Running on Ice

"I'm running on ice...
I'm slipping and sliding,
cause I'm running on ice."
- Billy Joel







Today we took the boys for a 'walk on water'. How often does one get a chance to walk on a frozen ocean or sea? Islands that we once paid a few Euros to enter by boat is now open to pedestrians. The beach is covered by inches of ice and snow and the waters are safe to roam.





The part of the Baltic Sea that surrounds Helsinki is properly known as the Gulf of Finland. These waters usually freeze by late January but with our so called 'mild' winter, the freezing is behind schedule. This time of year one should be able to walk from Finland to Estonia on 20-40cm of ice...that is if icebreakers were not around. Only until recent weeks did the city declare the area lakes and shores "safe" for walking, X-country skiing, and skating. 1942 was the last recorded time for the entire Baltic Sea to freeze over and in 1987, 96% of the Sea was ice. By the end of April, the Sea should be almost completely thawed.





So how does a Texan who would wear shorts and flip-flops every day if given the chance survive in this enormous igloo? I relax on the "waters edge", pretend the sun is out as I soak in the rays, and if I stare long enough the snow turns into the whitest sand I have ever seen!

Birthday Candles

"How many candles
Will the birthday boy take?
How many candles
On his birthday cake?

One, or two?
That will do!
Two little candles
On his birthday cake!"


"Little" turned 2 today! Even though he is not so little any more weighing in at 29 lbs and 35 inches tall. We celebrated by going to the indoor pool and playing at the park despite the -18 C temperatures. This evening we ate pizza, followed by cake and ice cream. Thanks for a challenging but most rewarding 2 years yet...we love you!

Something That We Do

"I remember well the day we wed. I can see that picture in my head. I still believe the words we said. Forever will ring true.

Love is certain, love is kind. Love is yours and love is mine. But it isn't something that we find. It's something that we do.

It's holding tight, lettin' go. It's flying high and laying low. Let your strongest feelings show. And your weakness, too.



It's a little and a lot to ask. An endless and a welcome task. Love isn't something that we have. It's something that we do.

We help to make each other all that we can be. Though we can find our strength and inspiration independently. The way we work together is what sets our love apart. So closely that you can't tell where I end and where you start.

It gives me heart remembering how. We started with a simple vow. There's so much to look back on now. Still it feels brand-new.



We're on a road that has no end. And each day we begin again. Love's not just something that we're in. It's something that we do.

Love is wide, love is long. Love is deep and love is strong. Love is why I love this song. And I hope you love it too.

There's no request too big or small. We give ourselves, we give our all. Love isn't someplace that we fall. It's something that we do."
- Clint Black



February 20, 2003...We were in Mexico with 38 of our closest family members and friends! To think that was only 4 years ago boggles my mind. We have already seen, accomplished, and experienced more than I imagined we would 10 years into our marriage. Thanks for all the love, laughter, tears, and memories. May we have many, many more!

Peanut Butter

"Well I went to a dinner and what did they eat,
I took a big bite and it stuck to my teeth,
Now everybody look like they got the mumps,
Eatin peanut butter in-a great big hunks,
I like peanut butter."
- The Marathons

We are living somewhat in a "bubble," oblivious to current events. We do not watch the news & cannot read the newspapers. Therefore, all our information comes from the internet, but only the headlines we 'double-click' on to continue reading. My usual morning routine, after the boys are fed and happy, is to sit down with a cup of coffee and surf. I do a daily puzzle, read my favorite blogs, check out the forecast, and catch up on e-mail. If time allows I will check out the local Dallas news to see what fun we have been missing.

Officials Link 2 PB Brands To Salmonella greeted me this morning. Being a PB lover, I chose to 'double click.' And to only brighten my morning, Peter Pan products beginning with product code 2111 have been recalled for possible salmonella contamination. I run to the kitchen to pull out my remaining supply of Peter Pan (5 large jars). Yep...they all start with '2111'.

Since there is not a store in the area (or within 4000 miles) that I could exchange them, I have decided to take my chances. My mom always told me not to eat raw cookie dough or lick the brownie mix bowl for the risk of salmonella, but I still do. What is a little gastroenteritis anyway? As a 'retired' nurse, it was a illness we all lived with while working in the ER our fist 6 months.

