My Favorite Things

"Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens.
Bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens.
Brown paper packages tied up with strings.
These are a few of my favorite things."
- The Sound Of Music

Three months into this saga, our stash of "American" goods are becoming slim. We started off with 7 jars of peanut butter, 3 large boxes of goldfish, 3 cubes of velveeta cheese, and a case of macaroni & Cheese just to name a few. Once we arrived to Helsinki and I was able to explore the only 2 chains of grocery stores here, I discovered they did not sell vanilla extract, canned pumpkin, or any dry mixes such as brownies, cakes, muffins, etc. I have learned to make many things from scratch and do without others.

Our grocery store of choice now has an "American" section located on the end of an isle. For the days we are craving a Baby Ruth and do not mind spending $3.06, we can get our fix. The Mac & Cheese they carry is not Kraft, and we have yet to try the generic. Thanks to 2 packages we have received lately, we now have a few more boxes of the Kraft Dinner and some Easy Mac...THANKS again!

With my family due to arrive in less than 3 weeks (YEAH!), they each have been given a detailed grocery list of things to stuff inside their suit cases. Until then, we wait anxiously each morning to see if the door bell rings around 0900 to deliver a package. Thanks to everyone who has sent a little love to us on this side of the Atlantic. I now have enough vanilla and pumpkin spice to last us forever and I am able to keep up with the latest recipes published in 'Southern Living!'

Midsummer Night's Madness

"Midsummer Night's Madness,
Caught me in its spell.
Never have I known such gladness.
Never have I felt so well.
Totally in a tizzy,
And so are all my friends.
The whole world's got me dizzy,
And hopin' that the madness never ends."
- Jem and The Holograms

We survived the longest day of 2006 yesterday. Unfortunately with a cold front moving in, the day did not seem as long and bright as it has been during the previous weeks.

I check out Wunderground daily to view our forecast. I also like to read the 'Astronomy' section provided to see how long our days really are here. Yesterday was the first time I have seen the word shorter next to 'Length of Day.'

June 21, 2006...........Rise..............Set
Actual Time.........3:51 AM EEST.....10:51 PM EEST
Civil Twilight.......1:52 AM EEST.....12:50 AM EEST
Astronomical Twilight
Moon.................1:31 AM EEST......6:00 PM EEST
Length Of Visible Light: 22h 58m
Length of Day 18h 59m
Tomorrow will be 0m 5s shorter.

We were only 2 seconds away from having daylight 23 hours yesterday!

With Daddy out of town, we spent a late evening at the park and ended it with ice cream. Friday is a holiday for the official Midsummer (Juhannus in Finnish) Celebration, offering everyone a 3 day weekend.

We're Sons Of Our Fathers

"When I grow up to be a man
like my father was when I was young
I hope I can make him so proud of me
Proud enough to call me his son...

We're all sons of our fathers
sometimes I feel like mine
and I can hear him say, the things I say
seems all things come around in time."
- Phil Collins




Happy Father's Day to all! This wonderful day is not celebrated in Finland until November 12, so Daddy is lucky enough to get 2 days devoted to him the next few years. Since he left for a business trip late last night, we celebrated his day on Saturday.


We spent the morning and most of the afternoon playing on the beach of Uunisaari Island. We had a picnic and watched the sail boats glide by most of the day. We headed back to shore via the ferry and made it to Esplanadin Puisto just in time for a parade. We are clueless what the parade was in honor of, but hundreds of belly dancers of all ages lined the streets, decorated in feathers and beads! We hurried home for a steak dinner and a movie. We hope everyone is able to have a great Father's Day spent with their loved ones!

Beach Baby

"Beach baby, beach baby,
Give me your hand...

Just like before,
We could walk by the shore.

Beach baby, beach baby,
There on the sand,
From July to the end of September."
- First Class

I have and always will be a sun lover. I always dreamed of one day living by the ocean, or at least within walking distance. But never was it the Baltic Sea in Helsinki, Finland?!? With temperatures reaching 78 degrees yesterday, my dream came true. We spent all morning and part of the afternoon at Hietaniemi beach, only a mile from our home. The boys played in the ocean despite the frigid water temperature. After numerous applications of sunscreen and hearing American 80's music over the beach radio, we headed home for a 3 hour nap.

