Bucky and Missi's party

As you can see, I'm no speedy


gonzales (spelling?)





But here are a couple of pictures,


for those that weren't there :-)



The Girls givin Momma some lovin'



























Some that were feeling tired and
under the weather...







































Some that were running from the
camera, but found themselves stuck
in front of it anyway...
































Last minute chats on the way
out the door...



























Lots of Really good food!















Deep conversations...

And with the games that followed...
Pretty much, a really good time!

Tuesday with A

Anna had a concert last night with the Honors Orchestra ... they were VERY good. Just a bit of learning lesson for Mom. Next time I will do a bit of research about the visiting artist.

Tuesday we had rain, rain, rain.

That would be not because I washed the car, rather because we removed every interior door in the house and took them outside. The painter was showing up Tuesday morning to spray all the doors. Well ... we don't have a convenient garage to do the work in. So, no paint spraying. No doors. Curtains on doorways. And rain promised until Friday ... unless the forecast has changed.

We could not go to visit at Johnson's last night as I would have liked to do. Concert. So, we spent time before and after doing cleaning. The office/bedroom. I emptied the shredder 6 times, filled umpteen trash bags, more bags to donate ... and threw away shoes and cell phones. Getting there.

Today Brock has an appointment to hopefully remove his cast. I don't know that he will be castless completely ... perhaps a short one instead. He's ready! Yikes, but the dirt bike is calling his name again. He wants to ride it again before it goes. Not a good idea as far as I'm concerned.

Debbie

this week has been kind of busy, but nothing has been posted for awhile so i thought i would post some pictures. i hope that everyone has had a good week so far and a good one to come. here is a picture of laura and sarah, i was just messing around with my camera and took these pictures. have a good day.

The Slave

Well Bedroom number 1 got done by the slave. Last night Frans and Jen came over. Frans helped the slave do his work, (THANK-YOU FRANS) Here are some pictures of the room . I tried to get some of the floor but its hard to do.

Come and visit all and see the Marjanen house fixed up before we sell it. Its kind of funny that one would fix their house up nice just sell it, and not to enjoy it. Maybe when the kids are gone we will have every thing just perfect.

Well I hope all is well with every one. The slave must go back to work...... And then to play this afternoon.... Maybe.

Jari

Thursday 11:45 p.m.

Bedroom #1

Slave to assistant: "I think I'm going to have a cup of coffee and go to bed."

Assistant to slave: "If we just got this paint on the walls, tomorrow we could do the floors ... and then move the girls back in."

Slave to assistant: "I'll just stay up all night. You go to bed."

Assistant with some pangs of guilt: "I'll cut in the corners for you."

It isn't even midnight yet!!

Now the assistant is going to work on payroll taxes after putting in a 12 hour work day at the hospital.

At least for 5 minutes. (smiles)

I looked and these pictures are turning out nasty. Must fiddle with the camera settings someday soon. Maybe before Bedroom #2.

Tidbits from the Marjanens

When I took Anatomy & Physiology in pre nursing school, it certainly didn't resemble anything like the building of this body!

Jari joined the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary recently and volunteered to help make a dummy for search & rescue training purposes. So ... that foam truck comes in handy! Fill up a pair of jeans, fill up a shirt & then tuck it into a suit supplied by the Coast Guard. Jari wasn't able to attend the training weekend, but they said the "dude" did a good job of floating.

Tonite he went to a meeting. Came home with an award and a name plate. (doesn't look like a badge to me ... looks like a military name plate) He is having fun with this, hoping to get some time, hours, and training in

before we leave. Then a transfer to flotilla in Alaska, where the auxiliary is very active.

This is one of my "Goal Projects" for the week. It is accomplished!! I emptied all the photo albums. I can't spare the time to sort through the pictures, put every one of them in order

and into new albums. If I get everything else done ... then I'll drag out the boxes. I emptied 12 albums, filled several boxes, labeled them, and will tuck them into a very special trunk.

Yesterday evening I started feeling a bit maudlin and then realized why. I glanced at nearly every picture I had taken in 20 years! I saw pictures from my 6th grade field trip, youth days, high school graduation, the Eifel Tower in Paris, getting married, 5 babies, lots of camping trips, vacations to MN, so many birthdays, a few funerals. Wow!

There was this one box that I opened. I shuddered. I added several more things. And I closed the lid. What on earth do you do with negatives that you will in all likelihood never use? Do you pitch them? Where on earth do we accumulate all this STUFF??!!!

I even managed to move "family videos" into boxes for packing in the trunk!

The girls and I cleaned out their room. It echoes in there tonite. The bed, dresser and nightstand are the only things left. Then Jari has the wonderful pleasure of texture, paint, floors and trim. Put the room back together and hit the next one down the hall!

1 room = 2 kitchen trash bags of "pitch it" + 1 extra large bag of donate it. The pitching feeling is so awesome!

Enough from here for tonite. Will try add pics of the rocking chair that I shouldn't have added to my household, but dearly love, and my floor in the next few days. Have a great day all!

The votes are in?

If the decision was to vote for the Christmas Exchange by 2/1/07, I wanted to move the post up so that we would remember to do so. If you want to read all the discussion, etc. you can follow Jenny's directions on how to get to it.

