Santa Claus is Coming to Town

"You better watch out, you better not cry.
Better not pout, I'm telling you why.
Santa Claus is coming to town."
- Haven Gillespie and J. Fred Coots




Today was the day Santa Claus came into Helsinki from the North Pole to kick-start the Christmas spirit. He arrived on the 3B tram into Senate Square where he was greeted by a choir. He climbed the stairs of the Cathedral to join in on a few carols then proceeded to his sleigh.


Before the parade began, the lights of Aleksanterinkatu were lit. The streets were lined with people of all ages, anxiously awaiting for the entertainment. Police on horses led the parade followed by dancers with ribbons, gymnasts, dancing angels, Santa Claus on his sled (led by more horses though), an antique truck loaded with presents, and drummers.

The Thanksgiving Song

"Turkey for the girls and
Turkey for the boys.
My favorite kind of pants
Are corduroys.
Gobble gobble goo and
Gobble gobble gickel.
I wish turkey
Only cost a nickel.
Oh I love turkey on Thanksgiving...
Happy Thanksgiving everybody!"
- Adam Sandler

This is definitly the hardest month living abroad. I don't know if it is the darkness or the fact that all of our family is around a Thanksgiving feast, enjoying a room filled with love and laughter. Today will not begin with our annual Turkey Trot run (picture is from 2005), followed by 2 turkey dinners (one with each family), and completed with the Dallas Cowboys game.

We will have the traditional Thanksgiving meal thanks to my sister's wonderful care package. Unfortunately Daddy has to work so the boys and I will cook most of the day and dinner will be at 1800.

We all have so much to be thankful for...count your blessings not only today but every day you are given!

The Candy Man

"Who can take a sunrise
Sprinkle it with dew
Cover it in chocolate and a miracle or two?
The Candy Man.
The Candy Man can.
The Candy Man can 'cause he mixes it with love and makes the world taste good."
- Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory



Our closet size American grocery store Behnford's now has a competitor located right around the corner. Mr. Nibble opened up a few weeks ago and we went for our first visit yesterday. Believe it or not the store is smaller than Behnford's and carries mainly sweets. The shelves are stacked with candy, chocolate, Pop Tarts, cake mixes, canned drinks, etc. The store clerk said their inventory will vary with each delivery so keep checking in. The prices seemed a little more reasonable too.





We let Big and Little pick out a piece of candy each before heading out. After a handful of Hershey Kisses and Tootsie Rolls, we were all in a great mood!

It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas

"It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas.
Ev'rywhere you go
Take a look in the five-and-ten,
Glistening once again
With candy canes and silver lanes aglow."
- Meredith Wilson




Since Thanksgiving is not celebrated in Finland, this weekend was the beginning of the 'Christmas-Kick-Off' for some of the stores & malls to unveil their Christmas lights and decorations. Even though all the snow we were blessed with a few weeks ago has melted away, it continues to be quite magical outside with the lights shining. Next Sunday there is a parade with Mr. and Mrs. Claus through downtown. Their last stop is Aleksanterinkatu when the "major" lights will be turned on. We are anxiously awaiting that day!


Santa Claus made an appearance in Kamppi today. The children's' faces were filled with anticipation and joy as he passed out candy to each brave soul that shook his hand. I was quite surprised Big and Little had enough courage to meet the jolly man!

I will not confess how long our house has been decorated for this season...But that first big snow fall put us all in the Christmas mood.

Reading Rainbow

"Butterfly in the sky,
I can go twice as high!
Take a look, it's in a book, a Reading Rainbow!

I can go anywhere!
Friends to know, and ways to grow,
a Reading Rainbow!

"I can be anything!
Take a look, it's in a book, a Reading Rainbow!
A Reading Rainbow!"
- Tina Fabrik


Last month I discovered my new hiding place in Helsinki. Since our move I have been reading a book a week. 30+ weeks into this journey, my book bill has really added up. So I decided to get my library card and view their English selection. There are over 40 libraries alone in the greater Helsinki area which include a 2 Children's Libraries and a Music & Video Library.


I opted on the Rikhardinkatu Library. It is a 10 minute walk from our house. The 6th floor holds their "British Collection," a collection donated by the British Embassy. They have a wonderful selection of romance, fiction, sci-fi, and mystery. Any customer can check out up to 40 items for 28 days. I have enjoyed novels by Anita Shreve and Jane Green to name a few and the boys love the books I bring home for them. It is that one Saturday a month I look forward to escaping to the quiet library alone.


