10-day weather forecast for Stockholm, Sweden

Wow, highs in the 60's and 70's, lows in the 50's
We're going to need to pack long sleeves and jackets... I wonder where I've stashed those items, haven't worn them in almost a year.

Love this weather, it will remind me of Portland. :-)

Today, Jun 29
Partly Cloudy
High - 77° Low - 56°

Tue, Jun 30
Partly Cloudy
High - 79° Low - 58°

Wed, Jul 1
Partly Cloudy
High - 78° Low - 58°

Thu, Jul 2
Partly Cloudy
High - 79° Low - 59°

Fri, Jul 3
Partly Cloudy
High - 76° Low - 55°

Sat, Jul 4
Partly Cloudy
High - 71° Low - 54°

Sun, Jul 5
Partly Cloudy
High - 74° Low - 53°

Mon, Jul 6
Partly Cloudy
High - 69° Low - 53°

Tue, Jul 7
Showers
High - 67° Low - 52°

Wed, Jul 8
Partly Cloudy
High - 68° Low - 51°

Sad weekend for Good-Byes

Since the kids and I will be leaving in two days for Sweden, we had to say Good-Bye to two good friends who will be moving back to the US during the month of July. It's quite sad because Chris and Denis have really helped shape our experience here and they will be missed by all the Vignaus.

Bye Chris! Hope to see you back in SF!


Chris single-handedly brought Beer-Pong to the State of Karnataka

Au Revoir Monsieur Couchon!



Safe travels!

A visitor in my shower

We have Shogun visiting us again for 4 days. His owner, Michael, went to Kuala Lumpur so we happily agreed to babysit.

And, like before, I have a shadow following my every move. Shogun follows me EVERYWHERE! And I've stepped on his paws multiple times which most people would find hard to believe when he's SO BIG!

When I take a shower, Shogun follows me into the bathroom and eventually pushes back the shower curtain to check on me. He stands there with his big head getting wet along with a portion of the bathroom that is no longer protected by the curtain. But yesterday's shower, when I went to rinse my hair I closed by eyes and soon felt a bump against my leg. I opened my eyes to see Shogun in the shower with me! All of him in a tub-type shower! He took up so much room that the water was no longer spraying me - it was all directed on his back and he stood there enjoying it.

I couldn't believe it so I called for Annika to come and see. She came and quickly called for August. The two of them stood at the bathroom door laughing at this huge dog taking up most of the bathtub and Mom behind the curtain in utter disbelief!

After the kids left I took the opportunity to rub a little shampoo into his coat to freshen him up a bit.

For today's shower I closed the bathroom door. :-)

Annika's new school uniform

Annika needed to get measured for her new school uniform. I can't believe it's been a year already because getting her measured for her school uniform last summer was an eye opening experience to our new life in India.

Walking the alley to the tailor, not as scary this time.

After we climbed the half-built stairs to the tailor we stumbled upon three men sewing sequins into material. I knew it was hand done but had never seen it with my own eyes.

They thought it was funny that I found it so interesting.

Annika getting measured for her formal uniform. Hope they pick better better fabrics this year.


Stack of blazers for some students from some other school.

Again, stairs not as scary.

Since we were on Commercial Street I needed to do a bit of last minute shopping for our trip to Sweden. Picked up some pashmina shawls at Mysore Silks.

Then lunch at KFC.

The only "safe" food on Commercial Street besides Coffee Day.

Waiting for Gopi to pick us up and drive us home.

Happy Father's Day!

After having so much fun at the fish spa with Sarah, the kids INSISTED that we bring Daddy there on Father's Day. And luckily, there is a great place for brunch right around the corner.






WE LOVE DADDY!

After the fish spa we walked to Sunny's for brunch, they never disappoint.

After brunch we did some window shopping on Brigade Road, then went home, Erik & August had some man time to play the Wii while I took Annika out into the villages on the scooter.
Dinner was classic American comfort food. Jenne stopped by to join us. It was a wonderful day. :-)

Saying Farewell to Sarah

For Annika's last weekend with Sarah, we decided to do a girls' day out (w/ August). I took the girls to The Only Place for American cheeseburgers and cokes - where the girls sat at their own table for 2.



Then we went off to the fish spa. I wanted my kids to try it and since it's not allowed in the US, I figured it would be an experience Sarah would remember (I had her parent's permission).

Untouched aquarium

Sarah took to it right away.

It took Annika several attempts before she decided to open herself to the experience.

Young Scientist Award at Schutz School 2009

Jonathan
E-mail from Linda in Egypt:

"I'm very proud to announce that Jonathan Paul Drew was the overall winner of the 2009 Schutz American School Science Fair!!!! The Fair was presented by the 4th, 5th and 6th graders, with 2 winners per grade (1st place and 2nd place) with one additional award for "Overall" best experiment/presentation... well... YES!!!!! Jon was named Young Scientist of the year 2009. Wow. :-) plus, he's only 8, but he beat out the 6th graders!!!!!!!!

His topic was using a lever & fulcrum: can a smaller student lift a bigger student? He even lifted the judges!!!! Everyone was impressed with his calm presentation (he didn't seem nervous) and that he could explain what was happening, as he shifted the fulcrum, the loads got easier to lift. I was very impressed.

This happened on 28th of May, but I just downloaded the photos, hence the time lapse.

I also included a picture of beautiful Kaisa..."






beautiful Kaisa
This is quite an accomplishment in and of itself... but if you consider that this 8 year old moved to a new country not quite a year ago, new home, new school, new friends, new language. Plus during the school year his teachers got together and recommended that Jonathan skip a grade, this is phenomenal!

CONGRATULATIONS JONATHAN!

Indian frog marriage calls for rain

H.A.L. Market

Now that we've been here almost a year, my goal is to shop where the locals shop. In Whitefield there are a couple farmer's markets (no, not like the ones back home) but when I can't make it to those, there is H.A.L. Market daily starting at 3:00p.

That's not a snake, it's a vegetable.

Some vegetables were displayed in Rps. 5/ bunches (Rps. 5 = $0.10)

They were just standing there like this...

I bought a nice big bunch of cilantro (corriander) from this guy... he also had beautiful bunches of spinach, dill, and an assortment of other fresh herbs.

It's nice to see locals enjoying dogs

Bree and August picking the best tomatoes

Sea of people

Trying to exit the market by car

You often see scooters/motorcycles with 3+ passengers but not bicycles.

Happy Father's Day!

We had fun treating Erik to a special day.
I'll post photos soon!

And HAPPY FATHER'S DAY to my own Father and to all those other Fathers out there!!
Love you Papa!!
Hope you're having fun a Pajara Dunes!

Sad weekend for Annika

Sarah, Annika, Emily
This weekend Annika's two best friends left India for good.
Saturday Emily + family moved on to their next assignment - two years in Manila, Philippines. They've been in Bangalore for almost 3 years.

Early tomorrow morning Sarah + family move back to Boston, Massachusetts. In addition to Annika's sadness I will miss Sarah's Mom, Judy, who has become one of my good friends over the past year. They've been in Bangalore for 2 years and were sent home a year early due to some reorganization at Judy's company.

Annika's last day of 1st Standard

The last day of 1st Standard the students came 1 by 1, with their parents at assigned times, to go over what they had learned over the year.

This picture is entitled "This is me on my first day of school".

Her family tree

They did a unit on the skeletal system. The drawing on the left is someone WITH bones, the next drawing is of someone w/out.

They did a unit on Transportation and her group made an animal transportation plane complete with seat belts and airbags.

I'm happy she can now tell time but trying to get them in bed early by saying the time is later than it really is no longer works. :-(

Fractions

Reading