Day 6 - Lent

                                                        
Today we just stayed in and around 5pm got on the metro to meet Troy at the mall to have dinner and pick up a few things. After we ate and finished up at the mall we got back on the metro and headed home. Even though it was a pretty boring day, it turned out to be a nice one.

                                                     

Day 4 & 5 - Lent

Saturday, February 25th was a typical Saturday morning except for Troy Jr waking me up much earlier than normal. I guess you could say that it's typical with children for a Saturday, instead of during the week. Who knows but we ended up having a pretty good day.
Troy finished up doing his school online, so we took the children to the city for some supper & ice skating. We ended having a great supper and then headed right across the street to the ice rink. They didn't have too many people there and it started to snow a little. Troy Jr & I enjoyed watching the snow fall & also watching Chloe & his daddy skate. We stayed there for about an hour and a half, then left to put our angels to bed. It was a great, beautiful evening.
Sunday, February 26th we got to sleep in a little and then a normal morning of feeding the children breakfast and starting our day. Troy went to Vihti Ski Center to go snowboarding with the guys. Chloe got dressed and went to play in the snow in our front yard. Troy Jr took his nap & I'm catching up on our blog. Nothing much going on, just winter things and seeing friends here & there. I'll try my very best to blog everyday so that way I'm not logging on to things that I'm not supposed to be. LOL!! See you later guys. 

Day 3 - Lent

We had a pretty normal day, woke up a lot earlier than usual but it worked out to Troy's advantage because we ended up bringing him to work. Since the snow is melting off the worse is here now, everything is icing up. He could have walked to the bus stop or go on the Metro but today he had to bring a huge pot of jambalaya he made last night for the Mardi Gras party we are having at the Marine House tonight. With everything he had to bring it would have been hard to get on a bus or the metro so I volunteered to bring him. Only problem was at that time I had to wake up princess. She sleeps in late which is usually 8 o'clock. I went to wake her up and she was so upset with me. All she kept telling me was, "Mommy, I'm still tired", "Why did you wake me up?" I told her that we had to bring Daddy to work and she still wasn't happy about it. We stopped to get her some breakfast and then she was a happy little girl. The children and I dropped Troy off at work and went back to our house. We hadn't done much since this morning, we did clean house and had some lunch. Other than that, Troy Jr is napping, Chloe & I are watching television and just having some sweet Mommy/Daughter quality time. Today has been a good day so far. Good day to all.

Day 2 - Lent

                                                                    
Not too bad for the second day. I haven't had any urges to log on to Facebook since giving it up for lent but that isn't the real reason for this blog. I'm blogging today to talk about the weather. It's real funny how quick it changes overnight. We've been having warmer temps the last couple of days. By warmer, I mean instead of the negatives & teens, it's been in the higher 20's, lower 30's so here lately in Finland that is actually warm. It is so funny for a southerner like me to say such a thing, and it's in the 20/30's but I take it we are all use to it by now. Now it's making the snow melt and that melting is also occuring on our roof, and there are big, huge stacks of snow up there. For the last two days we've been hearing what sounds like freight trains coming down off of our roof but it's the snow falling, and falling. It's like miniature avalanches because we have a pretty huge roof all around and each of the sides are pretty steep peaks, so there has been a lot of sliding going on the last few days. Needless to say, Chloe and I have jumped out of our skin a few times because we aren't use to that sound.
Now as I'm finishing this blog, the temperature outside tonight at 9:30pm is 32 degrees, and cloudy. I guess we'll stay warm for a little while. That is so funny!! Take care everyone

Lenten Season has begun!

Today is Ash Wednesday, the start of Lent. Although we are not able to get ashes, I'm sure that my fasting & prayers are going to be good enough for Him. I'm starting to realize that the things I've given up for Lent will do good for me. It's been about 7 hrs since I woke up and feel so much better about not getting online to sign into my Facebook account, and to try my very best at being a better mother to my two beautiful children. I really feel like I've done good so far and it's only been the first day. We have plenty of more days to go but feel very confident in what we are doing and we will make these wonderful sacrifices and truly succeed at them. AMEN!!

                                   

Happy Mardi Gras from Finland

Happy Mardi Gras

Today, February 21st, 2012 is Fat Tuesday (Mardi Gras) back home in Louisiana. While we are missing it, our families, friends, and all of our loved ones, we are making our own celebration here in Finland. It's been nothing big, we've decorated our table with a centerpiece of all things Mardi Gras and we will be having a party come this weekend. I know after the fact but we were waiting for our friends who went on vacation & we are in Finland so it really doesn't matter when we celebrate it. We are going to make it as close to home as possible. It's going to be so much fun and special for us because for those who know nothing about our holiday back home, makes it even more special to us in sharing this awesome fun-ness with them. A great big special thanks to my wonderful parents for sending us lots of Mardi Gras trinkets to decorate our house & for our upcoming party. Thanks & lots of love to you all. HAPPY MARDI GRAS!!

