Monday, September 24, 2012

Another Notch

I think we are starting to get the hang of this fast and furious travel schedule.  This weekend it was Stockholm, Sweden.  The weather was a little inclement, but that did not stop the whirlwind tour.

Saturday
8 am (Finnish Time) - Board flight in Helsinki
8 am (Swedish Time) - land in Stockholm
9 am - drop off the bags at the hotel
10 am - hit the children's museum
11:30 am - see the Vasa museum (Sweden's celebration of shoddy boat building)
12 pm - Swedish meatballs at the Stora Gungan Tavern at Skansen (huge botanical garden/village/museum)
2 pm - Got lost on the island of Skeppsholmen
3 pm - Made it to Galma Stan
4 pm - hit a cafe in the middle of our self guided tour
4:30 pm - juice break
7 pm - reindeer steak, more Swedish meatballs and some Swedish microbrews at Ardbeg Embassy restaurant
8 pm - bed for the bruiser

Sunday
7 am - cafe
8 am - window shopping
9 am - chased some pigeons (Hoorah, it's the American tourists!!!!!)
10 am - train
12 pm - fly home

Hey Sweden, consider yourself checked off the list.  Here is a link to our flickr pictures:  http://www.flickr.com/photos/matthewhigh/sets/72157631613515511/





Sunday, September 16, 2012

A New Partner-In-Crime

Congrats to my brother-in-law David and sister Kathryn on their new arrival.  Welcome to the world Halford.

Saturday, September 15, 2012

Autumn Is Here

This week seemed to go by really fast!  With the help of a sweet neighbor of ours and another Finnish friend, Harris and I found a play group on Tuesdays and Fridays.  It is supported by an Imatran church and is for parents and children to meet and play.  They start out by doing a craft, then play time, snack/juice for the kids and coffee/tea for the parents, play, and sing at the end.  Harris and I picked up on "The wheels on the bus" in Finnish by the tune and motions.  We were able to participate but of course with only the motions.  There were a few parents that spoke to us.  The directors were very nice and inviting.  They had picture day yesterday. Harris had an individual photo taken and then they had a group pic of kids and parents.  I think it will be good for both of us, but especially Harris.  I'm glad he has a couple of days to play with other children! 

I had found a bike for Matt a few weeks ago, and then one for me on Monday.  We are excited to all ride together now.  Our friends Laura and George gave us a child's seat to put on the back, so we can take Harris for rides.  Harris is liking his own bike, but still learning how to pedal.

I started a tennis lesson group on Thursday.  Imatra has a brand new indoor tennis facility with two courts.  I told the coach that I didn't mind what age group/level I was with - I just wanted to get back in the game.  It was an hour and half of fun and can't wait for next week!  Hopefully I won't be as sore after the second lesson.  Just a little something to make you laugh...so I totally picked up a sparkling water bottle instead of regular and it spewed a little on the (carpet) court.  I was so embarrassed!!  Ughh!  I guess I will get most of these labels down before we leave.

Matt's job is still going well!  He rode his bike to and from Russia yesterday because the shuttle wasn't running.  He enjoyed it, but I don't think he will be making it a daily routine.

It rained all morning here.  We were finally over it and just decided to get out anyway and make the sausage contest at the square.  We lasted about 30 minutes.  Between the rain and the crowd, it just wasn't fun.  We did make it to one tent though, and had some yummy sausages!!  And what do you know...as soon as we got back in the car, the sun popped out!  Well, it was time for Harris to go down for a nap anyway.  This afternoon we played outside behind the apartment.  The leaves are changing and the apples are falling from the trees.  Hello autumn in Imatra!  Harris had fun riding his bike, playing with his hockey stick, and picking apples.  Anybody want to guess what he did with them??  Yep, threw them in the bushes...

The pictures below are from today.  Matt made his specialty pizzas tonight!  We have a video of Harris eating peppers from the pizza.  This child is so much fun! 




                     Apple trees are everywhere!  Glad that we have one to pick from in the back yard!



                                                             Look at these cheeks!!


Sunday, September 9, 2012

Just Hanging Around

We have been taking it pretty easy over the last two weekends.  We made a run to Lappeenranta (20 minutes away) to see some more shops and views.  Harris and Stacy made some new connections with a bi-weekly Mommy and Me class.  I am sure it will provide a great place for Harris to expend some energy once the darkness sets in during the winter. 

In the meantime, he is spending about 90% of the time that he is awake playing with his new car ramp that Mommy got.  I was pretty excited to put it together this morning seeing as how it had about 174 pieces and a certain somebody didn't want to wait for it to be put together before playing.  Here are some pics from Lappeenranta, the trail by our apartment that goes around the river, the dam, and a mushroom straight from Super Mario Brothers.