2024 another year down

Dear friends, family and everyone else,

From 5 to 3 in just 2 years. Life is full of obvious "surprises" - suddenly it's just Jakob, Sara and Cajsa at home as Ingrid has moved to Mora for studies (at the Fashion Academy - textile and design) and Axel has been in Falköping for a year (at the volleyball high school). Sara has been entrusted to be an expert in a government investigation, Jakob is building digital infrastructure for the country and Cajsa has just started her studies in secondary school at Berzeliusskolan.

The parents get less and less freedom and instead the opportunity to follow the children more and more - but very often it can be combined with some "own time" as well. We have done several trips to Dalarna and Östergötland's turn-of-the-century cultural homes that are open museums of Swedish culture and heritage ideas. It is Anders Zorn's home in Mora, Carl Larsson's home in Sundborn but also Ellen Key's Strand at the foot of Omberg.

Axel has been selected for various junior national team matches in both beach volleyball and indoor, which has taken us to places we didn't think we would go to before. How about Åhus, Georgia and the Faroe Islands. It becomes an opportunity to experience and travel with new friends while also being that wonderfully irrational supporter in youth sports. Wins and losses are mixed with strange breads baked in a chimney, magnificent views, monasteries, enormous misery and magical watermelons and barbecues. 

We get to spend  less time togehter as a family - for obvious reasons, but volleyball, Lektorsgatan and summers in Sånnaboda are still some common activitiesand places to gather around. Lazy days, slightly fewer construction projects than usual but still some activity, pleasant game nights and high enjoyment together with Jakob's siblings and nephews. Note that Ingrid, before moving to Mora, got her driver's license and got rid of her braces - at real rocket speed! CJ has driven a boat and is almost done with the family's accreditation for boat captain. Also note the pictures of the beautiful completely clear ice cubes, perhaps possibly one of the more important projects that Jakob has spent time on during the year - feel free to ask how these are created; he will be happy to tell you more. We could have added some more pictures of Axel in his spare time if there had only been any - but we added another volleyball picture because that's what he has time for in life right now. When the Swedish beach volleyball duo Åhman Hellvig managed to win Olympic gold in Paris, Sara quickly registered the family for Linköping beach hall's trophy competition the same evening - the family emerged victorious from the competition. Great happiness in all simplicity. 

Next year will mean a big focus on celebrations as both Jakob and Sara turn 50 and Axel 18 (and Cajsa turns 14 - Ingrid 22). Time flies. Looking forward to experiencing it with you!

Finally, Jakob ends his year of collecting quotes with this collection of more or less important wisdoms that we should all take with us into the coming year. Maybe it's stupid to burden the download of this Christmas letter with so many pictures - but we hope that these will contribute to a developing new 2025.