Roof Shovelling

I don't exactly know the details, but Finland seems to be obsessed over shovelling snow off their roofs. When we moved here, it was obvious that every house had a ladder to the roof. After the first winter, we realized it was because people climb on their roofs and shovel off all the snow.
In my 6 years as a home-owner in a subdivision in London, I never ever saw a person climb on their roof in Canada and shovel off the snow. I am not sure if they don't build them as strong over here or not. I will get down to the bottom of this.
There was a newspaper article in the Helsinki Times this week about not skimping on the shovelling, and that a woman was killed in Helsinki from fallen snow while walking down the sidewalk. I believe there was a death last year in the city as well because of this.
I'm gonna start walking up the middle of the road in Helsinki from now on. It sounds like that will be much safer.....

Pointing

So Charlie's latest milestone? Learning how to point. He gets his tiny little drool-covered finger and points at his desire. Last night it was the Pringles can. This morning it was the container of grapes.

Ski Week

You would think it was July here in Finland, the city is pretty empty. This week is Ski Week, which would be similar to Canada's March Break. Almost everybody takes some holidays and literally everybody goes skiing.
The roads are pretty empty. A lot of kids are not at Maddy's school. It's kinda peaceful.
On another note, the high school kids just finished their semester. Apparently they go to school for 2.5 years, ending the beginning of February. Last week on their last day of school, they drive around in big trucks dressed up in costume throwing out candy to people on the streets to celebrate their completion. As a row of these vehicles drove by Maddy's daycare last week, the kids watched out the window and the teachers gathered the candy for the kids. Maddy's response was this "it was Halloween". Ever since then, she's been asking me how long it will be until October...

Maddy's Newest Artistic Masterpiece

I think Maddy is a fantastic age. She just keeps getting more and more fun and remarkable!!!!!!!!

Her drawing abilities are amazing me with each passing week. Her imagination is beginning to run wild.

This is a picture of the sun, flowers, and stairs that she drew on Monday night while I was at school.

Oh, and the green picture - she added some grass :)

Online Children's Clothing Shopping?

There is a Finnish monthly children's clothing club here that has a really great idea for busy working parents. If you become a member of this club (membership is free), they will send their members a package of seasonal children's clothes each month. You tell them which gender your child is, and what size (and of course European sizes are in cm so it's much more accurate than "size 4"), and you get the new batch of clothes mailed right to your door.
I think it's a fantastic idea! Check out the website www.djelit.com.
Fortunately our Canadian family spoils my kids rotten and I don't think I've ever had to buy clothing for them. But if they ever stopped loving us so much, I'm tempted to check out this club!

Awful Habit

I recently read this article in the Helsinki Times. Disgusting. I know that it is more prevalent for Europeans to smoke than North Americans, but since none of my Finnish friends smoke, I wasn't aware of the statistics:

- there are almost a million smokers in Finland in all (Note: there are 5 million people in Finland total!!!!)
- Finnish smokers typically take up the habit at the age of 13-15
- A quarter of all youth between 16 and 18 smoke daily
- 15% of teens between 13-15, 11% of teens between 16-18, and 40% of all apprentices smoke daily according to one school health survey

I know it's dark and depressing in Finland in the winter, but I had no idea that teenagers smoke so much. I guess I'm just glad they don't do it around me or my kids...

Happy Valentine's Day

Valentines Day is celebrated all over the world on the 14th of February. In
Finland this celebration arrived rather late, and was officially listed in the
almanac in 1987. In Finland Valentines Day is called "Ystävänpäivä", which means
"Friend's Day". Unlike many other countries where Valentines Day is mainly a day
of "Romance", in Finland it is also the day when close friends send cards and
gifts to each other, although it is a popular day to get married and engaged on.
Even though Valentines Day came to Finland from the United States, its
roots are visible in European folklore and in Catholic legends. The tradition of
celebrating St. Valentines Day on 14th of February, dates back to ancient Rome,
when Romans were celebrating Juno, the protector of matrimony and maternity.
The name Valentine comes from saint Valentinus, the martyr, who's
commemorative day has been celebrated on 14th of February, since the 350's.
According to legend, Valentinus was conducting marriage ceremonies for soldiers,
who were not allowed to get married, and was therefore acting against the orders
of the military commanders. As a result Valentinus was arrested, and to show
their gratitude, wives of the soldiers sent gifts, cards and flowers to
Valentinus. He was executed on the 14th of February (Valentine's Day).
xxxx
However, I am still Canadian and am looking forward to a nice big dinner, some treats for my peeps, strawberries and whipped cream for dessert, and some snuggles.

