Sunday, July 10, 2011
Summer Finally begins!
May 20-22, 2011
Making Popsicles
We were able to make the first popsicles of the summer season! Bella sure did like the results although she was a little disappointed that she couldn't eat them right away!
Communal Gardening
This was also the weekend when the communal garden for our 6 houses was taken care of. There were big plans...replace the fence in the parking area, paint the fence, paint the tool shed, remove all the rocks from the rock garden near the mailboxes and replace it with plants...lots and lots...Bella had tons of fun and was surprisingly helpful for the most part- she even tried her hand at painting the tool shed...we'll have to throw those clothes away now, but she enjoyed it!
Victoria Day was celebrated at the zoo. Surprisingly the Helsinki zoo, Korkeasaari, has bbqs that can be used by the general public. I have a feeling that they are a little mean since it is right near the bears! What a tease! The Finnish-Canadian Society had its second Victoria Day celebration. Another fun event for kids. We were able to look around the zoos...
Making Popsicles
We were able to make the first popsicles of the summer season! Bella sure did like the results although she was a little disappointed that she couldn't eat them right away!
Communal Gardening
This was also the weekend when the communal garden for our 6 houses was taken care of. There were big plans...replace the fence in the parking area, paint the fence, paint the tool shed, remove all the rocks from the rock garden near the mailboxes and replace it with plants...lots and lots...Bella had tons of fun and was surprisingly helpful for the most part- she even tried her hand at painting the tool shed...we'll have to throw those clothes away now, but she enjoyed it!
Victoria Day was celebrated at the zoo. Surprisingly the Helsinki zoo, Korkeasaari, has bbqs that can be used by the general public. I have a feeling that they are a little mean since it is right near the bears! What a tease! The Finnish-Canadian Society had its second Victoria Day celebration. Another fun event for kids. We were able to look around the zoos...
Great-Grandma Sirkku's Funeral
May 7th, 2011
Unfortunately Taneli's Grandma never recovered from her last trip to the hospital. It was very sad. So we went up to Kuopio...which we had been planning to do anyway this weekend. The funerals here are a little different than what I have seen in Canada. Here each close family member lays a bouquet of flowers on the coffin in the chapel and says a few words to represent the family. This funeral was even a little more different since we had to drive behind the hearse for 300km in order to take her to the final resting place that she wanted. This was the small town that she was from and she is there near her parents. Another different aspect of this burial was that it was the guests that put the dirt on the coffin. It was up to male members of those in attendance to do the work. Jaana said that this is rather unusual although it is more common in certain areas- this being one of them of course. She said the purpose of this a process of catharsis for the community...I think that they are onto something. At the end, they covered the mound of soil with evergreen branches.
Unfortunately Taneli's Grandma never recovered from her last trip to the hospital. It was very sad. So we went up to Kuopio...which we had been planning to do anyway this weekend. The funerals here are a little different than what I have seen in Canada. Here each close family member lays a bouquet of flowers on the coffin in the chapel and says a few words to represent the family. This funeral was even a little more different since we had to drive behind the hearse for 300km in order to take her to the final resting place that she wanted. This was the small town that she was from and she is there near her parents. Another different aspect of this burial was that it was the guests that put the dirt on the coffin. It was up to male members of those in attendance to do the work. Jaana said that this is rather unusual although it is more common in certain areas- this being one of them of course. She said the purpose of this a process of catharsis for the community...I think that they are onto something. At the end, they covered the mound of soil with evergreen branches.
The End of April and the First of May- Vappu
So many things in such a short time...Bella went to the dentist- check out the cool shades they gave her. Auntie Liz and Alison came to visit us. Prince William got married...so many things! She even got a Vappu balloon!
Easter and Visiting the Willow Farm
April 22-24, 2011
Before the easter weekend Bella and I found a willow farm not too far from our house. It was great and had lots of interesting things to see. They had a lovely cafe where they sold cute shabby chic housewares and Bella enjoyed another yummy pulla.
We were also able to have two Easter egg hunts this year...just like last year. Luckily Easter was a little later and the snow had pretty much all gone. For the egg hunt at our house we invited Natu and Nea over to our house. They had tons of fun...but then again, who wouldn't have fund roaming around the garden looking for chocolate!
The other Easter event we went to was the Finnish-Canadian Society's annual Easter Egg Hunt. Bella got all dressed up in her pretty yellow and blue dress. Very Easter-y! There were lots of kids there, which was great. Luckily the Ambassador has a small child so it makes it easier to arrange events like this.
Before the easter weekend Bella and I found a willow farm not too far from our house. It was great and had lots of interesting things to see. They had a lovely cafe where they sold cute shabby chic housewares and Bella enjoyed another yummy pulla.
We were also able to have two Easter egg hunts this year...just like last year. Luckily Easter was a little later and the snow had pretty much all gone. For the egg hunt at our house we invited Natu and Nea over to our house. They had tons of fun...but then again, who wouldn't have fund roaming around the garden looking for chocolate!
The other Easter event we went to was the Finnish-Canadian Society's annual Easter Egg Hunt. Bella got all dressed up in her pretty yellow and blue dress. Very Easter-y! There were lots of kids there, which was great. Luckily the Ambassador has a small child so it makes it easier to arrange events like this.
Another trip to England
April 16-18, 2011
Bella and I spent another weekend in England. We went over to Heather's house to visit with her and her kids Noah and Isabella! She sure did have fun with them. As you can see, she also had fun stealing Grandma's chair and glasses. Grandma also took Bella to Uncle Stephen's house to see his chickens...and as you can see, they had chicks too!
Bella and I spent another weekend in England. We went over to Heather's house to visit with her and her kids Noah and Isabella! She sure did have fun with them. As you can see, she also had fun stealing Grandma's chair and glasses. Grandma also took Bella to Uncle Stephen's house to see his chickens...and as you can see, they had chicks too!
Urgent Trip to Kuopio- sad news
April 10, 2011
Bella and Taneli had to go to Kuopio quickly because Taneli's grandma was in hospital. She was not doing well at all. All her cousins were there as well. So she was able to hang out with them a little.
Bella and Taneli had to go to Kuopio quickly because Taneli's grandma was in hospital. She was not doing well at all. All her cousins were there as well. So she was able to hang out with them a little.
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