{heidi swapp in edmonton}

Here are some of my pictures from "Edmonton All Day with Heidi Swapp".

My big House of 3 bag that had all the goodies in it.
Heidi telling us the story behind the Energy Journal idea.
We all signed this booklet for Heidi.
Our conference room. I was sitting right behind these ladies in the front.
I took a lot of pictures before I realized my flash was turned off. Pay attention, sansku, pay attention... :)

Something about this old chandelier made me take a picture of it. :)

A quick peak for you of some of the projects Heidi brought with her.

Heidi's Home Album. Just few of the pages.

Check the House of 3 web site if you're interested in buying any of these kind of kits. There's lots of awesome stuff there. Digital stuff so people who don't have a scrapbooking store where they live can just print out stuff and still scrapbook. They are very handy for those of us also who have a scrapbooking store nearby. Just another fun way to scrapbook.

I fell in love with this black plastic (I know, I still liked it) bling bling heart. :) It was so big and bulky.

A layout she had made using the same inking technique we practiced that day. Heidi has five cute, cute kids.

Loved this heart she had made with ink and rubberstamps.

There you have it. Just a peak. :)

I'm sure this won't be the only scrapbooking event I'll go to. I'm hooked. :)

*heidi swapp
*house of three

(spiritual stuff included in this posting but it's about scrapbooking too :)}

I can't sleep for the life of me. I think it's because my nose is totally stuffed up. Or maybe because I'm still wired from the Heidi Swapp event today. My very first scrapbooking seminar! Yesterday I thought I wouldn't be able to go. I couldn't even move, I was so sick. I had literally zero energy. Couldn't even shower. I was crying as I was so disappointed about the thought of not being able to go to this event. I had hoped Jay could have given me a priesthood blessing (worthy men in our church hold the priesthood and they can give blessings to sick people or if they are in some other need) but Jay has been so busy with work, working late every night. I was desperate yesterday so I called the elders (male missionaries) to come and give me a blessing. Just so you know - not every time you get a blessing when you're sick you get healed. You have to listen carefully to the words if they even promise you healing. Most of the time the blessing promises you comfort to endure and you feel emotionally & spiritually strengthened during your illness/trial. There is a reason why we need to be sick in this life. It would frustrate God's plan for us if we were healed every time. I have only been healed once before even though I've had many blessings while sick. I was praying hard that Heavenly Father would allow me to get well enough to attend this special occasion. When the elder said "comfort AND healing" in the blessing and that I would be able to do all the things I need to do, I knew I'd be able to go. Prior to the blessing, I was freezing even though it was +24C. I had a long sleeved shirt on and everything. Right after the blessing, I got really hot and knew that my fever was gone. All of a sudden I had energy. It was like night and day. So now I can say I have been healed twice while sick. Well, this time partially. I still have a stuffed up nose and a bit of a cough. But no fever and I have energy. What I needed.

You readers don't need to believe this or anything. I mainly wrote this down for myself. I always want to remember how I felt Heavenly Father's love for me and how I was able to attend this event only because of Him.
I don't have my own pictures uploaded yet so I got these pictures from Heidi's blog. These are all the products we received. Lots & lots. All in a cute shiny silver House of 3 bag. We made an "energy journal" and also five layouts using distress ink. I still have to finish my projects before I can show you pictures. I did the main things but left the decorating part to do at home when I can think better how I want to decorate everything. The last picture in this posting shows a peak of the layouts done with ink. Mine won't look that good so you might as well just look at those ones. :) Inking isn't my forte by any means.

Special part for me was when I sat down for lunch with Karly, Talia & Kim (who were helping Heidi with the seminar) and Heidi and her friend sat down with us as well. She told us about some of her personal experiences and it was really touching. I felt special to be able to share in that experience.

Jay & Sienna & Robin spent the day getting training wheels for Sienna's new bike. And a helmet and I guess she wanted knee pads too. :) They also bought a kite and went to fly it. Sienna's a bit sick still too. Hope we'll both be 100% soon so we can start enjoying summer again.

Still wide awake. What am I going to do to get to sleep?

If you haven't checked out Heidi's blog yet then please do. I must say that her projects look even better in real life. She brought some of them for us to see and they were gorgeous. She's THE bling bling girl. :) Even her beautiful flip flops were bling bling. :)

*heidi swapp

*house of three

{muutama kuva}

Sienna wanted to paint again. I love the smiley face with dots. I taught her how to make dots with the end of the paintbrush.

I made this butterfly garland a while back and I'm still trying to decide if I like it or not.
Taulu on Edmontonin temppeli. Lahja Jayn vanhemmilta. En tykkaa kun se on talvikuva. Ankea. Vaarat varitkin meidan kotiin. Pitaa jossain vaiheessa vaihtaa parempaan kuvaan josta itse tykkaisin enemman.

Olkkarin ikkunoista on ihana nakyma etupihan puihin. Ne suojaa myos auringon porotukselta.

For the second year in a row, no pink flowers in our tree. Does anyone know why? I miss the gorgeous pink flowers.

Tuoksu on huumaava.

Some of our flowers have opened up.

***

Aivan karsee olo tanaan. Nyt vuotaa nenakin ja energiaa on nolla. Hyva kun jaksoin pitaa kuppia kadessa tai kavella edes. Kuljen kuin kilpikonna h i t a a s t i. Voi etta on kurjaa olla kipea. Kunnon plaah fiiliskin menossa. Kun sais vaan kapertya peiton alle... Vali vali. :) Hyva muistutus teille jotka ootte terveita arvostaa energiaanne. :)

{please oh please}

image via martha stewart website

cutest cupcakes contest

modecokids (dot) com
***
I'm sick. I'm tired. I'm achey breaky. I'm worried that I won't be well by Saturday - Heidi Swapp scrapbooking event here in Edmonton and I'm registered (!!!). Please, oh please, let me be well by then!
Sienna's been so good today playing by herself. I honestly have had no energy to do much with her. Well, you still have to "do stuff": find baby clothes for her doll, make lunch, read books, get this, get that, help with this, help with that, I even learned how to play "balloon soccer" while laying on the couch :).... I'm counting seconds when Jay gets home and I can crash. Such is life at times. To top it all, my hips are killing me today. I can barely move. I was in a car accident when I was little (a car hit me and I flew in the air & landed hard, I couldn't walk for hours) and my hips have always been kind of wacky. One of these days they'll have to give me a hip replacement.
Sorry about complaining. I just feel like "it was yesterday" when I was sick for six weeks. Atleast you have pretty pictures to look at. :)

Jay's been working long hours. First he goes to boot camp in downtown at six in the morning. Comes home, showers, eats, works in scortching sun all day (if he's lucky it's not too hot or it doesn't rain either), comes home, showers, plays with Sienna/puts her to bed, eats, goes back to work. He gets home again at around 9.30pm. Just on time to go to bed. I don't know how he does it. My Superhero.

{kirjoja joista tykkaan}

I'm sick today (luulisi etta kuusi viikkoa sairastelua tammikuussa olisi ollut tarpeeksi, mutta ei... :( fibromyalgia aiheuttaa myos alhaisen immuniteetin. :( ) and a bit bored so I thought I'd share four books that I really like.

www.jenndocherty.com
I bought this book because of this idea. I love the big flower. Some of you may regonize that I made cards using this idea. I haven't had time to think about felting but I used scrapbook paper to make cute, big flower cards. One of these days I'll make this too. I hope. :) Because I love art but haven't had a chance to go to art school, I love books that show art techniques. This book is awesome. I thought you could use some of these techniques to make fun scrapbook layouts too.

www.coreymoortgat.blogspot.com

I love how she paints pictures. So cool.



Claudine Hellmuth is awesome too because she shares art techniques. These are two of her books.

www.claudinehellmuth.com.

Love this white haired little girl one!

Voi etta tykkaan kirjoista! Koko maailma aukeaa kun lukee kirjoja.

So many great ideas. So little time. Ehka mun pitaisi blogata vahemman niin saisin jopa kaikkea muuta aikaiseksi. :) No, jossain vaiheessa Sienna ei vie kaikkea aikaani (koulu/harrastukset) ja sitten mun on PAKKO alkaa toteuttamaan mun taideunelmia.

{another version of the personal history questions}

judd house in australia

via www.dwell.com

***

This is the version I was looking for so I'll put this one in here as well. My blog = my filing system. :)

***

Ingredients
Life was not meant to be bottled up forever. This jar is jam-packed with 160 delicious and interesting questions to inspire you to celebrate something very important...YOU!
Recipe
Combine a generous slice of your life history with a dash of nostalgia and several cups of facts and feelings. Fold in several sheets of photographs.
If you will follow this simple recipe, you will find that by this time next year, you will have one very delicious, personal history finished. All you need to do is draw out one slip of paper daily or weekly...On it you will find a question. Spend a few minutes or just enjoy remembering. Then mount the question at the top of a blank page and begin to write and mount photos or other memorabilia and answer the question. Don't worry about the spelling, handwriting, etc. Just tell YOUR story! This product was prepared to preserve your life as a message. Enjoy the scrumptious, homemade memories.

