Invasion of the Swede's

Hans-Erik's Sister Ulrika (pronounced like Yule (without the Y) and then reek-a) and her husband Victor and their 3 kids, William (pronounced Villiam), Phillip (pronounced fee-lip), and Linnea (pronounced Lynn-knee-a), came to the US to ski, visit, and go to Disneyland from mid December to mid January. We had the privelege of celebrating Ulrika's birthday with her as well as celebrating New Year's with their family. It was a lot of fun.

(This picture is Linnea in the grey sweater, Phillip in the orange striped shirt, William in the green sweater, and Ulrika in the red sweater, the other two are my sisters.)

Ulrika is one of my new favorite people. She is so full of life, energy, and just generally really fun! Her family is so cute too!

(This is my mom and sisters and Ulrika playing with the baby. We had just finished a rousing game of Warewolves. This picture was taken on Ulrika's birthday.)

I didn't get to know Victor much and I assume that it's because, like me, he is quite shy when he is in a new environment. Ulrika said it was because he feels he can't speak English well enough. Everytime I heard him talk he did great though. He does have an accent; but he uses good grammar and everything. He talks better than some Americans!

(This is Ulrika in the red, Phillip in the blue, William in the green/grey/black strips, and Victor in the Black and grey striped sweater).

Linnea is a little princess. She is around 8 years old and acts like she is 24. She is a fashion diva and loved my fur coat, MJ's shoes, and all my jewlery. We taught her to play a little piano while she was here. Just enough to annoy people when she gets back home! hehe.

(Linnea and Gwen)

William is ~5 years old. He is much like his dad in that he is really quite shy. He is a sensitive cute little guy who is extremely attached to his mom. But you can break through his shy shell pretty easy and get him to rough house or participate in activities (even if it is just taking pictures)!

(Phillip in the orange, William in the green, Ulrika in the red, and Hans in the white).

Phillip is around 3-4 years old and is a blue eyed blond haired heart breaker! I could see this little guy getting basically everything he wants because all he would have to do is bat his cute eyelashes and gaze up at you with those beautiful blue eyes and you are a gonner! He is full of spunk!

I can't wait to go to Sweden to see them!

The language barrier was a little difficult to overcome. But thankfully Victor, Ulrika, Mary, and Hans-Erik all speak both Swedish and Engish so we could communicate effectively. There was a lot of "sign language" going on. But we still managed to play games and have fun. I think there is nothing cuter than listening to little kids speak Swedish. It is a very musical language and it is so funny to hear Ulrika's kids talk in such an animated and musical way! I wish you all could hear it; but for now you will just have to imagine it.