FotoSafari

On Saturday night we took Matthew, Timo and Jared for a little photo safari. We got Matthew and Timo some little tikes digital cameras for Christmas and the yonly end up working like a month or two because of our tile floor in our last house and they got dropped just a little few many times. The cameras had a year warranty so finally few weeks ago I got around contacting little tikes and they sent us new cameras for the boys! :) The cameras were 19.99 each originally, and the kids really had great time talking pictures.

Timo's Photos

Matthew's Photos

Lot of the photos were just a blur because you have to keep the camera still for a while for the picture to turn out. The kids had a lot of fun though, and we should do it again one day.

After looking for some important binders and papers for 2 + weeks I finally found all our important financial papers and social security cards and passports. I seriously thought that they had gone to garbage in our crazy moving adventure. I looked everywhere several times, but yes I did find them. They were on a top shelf of one of the closests in a box. being short I ten to miss stuff out of my reach ;) I am so relieved that stuff was found, mainly for the passports. Now I don't need to replace our passports for a Finland trip ;)

An other nice thing was that we got a garage. I have been able to get some of our stuff there, and it's starting to feel more organized and less crowded. I have been looking for houses online a little bit, but at this point I don't think buying a house is such a smart idea until we now we are staying here for good and save some money for a down payment. I like to look at houses online a bit though. Of course the prices are at least double here compared to Michigan and the taxes are high too on properties, but it's fun to see what's available.

The boys were very good today when I took them to the library. I hadn't gone for two weeks because I was sick and then other time I just didn't have the energy. The boys enjoyed the story time. It's nice to have a second car though so I can get places when I need to. Tomorrow Matthew snf Timo have their dance class.

Lately I have started to use coupons. With more stores around here, it's more exciting to use coupons (and actually receiving them in the mail). I hope my efforts will help us save some money. My thoughts are that planning can help us save some money (last minute plans, restaurant trips, etc). Cost of living is higher here compared to Michigan and Bobby is not really getting paid more here (at least not yet). Those lovely student loans take so much of our income, and I look forward for that day when they will be gone..like 8 years I think..2018..that seems like forever, but that will be a happy day. I do feel grateful that we have a job and money to pay the bills, insurance, food, pretty much what we really need, but wish this...and that... patience...!!!

Life is moving along here in Wisconsin. I still get frustrated of trying to organize our apartment and try to fit everything in here, and find stuff that have been lost due to our move (which is so frustrating..can't find our passports..so they better show up somewhere before our Finland trip next summer). However, I have made some progress, and got some bookshelves organized today, and some kitchen cupboards. If there is ever a show that gives an organization makeover I would be a perfect canditate for it. With all the moving we have done, I always find it hard to find a right place for everything.

So, the other day Bobby came home with a candy thermometer, and he made some carmer popcorn balls. We are developing a new hobby of making candy together, which is fun. Last night we made some yummy carmels together, and gave some to our neigbors for Family Home Evening tonight.

An other random thing is that I found an international store just few miles from our house that has Finnish rye crackers that I've missed and salt licorice (salmiakki) that I have missed too. Now I can get them when ever I want and not get too deprived :)

A week ago we found out that Timo is allergic to mosquitos. A week ago at church he had a huge pulge on his forehead and it looked like he had hit his head pretty hard about 1.5 inch wide bump. Later we found that it was a mosquito bite, and he got an other huge one on his cheek. We have quite a bit of mosquites where we live (not like the woods, but we have a large grassy area behind our house with trees and a river). Now I need to make sure Timo has mosquite repellent on when we go to the park etc.