***
· What lessons did you take as a child? Did any carry over into adulthood?
· Describe your first job.
· What is the most wonderful thing that ever happened to you?
· What was the worst thing that ever happened to you?
· Did you have a close relationship with any of your grandparents? Tell about it.
· What were your father's best traits? His worst? What traits do you share?
· Describe your Sundays as a child.
· Tell about your favorite Aunt or Uncle
· What is your advice for good health?
· How many brothers and sisters do you have? Tell about each of them.
· Tell about a practical joke that was played on you or that you played on someone else.
· What did you do when you were a child that got you in the most trouble and how did your parents handle it?
· What are some of the superstitions that you remember growing up with?
· Describe your parent's courtship and wedding as best you can.
· What is the most important lesson, message, or advice that you have learned that you might pass on to others?
· What convinced you most in your choice of a spouse?
· Tell something about each of your children, their personalities, their talents, and the traits that make them each special and unique.
· Write a want ad that describes your spouse.
· Tell about a frustrating experience you have had with a car.
· Did it snow where you lived as a child? What kinds of things did you do when it snowed?
· Describe a typical day during your high school years.
· What are your favorite colors, flowers, food, activities and hobbies?
· Tell about a special date you had with a girl/boyfriend.
· What things do you enjoy today that you enjoyed doing as a child?Describe them then and now.
· How did you like being the oldest, youngest or middle child? What were the advantages and disadvantages?
· Do you have a favorite author - who? why?
· Describe a trip downtown as a youngster.
· Tell about your favorite books as a child, youth, adult.
· What kinds of chores were you responsible for while you were growing up? Tell about them.
· What board games or card games did you play while growing up? Who did you play with?
· Did you ever go bowling? Tell about it.
· What were swimming suits like when you were young?
· Tell about an experience with one of your children's teachers.
· Were you ever lost as a child? Tell about it.
· Did you ever break a bone or have stitches? Tell about it.
· What were you afraid of as a child? Why? Did this fear follow you into adulthood?
· Tell about a time in your life when you were surprised. Tell about a time that you surprised someone.
· Tell about sibling rivalry within your family.
· Describe your room as a child. Did you have your own room or have to share it with a sibling? Tell some experiences.
· Do you remember your family getting a new piece of furniture, a new car or something similar when you were a child?
· Tell about what you did while visiting your grandparents or aunt and uncle.
· Did you ever roller skate, ice skate, ski, or something similar?
· Did you share any special interest with your mother or father?
· Did you walk to school or ride a bus?
· Where did you live while growing up? (city, state, country)
· What was one of your favorite treats as a child?
· Did your grandmother make any special desserts or food that you enjoyed?
· Tell about a time that you helped someone in time of need.
· Tell about a time that someone helped you in time of need.
· Tell about your first car.
· Have you ever picked up a hitchhiker? Or been one?
· Tell about your first serious boy/girlfriend.
· What form of transportation did you have while growing up?
· Tell about a party that you hosted at your house or your parent's house.
· Tell about a disastrous experience.
· Did you ever save money for a big purchase?
· Did you go to college or have vocational training - where or when?
· What do you think about movies - what is your favorite movie and why?
· Who was your best friend while you were growing up? Do you still associate with them?
· What did your parents do for work while you were growing up?
· What is your favorite book?
· Tell about an experience you had with your friends while growing up.
· Tell about the most trying experience you have ever had.
· Tell about going to a high school dance.
· Describe the places where you hung out with your friends as a teenager.Tell about a person in school who was mean or snobby.
· Tell about a double date.
· What games did you play in your neighborhood?
· Tell about some of your family traditions - Christmas, birthdays, Graduation, 4th of July, Halloween, Thanksgiving, hunting, funerals, weddings, Mothers and Fathers Day.
· Do you remember any outstanding family trips or vacations?
· Tell about where you were and what you remember at the time of a historic event in your lifetime.
· Did you have a bicycle? What was it like?
· Describe a childhood birthday.
· Describe a childhood Christmas.
· Describe a typical school day as a child in elementary school.
· What education did you receive other than at school?
· What was your favorite place to go with your family when you were young?
· Tell about retirement. When, where and what will you do (or are you doing) with your time?
· Write one sentence that tells "how to live successfully".
· Would you choose differently if you could choose occupations again? Why? Any advice?
· What was your most embarrassing moment?
· Describe the most serious illness or accident you have had.
· Describe your first home as a young couple.
· Describe your wedding day.
· Did you have a job as a child? (paper route, lawn mowing, babysitting, etc.)
· What were some of your favorite playground activities?
· What fragrance would you say takes you back in time and what does it remind you of?
· Where did you go to meet new people when you were in your youth?
· Tell about your temperament as a child - has it changed?
· Did you ever set anything on fire or know someone who did?
· Did you ever get a spanking? Grounded? Tell about what you did and the punishment.
· Tell about a star gazing experience.
· Have you ever spent any time out of the USA?
· Describe how the ways of doing household chores was different when you were growing up than it is today.
· Did you ever have a favorite scary story while you were growing up? What was it about?
· Did you ever have a graveyard or a haunted house experience?
· Did you ever keep a secret about someone? Are you still keeping it today? Tell about it if you can!
· Tell about going to the County Fair or the amusement park when you were a child.
· Describe getting a Christmas tree with your family as a child. Tell when and how it was decorated.
· Tell about "hand-me-downs" you received or gave.
· Tell about the "Tooth Fairy" and other personages you remember.
· Tell about learning a skill from either of your parents, cooking, sewing, cleaning, fixing things, etc.
· Describe what you think it is like to live with you.
· Describe one of your favorite outfits of all time...a dress, shoes, shirt, hat.
· How did you feel about school?
· Were you or do you remember anyone in your school class being punished by a teacher?
· List and tell about at least three good qualities about yourself.
· What do you feel has been the most significant event that has taken place in your lifetime and how has it affected you?
· Tell something you remember about your relationship with your grandfather.
· Tell something you remember about your relationship with your grandmother.
· Tell about the homes you lived in as a child. Do you remember any of the addresses or telephone numbers? Who lived next door?
· Tell about your involvement with a civic or political group.
· Did you grow up with music in your family?
· Tell about a bully in your neighborhood or at school.
· Name the most romantic song you can remember and tell why.
· Make a list of the things in your junk drawer and tell why you are keeping them.
· Tell about some of the most exciting experiences with scouting.
· List a few of the simple things in life that make you smile and tell why.
· Name the personality trait you most admire and tell why. Do you know many people with this trait?
· Do you remember your favorite childhood fantasy?
· Did your mother or grandmother sew, quilt, knit or crochet? Tell about things made.
· Describe a typical day in your life from what time you get up in the morning to bedtime.
· Tell about being a grandparent. Name your grandchildren.
· How did you feel when you first became a grandparent?
· Tell about how, when and where you learned to drive a car. Any accidents or tickets?
· Tell about a special anniversary.
· Did you have a childhood hideout? Where? Describe it. What kinds of things did you do there?
· Tell about religion practiced in your home.
· Tell of a time that you felt God was there to help you in your struggles.
· Tell about the experience or person you feel was the most influence in your life.
· Was there a special teacher in your life? (Not necessarily in a school environment).
· Tell about the changes in society in general you have seen in your lifetime.
· Tell about the changes in morality you have seen during your lifetime.
· Tell about fashion trends you have seen in your life, what you wore as a child, teen, and adult.
· Tell about a food that you hated as a child...do you like it now?
· If you could be an animal what would you be and why?
· Write about a "one on one" experience you had with your father.
· Write about a "one on one" experience you had with your mother.
· Tell a story your mother told you from her past.
· Were you ever in a drama or speech class, on a sports team, or in a club?
· What is one of the most exciting places you have ever visited? What made it so exciting?
· Tell about a camping or fishing experience.

(This version from here: http://www.dennydavis.net/poemfiles/jrnljar.htm)

{personal history jar questions}

I did this in Finnish already but here's the English version. If you want to get started on your personal history, here are some questions that can get you started. If you do a Google search for "personal history jar questions" you'll find different versions of this same thing. The idea is to cut these questions in strips, roll them up and put them in a jar (you might want to keep the same topic questions together). Then you pick a question and answer it when you have a moment to write. If you make this as a gift to someone (parents, grandparents...) then just add some candy in the jar and decorate the jar nicely. If that person is not computer savy then include a large journal book with the gift.

