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.