Silmia ristissa / Crossed eyes

Hui hirmuinen, minkalainen yo. En muista koskaan etta lapsillani olisi ollut sellaista kuumetta etta koskeminen sattuu niin paljon etta toinen huusi kuin syotava. Mutta halusi olla sylissa sattumisesta huolimatta. Emme siis nukkuneet juuri mitaan viime yona. Silmat ristissa ollaan oikeastaan kaikki koiraa myoten. Onneksi kuume on laskenut. Kurja olo pikkuisella vaan jatkuu. Enterorokko diagnoosi vahvistunut. :( Nyt toivon ettei isompi saa tata.
Vanhempi vietti pari tuntia laatuaikaa daddyn kanssa eilen iltapaivalla. Olivat eksyneet LEGO-kauppaan ja sielta tultiin ison kassin kanssa kotiin. Neiti on innostunut nyt rakentamaan pikkulegoilla. Kovasti toivon etta Legolla olisi enemman tytoille suunnattuja juttuja. Kovasti poikapainotteista. Mutta LEGOn Friends sarja osuu juuri kohdalleen meidan mimmille. Kauneusjuttuja, elaimia, hevosia jne. Tyttojen juttuja. :) Kaikkein ihaninta on ollut kuitenkin katsoa kuinka toinen nauttii taysilla rakentamisesta ja onnistumisesta.

What a terrible night. I don't remember ever either of our children to have had such a fever that touching her hurts as much as it did last night. She was crying her head off but still wanted to be held. I don't think any of us slept last night. We're all cross eyed including the dog. Luckily the fever is down. But the poorly feeling is still there. Hand, mouth and foot diagnosis has been confirmed. :( Now I'm just hoping the older one will not get this.
The bigger one of our girls spent few hours of quality time with daddy yesterday. They had found them selves in the LEGO store and came back with a big bag. Our miss is extremely enthusiastic about building with the smaller legos. I wish they would have more product lines targeted towards girls. Very much boy emphasised. Their one and only girly product series, called Friends, hits our girls interestes spot on. Beauty things, animals, horses, friends etc. Girly things. :) The most wonderful thing about this phase is though seeing how she fully enjoyes the building process as well as succeeding in finishing something.

Meidan tuurilla / Our luck

Taalla on pitka viikonloppu. Maanantaina on Labor Day, joten melkein kaikki kaupat ovat kiinni. Isanta on ottanut viela sen jalkeen pari vapaapaivaa. Ja meidan tuurilla pikkuneiti tuli sitten kipeaksi. Kuumetta, kadet taas taynna nappyloita, kitinaa, kurjaa oloa jne. Epailen taasen enterorokkoa. Kipulaaketta tuomaan kuume alas ja kurjaan oloon. Toistaiseksi jaloissa ei mitaan, suussakaan en nahnyt mitaan. Ota tasta nyt sitten taas selvaa. Mutta siis kivaa ei ole. Kuva otettu eilen.

We have a log weekend here. Monday is Labor Day, so almost all shops are shut. My husband took few extra days off on top of the long weekend. And of course with our luck the little miss became sick. Fever, hands full of blisters, whining, feeling poorly etc. I'm suspecting again hand foot and mouth. So far no blisters on her feet nor legs, didn't see anything in the mouth either. Try to figure this out then. Not fun at all. The photo was taken yesterday.

Kuvia edesta ja takaa, sivulta ja paalta / Pics from front and back, from side and top

Koukutukset ovat tuottaneet vihdoinkin tulosta. Kori on valmistunut. Alussa sita tehtiin ja purettiin (aloitan aina liian tiukalla kun teen ontelokuteesta - ei opi, ei). Reunaakin tehtiin ja purettiin kun telkkaria katsoessani innostuin koukkuamaan niin etta tein liikaa. Mutta kyllapa oli "pitsi"reunassa vaantamista. Ohje, joka loytyy TAALTA, pyysi seiska koukkua mutta mina tein kasilla. Seiskalla oliski tullut tuosta kuteesta kylla niin tapakka ja olisi saanut vaantaa vaantamisen ilosta. Kuten kuvista naette pitsi ei ole pystyssa niin kuin sen ohjeen mukaan pitaisi olla vaan kaantyy ulospain. Ihan kiva se on noinkin. Tykkaan.

Finally results with my hooking. My basket is ready. In the beginning I made some and undid some (I always start too tight when I'm making things with tubular weft - I never learn). Also with the side I did and then undid as I made it too tall while watching TV. But you have no idea how hard it was to crochet the "lace" at the edge. The patterns, which you can find in Finnish HERE, was asking for number 7(mm) hook but I made it with 8mm. If I had done it with 7mm it would have been very hard with the weft I had. As you can see from the pictures the "lace" is turning outwards, which it is not supposed to do according to the pattern. I don't mind. I kind of like it that way as well. I'm happy.