***

What is your full name and why were you named it?
Were you named after somebody else?
Did you have a nickname as you were growing up?
If you did, what was it and why did they call you that?
Have you had other nicknames as an adult?
What do family members call you now?
Where were you born and when?
Do you remember hearing your grandparents describe their lives? What did they say?
Do you remember your great-grandparents? What do you know about them?
Who was the oldest person you can remember in your family as a child? What do you remember about them?
Do you remember your family discussing world events and politics?
Was there a chore you really hated doing as a child?
What would you consider to be the most important inventions that have been made during your lifetime?
How is the world now different from what it was like when you were a child?
What kinds of books did you like to read?
Do you remember having a favorite nursery rhyme or bedtime story? What was it?
Do you ever remember not having enough food to eat because times were hard for your family?
What were your favorite toys and what were they like?
What were your favorite childhood games?
What were your schools like?
How did you get to school?
What was your favorite subject in school and why?
What subject in school was always the easiest for you?
What was your least favorite subject in school and why?
Who was your favorite teacher and why were they special?
What school activities and sports did you participate in?
Did you and your friends have a special hang-out where you liked to spend time? Where was it and what did you do there?
Were you ever given any special awards for your studies or school activities?
How many years of education have you completed?
Do you have a college degree? If so, what was your field of study?
Did you get good grades?
Did you like school?
What did you usually wear to school? Describe it.
Were there any fads during your youth that you remember vividly?
How old were you when you started dating?
Do you remember your first date? Describe the circumstances.
Name a good friend that you have known for the longest period of time? How many years have you been friends?
Has there ever been anyone in your life that you would consider to be your kindred spirit or soul mate? If so, who were they and why did you feel a special bond to them?
How did you meet the person that you would later marry? Describe him/her?
Do you remember where you went on the first date with your spouse?
How long did you know him/her before you got married?
Describe your wedding proposal.
When and where did you get married?
Describe your wedding ceremony. Who was there?
Did you have a honeymoon? If so, where did you go?
How would you describe your spouse? What do (did) you admire most about them?
How long have you been married (or were you married)?
What wise advice would you give to a grandchild on their wedding day?
How many children did you have all together?
What were their names, birth dates and birthplaces?
Do you remember anything that your children did when they were small that really amazed you?
What is one of the most unusual things that one of your children did regularly when they were small?
What was the funniest thing you can remember that one of your children said or did?
If you had it to do all over again, would you change the way you raised your family? How?
What did you find most difficult about raising children?
What did you find most rewarding about being a parent?
Did you spoil any of your children? How?
Were you a strict or lenient parent?
Did you find that you had to treat each of your children differently? If so, why?
How did you first hear that you were a grandparent and how did you feel about it?
What advice do you have for your children and grandchildren?
As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
What was your first job?
What kinds of jobs have you had?
How did you decide on your career?
Did you make enough money to live comfortably?
How long did you have to work each day at your job?
How old were you when you retired?
What were the hardest choices that you ever had to make? Do you feel like you made the right choices?
Who was the person that had the most positive influence on your life? Who were they and what did they do?
Is there a person that really changed the course of your life by something that they did? Who were they and what did they do?
Do you remember someone saying something to you that had a big impact on how you lived your life? What was it?
What wars have been fought during your lifetime? How did you feel about them?
If you served in the military, when and where did you serve and what were your duties?
If you served in the military, were you ever injured in the line of duty? What were the circumstances and what were your injuries?
What countryleader have you admired the most and why?
As you see it, what are the biggest problems that face your nation and how do you think they could be solved?
How tall are you?
What color was your hair as a young child and then as an adult?
What color are your eyes?
Where have you lived as an adult? List the places and the years that you lived there.
Why are you living where you are today?
Do you wish you lived somewhere else (If so, where would it be)?
Describe your general health.
What major illnesses or health problems do you remember having?
Do you have any health problems that are considered hereditary in nature? If so, what are they?
What do you do regularly for exercise?
Do you have any bad habits now or in the past? What were they?
Have you ever been the victim of a crime? What happened?
Have you ever been in a serious accident?
Has anyone ever saved your life? Describe.
Have you ever saved anyone else's life? Describe.
Have you ever been hospitalized? If so, what?
Have you ever had surgery? If so, what for?
If you could instantly change something about yourself, what would it be?
What do you usually dream about?
What church, if any, do you attend regularly?
Describe your religious beliefs.
Do you believe in an after life?
What was the most stressful experience that you ever lived through? What helped you get through it?
What is the scariest thing that has ever happened to you personally?
What kinds of musical instrument(s) have you learned to play?
Would you consider yourself creative?
What things have you made that others have enjoyed?
How would you describe your sense of humor?
What activities have you especially enjoyed as an adult?
What are your hobbies?
What did you like to do when you were not working?
What is the most amazing thing that has ever happened to you?
What is the most embarrassing thing that has ever happened to you?
Have you ever met any famous people? Describe what happened.
What organizations and groups have you belonged to?
Have you ever won any special awards or prizes as an adult? What were they for?
Describe a time and place when you remember feeling truly at peace and happy to be alive. Where were you and what were you doing?
What is the most beautiful place you have ever visited and what was it like?
What is the longest trip that you have ever gone on? Where did you go?
What has been your favorite vacation? Where did you go and why was it special?
What was the favorite place you ever visited and what was it like?
What pets have you had?
Do you have a favorite story about a pet? What is it?
Is there anything you have always wanted to do, but haven't?
What is your favorite style of music?
What is your favorite musical instrument?
Who is your favorite musical group?
What is your favorite song?
Who is your favorite singer?
Who is your favorite movie star?
What is your favorite movie?
Who is your favorite artist?
What is your favorite painting?
Who is your favorite poet?
What is your favorite poem?
What is your favorite TV program?
Who is your favorite author?
What is your favorite book?
What is your favorite season?
What is your favorite tree?
What is your favorite flower?
What is your favorite holiday?
What is your favorite color?
What is your favorite sport?
Who is your favorite athlete?
What is your favorite animal?
What is your favorite meal?
What is your favorite fruit?
What is your favorite vegetable?
What is your favorite candy?
What is your favorite cookie?
What is your favorite drink?
What is your favorite restaurant?
What is your favorite flavor of ice cream?
What is your favorite board game?
What is your favorite card game?

{couple of aha moments}

The other day, Sienna got really frustrated when she was trying to write her name on her drawing. Her N looked like M. She's somewhat of a perfectionist. She thinks she should be able to do things right away. No matter how much I tried to explain things for her, the tears kept coming. So the next day I got this idea. She loves to trace things using my lightbox. I printed her name many times on a sheet of paper, taped another paper on top of that. Turned on the light box and way she went. She was able to practice her name without getting all frustrated. She actually had fun. I taught her how to stop on the points in her letters and she was able to do the letters more sharply.

So there. Fun way for kids to practice writing. :)

ps. If you don't have a lightbox, just make your letters light gray in color and they can trace over that. (I can be quite smart at times :))

I do clean up my desk but few days afterwards, it always ends up looking like this.
Then I totally recommend this book to everyone. Creating Keepsakes' Family History Scrapbooking, author: Becky Higgins.
I get so inspired when I read/browse this book. I like her rule for family history scrapbooking: that it should be about the people and their stories, not about how well and fancy you can scrapbook. I want to keep my family history scrapbooking really simple too. This book really is worth purchasing. She shares lots of great tips and there are ton of layouts to inspire you and get you excited about family history.

Have you asked your parents how they met and have you recorded their story somehow? I like how Becky used both her mom's and dad's version of the story on her layout.

If you haven't been bitten by the family history bug yet, what are you waiting for? :) It is so fun to learn about your family and your ancestors. If you have kids, please make sure you share your life story with them.
Then to my second aha moment of the week... :)
Blogs are so family history! I keep a private, personal blog for our family memories. Sienna will be able to read about our every day lives and see all the pictures. I sure hope nothing ever happens to Blogspot or the Internet. Must remember to backup blogs too regularly. I'm also planning on printing out our family blog every so often.
I have wanted to start writing my personal history for so long now. I have felt somewhat overwhelmed by the largeness of the project. Where to start? How to do it? I realized that I love to blog (obviously). It's so fast and easy to type things here and add pictures too. I realized that I could make my personal history in a blog format. Keep it private so only those very few whom I want to see it will see it. Then when I have 15 minutes here and there, I can jot down stories as they pop into my head. I plan on scanning all my pictures too (there aren't that many, some of you might have too many to do that) and include them on the blog. This is great because I have glued many of my pictures in albums with a glue that contains acid and eventually those pictures will look terrible because of it (way back then I had no idea that glue eats pictures).
Then even more ahas hit me... :)
We have been waiting for a baby album for Jay "forever" now. His mom wanted to scrapbook everything for him but just doesn't have the time to do that. I was thinking that I could start a blog for her where she can atleast write the stories down. I thought that she could start with Jay and then go down in age order and do the same for the other siblings. I'm going to ask her if she'd be willing to do that. If not, maybe I can figure out a way to help her finish that HUGE scrapbook project she has started. I want Jay's baby album. :)
Start bugging your family about family memories. :) It doesn't matter how you decide to save those memories. Please just make sure you do. It's a good idea to start interviewing the oldest relatives first (grandparents for example).
I will continue to keep a blog for Sienna and that'll be my best gift for her. I'm sure it'll be the most precious to her as well. Even this blog might be of interest to Sienna one day. She'll be able to see what else her mommy was interested in than her. :)
Junk doesn't last. Memories do.

{kiva paiva so far}

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Mitka ihanuudet Sienna teki lounaan jalkeen.

Ihan ite. Miten tiesikin etta aitsy tykkaa taplataiteesta.

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I received this fun book and cards from Helen Dardik/Orange You Lucky. I won one of her giveaways. :)

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The book is totally different than what I thought. I thought it was a book you read. Well, you still read it but not like a novel. There are fun quotes about weight/dieting. There's also space where you can write down your weight and food you eat each day.
Mun pitaa aloittaa vahasokerinen dieetti kun aloitan sen fibromyalgia hoidon. Ehka tama auttaa mua tsemppaamaan sitten syomisissa. Syominen on mun heikkous.
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Went to a playground today with Sienna. From snow to a lovely, sunny day. That's Canada for ya. :)
My toes are so funny. I could climb trees with them. :D
Happy Friday everyone!
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{where would you live if...}

(images via google image search)
The gypsy in me is very active tonight. At the back of my mind lately has been the question where would I want to live. When Jay is finished with school, we're thinking of moving somewhere. It could be just to another house in Edmonton. But it could be somewhere totally different. Jay has dual citizenship as he was born in Utah, which means we could even move to the States.

I know - he hasn't even started school yet. :) Which means we won't move atleast for another three years. But those who know me know that I've always been a restless soul and I'm always up for change (we've moved 13 times since we've been married, some of the moves have been huge ones).

I am somewhat slowing down as I'd like to put roots down somewhere. Edmonton feels like home to me. But after this year's winter and spring I'm having second thoughts about staying here. A bit milder climate would be nice. I've been somewhat spoiled in Edmonton though. It doesn't rain much here. I don't know if I could handle lots of rain again.

Oregon has always been at the back of our minds as a possibility. But the rain...

I love Vancouver but it is so expensive there plus the rain thing again...

Calgary would only be an hour away from the Rocky Mountains but is Calgary too windy...

See what my mind has been up to lately? :)

Today I'm seriously thinking about Kelowna, British Columbia. BC is the next province west from us. Right on the west coast of Canada. Kelowna is about 400km inland from Vancouver, and pretty much at about the same level as Vancouver (which means much more south than us!). I've been to Kelowna. It's very pretty there. There are lakes and the Okanagan Lake is huge, over 100km long. It would almost feel like living by the ocean. But I don't think it rains lots in Kelowna. Winters are shorter and milder. Summers are hot. Check it out:

The climate in Kelowna is relatively mild throughout the year, although winters can be cold with snow falling between November and February. (Heavy snowfall in the nearby mountains makes for great wintertime skiing.) Average low temperatures in the winter are around -5°C to -10°C (in the upper teens to low 20s Fahrenheit), and average high temperatures in the winter hover near zero. (In Fahrenheit, they range in the low to upper 30s). Summers are quite hot; daytime highs are usually in the high 20's ( low 80s in Fahrenheit), with many days in the 30's (mid 90s), and some days almost reach 40°C (105°F). Average summer overnight lows are from 7°C to 12°C (mid 40s to low 50s).

Awesome skiing opportunities in the winter as it's right beside mountains. Awesome biking trails. Peach, apple & cherry orchards. Produce farms. Fresh stuff to eat! Wineries (doesn't interest me as I don't drink alcohol but it tells you something about the climate). Awesome beaches. Boating. Doesn't it sound perfect?

But there must be some minuses about living in Kelowna. One I can think of is that there are only 107,000 people there. Would there be enough amenities to make it feel like you're in a big city? I like what big cities offer. Then again, do you need all that city stuff when the weather is nice and you can be outdoors lots?

