Swedish Easter Dinner

Catarina and Frederick invited us over for dinner tonight.  They are from Sweden and so they had a traditional Easter Dinner for us.  The kids roasted their hot dogs on the grill.  They jumped on the trampoline and played ping pong.  

After the kids ate we sat down to our first course of pickled herring.  We were served beer to drink with this course.  After a few bites we were told of the tradition that you sing a song and have a shot of vodka.  The song was in Swedish but they put the English version of what it sounded like for us to sing.  (pictured below).  Frederick is in a barber shop quartet so his singing was awesome!  Next was the grilled shrimp and spicy Thai fish patties made of cod,  (pictured uncooked) served with rice, edamame and French wine.  

Then came dessert served with berries and a port wine.  THEN an after dinner drink of your choice.  Man, those Sweds can drink!  The kids were having a blast but Seth was beginning to get a little fussy since it was after 10:30 and we had stayed out until 11:00 the night before too.  We headed home and bathed the kids and got them in bed only to have to wake them up for church.  

It was so fun learning about their culture!

Jonah, Klara and Sophia

Ella, Luke and The Hulk

Pickled Herring

uncooked fish patty

... and yes!  I choked down dinner with EVERY SINGLE bite!  I really hope the look on my face did not give away that I was about to VOMIT every time I took a bite.  I had to tell myself to swallow and I physically could not do it.  My throat SLAMMED shut every single time!  I seriously thought I was not going to make it.  I was even feeling nauseous after we got home.  I could not wait to brush my teeth!  I even got a little ill just having to relive that and type about it :)