Joulun aikaa viela / Time for Christmas still

Lahjat on aukaistu. Jouluateriat on kokkailtu ja leipomukset leivottu. Ei ole tarvinnut miettia ruoan laittoa vaan aukaista taynna pursuavan jaakaapin ovi ja valita sielta mita mieli tekee.  Lapset on leikkineet lahjoillaan ja aikuiset saaneet rentoutua.

Gifts have been opened. Christmas meals have been made and all the baking baked. I haven't had to think of making food since Christmas Day. One can only open the overflowing fridge and choose what ever one fancies. Children have been playing with their gifts and adults have been able to relax.

Kuusen jalan kanssa oli vahan ongelmia. Meilla on suomesta valurautainen kuusen jalka. Sellainen kunnon motikka. Se nyt ei kuitenkaan tana vuonna halunnut mitenkaan pitaa kuusta paikoillaan. Se ei vaan yksinkertaisesti riittanyt. Vaikka olimme valinneet pienimman kuusen mita oli mahdollista saada siita paikasta mihin menimme. No, uusi kuusen jalka piti siis saada. Mina kiersin 3h lahitienoon kauppoja, missa kuusen jalkoja olisi mahdollisesti ollut myytavana. Jokapaikassa myytiin eioota. Viiminen paikka, myoskin lahin. Vahanko otti paahan etta olin kiertanyt vaikka kuinka kauan mitaan loytamatta ja sitten lahimmassa kuitenkin oli kuusenjalkoja ja vaikka minkamoisia. 

We had bit of an issue with the tree stand. We have a cast iron tree stand from Finland. A proper goos heavy stand. It just was not enough.It just didn't keep the tree up.  Even though we picked the smallest tree in the nursery where we went. Well, we had to get a new stand. I drove around for 3hours visiting several possible stores to get one and every where I went they were sold out. At last I found one. And can you believe it was the closest store. And this store had several different models as well. 

Joululahjojahan meidan perheessa avataan kahtena paivana. Suomalaisen perinteen mukaan joulupukki tuo lahjat aattona ja sitten Englantilaisen perinteen mukaan yolla kay joulupukki jattamassa lahjat kuusen alle ja tayttamassa joulusukat. Joulusukat avataan aamulla ja kuusen alle jatetyt lahjat myohemmin paivalla. Koiruuskin sai omansa. Piti olla niin koiran kestava lelu ettei toist ja tunti myohemmin siina oli kammenen kokoinen reika. Etta sellainen koirankestava. Ei kesta meidan koiraa ainakaan. :D

We open gifts on two days in our family. According to the Finnish tradition Santa brings gifts on Christmas Eve and then according to the English tradition Santa comes during the night leaving gifts under the tree and in stockings. Stockings are opened on Christams Day morning and the gifts under the tree a bit later around lunch time. Mr G. got his own gift as well. It was supposed to be a toy that would not break. However, an hour later there was also a hole on it the size of my palm. Maybe doggy proof but not Mr G. proof. :D 

Joulupukki toi Afrikantahden ja sita ollaankin nyt ahkerasti pelattu. 

Santa brought Afrikan tahti (Start of Africa) game and it's been a big hit. It's a Finnish game and I played it when I was a child. And just as much fun now than it was then. 

Ja sohvalla on ollut ruuhkaa rentoutumisen merkeissa. Koiruus on ottanut myos lunkisti sen jalkeen kun lelu saatiin toisen suusta pois. 

Our sofas have been a bit crowded in terms of relaxing. Doggy has taken it easy as well after we got his gift toy out of his mouth.

Skype oli ahkerassa kaytossa joulun aikaan. Soiteltiin Suomeen ja Englantiin ja availtiin muutamia pakettieja niin sanotusti suorassa lahetyksessa. Tuntui kovin oudolta ettei tana vuonna taalla ollut ketaan perheesta/suvusta joulua meidan kanssa viettamassa. 

Skype was in  heavy use during Christmas. We called Finland and England and opened gifts while talking to the givers. It felt weird this year not to have anyone here to celebrate Christmas with us. 

Tytoilla on viela viikko lomaa ennen kuin koulu alkaa 4. paiva. Daddy on myos lomalla siihen saakka. Minulla on siis mahodllisuus tehda vahan omia juttuja. 

Valmistaudun myos kolmeen kuvaussessioon. Kiva lopettaa vuosi seka aloittaa se kuvaamalla. 

The girls still have a week of holiday left before school starts Jan 4th. Daddy is also on a holiday until then. I have a chance to do my own things a bit. 

I'm also preparing for three photo shoots this week. It's nice to end the old year and start the new one with photography.