Ah, following on from Christmas in Sweden, was a quick trip to the family-friendly ski-field of Åre, in the Swedish mountains near the Sweden-Norwegian border. Åre is apparently Sweden's number one ski resort, consisting of four separate ski areas and cute little villages containing everything from beauticians to coffee houses to trinket stores. The scenery is breathtaking, particularly from the very top of the largest mountain which overlooks the whole area. Framed by low sweeping mountains covered with pine forests, all overlooking a majestic, deep and frozen lake, it really is quite spectacular. Reason enough to go on its own, even without the skiing and the opportunity to spend a little more quality time with Luke, Maria and the child-to-be. At 8 months, Maria really was doing marvelously well to be moving about as freely and
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