Happy Lundi Gras!

Happy Lundi Gras 2/20/12

Monday was just a regular day here in Finland. The way we celebrated our Lundi Gras wasn't that exciting but it was great for us. We didn't do much in the a.m., just hung out while Troy went to Vihti Ski Center to go snowboarding because Troy Jr was sick and we didn't want to get him out in the cold weather. Troy came home after lunch so Chloe and I left to go meet our friends, Julie, her husband Eric, Karen, Melanie, and all of their children at the play cave. Afterwards, Karen, Kayleigh, Iain, Chloe & I went to the Arnold's Donut Shop in the City Center across from the Railway Station and had a snack of delicious donuts. It was a real treat and a wonderful ending to a great day with some really great friends.

Liz, Karen, & Melanie

Chloe & Kayleigh

Iain & Liz

Liz, Karen, & Chloe

                                             

Photography 101

                                                        
Had the pleasure of going to my very first photography class this past Saturday on the 18th. I was really excited about it. I picked up my friend Melanie, and we got there a little early but it was ok, we had coffee and conversation before the teacher got there. It was a really great class and I did learn a whole lot. It was fun!

These photos were taken after I got back home from the class. My practicing in progress!

                                         

Happy Valentine's Day

Happy Valentine's Day

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY to all of our family & friends. May your day be filled with lots of love and happiness. Our sweet princess made this card for her Daddy with a little help from Mommy. Our day was good & ended up being even extra special with Daddy coming home after work with sweets to eat and made some homemade pizzas. He also brought Chloe some sweet Valentine cards from her friends, Grant & Mason, our friends, J.P. & Melanie's boys. What a sweet thing for them to do, thinking of Chloe on "Heart" day. Hope everyone had a great "Heart" day.

She wrote all of this by herself

We are so proud of her

A Mouse in the House

This is the only mouse I want in my house, and on t.v., so that's even better. That wasn't the case for us this past Sunday. Troy went to the pantry to get the pancake mix, and the bag had a huge hole on the very top of it and we knew what it was, a visitor we didn't want visiting our house. Thank god we had another unopened bag that we could use because our princess wanted pancakes really bad and couldn't understand why we couldn't use the bag that had the hole in it. Troy fixed pancakes and I stayed alert of my surroundings all day long while Chloe & Troy went skiing most of the day. When Troy returned he set the traps that he had purchased on his way home. Thank god!! I was antsy all day long so it made me feel a little better knowing that we could have the slimy, dirty, and nasty rodent soon with a little help of some peanut butter it was there for the taking. 

With that being said, of course I couldn't sleep and then at 1:30am I heard it. POW!!!! It was caught, and I still couldn't sleep. I slept off and on until about 6am that morning. I finally got out of the bed around 7, and Troy said we did catch one and he was gone. THANK GOD & GOOD RIDDANCE!!!!!!

I know it happens but I thank my sweet husband for taking care of it.

Art Meets Ice 2012 - Korkeasaari Zoo

An ice sculpting competition was at our local zoo the past two weekends, and we wanted to make sure not to miss it. We decided to go it alone, because the first weekend our CLO with the Embassy had put together a trip to the zoo to see it but we had other plans, so we decided not to miss out on the last weekend. We ended up going with our friends, Jill & Chris and their children but not until sometime after lunch. It was definitely cold outside so we wanted to make sure everyone was all bundled up since we were walking there from our house. That is how close the zoo is to our house, two islands over probably about a 25 minute walk. Mustikkamaa is the island between Kulosaari, where we live, and Korkeasaari, the island that the zoo is on. It's not too bad of a walk but in the cold and snow it does tend to slow you down a little. Also when your husband wants to go and walk across the water with your child, it not only slows things down but does tend to make your heart race a little more. At the time that this started to take place, I was walking back to our house because I forgot the card to the camera in the computer. So of course, Troy took that opportunity to start walking across the Baltic Sea while I was gone so by the time I got back to the bridge he, Chloe, Chris & Claire were almost across it. I was relieved to see that they made it across. I'm not quite sure why I was freaking out because they had people right smack in the middle of the sea, ice fishing. 

People sitting down watching their fishing holes

                                      
I guess it's just so weird for a southerner to see such things happening whenever you have never been exposed to it before.

Stopping to take a photo on the Baltic Sea

OMG!! They are standing next to a boat! 

There is definitely something wrong with this picture!

Ice fishing hole

Where boats are normally parked!

After the climb back up to the foot of the bridge that the husbands and children took, we continued our journey to the zoo. 

Once we got there the children started to get excited because the first animal they saw was a beautiful Amur Leopard pacing back and forth in front of the glass and gate. It seems to be something he likes to do by the trail he's made and also being that I saw him before on another visit doing the same thing. He obviously likes all the visitors and wants to make sure he's seen. He really is beautiful and the children obviously enjoyed their visit with him.