Would there be enough clients for Jay if he had his practice there?

It would also suck to be away from Jay's family again.

I can't get this out of my head.

What place will I think of next?

How will we ever decide?
Three more years of this to go... :)

I'm going to go nuts. :)
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Yey, So You Think You Can Dance starts again tonight. That'll take my mind off this topic for atleast couple of hours. :)

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{whatever}

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If you have to work outside your home, this would be the office to do it at. Lovely!

(images via www.cribcandy.com)

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So, Kris won American Idol. I thought I didn't care who wins but I was really disappointed with the result. It's like a mouse won over a lion. When it comes to personalities/performance level at least. Adam was so entertaining to watch. And the songs I liked from him, I really liked. I think there was only one song of Kris' that I really liked. I can see his appeal to teenage girls though and can understand why he won. Oh well. Whatever. :)

I loved Adam's performance right before he sang with KISS. The outfit and all. :) In my mind, he's the real American Idol.

But like I said, whatever. :) So it goes.

The right person won the Survivor at least. :)
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I finally finished this little accordion album that I've made million years ago (I NEVER exaggerate :)). I'm sending it as a gift to someone.
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{THE bike for moms}

Me lovey this bike!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

{yllatys, yllatys}

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ISOT lumihiutaleet yllattivat mut tanaan...

Aamulla siis maassa oli vahan lunta kun herattiin. Olin tosi vasy aamulla huonosti ja liian vahan nukutun yon jalkeen. Eli eka ajatus lumen nahdessa oli VOI EI!

Mutta... Tanaan Jayn ei tarvinnut tehda toita ja yhdessa mentiin out and about. Oli jotenkin kiva paiva. Mentiin yhdessa vaiheessa Whyte Avenuen kirjakauppaan ja nama ISOT lumihiutaleet jostain syysta olivatkin sitten niin ihania. Piristivat mut ihan. Hoh. Mika on mussa vialla? :D

ps. Lumet on sulaneet jo. Luonto sai paljon kaivattua vetta. Huomisen jalkeen on taas luvattu lamminta ilmaa.
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Tassa yksi Whyte Avenuen sahkokaapeista. Whyte Avenuella on paljon seinamaalauksia ja eri taiteilijat ovat maalanneet kunkin sahkokaapin.

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Oikeastaan koko paiva on yllattanyt mut tanaan. Luulin etta tasta tulee plaah paiva kun olin niin vasy ja reidet edelleen kiljuu kivusta. Mutta ei - tanaan on ollut hyva paiva. Ihana kun paiva meneekin paremmin kuin mita on odottanut. Me likey. :)
Kirjakaupassa tein ihania loytoja. Niiiiiiin halvalla loysin Siennalle uusia kirjoja. Taidan saastaa nama synttariksi kuitenkin. No, katsotaan maltanko odottaa niin kauan. Itse innostun lasten kirjoista varmaan jopa enemman kuin Sienna. Khm. :) Aina saa olla lapsenmielinen, saahan...
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Lastenkirjat jotka on pakko ostaa omistavat tietyt kriteerit (ei riita pelkastaan etta halvalla saa, isosta ale valikoimasta vain nama kolme hyvaksyin ostettavaksi):

1. Hauska tarina. Ihana tarina. Sootti tarina. Olisi miten kivat kuvat vaan niin tarina se on joka on tarkeinta.

2. Kirjoissa ei saa olla mitaan pelottavaa. Sienna on tosi herkka. Ei noitia tai morrimoykkyja meille, kiitos.

3. Kuvitus pitaa olla kiva. Joissakin kuvitukset on taiteellisia mutta ei sellaisia etta lapset niista tykkaisi. On kylla pakko myontaa etta joskus olen ostanut kirjan jossa kuvitus vaan on upea. Itselleni.

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Super sootti kirja haleista.
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Taman kirjan taidan saastaa paljon myohemmalle. Kun Sienna on koulussa. Se on tavallaan kuin vauvakirja mutta isommalle lapselle. Eli kaikkea kivaa tietoa lapsesta. Lapsi itse saa piirtaa sinne ja kirjoitella. Tuskin maltan odottaa etta saadaan Siennan kanssa vasailla tallaista.

Mietin etta tallaiset kirjat olisi ihan helppo kylla tehda itsekin. Lapset voivat piirtaa kivoja kuvia. Erilaisia haastatteluja lapsista.

Idiksia mita voi kirjaan laittaa:

*sukupuu kuvineen

*infoa perheen lemmikkielaimesta

*pituus, paino jne

*taidot ja harrastukset

*lempi vaatteet

*milta koti nayttaa

*kuva huoneesta

*mita perhe tykkaa tehda yhdessa

*ystavien nimet ja kuvat

*kaikki lempijutut

*rarportti synttareista

*raportti koulusta (opettaja, kaverit, lempiaiheet...)

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Merkkareitakin kaytiin ostamassa. Kippo taas taynna. :)

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{lunta, kipua, vahemman toita}

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www.dwell.com

affordable modern house plans

Olisi kiva jos tallaisia taloja edes olisi taalla meilla pain. Ei loydy kuin traditionaalisia.

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Joo, meilla on lunta maassa. Ihan vahan mutta lisaa on ehka tulossa. Tama talvi on ollut tosi pitka ja tuntuu etta suurin osa kevaasta on ollut talven jatkoa. Joskus nainkin kai sitten. On monia talvia kun meilla ei ole tuskin yhtaan lunta (yhtena vuonna eka lumi tuli vasta tammikuussa ja olipa ihanan mieto talvi). Se kai riippuu mista se roikkuu. Huomisen jalkeen on taas luvattu lampimat ilmat sentaan.

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En pystynyt nukkumaan viime yona. Vasy olin kuten aina mutta uni ei vaan tullut. Silloin talloin mulla on tuollaisia oita. Yleensa simahdan heti kun paa painuu tyynyyn. Viime yona reidat taas olivat niin kipeat etta. On tama mun fibromyalgia tosi pahana taas. Kipu kai se oli mika piti hereilla. Vahva kipulaakekaan ei auttanut taysin.

Aloitin lukemaan kirjaa fibromyalgiasta ja tajusin etta on tama paljon monimutkaisempi sairaus kuin mita ensin tajusin. Ovat tutkineet etta fibromyalgiasta karsivilla soluissa on paljon vahemman energiaa kuin muilla. Solut elavat energia kateessa. Ei ihme etta aina vasyttaa. Kirjassa mainitaan myos termi "fibrofog" eli on kuin aivot olisi sumussa koko ajan vasymyksen ja energian puutoksen takia. Nappiin osuu tuo termi. Muisti huono, aivot on kuin horkassa... No, kirjoitan fibromyalgiasta taas oman erillisen postauksen kunhan luen tuon kirjan ensin. Kerron sitten myos mika kirja se on jne.

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Jay aloitti tana aamuna boot camp jumppa luokan. Menee kuudelta keskustaan jossa ulkona heita kuritetaan oikeen kunnolla. Halusi tottua aikaisin heraamiseen ennen kuin opiskelu alkaa syksylla. Olen ollut tosi ylpea Jaysta kun se on jaksanut tsemppailla. Herannyt aamuisin juoksemaan.

Saa nahda saako Jay tarpeeksi tyota talle kesalle. Talous kun on mita on niin nayttaa silta etta monet jattavat aitojen rakentamiset myohemmalle ajalle kun rahatilanne on parempi. Viime kesana tahan mennessa Jaylla oli jo kaikki sopimukset valmiina ja tyo ahkerassa alussa. Paljon hissunkissumpi kesa kai tulossa tyon suhteen. Niin se joidenkin huono rahatilanne vaikuttaa sitten muihin myos.
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Lately:

- Can't sleep as my fibromyalgia is acting up more than usual and the pain in my legs especially is really bad right now.

- Jay started Boot Camp exercise class. He's in downtown at six in the morning exercising his heart out. I'm proud of him.

- Slow start for the fence business this year. The effects of poor economy shows in the lack of work.

- We have some snow on the ground. Yikes!

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{what it's all about}

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Our tv room shelves - a work in progress. Slowly filling up with magazines and books. Sienna's toys are everywhere in our family room. Just like it's supposed to be. :) We waited a LONG time to have children. I LOVE seeing toys everywhere.

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I promised someone I'd share couple of pictures from my new scrapbooking book. It's called SCRAP simple - Using Minimal Design to Create Beautiful Scrapbook Pages. Written by Hillary Heidelberg. Great book but I'd go even more minimalistic in some of it's layouts. :)

I chose these three layouts as they feature my favorite shape: the circle.

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Check out this cute boy! The joy on his face - too precious!
One reason why I love buying scrapbooking magazines and books is that they show how much people love their families. That's what it's all about in the end. Families. Y
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ps. Go watch this funny video:

mother of the year video :)

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{online kids' magazine}

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Check out www.papier-mache.com.au.

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{eurovision song competition}

Every year Europe holds Eurovision song competition. Each European country sends in their choice of song and each country has one vote to vote for their favorite. Finland won two years ago for the first time (we usually suck :)). This is how Sweden's ABBA became popular. Norway won this year. The competition has changed quite a bit lately as now there are more eastern block countries. It used to be that western countries won all the time. Now the eastern ones have the power in votes. I can't believe how Russian this winning song is even though it's from Norway. If you'd like to see the performances of each country, go to www.eurovision.tv.

{kukkia ja star trekkia}

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Olen harjoitellut uuden kamerani kayttoa. Tassa kuva kukasta jonka sain Jayn aidilta aitienpaivana - Canna "orange punch". Tuolla se on nyt kukkapenkissa jo. Toivottavasti ei kuole sentaan kun meidan kevat on edelleen melko kylmaa. Surkea kesanalku tana vuonna. Piiiitka talvi ei meinaa millaan paastaa saata kynsistaan. Yleensa tahan mennessa on jo tosi lampimat ilmat.
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Toissa paivana kaytiin Siennan kanssa Robinin paivaohjelma paikassa jossa on isot kasvihuoneet ja myyvat kukkia. Robin joskus myos auttaa kasvihuoneissa mutta yleensa tekee muuta. Kovasti kehui puutarhuri siella kylla Robinia ja miten auttaa mullan laitossa aina.

