min svenska familj besök!

Starbucks stop....refuel!

About six years ago, my mother asked us to come over for dinner because her cousin was visiting from Sweden with her family. We went over for a bit but thinking back now, we must not have been there too long. Long enough for a few pictures but that's all. Since then, Facebook emerged and gave me the opportunity to get to know the younger cousins a bit better. I offered that if they ever made it back to New York, they would have a place to stay. When I got the news that they had planned another trip to visit I couldn't wait for them to get here.




Once the agenda was set, I decided to take a day off from work to spend a day in New York City with them. They wanted to SHOP! The night they arrived, we planned to have dinner with the rest of the family at my parent's place. As excited as I was to see everyone, I was nervous as well. After sharing so much online, I felt like we'd just click but that's the funny thing about online.....you feel you know someone and then the in-person relationship can be so different. We said hello and chatted a bit breaking the ice over Skittles and dinner. We didn't get back home until late and we had to get up early to catch the train to NYC so there wasn't too much bonding that night.

The next morning, we made our way to the city. We dropped bags off at the hotel and set off on our shopping adventure. First stop: Starbucks! They had been subjected to Dunkin' Donuts for too many days and needed some espresso. After a quick jolt, we were on a mission. Have you seen National Lampoon's European Vacation? I lived and breathed that movie when I was younger so when I looked around and saw all of my cousins in different directions all holding things up or trying things on ,this is all I could picture (watch here)






After the morning shopping session was concluded, it was decided that we should get some food and I was treated to a wonderful lunch in Rockefeller Center. The weather was clear so we sat outside, next to the fountain with large umbrellas shading us from the glaring sun. Though updating Facebook statuses was crucial since we had Wi-Fi access, it was still nice to sit down together and enjoy a bit of a reprieve.


We continued to shop after lunch but as the day winded down, so did the shopping and after I made sure that they got settled back at the hotel, I hopped back on the train to come home and leave them to explore NYC on their own for a couple of days.

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I met everyone at the train station upon their return and took the girls back to our house for a night of relaxing. Pizza, beer and doing nothing. It is how we like to relax at the end of a week but knowing they they'd been exploring for three days, Kris and I knew they would appreciate some down time. It worked out perfectly.

In the morning, we just took our time and before we had to meet up with everyone else, we shared our favorite view of the mountains with the girls.

Frida, Hanna,Karin, Me and Giada......see any resemblance?

Karin taking as many pictures as I usually do....with a very similar camera!

It was a hot day and rather than continue shopping, we hung by the pool before the farewell dinner.

Giada and Hanna enjoying the pool and each other

It's only been five days, but I already miss them all. And that nervousness of seeing them in person? Completely gone. I'm already counting the days until we see each other again......here or in Sweden!