Sunday hike in Kettle Moraine State Forest

Bobby had a great idea to take us hiking this Sunday after church. The choir was canceled so we had enough time and it was nice weather...sunny and not freezing. The fall colors were so nice and our kids have always a lot of energy so off we went.  I hiked ice age trail for a mile or two...this hike is about 1000 miles long, which is very cool. We learned that the ice age had left it's marks in this area of country which was very exciting for me, because that is similar to my area in Finland. We have a lot of big rocks in Finland that are left as memories from ice age and they had something similar here and also land formations that had been created from the sediments when ice was melting. The nature was beautiful and we got to walk trough some woods. Our kids wanted to stick their hands into dirt constantly...must be a boy thing...so I made them all wash their hands well when we returned so they could eat their cookies.

 

 

 

 

 

Cool pond

 

 These images remind me of salpausselka in Savitaipale...

Happy Halloween

Halloween kind of sneaked on me this year. I have been busy finishing off the flooring and busy with cub scouts and other stuff and I realized two days before that I needed to figure out costumes. Thanks to Bobby's cousin Leslie I had things under control. She had given us some costumes last year and they all worked out perfectly for Matthew, Timo and Jared. Matthew was a star wars clone guy, Timo was a night and Jared was a clown. Our kids are good about being what I tell them to be, so they were happy with the custumes and actually probably were something they would have pick up too if they had the choice, We ended up going trick or treating on Sunday since they do it that way here and then had trunk or treat at the Church on Thursday on actual halloween. Our kids had so much candy. Usually I take it all and control it strictly but for some reason this year I didn't too much and have just hoped that they eat it quickly so it's all gone. Now it's only 5 days after Halloween and it's almost all gone. Of course I ate a lot of it too.

I had the cub scouts make some games for the church trunk or treat party. We made a ring too and bean bag toss. We also used the pin the alian eyeball game from Timo's birthday party. One of the cub scouts made also a game, which was cool. I am a den leader which is a lot of fun. I love making projects with cub scouts. As long as I can keep them under control it's a lot of fun.

 My pumpkin one first price in the lions club family category :)

 My home improvement projects...got a love my creativity of finding a place to saw a door. The floor was raised almost 1/2 inch after I put the laminate in, so the door couldn't close anymore....

 Ward halloween party :)

 Matthew did a great job running games at the Halloween party.

 Will and Esther.

 Mission president's wife handing out candy. Her dad was the temple president in Stocholm temple and I knew him when I was a teenager and my parents were very good friends with him and his wife.

It was raining so the trunk or treat activity turned into trick or treating in the class rooms.

My Parents Visit us from Finland

We were very fortunate to have my parents come and stay with us for 10 days. I picked up Matthew early from school so he could help me pick up my parents from the airport.  I was so great to see my parents after a long time.I loved seeing my mom and dad play with our children. Timo had a birthday party the day after my mom and dad came. They helped with the guests and my mom even helped by playing volleyball so the teams had the same amount of kids.

At Church after hearning that my parents had done some missionary work in Russia we found out that our Mission President's wife's parents were temple presidents in Stocholm Temple around 1992 and I knew them. My parents seem to always find people they know anywhere they go. During their visit my mom got to go and play ping pong at the local ping pong club. My friend Grace took her there. She also enjoyed going to walmart and buying a lot of fabrics for her dollhouse business. She also bought a camera so she could get better pictures for her website.

My dad wanted some projects around the house, so I put her to work :) I was hoping to get of my green carpet in the kitchen and family room. My dad was already starting to move the furniture the following morning so I thought that it was for reals so we ripped out the carpet and get the laminate the same day. He worked so hard for the next severeal days on the floor. I am blessed to have such an awesome dad! He got it almost finished before they returned. I still have to put back the quarter trim, paint the baseboards and do few transion pieces between rooms.

My parents were also asked  to give a small presentation about their missionary efforts in Russia in church during priesthood meeting. That evening we had brother and sister Treter come over and visit our family. Their son is serving his mission in Samara Russia Mission.

Matthew, Timo and Jared loved having their grandparents visit from Finland. I feel very blessed to have such wonderful parents. I am looking forward for our trip to Finland next summer.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I am so glad my parents were able to come and visit us from Finland. It has been over 2 years since we have been able to visit Finland. My parents came on Friday and we are able to have them for next 10 days. I am so excited to have them here. Our kids love having them here too. My dad read books to Jared, did drawing with Matthew and build a lego set with Timo. I enjoy watching him play with them and I hold these memories dear since they live so far and we don't have them here very often. On Saturday Timo had a birthday party and my dad helped with balloon decorations and my mom helped me in the kitchen. She also helped out with party games and even played balloon volleyball so we could have the same amount of kids in each team :D. Today at church my parents found some people they knew. I love how the world is so small when you are lds. Our mission president's wife here in wisconsin is the daughter of the temple president of the Stocholm temple few years back. My parents now the family very well. Also we have a couple in our ward who had a daughter who served their mission in Finland and had visited my parents home in Finland. I love my parents so much and so glad they are here! I'll try to take some pictures so I can cherish the moments.

Sunday Hike

Our children always have a ton of energy, and especially on Sundays after going to church. We decited to take our boys for a nice walk few miles from our home. I love walking in the nature and there are some good places for walks near by. Matthew wasn't as enthusiastic about going, but everyone ended up having a good time in the end. The kids loved walking on dead trees and playing by the waterwall. I am so grateful for this beautiful earth that reminds me how much Heavenly Father loves us.