One more movie before New Years

We saw Marley & Me last night. What a tear-jerker. Even Alex cried, and that's saying something. Oh my gosh! The best pet movie, EVER! One of our neighbors was there and I gave him a tissue before going in. He is the biggest animal lover you will ever meet, and he was a total mess after the movie. Loved the movie (especially because it was set in Florida....aaahhhh the warmth). You will cry, so you are now forewarned.


Next up after the New Years: "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" and "Seven Pounds"

Movie Marathon still continues

Here is my critic's corner of the following 3 movies we saw over the last week's Christmas break:


Bedtime Stories: I thought this was a fun movie for kids. Rod fell asleep, I stayed awake (I sleep in Harry Potter movies). Alex enjoyed it. Some predictable characters that show up in all of Adam Sandler's movies.


Valkyrie: Rod read about the happenings during the WWII in Germany and told me that it was very accurate in this movie. Alex had a lot of questions after the movie so be prepared if you are taking your kids to it. Better find out the answers, too. The fake eye gives a nice touch to the movie.


Yes Man: DO NOT TAKE YOUR KIDS UNDER 15 TO THIS MOVIE! Alex sat there with his eyes and ears plugged while Rod and I sat there uncomfortably. Should have walked out, but didn't.

No more pop corn for us. The oil gets sickening after 2 movies.

Next up: Marley & Me

Hanging out at the Ranches

About 15-17 years ago when we didn't have kids, one of the couples we used to hang out with were Kandi and Tyler. For some reason, over the years we lost touch with them until a couple of years ago we saw them at indoor soccer games and vowed to keep in touch. When the indoor soccer season ended, nothing. This December I contacted Kandi (yea Facebook) and we made a date. That was last night. We drove through a snow storm to the Ranches, got lost and I suggested we could ask somebody, but because I had two men in the car, that was not the choice they opted for. We finally found the house. We walked in and it felt like we just saw them last week. We picked up where we left off years ago. We had a great dinner, great conversation and then pulled out the board games. We had a super fun night. In 15 years, Kandi and Tyler have had 4 kids: Tyson 13, Daxton 11, London (I call her Lontoo) 8.5 and Crew 2.5.


Kandi and Tyler playing "Ticket to Ride". Really fun board game. Rod won, I lost (but I had the longest train, so that's something)


Tyler had made rice pudding that was really yummy. I brought cookies, and the boys had a marvelous idea of combining the two: Rice pudding cookie sandwiches.


Tyson eating his rice pudding cookie.


Miss London (Lontoo). Funny girl, constantly talking, and the winner of "Apples to Apples".

Thanks Kandi and Tyler for a fun, fun night. Love you guys. See you in January.

Silent Night, Yummy Night

On Christmas Eve night Craig, Whitney, Elle and Chris came to our house to have our traditional Christmas Dinner. This year I introduced "Rosolli" into the menu (the whole menu will be Finnish..eventually). Whitney liked it, the others tolerated it and Rod hated it. Of course we had Glögi as the welcoming warm drink. For 1st course we had smoked gravlax, boiled potatoes and rosolli. For the main course we had ham, mashed potatoes (next year this will be a Finnish potato casserole along with carrot and rutabaga casseroles), gravy, peas and corn, yams, and home made rolls. Everything was so yummy if I may say so myself. After opening the presents, Whitney served us with cranberry coffee cake and apple crisp. So, so delicious. The Finnish alternative with hot rice pudding and "väskynäsoppa" (fruit soup with dried fruit) wouldn't have hit the spot, and never will, and this will never be introduced to the menu...ever.


My mom sent this beautiful Christmas reindeer to me for Christmas. I have always wanted one, and now I have one. Thank you mom!


Craig and Whitney before dinner.


Rod, Chris, Craig, Whitney, Alex and Elle during dinner.

Alex and Elle waiting to open all the presents.

Winter blues

We got 6 inches of snow in 5 hours today. I spent 10 minutes shoveling the snow, and came to the conclusion that I would like to be traveling with the Obamas today. Aloha, anyone?? Reality bites.

