Monday, October 19, 2009
Saturday, October 17, 2009
23-23 or Fifty Fifty
On October 16, 2009 was the day when I reached a milestone in my life. On October 16, 1986 or 23 years ago I left Finland to get married. 2 days earlier before my departure I had turned 23. 2 days ago I turned 46. This means that today, on October 17th, 2009 I'm more American than Finnish. I guess I should finally apply for the citizenship in this country.
Friday, October 16, 2009
No More Pyjama Bottoms
When people kept asking me "whose little boy are you?" when I was little, I decided to see what I would look like if I had long hair. Oh, I so wanted long hair. The best thing for me to do was to put my pyjama bottoms on my head and pretend that I had long hair. I was able to fix them so I could have a ponytail with both legs tied together with a rubberband, or separated with rubberbands running down the "braids" to give an illusion that I had braids. The only drawback was that the pyjamas were striped so I really had to squint my eyes to imagine long blonde hair.
Up to yesterday, I have never had long hair. Yesterday changed my life.
Extensions are in and the hair is ready to be cut.
Front view of my long mane.
Do I look like a trophy wife or just a block head with blonde hair. You be the judge. To me, I just look weird. This is going to take a long time to get used to.
So far, the comments I have received:
Jake, 15: "you look like you are 30!" I told Jake I loved him.
Rod: "You look spanky". I'm going to have my way with Rod later.
Up to yesterday, I have never had long hair. Yesterday changed my life.
Extensions are in and the hair is ready to be cut.
Front view of my long mane.
Do I look like a trophy wife or just a block head with blonde hair. You be the judge. To me, I just look weird. This is going to take a long time to get used to.
So far, the comments I have received:
Jake, 15: "you look like you are 30!" I told Jake I loved him.
Rod: "You look spanky". I'm going to have my way with Rod later.
Birthday Dinner with a Good Friend
To celebrate my birthday on Wednesday night, we drove to Salt Lake to meet with my friend, Melanie. She was my manager at the Olympics in 2002, and we became fast friends during the games. She is a great friend and we were so happy to see her after so many years.
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Just Because...
"I love you"
"I'm sorry"
"You are the greatest wife, ever"
"You are the best mother to our son"
"You light up my life"
"I'm sorry I have been traveling so much"
"You take on so much when I'm gone"
All of the above, and then some?
Thank you, honey, they are beautiful. I love you, too!
Monday, October 5, 2009
Productive Weekend
My weekend started during the day on Friday when my HVAC guy came over to clean-out our furnaces and turn the furnace on. The whole week I refused to turn it on because to me it was too early in October to do it. I was defiant until Friday morning when our Finnish friends woke up and told me that it was like sleeping at the cabin, I decided that maybe it would be more comfortable for our guests to sleep little warmer than 60 F (15 C).
Friday night we left to go to the BYU-USU (Utah State University in Logan) football game with Alex. Rod was in sunny California and he gave me some advice on what to wear to the game. He told me that I should pretend like it was 30 degrees F (-1 C) and to wear long johns, hat and mittens. I didn't take his advice except that I wore a heavy ski jacket. Before the game started, I was freezing already. I didn't have to pretend it was 30 degrees because it felt like it was. After a hot dog and a blanket from Gail, BYU beat USU 37-17. A good start of the weekend. After the game, which we left early, we drove to Will's Pit Stop for a gourmet hot chocolate. I wanted to dip my feet in. It was tempting. I didn't.
Saturday morning I woke up to skype with my mother, as always. Then decided to make a yummy, totally American breakfast for our guests. Alex had told me about a recipe that he wanted me to try for pancakes. Ricotta Cheese-Blueberry pancakes were so delicious, and with bacon, anything tastes good.
Then I moved my work outside. I pulled out all of the petunias and other annuals to get ready for winter. I emptied the flower boxes and cleaned them out. I raked the grass and the flower beds from all the fallen leaves. I felt like I was ready for winter now.
Saturday night Matti, Timothy, Michael and Sini Helske came over for a brief visit. It was so great to see the newlywed couple and meet Sini for the first time. Unfortunately our visit was so short that I didn't get to ask all the questions I wanted. Hope to see Michael and Sini again before they head back to Finland. After the visit, I started baking. We have a great tradition with the Williams family that we go over to their house on Conference Sunday to eat brunch and then watch the second session of the General Conference with them. That is why I started baking.