Mutta oli ihana kavella siella kasvihuoneissa ja ihastella upeita kukkia. Kokeilin jos uudella kamerallani onnistuu nyt lahikuvat kukista. Vanhalla ei koskaan onnistuneet.

All these pictures are my own this time. I've been practising with my new camera. We visited Robin's dayprogram and they have greenhouses there too. Most Edmontonians don't seem to know of these greenhouses even though they sell really good quality plants and flowers. It's called ARCH Enterprises and it's located just south of 34 Avenue on 97th Street (turn south on 97 street when you're on 34th). Go check it out. At Christmas time, they sell the most beautiful Poinsettias.

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I bought this huge hanging flowering plant - Callie Calibrachoa. It's great because you don't even need to deadhead it. Loves a sunny location which our front yard is as it faces south. When I got home and tried to hang it up near our front door, I realized the plant was too big and wouldn't fit. So I had to be creative and this is where the plant ended up at (for now at least). I'd prefer it hanging. Next time I know to get a smaller one. I also got blue pansies - Viola Sorbet Black Duet. If they don't get killed by the cold nights we're still having, they should fill the big pot nicely eventually.
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Eilen Jay ja mina paastiin iltapaiva leffaan. Mutta talla kertaa leffateatteri oli melkeen taynna silla mentiin myohempaan naytokseen. Tallainen on meidan leffateatteri. Tosi iso. Oliko siella nyt 16 eri leffateatteria. Super isot leffajulisteet aina leffoista. Tosi ihanat pehmeat tuolit jotka menee vahan taaksepain kun istuu.
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We saw the latest Star Trek movie. When we first got married, we used to watch Star Trek on tv. So watching the movie made me feel all sentimental. I admit it, I'm a Star Trek geek. :)
I didn't care for the "macho image of a cool guy" that the movie represented. You know - drinking, fist fighting, living dangerously. Men don't need to be macho to be "real men" in my book. Good morals kind of men are the "real men" in my book.
But other than that, I enjoyed the movie.
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{fibromyalgia sairaus}

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Me lovey hydrangea flowers!

In Vancouver you see lots of these blue ones.

(images via google image search)

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Voi olisi paljon kerrottavaa ja jaettavaa. Mista edes aloittaisi. Olen opetellut kayttamaan uutta kameraani mutten viela ole oppinut miten ladata kuvat koneeseen (jos tana iltana). Eli taidan jattaa "raportit" myohemmaksi kun on kuvia.

Tanaan mulla on kovasti mielessa mun fibromyalgia sairaus. Se on ollut aivan alyn pahana viime aikoina. Kipu on melkein sietamaton. Niille jotka eivat tieda - fibromyalgian oireet ovat kipu lihaksissa varsinkin mutta itsella joskus tuntuu etta koko kroppa on yksi iso kipupatti. Kipu ja ainainen vasymys ovat isoimmat oireet. Laakarit eivat viela tunnu tietavan paljon fibromyalgiasta. Taalla laakarit antavat masennuslaakkeita sen hoitoon muttei se vie sairautta pois, auttaa ehka vasymykseen vahan. Naiset karsivat fibromyalgiasta eniten mutta tama ei ole naisten sairaus. Syy miksi miehet eivat karsi kivusta kuten naiset on se etta miesten testosterone estaa kipua. Mutta jos miehella on fibromyalgia niin muut oireet kylla tulee (juuri se vasymys) ja ennen puberteettia kipukin voi olla lasna kunnes testosterone sitten murrosiassa astuu kuvaan enemman.

Paatin tanaan etta laitan tanne fibromyalgiasta juttua silla uskon etta olen vihdoinkin loytanyt jotain joka voi auttaa fibromyalgiaan ja ymmarran sairauden nyt paremmin. Tosi monet karsivat tasta mutteivat tieda etta heilla on fibromyalgia.

Oma tarinani alkaa jo lapsuusajoista. Nuorena mun jalat/saaret aina sarki. Aiti hieroi ja sanoi aina etta 'kasvukipuja". Mutta kivut eivat koskaan loppuneet vaikken ole kasvanut aikohin enaa. Monesti valitin asiasta laakareille muttei sielta apua koskaan loytanyt. Opin vain elamaan kipujeni kanssa. Kun asuttiin Fort Chipissa (Mitenkohan kauan siitakin nyt jo olisi 10-12 vuotta? Oon tosi huono aikamuistin kanssa.), yhtena iltana hieroin saariani taas nukkumaan mennessa kun ne oli niin alyn kipeet. Olen ammatiltani hieroja ja tiedan miten hieroa oikein. Ihmettelin aina etta vaikka kuinka hieroin niin koskaan ei kipu lahtenyt. Sina iltana Chipissa sitten loysin "lumps" saaristani. Sellaisia pienia nystyroita. Ensin ajattelin etta ne lahtisi hieromalla tai acupressure:lla pois. Mutta ei. Kipeammaksi tulivat vaan ja minkaanlainen hieronta tai tekniikka ei auttanut. Nama nystyrat ovat tosi herkkia ja jos niita painan niin sattuu ihan alysti. Olen loytanyt niita joka puolelta kehoani.

Jokin aika taman jalkeen aloin sitten ottamaan asiasta selvaa ja kun olin lukenut paljon niin kuulosti silta etta mulla oli fibromyalgia.

Vasymys ja kipu siis menevat kasi kadessa. Sanoisin etta olen ollut vasynyt noin 95% elamastani. Hyvin harvoin mulla on enaa paivia kun tuntuu etta energiaa riittaa. Aina mustat silmanalukset. Vaikka nukkuisin hyvin (en esim heraa yolla, nukun sikeasti ja tarpeeksi) niin aina olen vasynyt.

Kuten sanoin, laakarit eivat viela tieda paljon tasta sairaudesta. Mutta nyt olen kuullut eraasta laakarista taalla (joka on myos yliopiston professori) jolla itsella oli fibromyalgia ja han on tehnyt paljon tyota etta loytaisi apua fibromyalgiaan. Minulla on ystava joka on minua noin 10 vuotta vanhempi ja hanen fibromyalgia on siis pahempi kuin minun (pahenee ian myota). Han kertoi minulle tasta laakarista.

Tama laakari on saanut selville etta henkiloilla joilla on fibromyalgia, phosphate (fosfaatti?) kertyy elimistoon silla heidan munuaiset eivat toimi kuten muiden ja poista fosfaattia elimistosta. Se sitten keraantyy elimistoon ja mita enemman sita keraantyy niin sen pahemmaksi fibromyalgia muuttuu.

Tama laakari on nyt loytanyt jotain (en muista en sit millaan mika sen nimi nyt oli) joka poistaa sita fosfaattia elimistosta eli on mahis etta voi toipua fibromyalgiasta.

Kun juttelin tanaan ystavani kanssa, totesin etta han naytti paljon energisemmalta kuin aiemmin. Ei enaa sama ylivasynyt ilme kasvoilla. Han kertoi etta energia ollut uskomattoman paljon parempi jo. Mutta huono puoli on se etta kun fosfaatti poistuu vihdoin elimistosta (siihen voi menna vuosia, riippuen miten vanha on ja miten paljon sita on kertynyt elimistoon) niin se aiheuttaa melkoisesti kipua aina valilla. Mita nuorempana aloittaa hoidon, sen nopeammin fosfaatit sitten poistuu. Mutta hoito voi olla kivuliasta siis valilla. Mutta kylla sen kestaa jos tietaa etta tulee terveeksi. Ystavani on muistaakseni kayttanyt hoitoa noin viiden kuukauden verran ja kuten sanoin, itse huomasin hanesta jo eron ihan jopa kasvoissa.

Sairaanhoitaja joka ystavaani on auttanut tekee tata tyota ilmaiseksi (han kartoittaa fibromyalgian ja sen avulla sitten tiedetaan mika on oikea annos hoitoa) silla hanella itsellaan oli fibromyalgia niin pahana etta tuskin pystyi tekemaan mitaan (hyva kun jaksoi kayda suihkussa) ja taman systeemin avulla on saanut elaman takaisin itselleen ja kivut poissa. Pystyy tyoskentelemaan taas.

Aion nyt menna itsekin tahan hoitoon ja paatin etta kirjoitan kokemuksestani tanne blogiin. Tiedan etta ainakin yksi lukijani on tasta aiheesta kovin kiinnostunut joten ehka tama tulee auttamaan sitten hanta edes. Jos muita ei kiinnosta niin skipatkaa vaan nama postaukset. Laitan aina otsikkoon tuon fibromyalgian niin tiedatte etta sen voi skipata sitten. Ei tama kiinnosta varmaan muita kuin tasta karsivista tai jos tietaa jonkun joka tasta karsii.

Eli lisaa tulossa tasta aiheesta.

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{my picks}

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The REAL WINNER of Celebrity Apprentice.

Annie Duke should have won!

I can't belive Trump would choose a bully to win. Joan Rivers was nasty, rude and just plain aweful. Her daughter Melissa was "just as lovely". Must have been one of those "a favor for a friend" things that Trump chose Joan Rivers. Annie was million times better than Joan. And I'm so proud of her behavior as she kept her calm no matter how nasty Joan Rivers got. Way better charity would have won too if Annie won.

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Then, I know I've said in the past that Adam Lambert should win the American Idol. Well, I still think he is the most fun to watch. And if I like the song he's singing, I really like it. But the problem is that in the end I didn't really like most of the songs he sang. He does have the celebrity "it" factor that the others lack. But after I watched their last performances, I must say that I don't really care that much who wins. I don't feel passionately about any of them. They all had one or two performances that I liked but that's about it.

Last year I liked the finale better as I was rooting for my cutie angel David Archuleta so passionately. I love that kiddo. He's such a sweetie. I'm still hoping fame won't change him. I would go and see him if he ever came to Edmonton.

But this year's finalists - just can't get excited about the finale. Bummer.

