Tribute to My 83-year old Mom on her Birthday

Today is my mom's 83rd birthday. Hyvää Syntymäpäivää Äiti! My mom is the most incredible woman I know. She has always been the most supportive, loving and non-judgmental person. She has taught me how to care for other people. Many times I witnessed her helping her friends or neighbors in need. She still continues to do this on a daily basis.

My mom is the most busy 83-year old woman I know. You can hardly find her at home because she is always either at a luncheon with her friends, or at a lecture at the university or at a computer class learning how to use a digital camera and downloading pictures to her laptop.

Even though I haven't seen my mom since 2007, I Skype with her every Saturday morning to catch up with each other and mainly with her news because it seems that at 83 her life is much more exciting and interesting than mine.

My mom has the best sense of humor. She can say the funniest things that make you just crack up. I hope I have inherited some of her sense of humor.

When we were growing up, my mom always worked. She was a pharmacist and because of that, she was a vitamin pusher at home. My sister and I were never sick when we were little and hardly at all even now. I think we have our mom to thank, although I hated swallowing those vitamins every morning.

When I was growing up, my mom always put her needs aside and my sister and I always got the latest and greatest. If you look into my mom's closet, she still has a suit in there that she wore before my sister was born, with my mom swearing that "one of these days, I will fit into that suit". My dad used to say that he could wrap his fingers around my mom's waist and touch them on the other side. That's how tiny my mom was. HOW COME I DIDN'T INHERIT THAT??

My mom is the most wonderful and beautiful person and I love her so much. Kiitos Äiti kaikesta!

Rakkaudella,

tyttäresi Marja


My mom in 2007 at my nanny's house.


She can shoot too.


and fish.

And all we got was 4 crappy fish.

My mom, me and my sister Riitta

Can you say "TWINS". I hope I will be as beautiful as she is at her age.

Lakeridge vs. Orem Jr. High 12/15/09

Another win by our Lakeridge boys. This time we had a rivalry game against Orem Jr. High.

Final score 56-64 for Lakeridge. Go Leopards!

Another winning final score 56-64

Lakeridge vs. Willow Creek 12/10/09

Finally a WIN!!! Our boys finally were able to beat the opposing team and come out with a win. We trailed the game until 3 minutes before the game ended, and then were able to pull a 10 point lead. Great job boys!

Alex had many 3-point attempts but couldn't put them in today.


Our Coach Trent (in a yellow shirt) showed up to the game in a bow tie. Well, he IS the school librarian.


Alex warming up before the game.


Stevan Davis (Whitney's brother in-law) as the ref in our game. Finally we were able to get some good reffing. Alex, number 12, in the background.

Beautiful final score 48-38.

Lakeridge vs. Timberline 12/8/09

Another loss for our Lakeridge boys, this time against Timberline.

Alex made a 3-pointer towards the end of the game that was just beautiful.


Alex warming up before the game.


Another ouch! 46-63, and we could have won this game.

If I Was an Inventor....

I would invent an iron that had a water reservoir entry point the size of Texas instead of size of a pea with plastic stoppers in the inside.

Maybe you don't know this about me, but I iron everything. I found my ironing soul mate in my friend Kristine when she told me that when she was in college she used to iron her jeans. I was so relieved to hear it because I iron E-V-E-R-Y-T-H-I-N-G. T-shirts? Check. Jeans? Check. Tablecloths? Check. Napkins? Check. All of Alex's clothes? Check. The list goes on and on. When Rod was putting the Christmas village together and was in search of a tablecloth to put under the fake snow, he said:"Can I put it on the table without you ironing it and you not losing sleep over it?"

Yes, ironing is a serious business at my house. That's why the size of the water entry point is so very important to me. Ironically, I send all of Rod's shirts and pants to the dry cleaners. I don't have time to iron them. He accumulates too many pieces of articles for me to keep up with that madness.

Back to my dilemma.

This picture doesn't do justice on what I go through every time I try to fill the water reservoir. Seriously, I get so mad every time because it is like I'm trying to put the baby back in the uterus. It is an impossible task. I end up with more water on the ironing board than inside the iron.

Maybe it is time for me to get a new iron. Santa?

Lakeridge vs. Spanish Fork Jr. High 12/4/09

Another heart breaking loss at Spanish Fork Jr. High on Friday night. We trailed about 20-25 points throughout the whole game until the last minutes when we were able to catch up and finish with a 6 point loss. Eventhough I tried to sell the rallying to Alex, he said:"It is still a loss".

Next game is tomorrow, Tuesday at home. Go Leopards!



Austin, Alex and Chris receiving instruction from the coach.


Final score 69-63

Lakeridge vs. Mountain Ridge 12/3/09

I've been sick for 3 days so I couldn't go to the game and that means no pictures.

We suffered another loss of 68-43. Alex made 9 points or 3 3-pointers. He played most of 2nd quarter and all of 4th quarter. His spirits are up even though the team didn't win.

Another game tonight against Spanish Fork. Keep your fingers crossed.