I got brownies and lemon-blueberry streusel bars made.
Sunday morning at 7, I continued baking and cooking. I made my bread pudding and Creme Anglaise, I made homemade macaroni and cheese, I made donuts, I made rosemary-garlic roasted potatoes. The last thing I pulled out of the oven was the salmon. And off we went.
There was so much food and we all hardly made a dent to all of the food. Katie had made all of our favorite dishes, and we ate and ate and ate. Ali had come from NYC for a short weekend visit and it was so great to see her. She looks so happy. Thanks Katie for hosting, again.
After we left the Williams, we drove over to Jana and Quinn's house because today would have been Cooper's 5th birthday. There was a lot of sadness in the house and we hugged a lot. Jana and Quinn seemed to be doing ok.
I had to prepare dinner because the Finns were returning to our house for their last day before heading back to Finland via Las Vegas. They arrived right at 6pm and dinner was ready. After dinner and cleaning up, I went and fell into bed to watch my favorite shows.
It was a great weekend and great conference. It was fun to see and visit with all of our old friends. I think I will sleep now for the rest of the week. If somebody asks me "what's for dinner", I will just point to the leftover donuts and brownies. This momma is done cooking for a while. And yes, I know I always go overboard with my cooking and baking.
Friday night we left to go to the BYU-USU (Utah State University in Logan) football game with Alex. Rod was in sunny California and he gave me some advice on what to wear to the game. He told me that I should pretend like it was 30 degrees F (-1 C) and to wear long johns, hat and mittens. I didn't take his advice except that I wore a heavy ski jacket. Before the game started, I was freezing already. I didn't have to pretend it was 30 degrees because it felt like it was. After a hot dog and a blanket from Gail, BYU beat USU 37-17. A good start of the weekend. After the game, which we left early, we drove to Will's Pit Stop for a gourmet hot chocolate. I wanted to dip my feet in. It was tempting. I didn't.
Saturday morning I woke up to skype with my mother, as always. Then decided to make a yummy, totally American breakfast for our guests. Alex had told me about a recipe that he wanted me to try for pancakes. Ricotta Cheese-Blueberry pancakes were so delicious, and with bacon, anything tastes good.
Then I moved my work outside. I pulled out all of the petunias and other annuals to get ready for winter. I emptied the flower boxes and cleaned them out. I raked the grass and the flower beds from all the fallen leaves. I felt like I was ready for winter now.
Saturday night Matti, Timothy, Michael and Sini Helske came over for a brief visit. It was so great to see the newlywed couple and meet Sini for the first time. Unfortunately our visit was so short that I didn't get to ask all the questions I wanted. Hope to see Michael and Sini again before they head back to Finland. After the visit, I started baking. We have a great tradition with the Williams family that we go over to their house on Conference Sunday to eat brunch and then watch the second session of the General Conference with them. That is why I started baking.
I got brownies and lemon-blueberry streusel bars made.
Sunday morning at 7, I continued baking and cooking. I made my bread pudding and Creme Anglaise, I made homemade macaroni and cheese, I made donuts, I made rosemary-garlic roasted potatoes. The last thing I pulled out of the oven was the salmon. And off we went.
There was so much food and we all hardly made a dent to all of the food. Katie had made all of our favorite dishes, and we ate and ate and ate. Ali had come from NYC for a short weekend visit and it was so great to see her. She looks so happy. Thanks Katie for hosting, again.
After we left the Williams, we drove over to Jana and Quinn's house because today would have been Cooper's 5th birthday. There was a lot of sadness in the house and we hugged a lot. Jana and Quinn seemed to be doing ok.
I had to prepare dinner because the Finns were returning to our house for their last day before heading back to Finland via Las Vegas. They arrived right at 6pm and dinner was ready. After dinner and cleaning up, I went and fell into bed to watch my favorite shows.
It was a great weekend and great conference. It was fun to see and visit with all of our old friends. I think I will sleep now for the rest of the week. If somebody asks me "what's for dinner", I will just point to the leftover donuts and brownies. This momma is done cooking for a while. And yes, I know I always go overboard with my cooking and baking.
