Mom, Adam and Tilda came here on Mar 21, exactly eight months after we had left Sweden and thus just as long since I saw my mom! ❤️

In one of my latest runs something happened to my right hamstring, so I went to dr. Jay Heller to be assured of being able to run a race that took place last Saturday. I’ve been meaning to go for a long time, because something is wrong with both of my upper arms, and finally I made it to Johan´s chiropractor. After adjusting just about EVERYTHING, he just smiled and said -“Welcome to Chiropractic in New York.” Giddy, I left with a new appointment for the following week…

A couple of weeks ago Johan had his colleagues here from Sweden, so one evening the kids and I went to the City Vineyard for dinner, and got to sit in a dome. 🙂

On the 17th, Elvira and I took the train to 53rd St and watched the St. Patrick´s Day Parade. She also got study questions about this day, so we consider this day a good lesson in Social studies. 🙂

There is an abundance of materials, curriculums etc, so we have to settle for some topics in each subject. In math she has been working on integers and algebra and in ELA she is dealing with grammars and essays. The Civil War (except for Parade days) is being discussed in Social Studies and in Science we have had labs about density. In addition to all this, Elvira is reading an English book every weekday evening, working out, walking Toffee, doing a lot of grocery shopping, cooking and tidying her room (perhaps not as often as requested).

Spring, even if it feels like a tornado sometimes, is almost here – a wonderful feeling!

We also had a really nice and fun evening at Liljert´s! Lots of laughter and the kids also had a great time. 🙂

We will soon have a LUS (Lunch Utan Slut) with Ulf and Mona at Felix, but since Johan had severe back problems, we had to take a raincheck last time. Instead I went up to Strand, I looove to hang there! And now I finally have bought a Strand Tote bag. 🙂

And so finally Annie, Adam and Tilda arrived! This was the first trip to NYC for my mom, so it was really amazing to show her our everyday life here, and also to do some sightseeing. Both Adam and Tilda had to study almost every day, so it felt like I had three kiddos in homeschooling… 😉

We managed a lot on the first day! Both the High Line, Chelsea Market and a rooftop drink at Johan´s work. And of course we had to introduce Toffee to the larger family. 🐶 In the evening, Elvira served us all a fantastic taco dinner.

Last Thursday, Annie and I also visited the Oculus, strolled around at Eataly, paid respect at the 9/11 Monument and went to the South Street Seaport.

Last Saturday I ran 10K in the Spring Fling race out on Governors Island. The weather forecast was precipitation with strong winds, so we planned for plenty of windproof clothing and umbrellas.

But as one of dr. Jay Heller´s more famous patients (both a cardiologist, runner and author) told Heller – there are no bad experiences in running, you just have to find the positive ones… And I just managed to finish the race before it started to drizzle. 💧💧💧

In the afternoon we tried to get into the MoMa, but everyone else must have had the same thought – so packed inside and the longest line up outside in heavy rain, made it impossible for us to enter. Instead we took the train home again and found ourselves a little spot at Broome Street Bar. 🙂

This Saturday also was Earth Hour. We tried to contribute, but as far as we could see all lights were on as usual over the city.

On Sunday we had lovely but windy weather and we made a little excursion up to Harlem and Columbia University and strolled down inside of Central Park.

On Monday we wandered around in both West and Greenwich Village, Little Italy and Chinatown and made a stop at Essex Market and in the evening all seven had a drink at the Manhattan Brewery.

Last Tuesday we had a really good dinner at Grand & Gelso, in the favor of Karin´s birthday back in Sweden! 🎂 🙂

The morning after we decided to go to Brooklyn to do some thrift shopping. Tilda marked out a bunch of vintages shops and then Adam, Tilda and I walked the Williamburg Bridge over to Brooklyn and there we met up with Annie and Elvira who had taken the train to Graham Av.

We started out with a lunch at a little place on Grand St called Rome to Brooklyn. This was one of the most funny lunches I have ever had! We started a conversation with the owner, a guy from Albania, who often visited Sweden because his brother, niece and nephew live in Solna. What a coincidence and a small world. 🌎🌍 We even made a recording of us speaking Swedish to his niece. 😂

For the first time, I finally came to visit the Swedish Church of New York. My mom and I walked the surroundings of Midtown and grabbed a coffee at the church, embraced Bryant Park and had lunch at Björk Café & Bistro and of course we said hi to Ulrica. It was really crowded, mostly because SVEA´s had made a reservation for a lunch gathering. I asked Ulrica about the difference between them, and the to me more familiar SWEA´s, but she couldn´t say either. 😉

Meanwhile, the big kids took care of the vermin exterminator in our apartment, who came to spray away some ants. Apparently they had never heard of ants on the 6th floor…

In the afternoon, Olle and I went to see Gloria at the Gouverneur´s hospital for, what we know, the last time. It is with a smile I will always think of her.

This was also the grand final evening for the kith and kin before one half went back to Sweden, so we decided to go to LENA for our last dinner together. Hahahha, what a night full of joy and laughter!

So, now both my mom and the big kids have left for Sweden and here spring is really showing its face. Almost 70 degrees Fahrenheit, soft winds and a lot of sun. And what´s more, we’ve survived this year´s April Fools’ Day, without any scams at all (that I am aware of, anyway). I have to post a nice attempt here below though. This sweet joke was placed on the windshields of Mari´s and Feffe´s cars back in Sweden. They were cheated in their own street. 🙂

Today I had another session at dr. Jay Heller´s. I totally love his genuine interest in sharing anecdotes. He is really into 60´s and 70´s music, and today I learned a little about a singer/songwriter called David Bromberg and also got some info about his violins.

This afternoon Johan, Elvira and I met up and went to the Li-Lac Chocolates on Greenwich Av in West Village, to buy some Easter Eggs for Passover. It´s Manhattan´s Oldest Chocolate House, founded in 1923 – so 100 years old by now. 🐰🐣 🐇 🐤 🐥 🌸 🌼

Tomorrow Suz and I are going to visit the Met for the exhibition on Avedon, so looking forward! And he was born in 1923, the same year as the Chocolate House was founded. Funny coincidence.

And most people are very excited about tomorrow’s verdict in the indictment against the former president, Mr. Trump…