Alku / Beginning

Uusi alku. Uuden koulun alku. Uuden lukuvuoden alku. Meidan reipas eskarilainen (kinderilainen) oli iloinen koulun alkamisesta. Olipa uusi kokemus mammalle. Neiti pitaa saattaa joka paiva koulun ovelle, josta ope tulee ryhmansa hakemaan, seka menna sinne ovelle neiti noutamaan. Hakeminen oli aika kaaoottinen. Ainakin parkkeerauksen suhteen. Kaikki luokat paasivat samaan aikaan, kaikkia oltiin hakemassa samaan aikaan. HUH HUH! Kaikkeen on kai totuttava. On vaan niin kovin erilaista kuin siella kotisuomessa.

New beginning. Beginning of a new school. Beginning of a new school year. Our Kindergartener was happy about starting school. It was a new experience for mummy. Not the school starting but how this actually happens. I will take her every day to a door where the teacher will collect them at certain time. I also have to collect her from the same door at particular time. Picking her up was quite chaotic! At least what comes to parking. All classes get out at the same time, all were being picked up at the same time. PHEW! I guess it's just one of those things you have to get used to. So different from how things work at home.

Tutustumisia ja kuihtumisia / Introductions and wiltings

Eilen kun kavimme vanhemman tyttaren kanssa tutustumassa uuteen koululuokkaan, opettajaan ja uusiin kavereihin kaikki saivat kotiin lahtiessaan pienen pussukan. Tutkimme kotona vasta sisallon. Se oli hauska idea (kaikki eskariopet huomio).
Huomenna on suuri paiva. Koulu alkaa! Meidan eskarilainen on intoa taynna ja miettii jo kovasti etta mita pistaisi paalle. :)
Mikaan ei kesta ikuisesti. Ei edes auringonkukat maljakossa vaikka niilla on ollut riittavasti vetta.

Yesterday we went to the introductory meeting at the school where the children got to see their class room, meet their teacher and new friends. All got a little bag from the teacher when leaving home. We studied the contents of the bag at home. It was really cute idea (all Kindergarten teacher take note).
Tomorrow is a big day. School starts! our Kindergartener is so excited and is thinking what to wear to school tomorrow. :)
Nothing lasts forever. Not even sun flowers though they have been in plenty of water.

Marttailua / Our crafting club

Kerran viikossa pyrimme pienella kasitoista pitavalla porukalla tapaamaan jonkun kotona ja edes pari tuntia varkata jokainen omia prjektejamme hopotellen niita naita. Tanaan vuorossa oli korin virkkausta, pitsia, ristipistoa seka vaippojen ompelua. Ja ihan tarkoituksella jatin kuvat korista pois. Naette sen myohemmin.

Once a week we try to meet with a small group of ladies who are crafty one way or other. We meet at each other's homes and at least spend few hours doing our respective projects and chit chatting. Today there were basket crocheting, lacy, cross stitch and sewing nappies. And on purpose I left pictures of the basket out. You'll see it later.

Maailmaan mahtuu huutoa / There's room for screaming in the world

ISO HUOKAUS! Tama paiva on ollut todella vasyttava. Pienemman kiukkupuuskia ja huutoa koko paivan. Pienemman hampaitten aiheuttamaa huutoa. Pienemman ylivasymyksesta aiheutunutta huutoa. Isomman hermojenmenetyksesta aiheutunutta huutoa. Nyt kun isompi nukkuu, pienempi huutaa..... en tieda enaa mita. Kipulaaketta on annettu hampaita varten. Kohta huutaa aiti!
Kyllahan tahan paivaan mahtui muutakin kuin huutoa: kaytiin kylassa (tosin siellakin huudettiin oikein urakalla ja laskuun), isompi maalasi lintulautaa, koira pissasi sisalle. Huominen ei voi olla muuta kuin parempi paiva.

BIG SIGH! Today has been really tiring. Screaming by the little Miss all day long. Screaming caused by tantrums. Screaming caused by teeth. Screaming caused by over tiredness. Bigger one screaming caused by loosing her temper because od the little one screaming all the time. Now that the bigger one sleeps the little one still screams..... I don't know what she's screaming about anymore. We've given her medicine for teeth. Soon the mother is screaming!
Today included also something else beside screaming: a visit at friends place (lots of screaming there as well by the little one), the bigger one painted a bird feeder, the dog weed inside. Tomorrow just have to be better day.

