Talviloma / Winter holiday

Viime viikko oli meilla talviloma. Tuli ihan tarpeeseen. Tosin nyt olen itse ihan oman loman tarpeessa. ;) Ei ollut nyt mitaan matkaa. Ihan kotona oltiin. 

Last week we had winter break. It was very needed. However, now I'm in a need of my own holiday. ;) No trip anywhere at this time. We stayed home.

Leikkitreffeja, lumitoita, leipomuksia ja vahan kasitoitakin. Eihan ilman kasitoita nyt voi lomalla olla. Pannaria, lettuja ja ruunebergin torttujakin (hiukkasen myohassa) tuli tehtya.  Lunta on tullut lisaa. Vois jo riittaa. Mina joka tykkaan lumesta niin en tykkaa siita enaa yhtaan. Meilla on tullut lunta vuoden vaihteen jalkeen melkein kolme metria taalla meidan kaupungin mittausten mukaan. Aurinko on kuitenkin uskomattoman voimakas taalla. Aurinkoisena paivana sulamista tapahtuu vaikka ulkona on melkein kaksikymenta astetta pakkasta. Yksi suurin ongelma tuntuu olevan yhteinen kaikilla taalla. Jaapadot ranneissa. En ymmarra miten talot taalla rakennetaan mutta joka vuosi niita jaapatoja on. Meidan talossa ei viime vuonna ollut. Nyt on yhdessa kohtaa ja se on rannin paalla. Meilla on nimittain ranneissa sellaiset lehtisuojat. Jotkut talot on aika huikean nakoisia kun niissa on hirmuiset jaapuikot. Siis niin isoja etta ne roikkuu toisesta kerroksesta alas maahan asti. Nyt toivotaan ettei enempaa lunta tule. Ja etta sulaminen tapahtuu pikkuhiljaa. Nimittain jos nama meidan lumimaarat sulaa nopeasti niin vedet on kylla talojen kellareissa joka on viela isompi ongelma. 

Play dates, clearing the snow, baking and a bit of crocheting. Can't be without crafts on your holiday. Made some Finnish oven pancake, Finnish pancakes and Runeberg torte (a bit late). We've also had more snow. Could stop already. I who love snow I don't like it at all at the moment. After new Year we've had nearly three meters of snow here in Bedford (town measurements). The sun is unbelievably strong though. Even though it's been freezing the sun melts the sun all the time bit by bit. One of the biggest problems at the moment seems to be a joint one for all. Ice dams in gutters. I don't understand how they build houses here but every year you see ice dams. Last year we didn't have any. Now we do have one and it's on top of the gutter as we have a leaf guard.  Some houses look quite unbelievable with huge ice-sickles coming down from second floor all the way to the ground. Now we are all hoping no more snow. And that the melting will happen slowly. If all this snow melts quickly we'll be in trouble and there'll be water in every cellar which is even bigger problem than the ice dams.

Miksi muuten aamuisin lomalla lapset heraa aikaisemmin kuin arkipaivina. Arkena isomman joutuu kaymaan herattamassa. Pienempikin nukkuu pidempaan. Lomalla molemmat olivat jarjestaan hereilla ennen seitsemaa. Olisihan se ollut ihan kiva nukkua yhtena paivana vahan pidempaan ilman etta heraa pienemman neidin kiekumiseen: "MAAAAAMIIIIII Mina oooon hereilllaaaaaaaa! Mennaan alaaaaaaas!" Koska ohjelmaa ei oikeastaan ollut niin aamut oli ihanan verkkaisia. Meni pari paivaa niin ettei lapset saaneet paivavaatteita paalleen ollenkaan. Minulla sellaista ylellisyytta ei ole kun pitaa koiruutta ulkona kuskata.

Why on earth always on a holiday children wake up earlier than during normal week? Usually I have to wake up Big Miss. Little Miss sleeps longer too. Last week both girls were up before seven every day. It would have been nice to sleep a bit longer at least one morning without waking up Little Miss  hollering: "MUUUUMMYYYYYY I am awakeeeeeee! Let's go dooooooooownstaaaaaaiiiirs!" As we didn't have anything in the program really mornings were nice and easy going. We did have few days so that the children didn't get day clothes on at all. I didn't have that kind of luxury as I have the dog to walk.

Askarreltiin pariinkin otteeseen. Tehtiin helmikoruja ja leikeltiin ja liimailtiin kangastilkuista vaatteita pahvinukeille. Hauskoja juttuja molemmat. 

