on someone's lap. We just made it work.

The kids played while lunch was being made.

I didn't get all of us but we are relaxing before we head off.
L-R: Anna with Mia, Erik, Jan, Farmor

Since it was midsummer which means lots of drinking alcohol ... Erik and I shared a bottle of wine. We didn't drink it all but it was good and a fun way to start the celebrations. Then it was 1pm and it was time to head to the park where the festivities were going to be. We were to meet up with Bjorn (Maj & Ingvar's oldest son), Carro and their child Sebastian who is 3. Maj is there as well but Ingvar decided to stay home since he had been working hard getting everything ready for midsummer.

Anna and Mia

Bjorn and Sebastian

Carro

Jan and Vidar in the green jacket.

Linnea wants to make a flower wreath for her head.

Linnea has lots of helpers. Maj helps get the vines and makes the wreath. Carro helps with providing the flowers. 

Some of the other kids just want to eat... or maybe they are too young to do it themselves. 

A close up of the stage where some traditional Swedish folk music and songs are being played. 

Linnea really wants to finish her wreath!

The village church in the background and to the right is the stage where the music is being played. 

The crowd next to us. 

Someone made a wreath for Liv but she isn't impressed.

Her mom (Anna) tries to change her mind. It doesn't work. 

Time for the may pole to be lifted!

It requires a lot of people and some very big poles to help raise it. 

It is a bit nerveracking but they are almost there!

It is up! Now they just need to secure it so they can let go.

Now for the fun! There is much singing and dancing around the May Pole. 

The wreath is done!

Linnea was not too interested in the singing or dancing. I think there were too many people for her and she was really focused on finishing her wreath. We did manage to do a few songs so that was fun! Now it is time to celebrate and eat dinner at the cabin!