Cruise 2010-Virgin Islands-Day 2

Before we got off the ship on Monday morning we hit the gym. Very impressive, huh? I told the boys that we wouldn't be allowed to leave the ship if we hadn't had exercised that morning. So after the exercise, our first stop was at Princess Cays, which is Princess Cruise Lines' own island in the Caribbean. Monday morning was the most beautiful and calm day. We tendered off to the island and found a cabana and set our stuff down and went snorkeling.

Our beautiful Emerald Princess.

Alex is ready to go snorkeling

I don't think he could be more relaxed.

Our cabana and Rod getting the snorkeling gear ready

Alex and his ever-flowing drinks. This one's strawberry daiquiri

Alex and our ship in the background

Bathing beauty

I'm holding our ship with my toes

Our ship is the size of a thimble

The ship even fits between my feet.

Two bald headed guys or my knees? I'll never tell.

Tomorrow: DAY AT SEA

Cruise 2010-Virgin Islands-Day 1

We left Ft. Lauderdale Port Everglades on Sunday afternoon heading towards our first stop; Princess Cays where we would arrive on Monday morning.

Alex in our suite

Our lovely suite

Alex, me and Rod on board the Princess Emerald ship

The cruise of 12 pairs of shoes

Alex and Rod quickly found the basketball court

Saying goodbye to Ft. Lauderdale

Alex and Rod at the Phil Tag comedy show. So hilarious.

Florida-Tom's House

We left to travel to Ft. Lauderdale, Florida on Friday. This would be a short stopover on our way to our Virgin Islands cruise.

Cindy came to pick us up at the airport and we went to dinner at Il Bellagio in West Palm Beach.

Rod and Tommi

Cindy and Me

Christian (Cindy's son) and Cindy

Alex, Franz (Tom's son) and Carly (Franz's girlfriend)

Frank and Kristen (Tom's daughter and husband)

Kristen and Collin (Cindy's son)

Rod ready to eat a lobster

Tom and Cindy at Tom's house

Alex swimming in Tom's pool

The following morning, Alex was sleeping in

Tom's house

Alex outside of Tom's house

Me and Alex outside of Tom's house

Alex is loving life

Rod, Alex, Cindy and Collin going on a boat ride

Rod, me, Cindy and Collin ready to leave on a boat ride

This is where Tom keeps his boat stored

Forklift bringing Tom's boat out of the storage

All aboard!

Tom's boat-InFinncible

Me on Tom's boat

Carly and Franz ready to go boating

Captain Tom and lovely Cindy

Alex on the boat

Rod, the Captain

We had dinner at the Riverhouse. Collin, me, Rod, Alex, Tom, Cindy, Franz and Carly

Tomorrow: CRUISE TO THE VIRGIN ISLANDS

Pop the Champagne Bottle

I have been trying to lose weight by eating right and exercising since first part of February. I even hired a personal trainer to help me with this humongous task. My goal was to lose 20 lbs (about 10 kg.) by Friday, May 14th. The reason for that date was that we are going on a cruise to the Virgin Islands in the Caribbean and I desperately wanted to lose the poundage so I can fit into a bikini. Should a 46-year old woman be in a bikini, you ask? It is definitely a discussion for another blog post, if you ask me. Just wait for the pictures so you can be the judge.

This morning when I stepped on the scale, the scale chimed and sang the happy tunes of "21" lbs lost. I have now reached my goal, which happens to be my first goal. Now I will work on my next 9 lbs which will hopefully happen during the summer.

I have discarded a major portion of my wardrobe since my weight-loss. Needless to say, I have also refurbished the wardrobe somewhat. It is very telling that when the UPS driver comes to the door at my work and says:"Another package for Marja" that I've been busy shopping for new clothes. I quite enjoy this activity.

All in all, I feel great about myself and I'm happy. I think this is a major accomplishment from my part. It is a great testimony to myself that I CAN change my habits, I CAN use my willpower and greatly affect my life in a positive way. And of course I have to thank my slave-driver of a trainer, Lisa, who whipped me into shape.

Now, onward and forward with the rest of it.

The Culture Club is Done

We attended our last cultural experience of the season this past Monday. This time it was "To Kill a Mockingbird" at the Hale Center Theater. The play was excellent and those little kids were super talented. At the end of the play, Alex said:"I have now read the book, seen the movie and the play. I think I'm done with it forever."


Last cultural experience in Jr. High.


Alex, how do you feel about being done?

(If you notice that Alex is quite tan, it is because he has been getting ready for our cruise by going to the tanning booth, as we all have)

Basketball-MV Tournament

This past weekend Alex had a Mountain View basketball tournament. Even though his team only won 1 game out of 5, it was so great to see Alex play. His best game ever was on Saturday afternoon when he scored 20 points out 52 overall points. He was truly on fire. After the game he said that he was all tingly. I think for the first time in his life, the endorphins kicked in and made him unstoppable.

Great job, Alex!