We did some crafting. Bead jewellery and then we cut and glued clothes  from scrap fabric to paper dolls. Fun projects both. 

Joku osaa ottaa iisisti.  Mahtaa olla hyvat unet kun noin hymyilyttaa. Isompi neiti kyseli melkein joka paiva etta koska paasee taas kouluun. Taitaa tykata todellakin.  Pienempikin laski oita. Ehka lopussa vahan mamikin. :) Jotenkin kun lapset oli kotona en osannut olla koneella ollenkaan ja sen takia blogi jai huomiotta. 

Kuvankasittelykurssi on melkein ohi. Aikamoinen tietoplajays ja harjoteltavaa on vaikka kuinka. Samoin tuossa kuvaamisessa edelleen. Mutta kivaa se on. Yksi tehtava viela tekematta. Ja ihan sopiva ajoitus koska kurssi loppuu 1.3. Olisi niin ihana ottaa ulkonakin kuvia mutta siella on niin tautisen kylma ettei ilman hanskoja voisi kuvitellakaan olevansa. Ja olenpa oppinut senkin etta kun kylmasta tulee sisaa kameran kanssa se pitaa sulkea ilmatiiviiseen muovipussiin jo ulkona ja antaa useamman tunnin rauhassa lammeta sisalla ennen kuin sen ottaa sielta pois. Tama estaa siis kondesoitumisen. Enpa ole uskaltanut kokeilla. 

Someone is taking it easy. Seems to have good dreams as he's smiling so.  Big Miss was asking nearly daily when it was time to go back to school. I would say she likes it. Little Miss counted nights. Towards the end of the holiday maybe mummy too, just a little. When the girls were home I just couldn't settle to sit down by my computer and that's the reason my blog got neglected. Terribly sorry about that.

The picture editing course I'm taking is almost over. Quite a information bomb and lots to practise even after the course as well as in taking photos in general. But I love it. I have one assignment still to do. And perfect timing for it as well as the course will end March 1st. It would be so wonderful to take pictures outside but it's been so darn cold that I couldn't even think about fiddling with the settings without gloves. I've also learned that if you bring our camera in from taking photos outside, you should put it in an air tight bag before bringing it in and let it sit several hours after coming in before you remove it from the bag. This prevents condensation. I haven't dared to try.

Mina haaveilen lampoisesta. Tanaankin aamulla oli -25C. Brrrrrr! Tosin ei taalta nyt oikein paase minnekaan. Lomalla oli tarkoitus menna San Antonioon, Texasiin mutta se ei sen paan menojen takia onnistunut ja joudumme odottamaan nyt huhtikuuhun ja kevatlomaan ennen kuin suuntaamme tyttojen kanssa nenan etelaan. Ihanaa paasta kaymaan siella! Lennot on varattu. Nyt lasketaan paivia. Tai ehka tassa vaiheessa viela viikkoja (joita on kahdeksan ennen reissua - blaah). 

Nyt on arki taasen taalla. Ihanaa! Tytot ovat onnessaan kun paasevat kouluun ja mamikin on onnellinen kun rutiinit palasi elamaan.

I'm dreaming of warmth. Today morning with -25C was too cold! Brrrrrr! But we can't really get anywhere from here at the moment. We were meant to go to San Antonio, Texas during our winter break but because of things happening at that end it didn't work and now we have to wait until April and spring break before girls and I can head south. It's going to be sooo lovely to go there! Flights have been booked. Now we're counting days. Or actually weeks at this point (and there's eight of them before the trip - blaah).

Now our normal weekday routine is back here which is extremely wonderful (thinks mummy). The girls are happy that the school has started again and mummy is happy that we have some normality in our days.

Kouluprojekti / School project

Isomman neidin luokka teki koulussa projektin, joka aiheutti hieman paanvaivaa kotonakin. Onneksi ei sentaan ylitsepaasematonta vaivaa. 

Big Miss' class in school made a project which created few grey hairs at home as well. Luckily nothing terribly difficult or something that we could not over come.

He saivat valita historiallisen henkilon, jonka elamaa he sitten tutkivat, lukivat kirjoja, etsivat tietoa, kirjoittivat pienta referaattia ja tekivat aikajanaa. Meidan neiti valitsi Eleanor Rooseveltin. Syyta valintaan en vielakaan oikein tieda vaikka hanelta yritinkin kysella. Eleanor Roosevelt oli valinta ja silla siisti.