I do still love Simon though. Most of the time he says exactly what I'm thinking. :)

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{more edmonton pictures}

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Here are the last Edmonton pictures I found on the internet. These first ones are from Whyte Avenue. Older buildings, cute little shops, "interesting" shops, restaurants, artsy fartsy stores, Farmers' Market... It's close to the University and there are night clubs nearby as well. Popular hang out place for young people. You gotta go through the Whyte Ave shops at least once every summer.

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Some of the buildings burned down and they had to build some new ones to replace them. They tried to keep the Whyte Ave feel even though the buildings are new.
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I've never been to the Strathcona Hotel. It's a really old building and I keep thinking a flea would jump on me if I went inside. Maybe I'll find the courage to check it out this summer. Just to take some pictures for ya. We'll see... :)
(pikkujutut - sina tykkaisit kivasta helmikaupasta joka on taalla)
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There are other festivals here too. This one is The Edmonton Folk Festival. It's supposed to be great. I've never been. I guess I'm not that into folk music. But who knows, I might be positively surprised if I went.
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Alberta Legislature building.

A place to sunbathe in the summer and kids love to wade in the pools.
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Canada Place. Government offices.
***

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And here's a close up of the old Hotel MacDonald.

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Old and fancy.
***

Mun pitaa myontaa etta vaikka Edmontonissa kylla loytyy kaikkea kivaa niin noin yleisesti tama ei kylla mun mielesta ole mikaan kaunis kaupunki. Kauneutta kylla loytyy mutta silti monesti totean etta taalla pitaisi enemman panostaa katujen kauneuteen jne. Ei vaan keskustassa mutta ympari kaupunkia. Paljon teollisuutta taalla ja se aina nakyy ajaessa. Albertassa on paljon oljy bisnesta. Esim pohjois Albertassa tuotetaan oljya erottamalla se hiekka alueista. Tuo paljon rahaa Albertaan mutta samalla myos nakyy sellainen tyolaiskaupunki fiilis usein. Itse mainostaisin enemman Vancouveria tai Montreal/Ottawaa jos joku kysyisi missa pitaisi kayda Kanadassa. Kalliovuoret on Albertan paras osa (Jasper alue varsinkin!). Upeaa, mahtavaa luontoa! Siella pitaisi kylla kaikkien saada kayda joskus. :)

***

{religious posting - skip, if not interested}

***

I once again haven't forgotten about this "Purpose of Life" posting I started back in September 2008. It's been on my list of things to do since then (somewhere at the back of my mind). Better late than never to finish what you start, right? Parts I and II can be found here: September 28/08 & November 16/08 postings. Or just click the label "religion/lds" and you'll find them. They have this same picture.

***

So, we're on the #4 & #5 "already".

Once again, such a vast topic (what happens after we die) but I'll try to be as short as I can.

***

It was never meant that we live in this world forever. Obviously. We all die. This world is actually not a very nice place to live. It is a "fallen world". It is such to provide us opportunities to learn and grow & to choose between good/bad (more about that in the previous posting).

When we die, our spirit separates from our body. The body returns to the earth (#4). It is dead and becomes "recycled" to the earth. Our spirit, however, still lives. Our spirits are eternal and cannot die. They go to a place called "the spirit world" (#5). Much could be said about this but I just say that it's divided into two parts: "paradise" and "spirit prison". Depending on how we have lived our lives, we go to one or the other. Spirits that go to "paradise", get to rest from all their troubles. But that is not all. Many righteous spirits will go and teach the unrighteous ones in the "spirit prison" and the people who have never heard of God's teachings (the gospel). They all get to choose whether they accept the gospel or not.

In the Bible, it says that no one can enter into God's Kingdom, unless that person is baptized. It is the sign that shows that we accept what God wants to give us.

What happens to all those people who are not baptized in this life? Millions & millions of people?

In the church, we perform "baptisms for the dead" in our temples. We are baptized on behalf of a deceased person. It is proxy work. They cannot be baptized in the spirit world as they have no bodies anymore. We do that ordinance for them and then it's up to them to either accept the ordinance or reject it. I know this sounds "weird" but it really isn't. Everyone has to be baptized. God has provided this simple way to offer that baptism to those who weren't baptized in this life. They still get to choose. It is not forced on them. There is a scripture in the New Testament that talks about this temple ordinance: 1 Corinthians 15:29. I don't know what other churches believe about that scripture or if they even understand what that scripture talks about.

Many people believe that it doesn't matter if you're baptized or not (I met many people on my mission who thought that) but it really does. Jesus showed the example to us by being baptized himself. He taught baptism and people who don't believe it, don't follow the Bible.

I don't know if this makes sense at all. Maybe it's one of those things that you first have to understand the gospel more to understand this part but I felt I should still explain it here.

***

I think I'll try to finish this whole thing tonight so I can forget about this finally. It might take me another year before I'd be done with this otherwise.

***

So, #6 is the Resurrection. In short, this means our spirit is given an immortal body, never to be separated again. We will never die again. We will never be sick again. We will never be tired again. The body we will receive will be AWESOME. I can't wait! We will appreciate these bodies only because we have gone through some misery in this life with our mortal, imperfect bodies (sickness, hunger, tiredness, death...).

***

#7 is the Judgment. I totally believe that our brains store every memory and every thing that happens to us in this life. Our thoughts, our actions, EVERYTHING. When it's time for a judgment, we'll see a perfect recall of our lives and we will know that God's judgment will be right. God loves us perfectly and more than we could ever even imagine. He follows eternal laws though. He will try to give us as much as we are willing to receive from him. We will not be judged for our actions only, but also for our thoughts and desires (most of us are weaker than our desires for good, for example). He sees our hearts. He will know how to judge us perfectly. He will be both merciful and just.

***

The best place to go to after Judgment, is God's Kingdom, of course. The place where He lives. The place of perfect love and goodness. In our church we call it the Celestial Kingdom (#8). The glory and goodness of that place is symbolized by the glory/brightness of the sun. People who accept EVERYTHING God wants to give them, will go here. People who have faithfully followed God and tried to live the gospel.

The second best place is called the Terrestrial Kingdom (#9). The moon can symbolize it's brightness/glory. Very good people receive this glory but they might not have accepted all that God wants to give them. But they are the ones who have been good people in this life.

The third place is called the Telestial Kingdom (#10). This is symbolized as the stars. There are many different degrees in this kingdom, just as stars defer in brightness. Almost all the rest of the people will go here. Bad people, really bad people, evil people (those who have never repented of their bad/evil deeds, there is always an opportunity for people to repent which means to turn to God and to change their ways to become better). They will receive this glory after they have paid the price for the evil things they have done.

Our church is so different from other religions when it comes to this teaching. Most religions just have hell/heaven. If you don't believe in a certain way, you go to hell. Our church teaches totally differently. We believe that God is our Heavenly Father which means He is the Father of our spirits. He loves each and every one of us. He wants to give as many blessings to all of us as we are willing to accept from Him.

Here's a quote that I love so much:

"...explains clearly that the lowest glory to which man is assigned is so glorious as to be beyond the understanding of man. It is a doctrine fundamental in Mormonism that the meanest sinner, in the final judgment, will receive a glory which is beyond human understanding, which is so great that we are unable to describe it adequately... The Gospel is a gospel of tremendous love. Love is at the bottom of it. The meanest child is loved so dearly that his reward will be beyond the understanding of mortal man." Y

(The Doctrine & Covenants Study Guide, page 166)

We have to remember that those people will pay a price for their sins/evil deeds in the spirit prison. But after they have paid that price, they receive a wonderful place from God.

(See 1 Corinthians 15: 40-42, if you want to read a Bible scripture about the three different kingdoms)

***

But there is still one place left, #12, the "outer darkness". This is where Satan and His followers will go. It is not a kingdom of glory. Only people who openly and knowingly fight against God are sent here. They have to KNOW that they are fighting against God. The reason why they can't receive any kind of kingdom of glory is that they won't accept it. They want nothing to do with God. They won't accept anything from Him.

***

So, I'm sure this is "too much info" and most of you will say "what?!!". But I wanted to finish what I had started and explain what I believe. Once you get this "whole picture" (with all the details that go with it, I have only scratched the surface), it makes you understand life and it gives you so much peace. You know GOOD WILL WIN IN THE END and that we don't have to put up with evil things forever. You know that God has a plan and that there is a reason for things. Getting to know God is worth ANY EFFORT you can put forth to find Him and to get to know Him.

***

I know this is a long posting (ok, marathon long :)) but I'd like to finish with few more words. These are words that bring me the most comfort as I think of a possibility of separating from a loved one because of death. These are by President Brigham Young and he said these words in someone's funeral in the year 1874:

"I would like to say to you, my friends and brethren, if we could see things as they are, and as we shall see and understand them, this dark shadow and valley (=death) is so trifling that we shall turn round and look about upon it and think, when we have crossed it, why this is the greatest advantage of my whole existence, for I have passed from a state of sorrow, grief, mourning, woe, misery, pain, anguish and disappointment into a state of existence, where I can enjoy life to the fullest extent as fas as that can be done without a body. My spirit is set free, I thirst no more, I want to sleep no more, I hunger no more, I tire no more, I run, I walk, I labor, I go, I come, I do this, I do that, whatever is required of me, nothing like pain or weariness, I am full of life, full of vigor, and I enjoy the presence of my heavenly Father, by the power of his Spirit..."

And one more quote by him:

"Mourning for the righteous dead springs from the ignorance and weakness that are planted within the mortal tabernacle... No matter what pain we suffer, no matter what we pass through, we cling to our mother earth, and dislike to have any of her children leave us. We love to keep together the social family relation that we bear one to another, and do not like to part with each other...

It is true it is grievous to part with our friends. We are creatures of passion, of sympathy, of love, and it is painful for us to part with our friends. We would keep them in the mortal house, though they should suffer pain. Are we not selfish in this? Should we not rather rejoice at the departure of those whose lives have been devoted to doing good...?

***

I love those quotes because when I read them, I realized that we are sad because we are separated from our loved ones. But they are in a state of peace and happiness. We really should be happy for them. Of course we'll miss them. But we have a most wonderful reunion to look forward to. Y

***

I love the gospel! Y

***

Yey, I'm done with this "purpose of life" posting. :)

Please feel free to ask questions, to comment, to say what you believe happens after we die...