Teaching an Old Dog New Tricks

So the past two weeks, it's been cold in Finland. Like colder than -20. It usually takes me longer to get the kids dressed than the time we actually spend outside!!! However, the cold weather has one advantage - I can just let Tucker outside without a cord or a leash, he does his business and then immediately comes to the door and starts barking for me to let him in.
In the summertime, if I would do that, he'd take off and not come home.
I'm using this opportunity to give him praise and treats when he does come back, so that perhaps this new trick will continue when it gets nice out. But I'm not holding my breath...

Madison Four Years Old!

So Maddy turned 4 in December and her desire to learn new things is increasing dramatically. She has taken an interest in math and counting, so many times in the car or at the supper table, she wants to practice her math. She's doing an excellent job and can do 1+3, 5+1, 2+2, 7+1, 4+2, 3+3, etc. All the numbers 5 and below, she's doing really well. Anything higher than that, she's easily comprehending if you add 1 or add 0. It's wonderful that we don't push it on her, she's always the one asking if we can practice her math. Very proud of her!

She's also started loving to colour!! Every day she's coming home with new pictures she has coloured, or will also colour at home. We used to take home 1 or 2 pictures per week, and now it's 1 or 2 per day.

She has also started to draw pictures and her imagination is picking up. She mostly does people, she started off with faces and now adds stick legs and arms. Most recently she learned how to do eyelashes. One day she drew a garden with trees and flowers. I've posted two pictures for you to admire.

These were both done in the past week or so.

She continues to grow more and more independent, dressing herself in the morning, getting her stuff on to go outside, going to the bathroom on her own, etc. I enjoy the conversations we have in the car about her day or the questions she asks about the moon or the stars. Her curiousity is delightful!

Having a wonderful time teaching her and watching her desire to learn and explore new things.

Charlie 16 Months Old

So Charlie is now 16 months old, just about, and things are coming together.
He is crawling!!!!! Very exciting that he finally has become mobile. It's not the perfect "on all fours" type of crawl, but he gets from Point A to Point B and is getting quicker every week. The physiotherapist is pleased with his progress and we will now start to focus on strengthening his legs for walking. He is on his knees noticeably more often now, particularly in his crib, so we're going in the right direction.
He's gained some weight too. We'll put him back on the scales at the nurses in March, but he is now too big for the baby bathtub! He doesn't mind, we've now started bathing him in the kitchen sink and he is LOVING it!!!!!!
His hand-eye coordination is also improving. He is starting to "put away" items - picking up blocks and putting them back in the bucket, or picking up the clothes pins and putting them away. He can also place buckets inside bigger buckets and enjoys the praise we give him at the end of his task.
We're debating about getting tubes in his ears. The ear nose throat specialist has recommended he get them, but of course there are pros and cons to everything. Usually the pros outweigh the cons and there's generally a clear answer, but this time I really don't know. More research to be done!
He's still a very happy boy, until he's not happy, and is becoming more independent now that he's crawling. Hopefully once he starts walking, he'll burn off more energy and decide to sleep a bit more.
It's a beautiful day.
Kim

A Conley New Addition!!!!!!!!

A miracle happened this past week and I'm extremely happy to share the news! Nicholas and Alexia are parents!!!!!!!!!
Gabriella Elizabeth Carmella Conley was born February 3rd at 2:30am, weighing 7lbs 6oz and 19 inches long.
I know that all babies are angelic gifts. But this one seems extra special. Gabriella, welcome to the world. You are going to have an amazing life, filled with an abundance of love and joy. And to my dear Alexia, a new mommy, welcome to motherhood. I am so glad you could join the club. Love you all.

BBBBBBBBBRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!

Well, winter has reared it's ugly head and wow, it is unbelievably cold here!! I know you are all thinking "well, duh, you moved to Finland". I'd say the same thing about Canada, but they are all in 6 or 7 degree weather and no snow!!!!
I'm glad the tenants in the other apartment have left before the snow came, because it's been very easy to keep up with shovelling the driveway this year. With their zillions of vehicles in and out all day long, the driveway was an absolute disaster last year. Pretty easy to keep up since we only have the one vehicle. Which means we are still parking up the hill beside the apartment! Yippee to not carrying my groceries up the hill!
It was -22 this morning without the windchill. I think it got down to -31 this morning with the windchill. Brrrr........