The students got to choose a historical character whose life they studied, read books, research for information, wrote a  small paper and made a time line. Our miss chose to be Eleanor Roosevelt. The reason behind the selection is still unknown to me even though I tried to ask her. Eleanor Roosevelt was her choice and that was it.

Aleksanteri Suuri / Alexander the Great

Barack Obama/ Lou Gehrig

Luokasta loytyi Abraham Lincoln, Benjamin Franklin, Jacques Cousteau, Aleksanteri Suuri, Ruby Bridges, Amelia Earhart, Neil Armstrong ja Barack Obama ja moni muukin. Voi jospa olisin tiennyt projektista aikaisemmin niin oltaisiin keksitty joku suomalainen tai englantilainen historian henkilo.

They had Abraham Lincoln, Benjamin Franklin, Jacques Cousteau, Alexander the Great, Ruby Bridges, Amelia Earhart, Neil Armstrong and Barack Obama in the class among many others. If only I had known about this project a bit earlier we could have picked a historical person from Finland or England.

Amelia Earhart

Abraham Lincoln / Eleanor Roosevelt

Meille se paanvaivaa aiheuttava osa tassa projektissa oli etta oppilaiden piti pukeutua kyseiseksi henkiloksi. Ja mars mamin vaatekaapille. No eihan sielta loytynyt mitaan muuta kuin korkeintaan huivi.  Mistas siis kehitettaisiin vaatteet USAn rautarouvalle? Pikainen soitto kadun toiselle puolelle naapurin rouvalle, joka on vanhempi, ja sieltahan se pelastus loytyi. Korut, jakku, laukku seka hattu saatiin sielta. Minulta saatiin kuin saatiinkin hame ja neidin omat saappaat. Taydellinen lopputulos. 

The bit that caused us to scratch heads in this project was that the students had to dress up to be these people they had chosen. Mummy's wardrobe was not much of a help. Possibly a scarf. Where would we get clothes for America's iron lady? A quick call over the road to the neighbour's lady whose is elderly and she was also our saviour. Jewellery, jacket, handbag and hat came from her. I was able to provide a skirt and Big Miss used her own boots. Perfect result.

George Washington

Jacques Cousteau / Orville

Sacagawea

Neil Armstrong

Benjamin Franklin

Eleanor Roosevelt / George Washington

Vanhemmat oli kutsuttu koululle tutustumaan naihin historian henkiloihin. Vein naapurin rouvan mukana niin etta han paasi itse katsomaan miten asukokonaisuus toimi. Tama projekti muuten menee opettajan korvan taakse muistiin..... tieda jos joskus viela kayttaisi tata ideaa.

The parents were invited to go and see this presentation at school. It was so much fun. I took our neighbour with us so that she could see how the outfit came together. This project goes straight to this teacher's idea collection.... you never know if I someday will use this idea.

Project 365 week 7

Lankakarkkia / Yarn goodies

Mina paatin lahtea mukaan mysteeriprojektiin. Virkkausjuttuja talla kertaa. Ja tykastyin yhteen variehdotelmaan niin etta langat oli pakko tilata. Englannista! En loytanyt tuota taalta.

I decided to join a mystery project crochet along. I fell in love with one of the suggested colour combinations so badly that I had to order that exact yarn. From England! I couldn't find it here.

Kaksi viikkoa naita odoteltiin erittain malttamattomasti. Ensin tuli paketti jossa oli pelkat valkoiset langat. 23 keraa valkoista. Siina vaiheessa iski paniikki etta missas muut varit on. Onneksi ne kuitenkin tuli pari paivaa myohemmin. 

Fro two weeks I waited. Extremely impatiently, First came a parcel with all the white yarn. 23 skeins of white. At that point I panicked a little: where was the rest of the colours. Luckily they arrived two days later.   

Katsokaa nyt naita namuja!

Look at these goodies!

Tuskin sain otettua kuvat naista ennen kuin oli pakko paasta aloittamaan projekti. Siita kerron myohemmin lisaa. 

I hardly managed to take these pictures before I had to start the project. I'll tell you more about it later. 

Tassa viela koko projektin langat!  Ja eikun virkkaamaan. Tassa saakin vahan aikaa koukuta.

Here's all the yarn for the project! And lets crochet. I'll be using my hook for a while to get this done. 

Ystavanpaiva valimisteluja / Valentine's Day preparations

Pian on ystavanpaiva. Valmistautuminen asiaan on taydessa kaynnissa. Molempien tyttojen kouluilta tuli luokkien nimilistat niin etta kavereille voi tehda kortit. Tapana taalla on tehda koko luokalle kortit tai sitten ei kellekaan. Niin ettei jollekulle tule paha mieli kun tuo sai ja tuo ei.