I have included a list of some of my favorite books I have read this year on the right, along with links to their reviews. I will continue to add others as they top my list. I hope you can enjoy a few if you have the time.

Hot In Here

"Hot in.....
So hot in here.....
So hot in.....

Its gettin hot in here,
So take off all your clothes.

I am gettin so hot,and I wanna take my clothes off."
- Nelly


Taking our clothes off was not necessary since clothing (and swimsuits) are prohibited inside. The boys and I experienced our first Finnish sauna - correctly pronounce "sow (rhymes with wow) nah" - today.

Once a week we head to Mäkelänrinteen Swimming Pool for a few hours of water fun. They have 2 saunas (Hotter and Mild) available in the women's locker room. Each week I consider taking the boys inside. Today we finally took the plunge and went into the Mild sauna. The boys giggled the entire time as they ran around the 15x10 room naked. I tried to have them sit on our towel and relax but soon realized it was not going to happen. After about 10 minutes Little was ready to leave and fair-skinned Big was red head to toe. I think I could have enjoyed it without the kids and in a quiet environment of course. We will see how we all behave next week.

Sauna is the only Finnish word in the English dictionary! There are more than 2 million saunas in Finland, one for every 3 people. That means there are more saunas than cars here! They recommend children as early as 1 year to start participating but many families start them as early as 2-3 months and some even give birth inside. Saunas are enjoyed in the 'buff.' It can be done socially with your family or close friends. Business deals also take place inside. Very few coed saunas still exist these days, unless it is in your own home or summer cottage.


SAUNA - WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS? (taken from Springs Sauna)

- Soothes and relaxes tired muscles
- Helps relieve mental fatigue
- Relieves tension and stress
- Provides a cardiovascular workout - Helps condition the heart
- Increases metabolic rate
- Improves circulation
- Provides temporary relief for arthritic pain
- Promotes healing and releases natural pain killers, Beta Endorphins and Norepinephrines
- Increases resistance to illness by strengthening the immune system
- Burns as many as 300 calories during a normal Sauna session
- Helps maintain clear, healthy skin - and provides an after glow of a rosy complexion
- Promotes a wonderful feeling of well being and a total body experience that no bath can duplicate
- Adds luxury and value to your home

Want to learn more...check out 'Bare Facts of the Sauna.'

The Blizzard

"When the world leaves you shivering
And the blizzard blows,
When the snow flies and the night falls
There's a light in the window and a place called home
At the end of the storm."
- Judy Collins


Mention the word 'blizzard' to anyone from the south and they immediate think..."OOOOH, ice cream delight from Dairy Queen!" But here in Finland it is "OH, snow & wind, wind & snow, more snow, more wind!" Not that we experienced a real blizzard today, but it was a day with 8 hours of continuous snowfall and gusting winds. The temperature remained at -1 Celsius the entire time, allowing a warm day to play outside while the snow was falling.


Once the boys were suited up we played in the backyard with our toy trucks, making roads in the snow. Then we headed to the mall to buy a sled. They had a blast pushing and pulling each other. Then we all ran around catching the large snowflakes on our tongues.


After our 4:10 pm sunset, the clear skies and full moon illuminated the snow covered ground. We decided to go back outside for round #2 in the snow. The park seemed magical with the stillness of the night and the 6 inches of powder.





The boys rode their sleds down hills and we attempted a snowman. After a brief snowball fight, we enjoyed a few handfuls of fresh snow then headed home as it was nearing bed time.

First Snowfall

"Oh the first snowfall of the winter.
What a joy for a boy to behold.
In each house you'll find a sleigh,
That was waiting for this day.
And of course, down the road a hill,
For each Jack and Jill."
- The Carpenters


After yesterdays flurries, today yields to a light blanket of snow topping flowers, cars, rooftops, and swings. Enough where any native Texan would call this a 'white Christmas' but it is just the beginning to 5+ months of winter in Finland. The temperature is well below zero (Celsius) now but take away a few more degrees for that gusting wind. Still, not cold enough to keep us inside.


We headed to the neighborhood park today not wanting to stray too far from home in case we did get cold. The boys enjoyed the fresh air and attempted to make snow balls with their water-proof mittens. Before long, a few more daring mothers and children joined in on the fun.