Valmiina / Ready

Myohemmin tanaan daddy karraa meidat tytot lentokentalle kaikkine tavaroinemme. Pitka matka alkaa mutta kylla se kannattaa. Meilla on mukava loma tiedossa. Bloggailuun saattaa tulla taukoa . En aio ottaa mitaan stressia tasta asiasta. :D Naiden kuvien myota toivottelen mukavaa lomaa kaikille lomalaisille.

Later today daddy is going to haul us girls to the air port with all of our "stuff". Long journey will begin but it's worth it. We have a lovely holiday ahead of us. There might be a break with my blogging. I'm not going to stress about this. :D With these pictures I'll wish all those who are on a holiday: Happy holiday!

Tervetuloa toimistooni / Welcome to my office

Minulla on ihan oma toimisto.
I've got my very own office.




Minulla on siella tietokone.
I've got my laptop there.




Ja tietysti kunnon tyotuoli.
And of course a proper chair to sit on.

Kuka siita tyoasusta nyt valittaa jos tyot tulee tehtya.
Who cares about the work clothes if the job gets done.

Uimahauskaa / Swim fun

Tanaan torjuimme kuumuutta uimalla ystaviemme uima-altaalla. :) Lapset latrasivat vedessa ihan koko ajan. Hyva kun malttoivat tulla lounaan syomaan. Pikkuinenkin viihtyi omassa altaassaan mutta vaati kovin kovaaanisesti seuraksi isompia, jotka puolestaan uivat isossa altaassa.
Pitaisi ruveta miettimaan ihan tosissaan noita pakkailuja. Sunnuntaina olisi lahto enka ole tehnyt asian eteen viela mitaan. Pyykkia pitaa pesta jne. Olen seurannut 10 vuorokauden Suomen saata eika se kauheasti houkuta.

Today were trying to fend the heat off by our friends' pool. :) The children were playing in the water the whole time. We barely got them out to have some lunch. The little one had fun as well in her own paddling pool but demanded quite loudly the bigger ones from the big pool to join her.
I should start thinking about packing. We're flying on Sunday and I haven't done a thing for it. I need to do some laundry etc. I've been following the 10-day forecast for Finland and to be honest it doesn't seem very appealing.

Pikaompelua / Express sewing

Tekaisin tosi pikaisesti pari trikoopipoa vastasyntyneelle. Olin ostanut trikoot viime syksyna Suomesta Eurokankaasta (mina kun tykastyin noihin palluroihin ja vareihin). Pipot oli tilattu syyskuuta varten ja talla kertaa ei ole tiedossa vauvan sukupuoli niin pyydettiin tekemaan seka pojalle etta tytolle. No minahan tein. :) En saanut omastani mannekiinia silla neidin paa on huomattavasti isompi kuin vastasyntyneen. Nyt siis vain tallainen kuva.

I sew very quickly few knitted new born hats. I bought these fabrics last autumn from Finland (as I fell for the polkadots and colors). These hast were ordered from me for September. As there was no knowledge of the babys gender I was asked to make one for a girl and one for a boy. Sorry there's only this kind of photo but as I did not have a model to try them on. My baby's head is way too big for these hats already.

HOT HOT HOT!

Tanaan on juuri sita. KUUUUUUUUMA! Mittarissa komeilee varjossa +37C ja mita se onkaan auringossa. En edes halua tietaa. Kosteutta ilmassa on sen verran etta ulkona on todella tukala olla. Meilla ei ole uima-allasta. Ikean amme tuntuu kuitenkin ajavan saman asian. :)

Today is just that. HOOOOOOOOT! The thermometer shows 98F in the shade. What ever it will be in the sun? I don't even want to know. Humidity makes the air feel suffocating in such a way that I've been hiding inside. We don't have a pool. However, Ikea bath tub seems to do the job. :)

Mihin aika rientaa? / Where does the time fly?