Our Little Lord Fauntleroy

Sunday was one of Alex's name days, Tuomas. According to our tradition, he gets a breakfast in bed (here Alex is eating pizza from last night, and a Diet Coke), and a gift. Alex received a really nice basketball bag for his name day. Happy Name Day, Alexander Tuomas!

Back-breaking work and a big loss

Saturday started early with baking and baking and more baking when I made karjalanpiirakoita (Karelian rice pies) for 6 hours. I ended up with 80 of them, 40 rice and 40 potato ones. They are so delicious, but so hard to make. I thought I would faint towards the end. But I survived. We will have them for breakfast and lunch on Christmas Eve. Yummy.



BYU played against Arizona State in the Las Vegas Bowl. We had a big party at our house and the Williams' came, so did Daniel S. and Steve S. By that time I was exhausted and crashed on my bed...along with Katie and Ali.


Katie and Ali and I crashed on our bed watching TV.


Alex and Carsen wanted to join us on the bed, but we told them "no! Go to the Man Cave downstairs where you belong with the other men folk."


The Man Cave. Steve W., Daniel S, Rod and Steve S.

BYU lost 21-31 to ASU. Lucky we didn't travel to Vegas this year.

Jorge needs no help

Yesterday I went to Jorge's room to give him some Christmas presents that he would be taking with him to Mexico on Friday morning. There was a suitcase in the middle of the room already packed. I was asked by Jorge's mom, Mary, to help Jorge pack for the trip home. Obviously my help was not needed and I realized quickly that Jorge's packing was a lot better than mine. I don't think I've ever seen a suitcase that was better packed than Jorge's. He is ready for his trip home. For sure. We are going to miss him. His mom is going to be so happy.

"Pope's" Finnish education

Last night we had a really fun dinner with the Valimaki family. Mikko's 81-year old father had just arrived from Finland via east coast and started our first meeting with a story that had happened to him at the White House last week. His daughter was taking him on a tour to the White House and when asked to show his identification, he showed his passport. The guard read his name off the passport, and then asked him to repeat it. Paavo (Mikko's father) said "Paavo Välimäki". The guard repeated the name but made a mistake by calling Paavo...Paavi. Now that little mistake made Paavo laugh out loud. His daughter had to explain to the guard what he had just called her father. In fact Paavi means Pope. I asked Paavo if he offered his ring finger to the guard and asked him to kiss it. He said that his ring is not big enough to be kissed. What a great story.

At dinner Paavo, being from Töysä and Kouvola, asked me if I had heard some of the words and foods that were typical to the area where he was from. All of you Finns out there if you have heard these words, please comment. I had NEVER heard them, and we were laughing really hard at some of the foods that he had to eat during the war.

Umpeloinen=Kokonaisina keitetyt perunat (whole boiled potatotes)
Kisko-Moijakka=Veripaltusta tehty velli (gruel made of blood pancakes)
Lempo= Kirosana (some sort of swear word)
Kaljavelli= Maltaista tehty velli (gruel made of beer malts)
Piimävelli= Piimästä tehty velli (gruel made of buttermilk)
Värkkänä= Rupatteleva ihminen (chatty person)

Monica had made a great ribs dinner and we ate and ate and laughed and laughed. Monica also introduced us to Julmust, a Swedish Christmas drink that is available at IKEA. Mikko said that it tasted like apple beer (the Finnish variety). I thought it tasted like plums. We also introduced Jorge to Salmiakki. He didn't finish the second piece. What a great night.

Slaughterhouse and Winter Wonderland

It was a total slaughterhouse last night when Alex's team faced Provo. In the first half, our team scored 8 points. We were hoping that they would make at least total of 10 points in the whole game, which they did, and even passed it, by 6 points. Everyone played horribly...except Provo. Finals score was 16-41. This was our Game # 6 and Loss # 3. Big bandaid ripping "OUCH"!!

Next game is this Saturday against Wasatch. Let's hope that the boys get their heads straight for that game...and the coaches too.


Chloe came to watch her beloved Provo play, and root for Alex.


Final score gave us excruciating pain!