This is what I believe and I just wanted to share in case it makes sense to someone or if it lights a spark in someone for the desire to get to know God. I'd love it if we'd get a great discussion going on this topic but at the same time I'm not holding my breath as I know from previous postings that I never seem to get a good discussion going. :)

I'll just be happy if anyone even read this. It was tons to type and my wrist is sore. :) So if you took the time (the LONG time) to read this, at least let me know you read it. It'll make me feel better. :)

***

{aitienpaiva raportti}

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image via google image search

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Toivottavasti kaikilla oli hyva aitienpaiva.

Me kaytiin lauantaina Jayn aidilla missa syotiin kiinalaista ruokaa porukalla. Itse sain taas muistutuksen etten oikeastaan enaa tykkaa kiinalaisesta ruuasta (green onion cakes on kylla namia plum sauce:n kanssa). Jotenkin mautonta esim thaimaalaiseen ruokaan verrattuna. Sitten olen tosi nirso lihan suhteen ja Jayn isa oli enimmakseen valinnut kaikenlaisia liharuokia. Jopa riisissa oli katkarapuja joista en tykkaa en sitten yhtaan. Soin sitten kotona paremmin kun ei maittanut tarjoukset Jayn vanhemmilla. Oma vika kun oon niin nirso. Kiva etta Siennalle maistui ruuat lihoineen kaikkineen. Toivottavasti oppii syomaan kaikkea.

Jayn aiti sai lahjoja ja Jayn aiti aina ostaa meille kaikille kukat myos. Yleensa pihakukat kuten tallakin kertaakin.

Aiemmin lauantaina mun piti "menna jonnekin" etta Jay ja Sienna sai mulle tehtya jotain. Mutta Sienna ei ollut sitten jaksanut sita tehda. Mutta sain kayda kirjakaupassa kuitenkin. Aika meni melkein kokonaan Robinin aitienpaivalahjojen ostamiseen mutta ennatin loytaa kivan scrapbook kirjan seka tapasin Kanadalaisen kirjailijan joka mainosti kirjaansa. Fiction kirja mutta perustuu hanen omiin kokemuksiinsa. Toissa rikkaiden parissa Etela Amerikassa ja siella naki paljon koyhyytta ja se muutti hanen elamansa. Kuulosti mielenkiintoiselta joten ostin kirjan. Eka kirja jossa mulla on kirjailijan nimikirjoitus ja pikku omistuskirjoitus. Kerron sitten kirjasta jos se paatyy olemaan hyva.

Sunnuntaina kirkkoon jossa oli ihania puheita aideista ja heidan tarkeydestaan. Kaikki yli 18v naiset saivat pienet yhden annoksen juustokakut.

Sienna teki sitten kirkon jalkeen lahjani - scrapbook sivu jossa luki i love my mommy seka asoita joista Sienna tykkaa minusta (play, tickle, smile...). Oli koristellut ja siihen sitten myohemmin kuva meista yhdessa (eilen ei tullut otettua kuvia). Ihana lahja. Otin siita jo kuvan muttei onnistunutkaan.

Sain myos uuden kameran! Olen tutustumassa siihen nyt ja katsotaan jos huomaatte piakkoin etta alkaa tulla parempia kuvia. :) Silla saa myos aanellisia videoita. Saa nahda tuleeko sitten videokameraa kaytettya ollenkaan.

Jay kokkasi tosi hyvat ruuat ja laitanpa tanne senkin reseptin nyt sitten kun se oli niin hyvaa.

***

SOUTHWESTERN CHICKEN & RICE

1 small onion

2-4 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves

1 cup/250ml salsa

1 envelope taco seasoning mix (appr. 4-5 TBSP/60ml, we never measure spices)

3 cups/750ml water

2 cups/500ml rice

1 can kidney beans, rinsed

(TexMex spice mix)

(4 oz chopped green chiles)

2 cups/500ml shredded TexMex cheese (cheddar + mozzarella + monterey jack cheeses)

Fry onion with a small amount of (olive) oil. Add salsa, taco seasoning, water and TexMex spice. Add chicken. Simmer, covered, for 10 minutes. Increase heat and bring mixture to a boil. Add rice, beans and chiles. Cook on low heat, covered, until rice is done (10-20 minutes, depending on the rice you use). Add cheese, simmer until cheese is melted.

We didn't use chiles as we thought it might make it too hot for Sienna. It still tasted good. Jay added the TexMex spice instead.

***

{kiisseli resepti}

***

Toivottavasti minakin saan jotain tallaista ihanaa sunnuntaina. Tama menee muualle. Papru on muuten lilan varista. Haalenee kuvissa oudosti joka kerta.

Sienna keeps wanting to use my bling bling stash. :)

***

***
MANSIKKA/RAPARPERI KEITTO (kiisseli jos laitat perunajauhoja)

1 litra mansikoita

5 (nuorta) raparperinvartta, viipaloitu

1 litra vetta

3 dl sokeria

3 rkl (45ml) perunajauhoja

3 rkl (45 ml) vetta

1 sitruunan mehu

1 litra mansikoita, viipaloitu

***

Keita 1 litra mansikoita + raparperi + 1 litra vetta miedolla lammolla noin 20 minuuttia. (Mina survasin niita vahan loppuvaiheessa.) Siiviloi keitto. Lisaa sokeri seka perunajauhot jotka on sekoitettu vahassa vedessa (sekoita keittoa hyvin perunajauhoja lisatessa). Kuumenna kiehuvaksi. Mausta sitruunanmehulla. Jaahdyta keitto. Viipaloi toinen litra mansikoita keittoon. Tarjoa kermavaahdon kera.

Resepti on 7/2001 Kotivinkki lehdesta. Mina lisasin perunajauhot reseptiin silla muuten tulee ohutta keittoa jota lasten on vaikea syoda. Kiisseli helpompi lapsille.

***

STRAWBERRY/RHUBARB DESSERT SOUP

4 cups strawberries

5 stalks of rhubarb, sliced

4 cups water

1 1/4 cups sugar

3 TBSP potato flour (Sobeys sells it, or was it Superstore, either or)

3 TBSP water

1 lemon, use juice only

4 cups strawberries, sliced

***

Simmer strawberries + rhubarb + water in a big pot for 20 minutes (mild temp.). (I mashed them a bit at the end with a potato masher.) Strain to make clear soup. Mix potato flour and the bit of water together, add to the soup gradually while stirring continually. Add sugar. Bring to a boil. Add lemon juice. Let the soup cool completely. Add sliced strawberries. Serve cold with freshly made whipping cream.

***

I added the potato flour to the recipe because I made the original recipe and it was very liquidy. Easier for kids to eat if it's thicker. That's how these dessert soups (kiisseli) are usually made in Finland. You need to make sure you stir the soup constantly while adding the potato flour/water in. Otherwise you'll get yucky lumps in the soup.

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Sienna auttoi mansikoiden viipaloimisessa! Tykkaa kovasti auttaa keittiossa.

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{skrappasin!}

***

Had fun last night. Jay has started his summer business - building fences and decks - and was out giving people price quotes. I had some time to do whatever. So I scrapbooked.

I could have embellished this layout lots more but the minimalist in me won once again and I kept it very simple. I got the inspiration for the joy thingy from some digital brushes I saw online. The ribbon looks like it's wrapping a gift and it's a bit symbolic to how we received Sienna as a gift through adoption. Y
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The paper feels like velvet! The rings are raised a bit and so soft to touch. The mini letter stickers spell "together", "family" and "love".

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Sienna and I went with Jay to deliver flyers to advertise his business. It was fun. Saw this cute flower rack.
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Merkkareita viela kipossa. :)
We've had this dresser forever now and I still haven't painted/stained it. The reason is that I keep thinking it won't be in our living room eventually and I haven't wanted to commit to a color for it. I feel that right now this represents our home in general. I have a long list of things I'd like to do for our house but I know we'll be moving in about 3 years once Jay finishes school and I don't want to spend lots of money on renos. I keep putting up with things as I'm thinking "couple more years and we'll have a new house, why put in the effort". I guess I could paint the dresser some neutral color (black, cream, brown...) in hopes that it'll go with whatever room it'll eventually end up in.
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{jonnin joutavaa}

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Fort Edmonton Park. Old buildings, steam train ride, antiques, history. Fun place to stroll around in the summer. Brad Pitt was here to film part of his movie "Jesse James" (haven't seen it).

(images via google image search)

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Mulla on menossa taas blogi kriisi. Mietin etta sulkisinko taman blogin. Toistaiseksi paatin etta kirjoitan harvemmin tanne. Ettei blogi ole sellaista "jonnin joutavaa" vaan. Ei taida ketaan kiinnostaa mun jokapaivaiset jutut. Eli jos minua nakee harvemmin taalla niin nyt tiedatte syyn. :)
***

{kalkkilaivankapteeni}

***
Meidan kisut on sisakissoja eli vaan kesalla menevat ulos hihnoissa. Sunnuntaina olivat onnessaan kun paasivat ekaa kertaa ulos. Yleensa odotan etta saan pihan haravoitua ensin mutta oli niin kaunis paiva (+22C) etta pakkohan ne oli paastaa ulos jo. Itse sain jo sen verran aurinkoa etta raja nakyy jo paidasta. Mulla on sekalaiset tunteet auringossa olosta. Tietty pitaa saada aurinkoa jonkin verran mutta kylla se tuo ryppyja ja laikkyja ihoon seka aina on se ihosyovan vaara. Toisaalta on tunne etta ihana olisi ottaa oikeen kunnolla aurinkoa jotta koko kroppa olisi kerrankin ruskea taas (koivet on niin kalkkilaivankapteenia etta). Mummoni on aina ollut ihminen joka heti kun aurinko pilkahtaakin esiin on parvekkeellaan puolialastomana ottamassa aurinkoa. Mokilla sama juttu aina. Hanella oli aina rusketus. Ja kaunis mummo oli aina ryppyineen. Itse palan tosi helposti ja en tykkaa menna ulos kun aurinko on kuumimmillaan keskipaivalla. Inhoan aurinkovoiteita. Niista tulee niin aklo olo iholle aina. Mitenkas te muut? Oletteko auringonpalvojia vai pysytteko visusti varjossa vai silta valilta?