Rientaen on kulunut viimeinen viikko. Siivilla lentaen. Olen tehnyt sita ja tata, huiskinut siella ja taalla. Hakenut sita sun tata ja yrittanyt valmistella siina samalla viela tulevaa Suomen lomaa. Nyt pystyn hieman huokaisemaan.
Sunnuntaina oli isainpaiva. Sita vietettiin hyvinkin hiljaisesti kotosalla. Isa ja tytar kayttivat kauniin paivan hyvakseen ja pesivat seka vahasivat yhden auton. Isalle myoskin leivottiin kakku. Resepti loytyy TAALTA. Oli muuten todella hyvaa!
Eilen kavimme entisten naapureidemme luona lounaalla. He hoitavat poikansa 8kk vanhaa tytarta, joka rakastaa meidan vahempaa tyttoa yli kaiken. Vauvan ensimmainen sana oli tyttaremme nimi. Suloista, eiko? Lapset leikkivat vedella nauttien parskyttelysta ja auringosta.
Tanaan oli esikoisen viimeinen koulupaiva ennen kesalomaa seka Kindergarten graduation eli eskarin valmistujaiset. Ei laulettu Suvivirtta mutta silti tama mamma itkea tihrutti siella. Mihin aika rientaa? Sen mukana lapset kasvavat uskomattoman nopeasti. Silmanrapays ja pieni vauva on 5-vuotias tyttonen, joka osaa lukea ja laskea. Voisitko aika hidastaa hieman?

This past week has practically ran from me. Flown away. I've done this and that, been here and there. Picked up all kinds of stuff and tried as well to prepare for the coming holiday in Finland. Now I can breath a moment.
Sunday was Father's day here. We celebrated it very quietly at home. Father and daughter took advantage of the beautiful sunny day and washed as well as waxed one of the cars. We also baked a cake for daddy. You can find the recipe HERE It was delicious!
Yesterday we went to see our former neighbours. They take care of their son's 8 month old daughter who absolutely adores our oldest girl. Her first word was our girls name! Sweet, isn't it? The children played with water enjoying all the splashing and sun shine.
Today was our girl's last day school before summer holiday as well as her Kindergarten Graduation. And of course mummy was teary eyed. Where does the time fly? Blink of an eye and small baby is a 5-year-old girl, who knows how to read and count. Time, could you slow down a bit, please?!

Tanssia / Dancing

Tassa vahan tanssitunnelmia. Videot on kuvattu vapisevin, jannitavin kasin kenraaliharjoituksissa torstaina.

Here's some dance clips. These videos were taken with my phone and shaky hands at the dress rehearsal this past Thursday.

Bunhead / Nutturapaa

Pari viimeista paivaa on ollut aika hektisia ja sen takia en olekaan kerennyt tanne mitaan kirjoittelemaan. On ollut kenraaliharjoitusta. Koulun viimeinen varsinainen paiva ennen "valmistujaisia". Seka esikoisen esiintyminen tanssikoulun jokavuotisessa naytoksessa. Tama tietysti oli taman viikon huipentuma.
Paivalla piti ottaa paikkarit niin etta jaksoi sitten illalla tanssia. Oli nutturoita ja tyllia ja paljetteja ja glitteria. Oli ihana nahda kuinka isommat auttoivat pienia. Ja kuinka mukavaa ja hauskaa kaikilla oli. Esitys ei ollut ollenkaan niin tiukkapipoista meininkia kuin edellisvuoden esitys (toisessa tanssikoulussa). Kaikilla oli hymy huulilla myos lavalla. Ei sellaista tekohymya vaan ihan aitoa iloa tanssimisesta. Pieni nutturapaa ei jaksanut kuitenkaan koko esitysta katsoa (omansa tanssi ensimmaisella puoliajalla). Toinen puoliaika jai puoliksi katsomatta. Ja mina olin niin ylpea pikku tanssijattarestani.

The past few days have been very hectic and that's the reason I haven't had the time to write anything here. There's been a dress rehearsal, last proper day of school (not counting the graduation on this coming Tue). And the week's pinacle was the long awaited dance recital.
Nap time during the day was mandatory so that our ballerina was able to dance in the evening. There were buns and tulle and sequence and glitter. It was wonderful to see how the older girls helped the younger ones. And everyone had so much fun. This recital was not nearly as stuffy and strict in it's atmosphere compared to the one my ballerina did last year (different dance school). Everyone was smiling even at the stage. It wasn't the forced performance smile but genuine joy about dancing. My little bunhead didn't have it to see the end of the second act. And I was so proud of my little dancer.

"Laatuaikaa" / "Quality time"

Olen tanaan viettanyt puhelimessa varmaan pari tuntia. Todellista laatuaikaa vakuutusyhtion kanssa. Ainoa pelastus oli etta langan toisessa paassa oli inhimillinen ja erittain osaava seka ystavallinen ihminen. Toivottavasti asiat alkaa nyt hoitumaan. Taalla tulee soiteltua vakuutusyhtioon aika useasti. Talla kertaa oli kyseessa parin laakarikaynnin laskutuksesta. Saa kylla on olla tosi tarkkana kaiken kanssa. Taytyy sanoa etta tama on niita asioita, joita en tule kaipaamaan kun jossain vaiheessa takaisin Suomeen palaamme.
Pikkuruinen tuntuu nyt paivalla hieman paremmalta. Takertumista ja kitinaa muttei kuumetta ainakaan toistaiseksi. Yo olikin sitten tosi levoton. Ei aiti saanut kamalasti nukuttua. Toivottavasti tama olisi nyt tassa. Unta pieni tuntuu kaipaavan paljon eli annan nukkua.
Odotan mattomiesta asentamaan vihdoin ja viimein sen komeron maton paikoilleen. Jos sen jalkeen saisin ylakerran vihdoin ja viimein kuntoon. Toivon sita niin kovasti.

