The best part of Ika’s birthday celebration this year was a simple little gathering of family to share some traditions and a wonderful Swedish Princess Cake created by the birthday girl.  Ika’s sister Katarina, husband T, and children Gunnar and Ella came to help “Moster Ika” (Aunt Ika) have a great “fodelsedagen”.  We were having the traditional Fika (Swedish mid-day coffee time) while Ika opened her presents.  I shared stories of my mother, Matt’s grandmother, whose china Ika served from.  Matt had never met my mom, as she passed long before he was born, but I assured them she was smiling on our celebration this day, using her favorite china.  Ika and Katarina told stories of their father’s mother back in Sweden, who evidently loved to take the girls on “shopping sprees” every time they visited.  I thought that was a great tradition, so for Ika’s b~day I will be taking her on a “shop till we drop” trip to get ready for her new job next month as a School Psychologist in Clear Creek ISD.  Gunnar and I played the matador-bull  game while Princess Ella delicately spooned out her “coffee milk” with the ladies.  We did join with the Dickson family and friends for dinner that night, which was wonderful, and they planned a “raft up” boating expedition for July 4th.  Maui and I will be settling in for some downtime before heading for the Galveston fireworks tonight (without Maui’s delicate ears of course:)  Happy Fourth of July America!!