While we slept, winter happened. This morning was an overcast winter wonderland. It took 25 minutes for me to drive to work, ok, so I spent 10 of those in the post office.

Game # 5-Loss # 2

Alex's team played against Timpanogos on Saturday and lost to them 42-51 (11-27). Alex made two 3-pointers again, and they were, oh so, pretty. Next game is tonight at 9pm against Provo.

Our Christmas Tree

ignore the blank spot on the top. I am.

A Christmas Tradition

As our ward tradition dictates, the Young Men and Young Women and their leaders go to Salt Lake every Christmas time to look at the lights at Temple Square.

But before we get there, the first stop is always a dinner at:



After dinner we walked to the Temple Square and walked around taking lots and lots of pictures. This year the Temple Square was packed with people or mainly youth. It was so much fun to walk around with our peeps.


Chloe and Kate...this is before they started winking at all the boys. There were some potential stalkers.


It was so cold (look at my nose..so red). Me, Chloe, Misty, Kate, JP, Jason and Jared

Chloe, Misty, Marisa (Mia Maid leader), Kate and Jared in the back.

A beautiful and peaceful sight of the Salt Lake Temple.

Christus statue in the Visitor's Center.

Still freezing. My nose was getting more red.

We are in the Joseph Smith Memorial Building elevator going to the 10th floor. Scary!

View from the top. Beautiful.

We decided that our additional tradition for next year is to bring hot chocolate and donuts for dessert. Yum! Can't wait.

Game # 4-Win # 3

Game #4 against Pleasant Grove with a win 40-24. Alex made two 3-pointers. Here is a taste of the first one. Great game, Alex!

Next game is on Saturday against Timpanogos.

Blocking the Kitchen View

Years ago when we had dinner at Village Inn, we were seated next to the kitchen. Before our dinner was brought out, I glanced into the kitchen and saw our waitress eating our fries off the plate before she brought them out. I was utterly disgusted! Wouldn't you be? So, from then on, every time we eat out, I make sure that we are not sitting next or near the kitchen where I can see what goes in there. I don't need to know. Really. If the people want to eat my fries, that's ok, but I don't want to see it.

We had a date night last night with Rod and after seeing the movie "Australia" (highly recommend it but prepare yourself, it is 3 hours long. I had to make a potty break in the middle, and almost missed an important scene), we went to Magelby's for some chocolate cake. Sure enough, we were seated directly across from the kitchen and the swinging kitchen doors. Oh boy. That's going to be a problem. Rod told the waitress if she could find another table for us, and she said that there is one booth available shortly. Oh crap. "Noooo, it's fine, we can stay here", I said. Because Rod is so chivalrious, he came and sat next to me. Due to the size of his head, he was able to block the view to the kitchen. Thanks honey, you are the BEST! Am I weird?

Right behind his head and hand are the kitchen doors.

Last Night at the Christmas Party

Last night our ward had a Christmas party. After a few international courses Alex got suitable food to show Chloe how to attach it to her braces.

Grapes.

Game # 3-Loss # 1

Alex's basketball team suffered their first loss 30-35 against Lehi last night. It seemed like all the boys had too much turkey last week and were still sluggish. Alex made a 3-pointer which was beautiful. We are hoping for a better game next Monday. Go Bruins!

Trip Home in numbers

# of highway patrol cars between Las Cruces and Los Lunas: 0

# of crosses marking the deaths on the highway between Las Cruces and Los Lunas: 75

# of burning barns: 1
# of movies watched during the drive:3

# of hitchhiking Navajos: 3

# of stray dogs in Gallup: 1

# of mattresses flown out of the back of a pick up (right in front of us): 2

# of rocks that look like Mrs. Butterworth's syrup bottle: 1

# 0f dead elk hauled away in a trailer: 1

# of minutes that Alex had to wait until he got to use the bathroom: 20

# of times I really thought he was going to pee his pants: 2

# of junk food that Jorge ate: 0

# of junk food that we others ate: 3,845

# of times I fell asleep and woke up instantly: 37

# of hours it took for us to drive home: 12.5

# of pounds gained during the trip: 0

# of minutes it took for me to fall asleep in my own bed once we got home: 1