I've spent some quality time on the phone with the insurance company representative. Two hours it took to get things moving. My only saving grace was that the person at the other end was super nice, knew what she was doing. Hopefully I don't have to repeat this anytime soon. I get to call the insurance company here once in a while. This time it was few medical bills that were not correct. You have t be super careful with everything and check every single thing. I have to admit that I won't be missing this aspect of American life when we eventually return to Finland.
The little one seems now during the day a bit better. Still clinging and whining but at least no temperature so far. The night on the other hand was extremely restless. Mother did not get much sleep at all.I hope this is it and she'll be better again tomorrow. She still seems to need a lot of sleep so I let her sleep.

Otan pois. Pistan takaisin. / I'll take it away. Then I put it back.

Kuumeessa ollessaan ei pikkuinen jaksa paljoa tehda. Omenapalat eivat loytaneet tietaan suuhun vaan niita otettiin pois kupista yksitellen ja laitettiin takaisin yksitellen. Tata touhua kesti noin 5min kunnes sekaan ei enaa jaksanut innostaa. Kolmas kuumepaiva menossa. Kasvoihin ilmaantunut pikkuruisia nappyloita. Seuraan tilannetta.

When one has fever one just don't have the energy to do a lot. Little apple pieces didn't find their way to my little one's mouth but they were taken, one by one, out of the bowl and then put back again. This managed to inspire her for 5 minutes before she wanted to be held again. Third day with fever started. Tiny spots have appeared on her face. I'm following the situation.

Pikkuruinen hauta / Tiny grave

Voi sita surua kun eturappusilta loytyi kuollut linnunpoikanen (oli ilmeisesti pudonnut pesasta). Ei ollut pikkuisella viela hoyheniakaan. Jos joku aikuinen sen olisi loytanyt olisi tapahtuma ohitettu hyvinkin kaytannollisesti toimien mutta kun loytajana oli viisivuotias herkka tyttonen niin asiaa kasiteltiin hyvinkin toisin. Lintu kaarittiin lampoiseen kankaaseen niin etta sen oli hyva ja pehmea olla. Hauta kaivettiin takapihalle pienen vaahteran juureen ja sinne pikkulintu paasi lepaamaan. Ja tottakai hauta piti koristella ja kukatkin laittaa. Tuli mieleeni kovasti oma lapsuus ja kuinka itse isani kanssa hautasin linnunpojan samalla tavalla. Hiivin iltahamarassa itse viela haudalle, niin kuin olin tytolleni luvannut. Kavin tarkistamassa etta kaikki oli hyvin.

Oh the sorrow when a tiny bird was found dead on the front steps (it must have fallen down from its nest). The little one didn't have even feathers yet. If any of us adults had found the bird the matter would have been dealt with completely differently to what we did as the finder of the poor bird was a five-year-old sensitive girl. The little baby bird got a piece of fabric for it's resting place so that he wouldn't be cold and uncomfortable. We dug up a grave under a small maple tree where we laid the baby bird to rest. We decorated the grave and of course put flowers on it. I did check on the grave and that everything was ok at dusk as I had promised to my daughter.