***

KISSAN UNI

Raitamatto

raitakissa

raitaisissa

aatoksissa.

Ilta koitti

uni voitti

kissan unessa

viulut soitti.

Ja hyori piiri

pyorea piiri

piirissa hyori

pieni hiiri.

Lipoi kieli

se kissan kieli

kun hiirta pienta

sen teki mieli.

Ei yltanyt tassu

se pehmea tassu

hiireen kiinni

jai tyhjaksi massu.

Herasi kissa

se raitakissa

oli jaljella hiiri

vain aatoksissa.

***

Tietaako kukaan kuka runon on kirjoittanut?

***

Oma massu taynna Kanadan lettuja, mansikoita ja kermavaahtoa. Seka salmiakkikolikoita. Seka suklaata. Sellainen paiva oli tanaan etta pakko oli herkutella (olin vaan tosi vasy ja kankkarankka).

***

ps. Syy miksi meidan kissat on sisakissoja on se etta kun Spice tuli meille (pelastettiin se ulkoa eraana kylmana talvi iltana, oli pikkuruinen ja joku oli jattanyt heitteille), niin asuttiin pohjois Albertassa pikku inkkarikylassa. Kyla tunnettiin siita ettei monet kohdelleet lemmikkielaimia hyvin. Joidenkin takapihoilla oli jopa ansoja ja tiedettiin kissa joka oli jaanyt sellaiseen kiikkiin ja sen jalka oli pahasti sattunut siita. Paikalliset ihmettelivat kovasti kun meidan kissat oli hihnoissa pihoilla. Muutaman kerran vietiin ne jopa "kavelylle". Siinapa sai paikalliset nauraa meita. Ihan kiva etta pystyttiin tarjoamaan viihdyketta syrjaiselamaan. Pitaisikin muuten tehda postaus tuosta ajasta kun asuttiin siella. Hauskoja ja ei-todellakaan-kovin-hauskoja muistoja silta ajalta.

***

{iloa ja surua rinta rinnakkain}

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Edmonton's City Hall.

People go wading in the pool in the summer and skating in the winter.

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Another reason to visit Edmonton: the yearly Street Performers' Festival. Buskers come from all over the world and they are fun & amazing.
Katuesiintyjien Festari on mun toiseksi suosituin festivaali taalla Edmontonissa. Ekana on tietty se mun aiemmin kehuma Heritage festari. Mahtavia katuesiintyjia riittaa aina. Lapsillekin puuhaa ja tekemista. Kasvomaalausta sun muuta.
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Silver Elvis "statue guy". He's from Toronto, Ontario.

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Kiva olisi hankkia joku makee asu ja menna sitten festarille kappailemaan. Ehka saisi jopa tippejakin siina samalla festarista nauttiessa. :)

***

***
images via google image search

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Onpa mulla haiku, melankolinen olo. Printtailin juuri valokuvia aidilleni Suomeen aitienpaivaksi. Itku tuli ihan kurkkuun kun taas kerran harmittelin ettei aitini voi olla osa elamaani. Aiti ei kayta tietokonetta joten esim skypettely tai muu ei onnistu. Aiti ei matkustele myoskaan. Tajusin niin taydellisesti taas kerran etta vaikka kuinka laitan kuvia aidille niin ei han tunne Siennaa. Tallaista tama ulkosuomalaisen elama joskus on.

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{SE aika vuodesta}

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microcopic pictures of pollen

(images via google image search)

***

SE aika vuodesta taas. Siitepolya jo ilmassa. Hengityksesta sen huomaan ennen kuin luen mitaan siitepolyraportteja (tsekkasin juuri: poppelia, vaahteraa seka koivua jo ilmassa). Muistutus siita miksi kesa ei aina ole mun lemppari vuodenaika. Mun hengitys menee yleensa tosi surkeaksi vaikka otankin antihistamiineja. Pitaapa kokeilla jotain uutta tana kesana (homeopatiaa, yrtteja...) etta energia ei tyssaisi taysin kun hengitys reistailee. Suomessa muuten mulla oli tosi hyva kokemus homeopatian kanssa. Yhtena kesana olo oli taas kuin kalalla kuivalla maalla (olin noin 19v). Ystavan kehoituksesta kavin homeopaatin luona. Homeopatia laakkeet auttoivat tosi hyvin mutta ennen kuin edes sain niita tama henkilo kehoitti minua menemaan luontaiskauppaan ja hakemaan sielta koivunpahkauute tabletteja. En voinut uskoa miten alysti ne auttoi mua silloin. Hengitys parani tosi paljon. Taalta olen loytanyt kirsikkapuun vastaista ja muistaakseni auttoi silloinkin kun otin niita Ester C vitamiinien kanssa. Nyt pitaakin piakkoin tehda visiitti luontaiskauppaan. Antihistamiinit ei mua koskaan auta kovin paljoa. Ihon kutinaan kylla muttei hengitykseen. Ja onhan se tarkeaa hengittaa, eiko. :)
***

Need to go to the health food store a.s.a.p. I can already tell from my labored breathing that pollen season has started. Antihistamines seem to help my itchy skin but don't do anything for my breathing. I've had some good results with wild cherry tree bark tablets (Aller Ease) plus Ester C vitamins in the past. Hopefully something will work this summer too. I'd say it's pretty important to be able to breath. :)

***

{downtown edmonton}

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Pictures of downtown Edmonton.

(all images via google image search)

Keskustassa ei tule usein kaytya. Kun mentiin naimisiin niin yhdessa vaiheessa muutaman kuukauden ajan jaettiin sanomalehtia keskustan sanomalehtiautomaatteihin. Oli kiva silla alusta lahtien keskustasta tuli mulle tuttu. Jokilaakso on taynna puistoja ja kavelyteita. Nuo pyramidin nakoiset jutut on kasvitieteellinen puutarha. Joka pyramidissa eri ilmaston kasveja. Vaaleanpunainen rakennus on Canada Place eli federal government rakennus. Tuo ainoa vanhan nakoinen rakennus on hieno hotelli jossa kaytiin juhlimassa Jayn veljen haita esim. Joen toisella puolella on myos tosi korkeita kerrostaloja. Aina kun naen yhden mun lempparin niista niin mietin etta tuonne haluaisin asunnon joskus ylimpaan kerrokseen. Upea nakoala ilotulituksiin. :)

***

The pyramid looking thingys are botanical gardens. Each pyramid has a different climate garden in it. Last time I went there, there was a huge dinosaur cut out of an ornamental bush. Fun place to go to. I just realized I haven't taken Sienna there yet. Mother's Day trip, perhaps...

***

Today is really warm & sunny yet I'm spending the day cleaning the house. I just can't stand the mess anymore. Vacuum a bit, get too hot, eat a popsicle, vacuum some more, get too hot, type this posting... More vacuuming is waiting for me when I'm done.

Hey, I'm so excited. I thought our vacuum was broken as it wasn't sucking anymore (that's why I've been putting off the vacuuming). No matter how much I cleaned the vacuum, it wasn't getting better. Today Jay figured out that there was a THIRD filter and we knew nothing about it. Was it ever dirty! Now the vacuum is like new. I guess it would pay to read the manual which I never ever do. I doubt I'll even read them after this incident. Reading manuals is totally against my nature, just like being on time. I call myself time challenged. I don't wear a watch so no wonder. But I bet I'd still be late all the time even if I did wear a watch. :)

*roll eyes*
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{kuvia pitkalta kavelyreissulta}

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Tanaan otin alysti kuvia kun kaytiin piiiiiiitkalla kavelylla eraalla rikkaalla alueella. Taman ihanan lammen naen usein ajaessa eraaseen tiettyyn tavarataloon jossa pitaa kayda usein. Varit muuttuu vuodenajan mukaan ja hyva kun en aja ojaan aina silla en saa silmia pois tasta kauneudesta. Linnut liverteli niin ihanasti. Linnuillakin luxus kodit talla alueella.

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Tons of pictures from today's loooooooong walk. We went to a rich neighborhood pretty close to our home.

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Kaikki kuvat voi klikata isommiksi.

You'll see the pictures bigger & better if you click on them.

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Klikkaa kuva isommaksi niin naet meidan kaupungin keskustan pilvenpiirtajineen.

Click the picture bigger and you'll see our downtown.
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Sienna tykkaa kivista alysti. Hiukset on miten on kun tytto ei suostunut antaa niita laittamaan mitenkaan ja tanaan en jaksanut kinastella asiasta.
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Such a rich neighborhood but their playground was old & small. It sucked in my opinion. Sienna loved it though. We saw couple of bunnies hopping along.

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Of all the homes, this one was my style the most. The most modern looking, I guess. I like the dark, earthy colors. No ugly Roman pillars. I'd still prefer not to see the garage so much and I'd like some kind of porch or balcony too. My dream house of course is a minimalist, totally modern house. But I wouldn't say no if someone wanted to give this house to me. :)
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There are acreages here too. This house has a huge lot. Their own pond and everything. Couldn't fit it all in one picture.
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Sienna fell asleep in the car so I drove to a brand new neighborhood that is still under construction. To show you a picture of typical starter homes.

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And of course there are apartments here too. Not as many as in Finland but not everyone can afford their own house.
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Typical "all you can see is the garage" neighborhood. Too bad lots are so expensive. People too often live like sardines. Back yards are big but it would be nice to have more room between the houses too.
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Had to show you this "beautiful" yard. Silk or plastic flowers. Wow! NOT! :)

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A typical elementary school.
Tyypillinen ala-aste koulu.
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A typical small house in an old neighborhood.
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{yey!}

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What a fun way to start a day. I won a fun book at Helen Dardik's orange you lucky blog. Me very happy! :) Maybe this book will make me laugh so hard, I'll jiggle some of my tummy away. :D

I visit Helen's blog daily. She does fun illustrations and I love how she doodles on her photos. Every time I go to her blog I think "man, she has a fun job".

www.orangeyoulucky.blogspot.com

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