gifts for the family

[jacqlynn]

:)Hello all,
I miss my baby so much!!! But she seems really happy with her Swedish family, they have made the effort to make her feel at home and comfortable, and she has been absorbed into the small community. She sends me about 1 e-mail for every 5 that I send her, and maybe answers half of my questions. What I want to know the most is what her life is like there, besides busy, exciting, and fun, which is all she tells me. The most important thing I would like to know is what would be good gifts to send to her host family. They live in a small town near Avesta, and have a 15 year old girl. I live in the California wine country. Does anyone have any ideas of small, lightweight things that I could send to them that might be hard to find in Sweden? Does anyone have questions about California? I love and appreciate this website.
Thanks, JacLyn

[Carolyn]

Poor JacLyn, I feel for you. "Our baby" Karin (20) is in London with her best friend, working that gap year between gymnasium and university, and we miss her SO much.

One thing I know I sent to my kids (20 and 22) when I was working in the States that they ADORED were those packets of different flavored cocoa mixes. Right about now, when the weather is getting grey and chilly, they thought that was really something, to have flavored cocoa with just a little boiling of water. I don't think they cared for the chocolate mint too much, but they especially liked the chocolate hazelnut and the french vanilla flavors. I bought some more to go as little Christmas presents this year, as well as those packets of hot spiced apple cider. My husband hates those, but I think the kids will like them.

[Sandy]

Chocolate chips for cookies!