Kaveleminen on tapaturma-altista / Walking is bump-prone

Voi pienta. Otsassa komea kuhmu ja mustelma. Neiti on saanut enemman itseluottamusta kavelyn suhteen ja yrittaa pidempia matkoja. Tana aamuna jalat eivat vain kantaneet loppuun asti ja neiti muksautti otsansa komeasti olohuoneen poydankulmaan. Miksi sen kulman pitaa olla aina siina hollillaan? Daddyn syli oli sen jalkeen maailman paras paikka. Kritettia katsellessa turvallisessa sylissa.
Eilen meilla oli vieras Romaniasta. Mieheni tyokaveri oli viettamassa paivaa kanssamme. Grillausta ja aurinkoisen lampoisen paivan nauttimisesta. Sain emantana upeat ruusut.
Sain myos vihdoinkin ruoka"salin" ;-P poydan tuolit pois laatikoista ja paikoilleen. Laatikotkin alkavat mukavasti havita taalta olohuoneen ja keittion tiloista. IHANAAA! Kellarissakin jarjesteltiin tavaroita. Laatikoita tyhjeni hyllyihin ja tyhjat laatikot litistyivat veitsen avulla nopeasti. Homma jatkuu varmaan myohemmin tanaan. Nyt kun saisi viela sen ylakerran varastokomeron kayttokelpoiseksi niin olisin onnellinen. Toistaiseksi ylakerta on ihan kamala kaaos laatikoineen ja tavaroineen, jotka odottaa sinne komeroon paasya. :(
Niin ja eilen illalla sitten tiskikone rupesi vuotamaan vetta lattialle. Jostain saumasta paasee liruttamaan vetta. ARGH! Onneksi huomenna on maanantai ja paasen viemaan viestia eteenpain vuokraisannalle.

My poor little baby. A bump and a bruise on her forehead. She's gotten more confidence with her walking and tries longer distances. This morning the legs just didn't take her all the way and she bumped her head straight into the coffee table corner in the lounge. Why does the corner always have to be there when they fall down? Daddy's arms was the best place after that. (Watching cricket safely in his arms. :D)
Yesterday we had a guest from Romania. My husbands colleague came to spend the day with us. We had a relaxing day grilling and enjoying the warm day. I got beautiful roses from him.
I also finally got the diningroom chairs from boxes and into their rightful places. Boxes disappeared from here as well. YAY! Arranging stuff in the basement has started as well.
Oh and yesterday evening our dishwasher started leaking water on the floor. Must be a seal allowing the trickle of water. ARGH! Luckily tomorrow is Monday and I can take this forward with the landlord.

Hajanaisia ajatuksia / Random thoughts

Hajanaisia ajatuksia eilisesta ja tasta paivasta:
Eilen kavin arviointikeskustelussa kuuntelemassa miten rakas tyttaremme on parjannyt "koulussa". Olipa mukava kuunnella positiivista palautetta. Olen ylpea.
Ukkonen on jyrahdellyt eilen ja tanaan.
Yrittanyt vahan moobleerata taalla niin etta paikka saataisiin todellakin kuntoon. Lupaavalta nayttaa.
Puistoilua.
Makaroonilaatikon tekoa ja syontia.
Miksi puhdas, juuri pesusta tullut poytaliina sotkeentuu HETI?

Random thoughts about/from yesterday and today:
Yesterday I had a PT conference with our oldest daughter's teacher. How sweet words. I'm proud.
Thunder had been rumbling yesterday and today.
I've tried to rearrange the furniture here so that the place would be soon finally in order. Looking promising. Needs more work.
Play ground run.
Making macaroni casserole and eating it.
Why does squeaky clean table cloth, straight from the washing machine always get dirty IMMEDIATELY after putting it on the table?

Sumplintaa / Planning and organising

HUOH! Luulinpa etta Suomeentulo olisi talla kertaa helppoa mutta eipas niin ollutkaan. Meidan piti viettaa loma aidin luona mutta siellapa onkin vesivahinko, jota ruvetaan remppaamaan heti kun saavumme sinne (aiti siis edelleen taalla). Me joudumme siis evakkoon. Olen siis yrittanyt loytaa meille paikan minne voimme 2,5 viikoksi asettua. Loysin sen. Sitten piti loytaa joku ihana ihminen, joka tulisi hakemaan meidat kentalta ettei tarvitsisi viela lentojen paalle istua linja-autossa. Onneksi loysin myos sen. Jos joku kuvitteli meidat tapaavansa Suomessa tietyssa paikassa niin heillakin menee nyt sitten suunnitelmat uusiksi. Paaasia on kuitenkin etta meilla on ihanien ystavien luona paikka, jossa viettaa loma. Voin huokaista ja jatkaa matkan suunnittelua pikkuhiljaa.

SIGH! I thought coming to Finland would be easy this time but think again..... not a chance. We were supposed to spend the holiday with my mom but there's been a water leak and a big renovations will start when we arrive (my mother is stil here). We have to find accommodations somewhere else. I've been trying to find that place to stay for us. I did manage to find it. Then I needed to find some kind soul to come and get us from the air port so that I don't have to sit in the bus with the girls on top of the flights. I did find that person as well. Now I can sigh of relief. If someone thought they can meet us in a place A they will have to make new plans as well as we won't be there. Main thing is that we have a place to stay with wonderful friends where to enjoy this holiday. Planning may continue.