Soon is Valentine's Day. Preparations are in full swing. Both girls got class name lists from their schools so that you can make cards for your friends. The custom here is to make cards for every one in the class or then for no one if you don't want to. But the idea is that everyone will get cards if a friend has decided to make some. 

Tassahan on tietty taasen markkinarako. Valmiiksi tehtyja ystavanpaiva korttipakkauksia saa kaupoista eri teemoissa. Korttien kaveriksi tulee yleensa tarra, tatska, kyna tai joku karkki, jotka nekin on paketissa mukana. Tana vuonna pysyttiin prinsessa linjalla. Viime vuonna taisi olla Hello Kitty. :)

Of course here's a great marketing opportunity and you can find boxes that have all you need in different themes. Usually you get a sticker, tattoo, pencil or candy to go with the card. Those too are in the pack. This year we are very royal with princesses. Last year I think Hello Kitty was in their cards. :)

Isompi neiti teki omansa omatoimisesti jo viikonloppuna. Me askarreltiin sitten pikkuneidin kanssa ne yhdessa koululaisen ollessa koulussa. Oma nimi tietty piti kirjoittaa jokaiseen ja se tehtiin antaumuksella. 

Big Miss did her's already during the weekend. Little Miss and I did her's while big sister was in school. Of course she wrote her name in each and every one of them. And she was being very meticulous about it all.

Taallahan paiva on lahinna rakastavaisten paiva eika niinkaan ystaville suunnattu. Tosin olen huomannut taalla olon aikana etta kylla niita ystavillekin suunnattuja kortteja on alkanut ilmaantua. 

Here in US the day is more for lovers than friends. Though I do have to say that during our stay here I've started seeing cards from friends to appear in stores. 

Minakin lahetin vahan ystavanpaiva postia kotipuoleen. Niiden kirjoittamisesta ja lahettamisesta tuli hyva mieli. Tosin taytyy muistaa etta ystavat ovat ystavia joka paiva eika vain ystavanpaivana. 

I as well sent some Valentine's Day cards back home. Writing and Sending them made me feel good. And do remember that friends are friends every day not just on Valentine's Day.

Haluan toivottaa jokaiselle teista nain etukateen oikein ihanaa ystavanpaivaa! Haleja!

I want to wish all of you a bit in advance Happy Valentine's Day! Hugs!

365 Challenge week 6

Hienosti olen muistanut ottaa kuvat joka paiva. Harmittaa vahan etta tulee enemman otettua kuvia kannylla kuin kameralla. Yritan ryhdistaytya asian suhteen. 

I'm happy to tell that I've actually remembered to take a picture a day. I'm a bit annoyed with myself though that I haven't taken more pictures with my DLSR. I'll try to be better with it. 

Yokkari paiva / pajama day

Pikkuneidilla oli pyjamapaiva koululla torstaina. Eli mamman oli ryhdistaydyttava ja saatava ommeltua myoskin pyjama paidat niille jo aikaisemmin tehdyille pyjama poksyille. :)

Little Miss had a pajama day at school on Thursday. That meant that mummy had to get her act together and make shirts for the pajama pants that I had made earlier. :)

Tassa on isomman neidin yokkarit. Pituutta niin hihoissa kuin lahkeissakin on reilusti tarkoituksella. Olisin halunnut laittaa hihat tuosta raidallisesta kankaasta mutta vihreat eivat ihan osuneet yksiin kankaissa. Kelpuutin sentaan paantiehen. 

Here's Big Miss' pajamas. I made them too long/big on purpose. I wanted to use the stripy fabric for the sleeves but they greens are slightly off. I did accept it in the neck binding.

Tassa pikkuneidin. Vahan eri kaavoilla mutta oikein kivat kuitenkin. Tassakin sita kasvunvaraa on. Naissa kankaissa vihreat osuivat taysin yksiin. Ja neiti oli niin onnellinen kun sai pitaa tata koulussa. Oli nakojaan kertonut kaikille etta mami oli tehnyt ne. Moni nimittain kommentoi asiasta kun tulin tyttoa hakemaan.

Here's Little Miss' pajamas. Little bit different pattern but really nice anyway. She's got also space to grow. And in these fabrics the greens matched really well. Little Miss was very happy that she got her new pajamas on on pajama day. She had apparently told everyone that mummy had made them as many commented on the fact when I went to pick her up. 

365 challenge week 5