Lakeridge vs. Pleasant Grove 12/1/09

First loss for Lakeridge boys came in the form of Pleasant Grove Vikings. Our boys didn't play so well and the game was incredibly disjointed. The final score was 53-48 to which our boys rallied but too late to make a difference.


Benchwarmers. Alex is number 12.


Disappointing loss for Lakeridge.

Thanksgiving in Vegas

Instead of spending a traditional Thanksgiving with Rod's family in New Mexico, this year we decided to drive to Las Vegas and just relax. There were 8 of us: Rod, Alex, and I, Whitney, Craig and Elle, Craig's brother Stevan and his wife Leuri.

We left on Tuesday night after Alex's basketball game and drove to the Rio Hotel, the home away from home for the next 4 days.

The guys, except Alex went golfing on Wednesday morning. Alex and I hooked up with the ladies at the Planet Hollywood mall. First stop: Sephora, for make-up.


Alex and Elle at the Planet Hollywood mall.


Alex and Elle rubbing Buddha's tummy for good luck. Yes, we need good luck at shopping. Need to find good deals, for sure.


Alex and Elle on their way to the Bellagio hotel.


Alex, Elle, Whitney and Leuri on their way to the Bellagio hotel.

Alex and Elle at the Bellagio hotel garden with a creepy tree in the background.

Beautiful women, Elle and Whitney.

Elle and Alex drinking their 32 oz (1 litre) frozen hot chocolates at Serendipity. Just a reminder to those who hasn't had one...not worth the price.

Next stop was at Man's Heaven or Niketown. Alex wanted to buy a pair of "Nike Hyperize" basketball shoes, which he did. He was a happy man.

On Wednesday night we went to see the Lion King, the broadway show at Mandalay Bay. The show was simply A-MAZING! If you go to Vegas, go see it. It is a must see. The costumes, the stage, and the music, just incredible.

Elle and Alex waiting for the show to start.

Whitney and Craig are excited for the show.

Elle was so happy to be there.

The side show, "The Nostrils" were there too.

On Thursday, Thanksgiving Day, the guys left to go golfing again....minus Alex. Us ladies and Alex were left to fend for ourselves again. No problem. Plenty to do and more sights to see.

We started the day with a hearty breakfast. Here is Alex's sunny pancake creation.

Elle at the M&M World bagging candies as fast as she could.

For Thanksgiving dinner, we chose the Rio buffet. Because we had the Diamond Card, we had a separate entrance to the buffet, so we got seated instantly, instead of waiting in line for hour and a half.

I had the traditional Thanksgiving meal with crab legs, sushi, salmon, and shrimp. I think I was able to down a couple of platefuls of that goodness. I started feeling guilty that I hadn't had any turkey, so I decided to go and get a small servings of turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy.

The best thing was that there was no cooking or cleaning involved with this Thanksgiving dinner. Just enjoying the company of loved ones and feeling sorry for the people who had to wait in line.

The whole gang at Thanksgiving dinner. Stevan, Rod, Elle, Alex, Craig, Whitney and Leuri.

Alex's dessert plate.

After the meal, we headed to the movies. Rod and Alex went to see "2012" and rest of us went to see "The Blindside". Before the movie started, I heard loud snoring next to me and yes, it was Stevan who had gotten hit by tryptophan. He was luckily awake by the time the movie started.

On Black Friday morning, the guys, including Alex went golfing and us ladies, except Leuri, hit the outlet mall by Charleston. I think there were about 1/2 million people trying to find a parking space. With my cut-throat maneuvering, we were able to follow a lady who was leaving the shopping area, and we parked in her space. Let the shopping begin!

Shoppers at the Outlet mall by Charleston.

Our loot after shopping for 4 hours. We saved so much money! Hahah!

On Friday night when the guys came back from golfing, we met them at Buffalo Wild Wings for dinner. This is the place where we always go when we travel to California during spring break. Remember the place where Alex and Carsen compete how many wings each can eat. Yes! That place. Alex ate 39 wings of various hotness.

After dinner, we decided to go get gelatos for dessert at the Bellagio hotel. Behind the garden area, there is a nice little chocolate shop with a chocolate fountain. I think I should have something like that in my own house. Like, right next to my bed.

After gelatos, we watched the Bellagio fountains. This picture of Alex reminds me of our trip to Paris where he was sitting kind of the same way looking at the Eiffel tower.

The Larsen's at the Bellagio fountains.

The Davis' at the Bellagio fountains.

Then it was time to say farewell to Vegas and the rest of the gang. Tomorrow morning we would leave at the crack of dawn back to Utah, so Alex and Rod can make the BYU-Utah football game (which BYU won).

What a fun way to spend a Thanksgiving for a change. Just pure fun and relaxation for all. When we walked into our hotel on Friday night, we passed some black jack tables and one of the players, while playing, was having a massage from a masseuse. Gambling is hard work. I think I have seen it all now.

Lakeridge vs. Mt. Nebo Game-Tuesday, 11/24/09

First win in the overtime against Mt. Nebo. Lakeridge was trailing the whole game until the last seconds when they tied the game, then took off during the overtime ending with the score 51-47.

Alex leading the team to victory.