News flash

Oops, it's been two months since my last up-date. Here is a list of excuses:

1. I got a new camera in April and earlier this summer I started shooting in RAW. Which meant that the files were 12MB and our PC was too slow to work with them -> we have a brand new MAC now which a lot more capacity. Being new to the MAC world and RAW world I'm still in the learning process and I wanted to put piccies in the blog -> didn't blog at all.

2. I'm changing jobs and finally about a month ago (that long?!?!) I got the new contract signed and am starting in September. I didn't want to say anything about it until it was confirmed.

3. Summer vacation. No time to blog.

4. Risto started school last week. 

5. I'm pregnant..... oops, that's a lie ;-)

Summer vacation is over. We spent a lovely week at DH's Auntie P. Horses, dogs, swimming in the lake, excellent food and company. A couple of weekends at my parents' cottage, their 40th wedding anniversary. Risto chipped his front tooth the evening before midsummer (luckily his was over at our house and the friend's mother is a dentist), not a milk tooth but one of the only two permanent ones he has so far. The dentist was able to glue the chip back.  Risto bumped into Tuomas' hard head! 

Tuomas is in love with a girl at day care. He is sooooo in love, just as she is. It's so cute. Jaakko has grown a lot too and his temper tantrums are getting worse. Things are flying and his brothers have teeth marks on their backs. DH has a surprise for me. Our 10th wedding anniversary is in a month and he's taking me on an extended weekend trip, but I don't know where (just like our honeymoon!). But before that I'll start at my new job and Clara, our au pair, will go back to Germany. Hopefully (and soon!!!) pictures and more up-dates.

Difficult questions

Tuomas asked a difficult question yesterday:"Do angels get vaccinations?" followed by "do angels ever die?".

Risto is flying home tomorrow. He's feeling home sick every now and then, cried over the phone on Saturday. But my sister said that he's really enjoying his time there, so no worries. Yesterday he was worried that his plane would crash. I tried to convince him that it wouldn't happen.

Risto: "But planes do crash and people have died in plane crashes".
Me: "Yes, but it's highly unlikely". (Is there any point in explaining statistics to a six year old?)
Risto: "And what about the ship that sank, how many people died there?"
Me:"Which ship?"
Risto:"The one with four chimneys, that one!"
Me:"Titanic??!" (I don't remember telling him about the Titanic)
Risto:"Yeah, that one. How many people drowned?"
Me:"Oh, well, quite a few."
Risto:"How many people were saved?"
Me:"Very many people survived!!!! Oh, yes, many!" (This question was a relief!!!)

How do explain the death of hundreds of people? How do you explain the deaths caused by human cruelty, war? How do you explain the Holocaust? Would a vaccination help?

A new cousin

Our boys' cousin was finally born yesterday, a boy of 51 cm and 3,7 kg. Pictures hopefully soon.

Risto to Sweden

Risto is off to Sweden tomorrow. He'll be spending one week with my sister's family. DH is going on a business trip to Stockholm and Risto is flying with him, but flying back by himself. Exciting! Judging by the picture, I'm not the only mother gone crazy after 3 kids....

Past, present and future

A picture from the past. Not so distant past, but from last Easter we spent at my parents' summer place. We have a 4WD Land Rover and DH wanted to test it on snow, and I mean half a meter deep snow. This was a 10m stretch of road that was unplowed. Just look at the picture, do I need to tell you what happened?!?We got stuck with all the boys + Clara in the car. And since we don't carry a snow shovel with us we had to call my dad to bring one. He brought two and I guess the other one snapped in two. Well, after 20 minutes we were free to go. But DH swore that he'd try it again. Which he did on our way back home from the summer place. Again, car full of kids who eagerly want to help and our luggage, and DH determined to try it again from the other end of the road. My mom was almost hysterical with laughter when I called her 5 minutes after we had left:"We need a shovel...." I didn't dare to take a picture that time.

A picture from the present (picture it, ok?). Jaakko has been without a diaper for TWO DAYS. And no wet pants, either!!! Is the end of our 6.5 year diaper-infested life coming closer?

Future. Next week. No pictures yet, since the baby hasn't been born yet. My brother's first born is 13 days past the due date, so it should be next week that the boys get a new member for their football team!