Sataa sataa ropisee / Pitter patter of rain

Vetta tulee taas. Nelja paivaa on satanut melkein koko ajan. Pieni auringon pilkahdus taalla oli toissapaivana mutta sen jalkeen sita ei ole sitten nakynytkaan. Harmaa vetaa mielen matalaksi ja ahdistun. Lumikin olisi parempi koska se tuo valoa tullessaan. Mutta vesisade ei ole minun juttu.
Televisiosta tulee suora lahetys Englannin kuningatteren juhlallisuuksista. Niita olen tassa puolella silmalla katsellut. Ihanaa nahda ihmiset niin iloisina ja juhlatuulella.
Katselin eilen taas postin tuomia kuvastoja. Yksi niista oli kovin merellisissa tunnelmissa. Tuli tarve paasta rannalle, veden aareen. Toivottavasti pian. Olisin voinut kavella suoraan mihinka tahansa katselemistani kuvista nauttimaan juuri siita ymparistosta. Niin houkkutelevilta ne nayttivat.

It's raining again. It's been raining for four days nearly constantly. The sun has only peaked out once extremely briefly. The gray pulls me down and I get anxious. Even snow would be better in my opinion as it brings light with it. Rain is not my thing.
There's live coverage of the Queens Diamond Jubileum celebrations. I'm veen following them with half an eye. It's lovely to see people to happy and celebrating.
Last night I was looking at some catalogs brought by the post. One of them was very maritime in it's mood. Now I have a mood to get to the beach, near water. Hopefully soon. I could have walked into any of those pictures I was looking at to enjoy myself. So luring they looked.

"Haluan antaa sinulle aikaa Mummy." / "I want to give you time Mummy."

Tana aamuna esikoinen pyysi saada antaa maidon pikkusiskolleen. "Haluan antaa sinulle aikaa Mummy." Niinpa sain siis laittaa aamuteen valmiiksi itselleni ja katselin sydan sykkyralla kuinka isosisko piteli pienta siskoaan sylissaan ja juotti aamumaidon.

This morning our first born asked if she could give the milk to her little sister. "I want to give you time Mummy." So I got to make my morning tea and watch my heart full of love as big sister was holding her little sister in her arms and gave her her milk.

Istutuksia / Plantings

Maahan ei taalla voi oikein istuttaa yhtikas mitaan. Eli istutettiin sitten ruukkuihin. Istutettiin tomaattia, persiljaa, korianteria, basilikaa seka joitain tulisia paprikoita. Yhden nimi oli "Hot banana". Ruukut piti nostaa penkille kun maa vilisti muurahaisia enka halunnut niita kasvien kiusaksi.

We can't really plant anything here on the ground. So we planted in pots. We planted tomatoes, parsley, cilantro/coriander, basil and some hot peppers. One was called "Hot banana". We had to lift the pots on a bench as ants were running around in the ground and I didn't want them to discover our goodies.

Huomenna / Tomorrow

Sataa taivaan taydelta vetta. Takapihalla on melkein uima-allas....no kahluuallas ainakin.
Englannin paketista paljastui ihania vaatteita 1-vuotiaalle ja kaiken maailman kauneusjuttuja 5-vuotiaalle, joka oli yllatyksesta erityisen iloinen. Nyt on laitettu keijuhajuvetta, keijuhuulikiiltoa, keijupinneja hiuksiin, ja keijupolyakin loytyisi mutta sita ei olla viela kokeiltu.
Merrulin vinkkaamana kuuntelin taman laulun ja tykastyin sanoihin. Tanaan en tee mitaan....teen sen huomenna.

It's raining cats and dogs. There's a swimming pool at the back yard patio, well a paddling pool at least.
The parcel from England has lovely clothes for the 1-year-old and beautification supplies for the 5-year-old, who was super happy about her surprise. Now we've applied fairy lip gloss, fairy fragrance, fairy hair pins on her hair and she did get fairy dust but we haven't tried that yet.
A hint from Merruli: I listened to this song (unfortunately in Finnish only) and I liked the lyrics.

Tama paiva / This day

Tanaan tapahtunutta:

- laatikoitten purkamista
- isomman "koulutehtavien" tekemista
- kahden poskihampaan puhkeamisen aiheuttamaa kitinaa ja takertumista
- yksvuotis tarkastus laakarissa ja sen mukana tuomat 4 rokotusta
- grillausta
- synttarilahjapaketti pikkuiselle Englannista

Happened today:

- unpacking boxes
- supervising the older one doing her "school" homework
- whining and clinging caused by the emerging 2 molars
- 12 month check up and along that 4 injections
- grilling
- birthday parcel for the younger one from England