Claire, Chloe, & Michael

Having fun watching the Leopard

Amur Tiger (Siberian Tiger)

After seeing the Leopard we walked over to see the Tiger. There weren't many animals out for viewing, I mean can you blame them. It was freezing outside and who would want to stay outside in the cold if they didn't have to. Most of them were in a building or cave made for them. After passing through the zoo and making our way to the ice sculptors, we took pictures pretty quickly because the cold was getting to the children, and us too for that matter. It was time to go. We enjoyed the sculptures and sculptors in the middle of their projects. 

Troy & Liz

It was a great fun-fulled day even though it was cold. We went back home, had some warm hot chocolate to warm ourselves up and stay in for a while.

http://www.korkeasaari.fi/artmeetsice2012/eng    

Snow Snake

Snow Snake in our tree

                                   
Troy discovered that some of the snow in the tree formed what looked like a snake. He took some pictures of it and the more I kept looking at it, it really does look like a snake and we wanted to share.

                                                     

Talma Glacier

On any given weekend we try to plan things but sometimes it doesn't turn out that way. Sunday, February 5th was one of those days. We were not really going to do much so I hoped thought, but Troy decided that he wanted to take the family to Talma Glacier, a snow park which is about 40 mins away from Helsinki in Sipoo. Of all days, it was the coldest day ever especially since winter began. It was -27c, which is -17f, not what I imagined our family going out in. Definitely would have planned for something that was indoors. I was looking forward to being together but not looking forward to the cold. 

Our ride there was very warm

We took off early and got there when they opened. They already had lots of skiers and snowboarders there ready to go down the hill. A great place to bring the family, because they have a park just for the children. Where there is snow tubing, sled riding, and various other fun activities for them to enjoy. When done and at the bottom of hill, they can return to the top on the magic carpet ride. It's great and Chloe had a blast. At first she went with her Daddy while Troy Jr and I hung out in the warm cafe. It was nice until he got upset being in the stroller. He was tired because it was around his usual nap time so I figured we would get through it until he started screaming then it was time for me to leave the warmth of the indoors. 

What he looked like before his meltdown

I thought this would be my opportunity to take some pictures of our little princess having fun with her Daddy since Troy Jr and I had to brave the brutal cold because he couldn't stay quiet. It's Ok, because I got some great moments of our princess & her daddy having fun going down the hill & coming back up on the magic carpet ride. Our princess even wiped out and didn't get hurt. Thank God!!!!

Mommy, it's too cold out here!

Going down the hill

Magic carpet ride with Daddy

Hi Mommy, we made it to the top!

Going back down the hill

About to wipe out before Mommy's eyes!!

BOOM!! Waiting on a Daddy rescue!

She's OK!!

Daddy to the rescue!!

Snowboarding & Ski slope

After taking pictures of Troy and Chloe, Troy Jr and I headed to the car to warm up. We were only in the car for what felt like seconds when he fell asleep. He napped, while I took in all the beautiful scenery around us. 

Then Troy & Chloe tapped on the window and scared me. Chloe wanted me to go with her down the slope. I thought to myself, Why me, she could stay having fun with her Daddy. Mommy is too much of a chicken. I'm not going to tell my little girl no, so I sucked it up, gained the strength and courage to move forward. Chloe and I left her Daddy and baby brother to stay warm while we went tubing on the snowy slope. I was not looking forward to it but as I said, I pressed on. 

Chloe

Daddy & Chloe

Mommy & Chloe

We got to the top of the hill and all I could think of was falling, and how I'm scared of heights. We aren't the best of friends and I knew that Chloe had no fear, she'd go freestyle down the slope if we let her, that's how much fear she has. LOL!! 

She was such an angel encouraging me because she knew I was fearful, she'd say as we were getting ready to go down on the tubes together, holding on to each other's, "Mommy it's ok, you will do fine." She's my little guardian angel here on earth because honestly I don't think I could have done it without her. Even when we started off going down the hill straight and then the tube started to turn us around & make us go backwards down the hill, she'd still tell me, "Mommy don't be scared it's going to be alright." I just love my little girl, she's so good to me. 

Chloe's mask was fogging up!

It was so cold that I had ice hanging from my hat!

When Chloe and I finished playing & having our fun, Troy went over to the other slope to snowboard. While the children were tucked away all warm and cozy, where I could still see them, I took some pictures of Troy while he snowboarded.

Troy coming down the hill

Troy about to wipe out 

Wipe out! 

Troy trying again! He's in the middle all in black. 

Troy done with snowboarding for the day.

We ended up having a wonderful time. It was great family fun. I'm sure we'll be visiting Talma Glacier again before the snow disappears.