Mother's Day

No, I didn't get breakfast in bed on Mother's day. No, I didn't get gifts and songs and cards first thing in the morning. What the heck? What has happened to our tradition? Well, frankly, I wanted to sleep and because Rod had bishopric meetings so early in the morning, I opted for sleep instead. I wasn't that hungry for yogurt and flaxseed anyway. So, I slumbered and it was nice. After church I fixed my own lunch and waited for Rod to come home. Then I received gifts and song and cards from my most beloved people. I truly feel loved. It is an honor to be Alex's mother. He is such a great kid. I love to be Rod's wife. If I had to choose an eternal companion once again, I would choose him. Over and over again.

But how did they know what to get me for Mother's Day? I think this is a dilemma for so many husbands and sons. Every year they lose valuable brain cells trying to figure out what to get for their wife/mother. I'm not cruel. I don't keep secrets. I prepare a very nicely organized email wishlist with pictures, links and prices. I email the list to Rod and his secretary to make sure that the items on the list actually get ordered before Mother's day.

Here is what I wanted this year:


Michael Kors' "Island" perfum travel set.


Kindle, the book reader.

And I got both gifts. Thank you Rod and Alex...and Rana

Ladies, a hint. Give your husbands/sons a list of things to choose from. Make it easier for them. Don't keep them guessing. Same goes for birthdays. Or better yet, buy your own gifts, wrap them and act surprised when you receive them. This is what I do at Christmas. I think I'm old enough.

Hope you all had a wonderful Mother's Day. I sure did.

Andrew and Sara's Wedding

Andrew and Sara got married on Friday. I think a lot of people have been waiting for that day to come. We were so happy to be able to be there with them on that beautiful day.


Rod and I waiting for Sara and Andrew to come out of the temple.


Andrew's mom, Dianne. So happy and gorgeous.


Dr. and Mrs. Smith. Andrew's sister and brother in-law. The coolest people you will ever meet. Mediterranean cruise in a year or so with them...for sure.

Mike and Rod

Sara and Andrew. Happy couple.

Sara's huge and happy hug to Dianne.

Love or Hate?

We woke up on Saturday morning, which happened to be also a May Day, First of May or Vappu. If you have read my blog long enough, you know that 'Vappu' is a huge celebration in Finland and other European countries. This is the day when families eat potato salad and hot dogs, eat donuts and drink "sima" (a citrus drink of sorts), the high school graduates wear their graduation hats outside, have big parties and frolic outside throwing serpentine and drink booze until they are hugely drunk. Since I moved to this country, one tradition in our family is that I make the homemade donuts. Nobody in our family likes "sima" so I don't make it.

Sooo...on Saturday morning before Skyping with my mom, I went downstairs to prepare the dough for the donuts and looked outside and saw that somebody was in a "Vappu" state of mind and had serpentined our tree. How thoughtful! Of course they had used only one color serpentine and I don't think white is a very nice color when you have ALL of those multi-colors to choose from. I think people love us so much that they wanted us to have a happy Vappu. Thanks people, whoever you are! Hopefully we get to re-pay you back.





Donuts were finished and Alex and I took them to my friends' Riikka's and Terhi's house. I left a few for Alex. I didn't have any. Willpower people! Willpower!

On Saturday to celebrate Vappu, I took Alex shopping for some new shirts for the cruise that's coming up in a week or so. Had lunch at a Mexican restaurant called "El Mexiquense" in American Fork. I remember Jorge telling us when he was living with us how much he missed Tacos Al Pastor, so when I read about this restaurant that they serve authentic Tacos Al Pastor, I decided that we would go there for lunch. And it didn't disappoint. They were SO good! Then went to a movie and saw a really bad movie called "Date Night". I sat there totally embarrassed. Luckily we have trained Alex to cover his eyes when there are some questionable scenes in the movie. I think he sat there with hands on his eyes for the last 10 minutes of the movie. Should have walked out. Elle called while we were at the movies and she was looking to hang out with us or mainly Alex. I wasn't sure what our plans would be later that night so she decided to hang out with her dad instead. Rod and Whitney were on a business trip to Kansas. Later we decided to go to Chef's Table for nice Vappu dinner, and Alex texted Elle that she was missing out. Bummer she couldn't come with us. The dinner was incredible, as always.

On Sunday morning, we woke up after a night of heavy rain and when I looked out the window, we saw that we got more love from somebody, or is it hate at this point? This time it was a soggy mess of TOILET PAPER. I couldn't consider it anymore to be serpentine because Vappu was over. I'm considering asking the person who did this that she/he would come to my house to do chores because I had to clean up their mess. I'm going to catch them, one way or another.

101 Birthday Girl

We have a beautiful neighbor, Bea, who just turned 101 yesterday. I get to visit her once a month and catch up with all of her news. She is the most wonderful lady who is sharp as a tack, remembers everything, does everything and goes everywhere and if she can't sleep at night she gets up and does leg exercises at the bannister. She is a true inspiration for so many people in our neighborhood.

Last night I went over with some Finnish chocolates and a card for a 1-year old. She is, after all, starting life all over again from age 1. Her two sisters, Thelma and LeVon (you thought I was going to say Louise, weren't you) were there and we had a great visit with all three of them. I have met the sisters many times before and we always have a fun visit with us swapping stories of what we have read recently. Mind you, the sisters are in their late 80s and early 90s, and are beautiful and sharp as can be.


Beatrice, the birthday girl

Bea, LeVon (blue shirt) and Thelma