Ali's home

Last night we went to the Williams to see Ali. She got home from her mission in Brazil just yesterday. She looks so great and happy, and it is good to have her home again.

Ali and Alex hugging each other after 18 months. We just love Ali so much.

Happy May Day!

When I was growing up in Finland, there were a few sure things that happened every year around May day.

1) People got hugely drunk.
2) There were balloon vendors everywhere. I seldom got a balloon!
3) It usually rained.
4) Communists had a parade with red flags and singing songs praising The Soviet Union. Our family would go and watch the parades.
5) My mom wore her high school graduation hat (yes, it is a tradition still today).

6) Donuts and "sima" (citrus drink that had been fermented) were plentiful.
7) Funnel cakes were yummy.
8) Happy people walking all over the city (if it happened to be a sunny day).
9) A Men's choir singing on the steps of the city hall.

So, what tradition did I bring to this country?

Yep, you guessed it...

Donuts. Made them yesterday. This morning, hardly any left.

Poop is Home

"Poop is Home"? What? That is certainly a curious title for this entry. I will explain towards the end of this weekend report.

Friday:
About 9-10 years ago I used to work in SLC for a computer training company, PPI. Ever since then, certain co-workers (without spouses) get together every six months for a dinner reunion. So, on Friday night, we had our bi-annual reunion at Fashion Place Olive Garden. We had SO much fun, once again. The people in the nearby tables were seemingly bothered by our loud jokes and laughter. But, who cares. Too bad they didn't have as much fun as we did. We decided that we can't wait six months for the next reunion, so the next one will be in 3 months, and this time we are going bowling, then dinner.

Here are Wendy, Dale and Joyce. Notice the drink in front of Dale. This is how the ordering went:
Dale:"Do you have Piña Coladas?"
Waitress:"Yes, we do."
Dale:"Virgin?" and points to the waitress.
Waitress looks baffled because she thinks Dale just asked her if she was a virgin.
Dale:"I mean, virgin Piña Colada."
Waitress:"Yes, we do."
We all bust out laughing when the poor waitress leaves.

Aaron, Kelland and me

Saturday:

Alex had his last soccer game of the season on Saturday. Tournaments start on Tuesday.

Even though it was a beautiful and sunny morning, it was, once again, freezing by the lake. Here we are all bundled up with Katie.

Future soccer star, Maya (Heather's daughter).

Saturday Night:

My old bishop and his wife from Finland have been visiting the States for the last 1 1/2 months. Their last stopover is in Utah, and we called them up and took them to dinner on Saturday night. They had never had sushi, or eaten food with chopsticks, so it was all new to them. According to them, they liked it a lot.

Martti and Mari having sushi at Samurai Sushi on Highland.

Sunday:

Got an early start and drove to Layton for Mike and Tai's baby blessing. Isaak was getting blessed. Great blessing, good food at the brunch (Alex couldn't get enough of the bacon, I couldn't stop eating the orange bread and donuts, Rod had fruit (yes, he has lost 20 lbs.).

BUT on the way to the blessing, we drove under a bridge on US89 that had a chain link fence on it. What we thought was a Welcome Home Elder... done with plastic cups nicely on the fence, it turned out that somebody had a fun sense of humor and changed the whole wording, and spelled:"Poop is Home". As you can imagine, we laughed.

After the blessing, we drove home through Daybreak, which is a new area southwest of Salt Lake. Beautiful houses and parks all over. The new temple is being built there too.

Daybreak temple being built.

It was a busy but fun weekend.

One muu-muu, two muu-muus

It might come as a surprise for most of you, but I did, in fact, prepare my list of clothing and stuff to take to Hawaii. I am now proud to say, that I will be traveling with only one CARRY-ON bag. After all, how much room do swimsuits and muu-muus really take?

It's a Final Count Down

Count down to Maui-42 days

Football, I mean soccer

"A football game in which two teams of 11 players try to kick or head a ball into the opponents' goal." So how come it is called soccer and not football in this country? I think we are the only ones in the world who call Football, Soccer. Is it the same reason why we don't use the metric system because switching over would be too painful?

Alex (in the white shirt and white headband) is showing off as he is skillfully trying to make a goal. Didn't make it this time.

Again, Alex fighting for the ball.

Our Wildcats beat the Crew 3-2. Go Team!

One more game to go this Saturday, and then it is tournament time.

Green Bananas-Snap, Crackle and Pop!

I saw these incredibly green bananas at Wal-Mart the other day, and my mouth started to salivate. When the bananas are this green and raw, it is the best time to consume them. When you try to peel the banana, and the skin doesn't come off...YUM! When you try to take a bite, and they are so hard that your teeth hurt to bite down....YUM-O!

See the yellow ones right next to these beauties? Too late... they are past their prime, might as well squeeze them out like toothpaste. Why even bother! If the shelf is full of yellow bananas, I just walk on by, and think to myself...LAME-O!

The bombs bursting in air

Last night I was helping Alex with his homework, and the report he had to write was about a country his family comes from. Obviously he chose Finland. About half an hour into this report writing, we veered off the subject and started talking about the WW II. Alex kind of sheepishly asked me if I was scared when the bombs were flying all over Finland, and if I had to find cover in a bomb shelter.

HOW OLD DOES MY 12-YEAR OLD REALLY THINK I AM???

It is like Rod asking Kristine's mom, Arlene "so, did you know Pancho Villa". For those who don't know Pancho Villa, he lived in Mexico in 1878-1923. Arlene was born in the Colonia Juarez in 1944, and she doesn't look anything over 29.

A Milestone in the Honda

The odometer reading during our travel home yesterday. Major milestone, I would say.

Spring Break 2008-Day 6-Local Temecula Attractions

Pole Position Race Track for a nice Saturday morning drive.

Carsen and Alex ready to race.

Alex-King of the Track

Rod, Alex and Carsen racing

Happy drivers

Old Town Temecula-Tasting the local flavor. Yes, Jenn took me to the local Olive Oil Company, and $80 later, I had all the olive oil bottles and balsamic vinegar stored in the trunk of the car.

Sweet Campbell

Rod's twin-Buddha

Fischer (on the right side of the coach) had a soccer game with his fellow "Skywalkers". After a tight game, Fischer's team tied 1-1. Go Fisch! Great game.