Friday, October 2, 2009
Boys and their Toys
Our friends Hannu, Eeki and Heikki Leppänen came to visit us from Finland last night and we went to Macaroni Grill for dinner. After a lovely dinner, we hopped into my car and drove around the parking lot, only to spot this beauty. Just sitting there, minding its own business. The boys, or should I say, Alex jumped out of the car, followed up by all the men folk, and went to see the black Lamborghini...Alex's dream car. Heikki said that if he made $50/hour he could afford to buy the car. Mmmm. Don't think so.
Heikki, Alex, Hannu and Eeki oogling the black beauty.
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Saturday's High, Low, and High Again
Saturday afternoon took us to the LaVell Edwards Stadium. BYU was playing against Colorado State University. After last week's horrible loss from FSU, we were wondering if BYU could bounce back. They did. Final score was BYU 42-CSU 23.
Alex and I at the BYU game
It was a gorgeous fall day.
On Saturday night, Alex went to his friend's house for a party and when I went to pick him up around 11pm, he walked to the car holding his elbow with an ice pack. What happened?
It turns out that while playing football on the tennis court at his friend's house, he didn't notice the net which flipped him over and he smashed his elbow to the cement. Wasn't sure if it was broken so off to the ER we went. Last time I visited the ER at the hospital was when my mother had to be taken in for a possible heart attack. It turned out to be indigestion from dry Costco chicken. Lucky mom.
Back to the ER with Alex...
After an hour or so of waiting, Alex was finally able to get some x-rays done. Here he is, miserable and in lots of pain.
Appropriate sign at the hospital.
Then after about two hours of waiting, Alex was taken to the ER room (Äiti, näyttääkö tutulta?). The doctor came in and told Alex the good news: It is only a "soft tissue injury, no broken bones."
Alex is happy again...and we can finally go to bed at 2am.
Alex and I at the BYU game
It was a gorgeous fall day.
On Saturday night, Alex went to his friend's house for a party and when I went to pick him up around 11pm, he walked to the car holding his elbow with an ice pack. What happened?
It turns out that while playing football on the tennis court at his friend's house, he didn't notice the net which flipped him over and he smashed his elbow to the cement. Wasn't sure if it was broken so off to the ER we went. Last time I visited the ER at the hospital was when my mother had to be taken in for a possible heart attack. It turned out to be indigestion from dry Costco chicken. Lucky mom.
Back to the ER with Alex...
After an hour or so of waiting, Alex was finally able to get some x-rays done. Here he is, miserable and in lots of pain.
Appropriate sign at the hospital.
Then after about two hours of waiting, Alex was taken to the ER room (Äiti, näyttääkö tutulta?). The doctor came in and told Alex the good news: It is only a "soft tissue injury, no broken bones."
Alex is happy again...and we can finally go to bed at 2am.
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Getting Educated from a Finnish Magazine (warning to men: Don't bother to read this)
My sweet mother sent me a Finnish magazine called Kauneus ja Terveys (Beauty and Health) just this week. While I was browsing through the magazine I came upon an article that talked about "The Moon Cup" or "The Keeper". I thought: "What the heck is a moon cup??" Just last week I was complaining to Rod that I have to invent something that would reduce my periods to only one day. I'm looking forward to menopause because at least then I wouldn't have to deal with my periods BUT also I would be frequently warm. I'm sick of being cold all the time. I look forward to a day when I can fan myself.
Back to the article.
It introduced me to a plunger looking thing that you insert into your uterus where you usually stick your tampons in.
NO WAY!
I kept reading.
It catches the blood into the cup without ANY LEAKAGE...EVER!!! You simply remove the cup, wash it and insert it again.
WHAT THE...!!!!
And here it is, if you are interested. I have no idea why I have been living in the dark all these 45 years, 11 months and 9 days.
Next time when you see me, I might be smuggling a plunger between my legs. I dare you to ask me if I think it is the greatest invention of all times. I still have to invent something that can reduce the periods to measly one day.
Back to the article.
It introduced me to a plunger looking thing that you insert into your uterus where you usually stick your tampons in.
NO WAY!
I kept reading.
It catches the blood into the cup without ANY LEAKAGE...EVER!!! You simply remove the cup, wash it and insert it again.
WHAT THE...!!!!
And here it is, if you are interested. I have no idea why I have been living in the dark all these 45 years, 11 months and 9 days.
Next time when you see me, I might be smuggling a plunger between my legs. I dare you to ask me if I think it is the greatest invention of all times. I still have to invent something that can reduce the periods to measly one day.
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