Searching for our next rental.

So often I think of something I should write in here - thinking of this as a diary for the kids that eventually they will love to read! We've been pondering where our next home is. I really stressed out the first few weeks after we found that that for sure we'll have to move from here. And then I've settled down for the most part. Or well, to be honest, it depends on the day and moment how I'm faring. I'm not worried about the physical part of the move (well, not much anyway!), but that the kids have to again say goodbye to a home and school, and adjust to a new home, school, surroundings. To me it is just so sad. Seems unfair. But then I have to switch my thoughts when I get to feeling like this. I have to remember that God paves our path before us as we travel through our lives. He will guide us to where we will be living in August, and there is a reason why we can't just move back to home in Minnesota yet. Our minds want to fight this, but I realize as we go along looking for a place to live 'next', that I have to totally trust in God's plan.

It's a bummer that the kids will have to switch schools when for the most part they've found their spots in this school. For the most part. We are really hoping that we would find a home in Vantaa, so the kids can go to the International School of Vantaa. It's an 'English school'. Maybe would make the transition easier, since talking Finn has been such an obstacle for most of the kids.

On another note: Our eldest child turned 10 today, and our youngest turned 3! Kind of special that they share a birthday. Reflecting: Of course I can remember the day N was born. Entering foreign territory, going into deliver him (induced delivery.) And life has never been the same! And I would not go back to life before he was part of our family. I did not realize when the dr. and nurse commented just after birth (he gave a bit of obligatory crying, then started to check out the lights and such in the room) how alert he was, that he was abnormally alert. Usually a baby is just looking to be comforted. N was truly looking around. He was a delightful baby. Did not want to sleep much (we now know that sensory integration issues were keeping him hopping!), was quite spitty ... well really spitty, throw-upy, runny-poopy, until we started him on lactose-free formula. That and Zantac for acid reflux for a while. But this little boy was so sharp (I mean, exceptionally so) that I remember when I tried to put the Zantac into his bottle one time and he saw .. and refused to take the bottle. Once he saw I started with a new bottle and got a fresh drink in there, he took it right away! N has always been inquisitive, very smart, thoughtful and sensitive, and really fun. There have actually been a few people who have told me they get great entertainment just watching him in motion. These ones also have wondered ... what will he be when he grows up - he has great potential! We are so lucky to have him in our family and as our oldest child! Fast-forward to today: he is not in constant motion like he was as a little boy, but sure has energy. He loves sports - every kind. And has a natural talent in almost any sport or active play he tries. He's great in math, does his homework without me asking him to, gets himself to school on time (whoa! is something starting to go the right direction here?) He has a bit of temper and I have to remind him all the time to be careful because he has tremendous strength for his age. His foot size is just a tad smaller than mine - he is going to be a big guy. And I don't tell him often enough how much I love him. I hope he knows anyway.

And then our darling 3-year-old. Amazing how time has gone. Amazing that our baby is three already! He is also quite the go-getter. He's fun, outgoing, has (until quite recently) been very pleasant and agreeable. He is the apple of everyone's eye in the family. I remember when he was born and was healthy (after 3 babies not wanting to breathe after birth), and he cried and cried so hard - and the dr. said after a couple minutes that they would typically be attempting to soothe the little guy and quiet him down, but he knows how the crying is such music to our ears, they will let him cry for a bit. Another one with a sensitive tummy (I'm just realizing that not only is he lactose intolerant, but seems to be intolerant to milk protein, as well.) He's a busy, inquisitive, bright kid, too. He's learned the art of charm: 'Please, Mommy?', when he really wants me to do something or give him something. And for sure, it's hard to say no! And speaking of ... he just came with a stack of books and asked me to 'please' read ALL of these books. Who can say no to that?! We don't have to look at the messy house if we have our noses in a book, right?! :-)

MUD Season

The kids are in their glory. I am, too. And on the other hand, I'm not. The temps have been in the 40's and 50's ... and the snow is quite quickly disappearing. That means water rushing thru ditches and culverts. That means walks and bike rides. That means playing in mud puddles, and ... driving the 4-wheeler thru the mud. Oh glorious activities for the kids! I like getting outside, too. We've been walking to the school to get D, and to meet the others too, sometimes. I also just love to see how content they are to be playing out in this 'pleasant' weather. And I know it's so healthy for them! But ..... I have a huge battle with the mud coming in the house. It's nearly driving me insane.