Ihana yllatys / Lovely surprise

Sohvan nurkasta loytyi nalle lukemasta. :) Sita ei viitsinyt hairita ettei ala murisemaan. Mita kaikkea nuo nallet ja heidan omistajansa keksivatkaan. Hassua ja ihanaa!
Eilinen hurahti niin nopeasti ettei kerennyt edes ajattelemaan. Mukava iltapaiva, mukavassa seurassa, hyvaa ruokaa, lapsia ja koira. Kotiin kun tulimme ei kestanyt kuin yksi hetki ja hujaus kun molemmat tytot jo tuhisivat omissa sangyissaan.
Ulkona on viela kesaisen kuumaa. +30 mittarissa ja aurinko paistaa pilvettomalta taivaalta. Kylla tama kohta puoleen rupeaa viilenemaan. Pikkuhiljaa tosin. Illat ja yot ovat jo selvasti viileampia kuin kolme viikkoa sitten.
En ole kerennyt edes kertomaan minulle aika jannittavasta asiasta. Perjantaina alkuillasta loytyi oven takaa iso paketti. Paketista paljastui jotain sellaista, josta olen haaveillut jo kauan mutten ole raaskinut hankkia ja kun ei ole tietoa siita kuinka kauan viela taalla olemme. Joudun sen myymaan sitten kun aika lahtea koittaa. Mutta hopotan tassa kaikenlaista enka ole viela edes kertonut mita paketissa on. :) Rumpujen parinaa....... siella oli saumuri! Ette usko kuinka tama tatsy oli iloinen on edelleen. Olin pari iltaa aikaisemmin taas hopottanyt asiasta miehelleni ja han oli ostanut sen minulle. <3 On minulla ihana mies! <3 Oli selvitellyt mika kannattaa ostaa ja mika ei. Nyt viikonloppuna on ollut vaan niin kiirus ettei ole voinut kuvitellakaan etta sita olisi paassyt kokeilemaan. Ehka tanaan. I found a bear reading on the sofa. Didn't want to disturb him in case he started growling at me. What silly and wonderful things teddies and their owners come up with. Yesterday went by so fast that I didn't even have a chance to think. Lovely afternoon in lovely company, tasty food, children and a dog. When we eventually got home both girls were soon asleep in their own beds. The weather is still like during summer. +30C/86F in the thermometer and the sun is shining from a cloudless sky. It will start getting coller bit by bit. Nights though are already cooler than three weeks ago. I haven't even had a chance to tell you about a very exciting thing (at least for me). Friday late afternoon I found a big parcel behind our front door. The parcel contained something that I had been dreaming of for a while but just hadn't bought it as we have no idea how long we're going to be here. I will have to sell it when it's time to go. But I'm rattling on about all kinds of things and I haven't even told you what it is. Drum roll please........a serger! You have no idea how happy this woman is. I had few nights earlier talked to my husband about all the things I could do with a serger and he had gone and bought it. <3 I have a wonderful husband! <3 He had researched which brand and model would be good. I just haven't had a chance to try the machine yet. Hopefully tonight.

Onnistuimme / We succeeded

Koulua varten tavarat hankittu. Vaatekauppojen alennuksia hyodynnetty ja hankittu muutamia tarpeellisia niin isommalle kuin pienelle. Aikamoinen ryysis kaupoissa oli. Loysin minakin tulevaisuutta silmalla pitaen muutaman jutun. MomAgendan perhekalenteri seka lista jaettaville askareille. Ne pistetaan toistaiseksi viela kaappiin. Pari viivaa vedetty tehtavien listaan. Nyt ei tarvitse miettia koulunaloitusta muuten. Me olemme valmiit. :)
Jotkut teista tietavatkin jo etta olen Piano Guys fani (katso taalta). Tassa teille jotain, joka teki paivastani paremman. Nautittavaa perjantaita.

All school supplies have been bought. Made good use of sales in buying few essentials for the the girls. It was very busy in the shops. I too found few things for the future. Weekly family planner for all to see as well as chore chart. So far they are still going to my stash. Few items crossed over from the To do- list. Now I don't have to worry about the school start at this front. We are ready. :)
Some of you may already know that I'm a Piano Guys fan (look here). Here's something for you that just made my day. Enjoy your Friday.

