Signs, Round-Abouts and Buses

I am happy to report that we've finally made it to our new home in Sweden, and I apologize for not updating my blog until day 3.
After a very long flight, a quick jaunt through security and customs in Iceland, and strangely enough back on the same plane for a second flight we finally touched down in Stockholm.  Cierra was amazing through the whole thing...not one moment of her "we're flying, we're flying" song! ( I'll upload some pictures from our journey just as soon as I get them off of my phone.)  We arrived to an overcast and slightly chilly day (8 degrees Celsius), but beautiful nonetheless.
Once off the plane we followed the overhead signs entitled "Arrivals" in hopes that it would lead us in the right direction to get out of the complicated airport.  The last time I flew into Stockholm I was able to meet Joel after  going through customs and he accompanied me to baggage claim...sadly, I assumed the same would be true this time (after all, how else could a person transport 4 large suitcases, 2 medium carry-ons, a computer bag, a backpack, 2 pillows, a purse and a 5 year old?).  I was a bit dismayed to reach the baggage claim area without having gone past the area where the public was allowed to wait for passengers.  Silently freaking out I located our baggage carousel and tried to imagine how I was going to manage the daunting task ahead of me, when I noticed that all of the savvy passengers from my flight had somehow procured baggage carts; a glimmer of hope.  Being the shy person I am, I avoided asking someone where they got their cart from, and instead set off to retrace our steps.  Without too much difficulty I found the carts nicely stored at the other end of the baggage hall...but, to my horror, every cart I tried seemed (to me) to be broken...just my luck.  On the verge of giving up I noticed a passenger stroll up to a cart I had previously tried and easily breeze away with it.  NO FAIR! What was I doing wrong?.....recovering from my blond moment I looked down at the handle and noticed directions in fine print....duh!!!!  One must push down on the main handle bar to release the wheels, and keep holding it down while walking.  We hurried back to our baggage carousel and claimed our spot in the VERY orderly line of people, all exactly 2 feet away from the carousel, waiting for their bags.  Everyone was very courteous, allowing each person to walk forward and claim their bags as it passed by.  However, I started receiving curious looks as I set off on a marathon of hurrying forward, grabbing a bag, hastily putting it on the cart and then darting back to the belt again to claim the next bag.  Needless to say I was the only passenger attempting to cart around 9 bags and a small child.  FINALLY we set off in search of the exit and Joel.  Without too many navigation errors we managed to reach our destination!  After a wonderful few moments we walked as a family to the car and loaded everything into Joel's Volvo, and then, full of happiness, our little family of 3 set off for home.  These are my first observances of Sweden:

After following the strange exit signs entitled "Enfart" (yes I was giggling the whole time), we approached the E4 highway.  Joel pointed out the strange speed limit signs that simply said "110" (OMG moment, until I realized we were talking about kph, not mph).  Then, with visions of horrible multi-car crashes we tackled our first Round-About (I knew I hated them for a reason, and dread the moment when I have to start driving through them with confidence), in a complicated dance we maneuvered our way through and onto the desired road.  I was soon amazed by the many cars, that by American standards, are considered luxury European models...but are normal every day cars here in Sweden.  However, the ones I still cannot get over are the Mercedes-Benz public transportation buses.....doesn't that seem strange to anyone else?????  Apparently it's only me :)