The mud season means the laundry pile quadruples. It means the dirt on the floors quadruples. It means the walls and cupboard doors even get mud streaked. The kids have the handy-dandy Finnish made mud clothes. Mud pants, mud boots, mud jackets ... even mud mittens. But that mud comes in the house on these 'mud clothes', and even tho the kids ALMOST always get their outer clothes off in the entry or in the laundry room, the mud and water has made its way onto their pants and socks anyway. And since the mud mittens are mostly for 'little kids', their hands are filthy. And since it's so fun to SPLASH in the mud puddles, and it's so fun to SPIN thru the mud on the 4-wheeler, the mud comes in on the shirts (because the jackets came off after they got dirty!), and on their hands and arms, their faces and hair. Oh, they so enjoy it! And oh, I'm really fighting it! I try not to grouch about the extra work it's making, except when they (older ones, especially) make some mud mess that could have been prevented (and should have been) ... such as 'forgetting' to take muddy boots off as they just quickly come in to show me something, or whatever.

Still no idea as far as where we'll be moving. I wish we could just stay here. But ... I guess it's not an option. It's a struggle for me.

K got her new glasses today, finally! It's only 6 months ago that I first mentioned at the children's clinic that it is time for her to have an eye dr. appt., and that she does need new glasses. The process is so long with socialized medicine. I suppose I could have brought her to a private pay eye dr. (which I will do for myself rather than stand in lines - hopefully will get in sooner) ... but since we pay for this (partial) coverage anyway thru hefty taxes, it just doesn't make sense to do everything via the private pay system (like I'm doing with dental work at this point.) Well, next time eye dr. won't be this long wait, because they'll automatically make her next appt. for 6 months or whatever it was. Anyway - the glasses look great on her!

Happy Easter!

We're enjoying our long weekend! It's so obviously good for our kids when they have some extra days off from school. I guess it's still quite stressful to do school in Finnish, tho' over the course of the school year obviously it's gotten so much easier.

Friday we went to Good Friday services, then went to Savolainen's to visit (good friends.) It sure was fun to visit! Saturday was busy as we prepared for two 'days of rest' to follow (Sunday and Easter Monday.) I was so proud of the kids yesterday - when they realized the Easter baskets are in storage in America, they decided to set out bowls on the table and put name slips in them. And they took out the smallest bowls in the house (probably 1 1/2 cup capacity at the most.) They do not expect large quantities ... the bunny had to actually put their treats in a plastic bag and then into the bowl because it was too big for the bowl! :-) Not tons of candy, but they did each get a long matchbox vehicle as well as a chocolate egg with a plastic egg inside which holds some cheapy little toy. Like the prizes from in the crakerjacks boxes way back when ... A few jelly beans in there, too - and they were all happy! The oldest 2 are finally starting to wonder if there's really an Easter Bunny, or could it be Mom ... :-) Next year they can help the E.B. fill and hide!

We have no clue what is next as far as rental home. I guess that's almost 4 months down the road - what's meant for us will be shown. In the mean time, the school psychologist had a visit with the kids (boys don't talk Finn, T harbors some anger ... maybe part of his anxiety he deals with anyway ... ) and she said they had a lively discussion (in English.) She got the feeling that the bottom line is that the boys feel they are Americans and English is their language, and they don't think it's necessary to talk Finn. Only N's teacher seems to think this is a really big issue. With T I'm more concerned with the anxiety/anger - but he obviously opened up with her. Yay!!! I think she was a perfect match for our kids. Hopefully she'll have time to see them again a time or two before school\s out. This is one thing that makes it a bummer if we end up moving out of the area - new school means standing in the waiting line again for the new school's psychologist to see the kids, if there seems to be a need. Well - on the other hand, N's teacher will/would be his and T's teacher next year, and maybe it would be for the better if they are not in her class since she has such a hard time dealing with them not talking. Trying to find something positive in the possibility of a move ahead.

We have some first-hand experiences with how socialized medicine is not the greatest ... the bottom line: it is not free, and there is sure line-waiting! America was not meant to be the place of socialized medicine - not the place where government has that type of reign over the people. Yes, our healthcare system there needs improvements (who said some time ago that lawsuits will eventually ruin our contry? ... is this the root of the problems in the healthcare system there?) - I strongly feel tho' that socialized medicine is not the answer.