Valmistautumista valmistautumiseen / Getting ready to get ready

Aamulla kun tulin alas, minut vastaanotti kaksi nuokkuvaa auringonkukkaa ihanassa kukkakimpussani. Pelastin ne pian omaan pikkumaljakkoon (lue lasiin). Siina ne nyt nokottaa ja ilostuttaa.
Ensi viikon puolivalissa alkaa esikoisen julkinen koulu-ura. Eskariin menossa. Han teki viime vuonna yksityisessa hoitopaikassa eskarin ja vaikka upeasti sen suorittikin niin ian puolesta neitia ei hyvaksyta eteenpain. Eli han ponkittaa tietonsa ja kertaa eskarin nyt siis julkisella puolella. Vahan harmittaa, etta eskari on vain puolipaivainen, joka itse asiassa tarkoittaa 2h45min (aloittaa iltapaivaryhmassa ja ryhmat vaihtavat tammikuun puolivalin jalkeen paikkoja eli sitten ollaan aamuryhmassa). Neiti kovasti jo odottaa paasevansa tapaamaan uusia kavereita. Aitia puolestaan jannittaa miten saan sovitettua pikkuisen paivaunirytmin tahan uuteen aikatauluun. Vaikka kuinka paassani pyorittelen asiaa en oikein tieda miten unet riittavat. En nyt tahan rupea selittamaan sen tarkemmin ongelmaani. Mutta minulla on pahkina purtavana.
Kouluilta saadaan lista tavaroista, jotka tulevaa kouluvuotta varten pitaisi hankkia. Pienilla nama tavarat menevat yhteiseen kayttoon. Ylemmilla luokilla tavarat ovat sitten henkilokohtaisia. Meille tuli tallainen lista. Huomenna on tarkoitus lahtea kouluostoksille. Taalla "back to school" ostokset ovat iso bisnes. Vanhemmat kuluttavat huikeita summia (useita satoja dollareita) lasten koulutarvikkeisiin ja vaatteisiin. En itse oikein ymmarra miten niin isoja summia saadaan kulumaan kun hiukan miettimalla paasee varmasti halvemmalla.
Koukku on koukuttanut. Hitaasti mutta varmasti (onnistuin vaantamaan ranteeni kipeaksi tiistaina koiraa kantaessani elainlaakarilta autoon).
Isanta oli ostanut jostain nettikaupasta pienen suloisen purnukan merisuolaa - ranskalaista tietenkin.
Talla hetkella nautin jokaisesta pienestakin hiljaisesta hetkesta, jonka saan. Pikkuneiti varkkaa hampaita (ainakin kolme tulossa samaan aikaan ellei jopa nelja). Sitten taitaa suu ollakin suht lailla taynna purukalustoa. Voitte kuvitella minkalaista takiaismeininkia taalla on kun toinen roikkuu helmassa kiinni ja kinuaa koko ajan syliin vain halutakseen puolen minuutin paasta taas pois ja parin minuutin paasta takaisin.

In the morning when I shuffled downstairs I was greeted by two nodding sun flowers. I quickly saved them into their own vase (read glass). There they now stand proudly and make my day brighter.
In the middle of next week our first born will start her public school career. She will start kindergarten. Last year while in private care she was put in a kindergarten program and even though she did brilliantly she's too young to go forward. This is why she will strengthen her knowledge in repeating kindergarten in public school. I'm a bit miffed that it's only a half day program, which menas 2h45min. She will start in the afternoon group and then in mid Jan will swap to morning group. She's really looking forward to meeting her new friends. Mum is a bit anxious about how I'm going to handle the schedule change with the little one (taking one to school and picking her up will mess totally her nap rhythm in the afternoon). Despite how I twist different possibilities in my head nothing seems to work. In every scenario it's going to be too little sleep. I'm not going to lay the whole problem here but I'm just stating that I have a problem that I need to crack.
Every student gets a list from school of the supplies that he/she will need to get before school starts. For the little ones these items will come to common use during the year where as in the higher grades they are personal items which will be needed. This is the list we got. Tomorrow our intention is to go and get the school shopping done. I've noticed that here "back to school" shopping is BIG business. Parents spend enormous amounts (several hundred dollars) in the school supplies and clothing. I myself cannot quite understand how you can spend that kind of money when with a little bit of thinking and planning you can spend a lot less.
My crochet hook has been "hooking". Slowly because I managed to twist my arm on Tuesday carrying the dog from the vet to the car.
My dear husband had bought online some fancy sea salt in a small darling pot - French of course.
At the moment I enjoy every single moment of peace and quiet I can get. The little miss is teething (at least three if not four are coming through at the same time). Then I think she'll pretty much have them all....if not counting the two last molars. You can imagine the little "klingon" I have here. She's constantly wanting to be held only to after 30 seconds get going again and returning to me in after 2 minutes or less.