This boy can move mountains

In July, Matthew, Steen and Steen's dad spent a "guy week" way up north.

I mean way up north. As in north where you could see the Northern Lights -- if it were dark.

But it wasn't dark. Because it's the land of the midnight sun. As in sun 24-hours a day. While they were there, at least.

This is far enough north for one to run into Sami reindeer herders and a herd of reindeer. I'm not kidding!

These men decided they wanted to spend their "guy week" trekking in the mountains of northern Sweden, as in "in the middle of nowhere". They flew to Kiruna...

...took an hour-long bus ride, got of the bus, and then had to walk 19 km, with their backpacks, to the mountain station where they stayed for the five days.

19 km.

On day 1.

Can you see why I didn't go on this trip?

While they were there, they spent their days hiking, talking, sleeping well, and generally enjoying the time together.

And on one day, Matthew and Steen decided to climb up Sweden's highest mountain. It's called Kebnekaise. The mountain is 2,104 meters high. It is covered with snow year-round at the top. It's a 12-km trip to the top (which requires the hiker to cover 12 km on his way back down, of course).

24 km in one day.

And my 11-year old climbed it. Here he is, standing just below the peak he has triumphed over. Doesn't he look terrific standing there with his dad?

On the way back, the men decided to take a helicopter. Here's the co-pilot.

My second-youngest nears a decade

Nine years ago, my mom -- one of my very best friends and probably the one woman in the world who knows me best -- flew to Denmark. On her own. To be with me. Well, not just me, but with me, Matthew and Steen. But mostly with me... me and my bulging belly.

For five weeks, we hung around our little house... eating lunch at the local Chinese restaurant, taking Matthew to an amusement park, shopping, and talking, talking talking. And she cleaned my house from top to bottom.

And we were waiting, waiting, waiting. Ten days past the date my husband and I were "supposed" to welcome our new little boy into the world.

But when the day finally came, it was such a special day. Birth days are always amazing.

One summer day, late in August, my little Lucas landed safely in the world. And ever since, he has brought me happiness with his gentle, thoughtful ways. Lucas is a child who considers things, considers people.

Here he is meeting his big brother Matthew for the first time -- Lucas is only a few hours old.

He will watch someone new in his circle of life for days before saying a word to them... Watching to find out whether they are worthy of his time and effort. He choses his friends wisely, using an intricate system of morals that he understands completely. If you don't live up to his code of ethics, you can basically forget it. He has always done this. Even as a baby, if he would deem you fit to receive a smile, you were blessed. The only person in his life who could continually make him laugh when he was little was Matthew. If Matthew walked into the room and just smiled at his little brother, they'd immediately share a special moment.

Brotherly bonds. Something a mother doesn't share...

But I do get to share Friday evenings with him on the couch watching cartoons, and good morning hugs, and the notes he writes to me in the mirror after his 20-minute shower ("I luv u").

I do get to see what an amazing big brother he is to Nicholas...

...and how he enjoys hanging around with his cousins (here he is with one of them).

I do get to share in his passion for cooking, and in discussions vegetarianism, the morning traffic jams and the American electoral process.

And I get to love him... I love his enthusiasm for life, his love for Beast Quest books, his shy smile, and his absent-minded way of crossing the street. "Well, the car stopped, mom. I can't see the problem!"

And now we've celebrated the beginning of his 10th year. Love you, Lucas!

Then (with his grandma)

Now

Me bad

Yet another massive gap in my blogging activity...


I've been back at work for a week after three terrific weeks of vacation. So many thing to tell, so little time.


We'll start off slowly. Steen and Matt were off climbing mountains during the first week of my vacation (literally -- photos to follow).

Luke and Nick used the time for some brotherly bonding at the local indoor playland. Luke is such an amazing, patient big brother -- he spent many minutes following behind Nick just to make sure he didn't topple off of anything.



We also went to Skansen, an outdoor museum that has old Swedish buildings (and I mean pre-U.S. history old) and a variety of live (not so old) Swedish animals. Nick was fascinated by the animals -- he'd stand by the fences calling to them. "Hi!" he'd yell and hold his hand out. He never quite understood why they didn't automatically come over to him.


Bonus shot: Nick at the beach with his dad -- for some reason, it looks like it's -20 degrees!