Now I'd better get the ham in the oven. Hope it's as good as a good ol' American smoked ham!

In his 4-year-old mind ...

L said a couple of really cute things today, but right now I can only remember one of them. He told me that fall is his favorite season because then the leaves fall off the trees. And his next favorite is .... ummm ... he couldn't remember what it was called, but the one 'when the leaves run up on the trees again'! :-)

We just found out a couple days ago that we will not be able to rent this house once our lease is up near the end of July. They will either come back and live in it, or else will sell it, but won't be available as a rental. My heart just aches for our kids as I think of another move. But they know that 'our home' is in America - thankfully we still have our home there. If only we can find some place so they won't have to switch schools again. Let's see.

We noticed today that the snow is actually melting. We have had so big heaps and piles of it that tho' the sun has been shining brightly and it's been above freezing many days in a row (so I knew it's melting), we haven't seen signs until today of the melting. But today someone noticed a patch of bare ground in one area near the house ... yay!!

Busy kids

The kids have been so busy lately. Some of the things they've been up to: One day the older 3 boys were scientist/chemists and were busy in their lab coats (bathrobes) making concoctions in their lab (laundry room.) It's so fun to see how they go about ... they were each creating something. They were talking about making something 'explosive', something that could blow a hole in a snowbank. I wasn't worried they'd create something dangerous as they were using laundry soap, fabric softener, a few spices (salt, pepper, maybe some baking powder.) Their imaginations are so great!

Another day it was painting. They had one set of watercolor paints (a quite large set), and each had a brush. And did they paint! The boys were then setting up an area in D's room to sort out the pictures and labeled each one 'Fart Art', and thought maybe I would come and buy some. They assured me I will not need real money - if I don't want to use my real money. :-)

Girls have paper dolls, and that was their main focus for a couple days. Coloring and cutting outfits. They draw and write lots. And their room shows it - it's typically much messier than the boys rooms. The boys tend to read in their rooms and their play is not in there.

As I was cleaning on Thursday, T got inspired to really help. So the living room got all cleaned and rearranged. And he did most of it. The nice thing is that everyone is (for now) interested in keeping it clean! :-) So as we got each room swept and tidied, the loft (which T says is the upstairs, and I should not call it the loft ... not sure why that bothers him) has now become the 'office'. I think it's either a construction business or realty office. Depends on which child is describing it. Anyway, that's keeping them busy, creative, happy. Well, unless they are fighting over some detail - at that point they aren't so happy, but they generally figure out their issues themselves and move along with their playing.

We still have heaps of snow, but the last few days have been above freezing, so it must be melting a bit. Don't notice it yet, tho'. Anyway, it's a bit wet for doing much outside. Too sloppy for skiing, sledding, skating. So they are playing in more - but it's kind of fun to see what they come up with.

We\re once again talking about planning that trip to America for me and the older boys. Maybe I'll get some garage sale time in there. :-) That'd be wonderful! There's some chance we'll be there for 'camping', or part of it at least. Let's see.

I heard L tell C yesterday that if he spins too much on the swing he'll throw up, then said, "That means your poop will come in your pants. It means the same thing if you have diarrhea." :-) Haha - so funny how they interpret things!

A fun weekend for the memory bank!

We left Friday 'up north' to visit Mummo and Ukki ... and Kaija. Kids skated all day Saturday (Timo was also staying with Kaija for a few days.) Left Sat. eve and at the half-way-home point we stopped to stay with a family who are good friends and we haven't seen for 4 years or so! The dads brought our oldest 5 and a couple of their kids skiing for 6 hours today (they have a ski place so close to their house, you can see the skiers coming down the biggest slopes from their house!) Then some sledding after supper, just to be sure no time was wasted in the outdoor-fun department! Our kids sure do not lack in the energy department! :-) All kids were happily tired (well, not so happy as we packed in the car - by then they were so tired, they had to do a little squalling over who sits where, but ... then they slept - and when we got home, they crawled straight to bed!) No camera along, so it's one weekend for the memory bank! :-)

Just curious ...

... who will be the first to read this, and when it'll be .... this is now an official prize-winning entry. be the first to reply and you'll get a candybar in the mail! i'm just curious .... :-)