My Funny Valentine

"My Funny Valentine.
Sweet comic valentine.
You make me smile with my heart.
Your looks are laughable,
unphotographable,
yet your my favorite work of art."
- Frank Sinatra


Today I hosted a 'Valentine's Day' play group at my house through the AWC (American Women's Club). I joined the club last fall hoping to meet other English speaking mothers with young children. Unfortunately they only have 3 formal events planned annually, parties associated with Easter, Halloween, and Christmas. Not wanting to wait until April, we organized an informal play day that was a success.


Our house was filled with mothers and kids ranging from 10 months to 6 years. We decorated cookies, made special Valentines, snacked, and played, played, played. All the kids had a blast and the mothers were very interested in doing something monthly, rotating between each other's house.

The Garden

"Come into the garden, It's magical trees. Dapple the sun as they sway with each lazy breeze; They'll set your mind at ease.
Pretend you're a child, with nothing to hide, Then we'll join hands and let the universe swing wide; We'll lay our fears aside"
- Carly Simon


After successfully making it through a day where temperatures dropped to the -20's (-30's with the windchill), we rewarded ourselves with a visit to Helsinki Gardenia. Located in the heart of Helsinki University campus, the triangular green house is a tropical paradise...no mittens, snow suits, hats, or scarves required!


Once we entered Gardenia, our winter wear was shed and left on a hook as we imagined we were living in the tropics. Warm, humid air filled the room. Friendly fish and turtles greeting us too. The garden was full of orchids, herbs, ivies, ferns, palms, bamboo and millions of other plants.


The boys enjoyed the faux bug and spider exhibits as well as running on the stone paths. After touring the garden we sat in the small cafe where we shared a few cookies. Then the boys played in the 'children's learning corner.' Bird houses and nests, a fox habitat, pine cone hole, frog pond, and coloring tables were set up for a small hands-on experience.

Sushi Bar

"Healthy menu.
It's my favorite Japanese meal.
Ooo, colorful art of the food.
It's a beautiful Japanese meal.
Sushi, sushi, sushi bar!
Going to a sushi bar!"
- Shonen Knife






Monday morning the boys and I headed over to a friends house for a beginners lesson on making sushi. While the boys entertained themselves (for the most part), I learned the secrets of sushi. From how to create the perfect rice, to rolling in-side-out rolls...the lesson was a success. When the seaweed and ingredients were gone, we all sat down for a delightful lunch.












The rolls we made were combinations of crab, salmon, avocado, carrots, red pepper, cucumber, and cream cheese. I was quite impressed with the outcome. I still need to practice the 'rolling' technique, some could have been rolled a little tighter.


We finally returned to the city at 1500...just in time to get the house ready for our Monday night Football/Superbowl party (thanks to Slingbox and TiVo)! We had a few friends over for burgers and beer, and some delicious s'mores for dessert.

Our Land, Maamme (Finnish National Anthem)

"Our land, our land, our motherland,
Sound loud, O name of worth!
No mount that meets the heaven's band,
No hidden vale, no wavewashed strand,
Is loved, as is our native North,
Our own forefathers' earth."
- Vänrikki Stoolin tarinat, Johan Ludvig Runeberg









February 5, 1804, Johan Ludvig Runeberg was born. Known as the national poet of Finland, his works focused on rural life in his country. Fänrik Ståls sägner, his most famous piece, opens with the poem Our Land, Maamme which became the Finnish National Anthem in 1848.






Present day, Finns celebrates February 5th each year by eating a Runeberg's tart. This Finnish pastry, seasoned with almonds and rum, topped with raspberry jam in a sugar ring on the tart is delicious and are available only during this limited time. Special stands are posted outside each market to ensure the most fresh Runeberg's Tarts in town.

Meltdown

"Now here it's gettin hot hot hot...
It's getting hot out and hotter.
Man it's getting hot hot.
getting hot around here.
It's a meltdown.
it's a meltdown."
- AC/DC


When we arrived back to Finland 2 weeks ago, so did the beautiful winter weather with tons of 'light' snow. Ever since there has been at least a 6 inch ground cover of snow so light, almost sand-like, that you could not even pack it to make a snowball. The temperature has been steady, well below freezing...until yesterday.


Our winter wonderland has now turned into a slushy mess. The dormant grass is now visible beneath a sheet of glass that freezes each night. The piles of snow are now turning into mini-lakes and forming small streams down each street and sidewalk as they melt. These warm temperatures are only predicted for one more day until they plummet down to -19 C (-1 F). Then our slushy mess will turn into one HUGE iceberg. This is going to be fun!