Happy New Year

New Year's Eve. We had a pretty light day with family. We took the kids to a local soccer field to go ice skating. (Not sure whether it's accurate that the soccer fields double as hockey rinks or vice versa. I suspect the latter).

We were accompanied by Uncle Charles and quasi-cousin Emma who hasn't left Tess's side despite the fact that they don't have a common language between them.

After trying skating and sledding, we settled into dinner where your narrator was firmly corrected when he referred to the entree as "Swedish" meatballs. They were, in fact, Finnish meatballs. Possibly someone can explain the distinction to me later.

After dark, which came quite early, we set out to divest ourselves of the days fireworks acquisitions. Much joy was had.

We finished with a Finnish New Year's tradition of melting tin. Everyone in the family melted 2 small tin horseshoes that we'd purchased for this occasion. We then poured the melted mixture into water. The resulting shape signifies your fate in the coming year.

I truly thought that mine looked like a motorcycle but every woman in the room promptly and assertively corrected me.

Tess says that hers looked like a piece of melted tin with lots of holes. I sense that she will have a very literal year in 2010.

We are having more fun than you, Alison

Ice skates... check

Dinner supplies... check

Fireworks... check

Baby Niilo... check

Snow... check, check and double-check

Wishing all of our families a Happy New Year.

More Finland

We had a confirmed sighting of the sun yesterday. At 12:10, it was definitively spotted about 10 degrees above the horizon. Hard to see through the haze but it was definitely the sun.

Night vision goggles would have been useful (credit to Beth).

Not sure what's on tap for today. It's scheduled to get freaky cold (it was merely very cold yesterday). Also, we have New Years Eve to celebrate. Fireworks appear to be for sale in all the stores so it may be time to teach my children how to handle explosives.

Yay Finland

An update for those family members who worry about us (you know who you are).

We arrived safely in Finland yesterday. First impressions. Helsinki is Buffalo with funny letters -- assuming Buffalo was more hard-care about the weather, didn't salt the roads and had no sunlight. And if there was a sauna in every bathroom (this is a hearty land populated by hearty folk but they're pretty clever...)

An update. Local experts have informed me that the sun does rise above the horizon here but I've seen no evidence so far.

The kids are atwitter because we're headed to a local (indoor) water-park this morning.

Finland packing list

Packing list:

** hiking boots (10 of them, hopefully that go in five pairs)

** snow boots

** ice skates

** snow pants and all other snow-type clothing

** swimsuits? (indoor water park, not! the Finnish sauna rounded out with a dive in an icy lake)

** not sun glasses

5fordhams can usually pack for weeks in a small carry-on. Not this trip. Two big duffles.

Junkyard Wars Update

The kids just built a working mangonel out of tinkertoys. Photos to follow.

Christmas After Action Report

Christmas festivities concluded Friday evening on schedule. Thank goodness. As a kid, I don't remember anybody warning me that Christmas was so much work.

We ended the day watching yet another episode of Junkyard Wars. This has inexplicably become my families latest addiction. As a result, we are learning all kinds of post apocalyptic survival skills (assuming your apocalypse left a little trash behind). Season 1 starts with a practicum on siege engine technology and works its way up to even scarier stuff (last night's episode was marine salvage). At least one of my kids is now desperate to learn to weld.

My film critic friend Becky would say this is a total red state show. I assume that's a complement.

Maddie was a bit under the weather this morning so she skipped church with her dad. As soon as our van drove away, she immediately felt better and asked to do a project. Fortunately, Micah gave me a roll of duct tape for Christmas so we decided to make a kite.

Alas, there was no wind to be found.

Tess has been busy with her new yoyo book learning tricks. With luck, she'll be ready to go on the Smothers Brothers in a few years.

Click on our tree for photos...