I was quite impressed how quickly Finns shed their clothes. This weekend they still had their children in hats and jackets, winter boots on the stroller, scarves around most peoples neck (even though they were wearing short-sleeves). But today babies were running naked on the beach and the smallest bikinis and speedos gave "some" coverage to others. This will be a great summer...one to remember!

I Can See Clearly Now

"I can see clearly now the rain is gone.
I can see all obstacles in my way.
Gone are the dark clouds that had me down.
It's gonna be a bright bright sun shiny day...

Look all around there's nothing but blue skies.
Look straight ahead there's nothing but blue skies...

It's gonna be a bright bright sun shiny day."
- Johnny Nash

Finally...we had the most beautiful day ever! Saturday's high was 70 and not a cloud in the sky. And if you view our 5 day forecast, we should reach 77 by Wednesday.

We spent the morning and early afternoon at the Helsinki Zoo located on the island of Korkeasaari. You can get to the island by land or water. We decided to do one of each. The zoo itself does not compare to any of those at home, but at least the boys were able to view some live animals, even reindeer. The habitats created are more "cage-like" and makes you feel sorry for the furry creatures.


After taking the boat back to the Central Market Square we ate ice cream and let the boys run around the Havis Amanda. Then we bought dinner and picnicked on the lawn near the Parliament Building. We all ran barefoot in the grass and played in the fountain.

Hopefully this is our weather for at least the next 3 months. This week we plan to hit the beaches in our bathing suits rather than clothes!

School's Out

"School's out for summer.
School's out forever...

No more pencils.
No more books.
No more teacher's dirty looks...

Out for summer.
Out till fall.
We might not go back at all.

School's out for summer."
- Alice Cooper


We have officially experienced our first "free lunch" here in Finland. Summertime offers numerous activities in the cities parks daily including circus tours, handicrafts, sing-a-longs, and sports and games. The entertainment is concluded with...that's right FREE LUNCH! One must provide his/her own bowl, spoon, and drink along with plenty of patience while you wait in a long line with other hungry moms and tots.


Today's menu is what I call "Chicken Surprise." At least the mother's of our play group came to the consensus it was chicken. I decided to pass on my helping and Big and Little were not too found of their portion either. The majority of the kids licked their bowls clean and were begging for seconds, which is not provided. We will give it another shot next week and if we strike out again...we may be eating McDonald's twice a week for lunch. Oh well, I am not complaining since it is free.

The entertainment was great. 4 adults with a mini-circus act that consisted of juggling, acrobats, and a puppet show. It lasted 30 minutes, only 25 minutes longer than my children's attention span. Then the children gathered around and sang "She'll Be Coming 'Round The Mountain," or a song with the same tune...it was in Finnish. All the hungry kids ran to their moms for their bowl and spoon then hurried into line...for "Chicken Surprise."

I keep reminding myself...its all about the experience!

Call The Nurse

"Call the nurse.
Call the nurse
I'm in pain, I'm in pain.
Everything hurts.
Vital signs.
In horizontal lines...
Call the nurse.
Call the nurse."
- Lee Harding



The thing I have been dreading the most since we decided to move here...I had to face today. The boys' "well check" with the nurse! In Finland you are assigned a nurse according to your address. She deals with all children and maternal health issues for the family. Little is passed due for his 15 month check up and I wanted to see if either child needed additional immunizations.


Not having a clue what to expect, I was rather nervous. The offices of the nurses are located at an area hospital. The floor had the look of a typical hospital, but everything was written in Finnish. Rather than being equipped for a patient room, each contained (as you can see in the pic) a "gyno-trolley", exam table for infants, children's table with books and puzzles, desk with computer, and basic equipment including a scale, sink, sharps, etc. The room was clean, that is all I wanted.


Our nurse was awesome! First, she spoke English (thank God). She, and other nurses I saw in the hall, were wearing aqua-colored aprons (You think Sharon Tourville would go for that?). Our family basically received a general assessment. She asked us how we all were adjusting, eating & sleeping habits, allergies, etc. Then took everyones height and the boys' weight (Big: 12.5kg & 92.5 cm; Little: 11.5 kg & 84 cm). She gave me a hand out to start them on Vit D and said I should return with Little when he is 18 months and Big at 3 years.


That was it. My challenge was complete. Lets just keep praying these boys stay healthy and I never have to go there for a sick visit...things may be different.


And for any of you wondering, I have a private OB-GYN...I will not be getting examined in the same room my kids do!