I, Heather, after much deliberation am voting to not participate in the exchange. I won't elaborate on my reasoning on this post - I don't want to bore anyone with the details, but would be more than happy to discuss it with anyone. After the run of this, if it continues, I would like to be thought of at that time and given the option to join. I would also like the option to join if the process of it changes.

I hope everyone has a wonderful rest of the week!

Engagement Party

Thank you to all that came, we had a great time. And we missed all that were not able to attend. My parents had a blast trying to keep you all straight! I think they did pretty good. Once again, thanks for the great time, hopefully I will feel better next time we see each other!

~MISSI~

Jenny

If you want to keep discussing the "christmas gift exchange", just click on January archives on the right, and scroll down to find it. There got to be too many posts above it, so it got moved off the page.
It snowed in Phoenix yesterday!! It was raining while we were sitting in church yesterday, then it started snowing! It only snowed for about one minute, but it was pretty funny....Everyone in church was staring out the windows, and the whole church started buzzing from all the whispering! "look, it's snowing outside!" Poor Matti giving the sermon! He should have just said "and it's snowing outside, so Amen!"
My sister said it was also snowing at her house in Peoria around 2:30 in the afternoon for a few minutes. This week has been cold, and we have had lots of rain. Frans isn't too crazy about it, but I love this weather! We normally don't have real windy weather either, but last week, frans hardly did any work on the roofs, because it was so windy every day.
Jenny

Debbie

well today my dad, mom, susan and i went to the engagement party and had a wonderful time. today was a busy day getting things done and it felt really good to just sit down and visit, and have a relaxing time. i haven't quite figured this new blog out but i think i kind of got it, not to sure though ;) i came home to babysit and the kids went to bed so i thought it would be okay to come on and check my e-mail. i didn't know that people can send over 300 e-mails in just 2 days! i hadn't checked my e-mail for 2 days and i got over 300 e-mails! thats not counting the mail that goes straight to junk! well i am gonna go i am gettin kinda tired so, its fun to see the pictures, keep posting :)

Blogger

Just checkin out the new blog =) Lil bit different, but pretty close!

Jenny

Hello all~
If you are reading this, you are on our new blog. Our old blog got transferred to 'new blogger', and this is it. Not much different to look at it, but we just have a few more options than before. Our 'old blog' no longer exists! :)
If you look up on the blue bar above the title box that says KUOPPALAS, on the upper right corner, you will see the options 'create blog/sign in' Click on 'sign in'.
It will bring you to the screen to sign in. In the upper right hand corner it will say: "Sign in to use blogger. But first, where do you blog?" Click on 'new blogger' and sign in with the username and password I sent thruogh email.
Everything else is the same as before.
Hope this helps!
Jenny

Jenny

I switched us over to the new blog. We are not private right now, but we have the option to make it private if everyone wants. I emailed everyone the new username and password, but if you didn't get it, then I must have your email address wrong....so email me your new address.:)
If anyone has trouble getting on, let me know.
Jenny

Missi and Ivan Engagement Party

Can not wait to see everyone on Saturday. For those that want to arrive earlier than 4, please feel free, those arriving after 4, no fret for I am sure we will be having fun till midnight and for those of you that want to spend the evening, we will find a spot for you. (smiles)! Looking forward to an evening of family, fun and laughter!
Dave and Jody

PLEASE NOTE !!!!!!!!

Hello all

Please do not call my cell # any more, it went with business. If you want my new cell number please call Anita or our house.

Thank you

jari

Garbage

Anita sent me a "Thoughts" journal for Christmas with a nice poem
that basically stated....record my thoughts about the little things
Tristan does, because as much as you think you will remember all
of the cute little things, you don't always recall them. So, yesterday
was the first day I can say that I REALLY thought I should record
something. Which is sad, really, EVERYDAY he does something worth
recording. He is definitely a little character. So, I was putting away dishes
when I had heard him playing with the little empty bathroom garbage can.
For at least 7 minutes I heard the banging of this little can and then silence
intermittently. He was taking the garbage can over his head, then waiting
for me to turn around and look at him. Honestly, I stage photos sometimes,
but in this instance, it was ALL TRISTAN! I couldn't stop laughing, my belly
actually hurt from laughing so hard. He knew this was funny and knew I
was going to laugh. That's definitely a part of his Daddy in him, doing something
to make somebody laugh. : )

The first significant snowfall of winter, we played in it. And the other is his bathtime
reminding me of "captain hook" with the drain cups in his hands. : )

Entering a new phase...

We are experiencing the joy of a new phase in our lives. Eric is courting! We had the priviledge to have Rosie with us this past weekend. She fit into our family quickly. You will likely all be meeting her before long, but for now she is still living in Seattle. She is the thirteenth of seventeen kids; an efficient and hard worker; and loves to play games, laugh, and have a good time. We understand that this is in God's hands, but we are thrilled to have Rosie in our lives. -b

Birthdays

Happy Birthday Jari!!!

Happy Birthday Missi!!!

Happy Birthday Denise!!!

Happy Birthday Wayne!!!

Happy Birthday Machelle!!!! - Off the top of my head I thought it was this month =)

Hope all of your birthdays were happy or will be happy.

Heather and Shawn

And another post from jenny!

Here are a few pictures of our day in Flagstaff on Saturday. We had so much fun, and the kids did too:) It was the first time we have taken a day for just family in a LONG time. Away from home, no pictures or video to work on, no cleaning, no running errands, no cares....just us and the kids having fun. Alanys wasn't too pumped in the beginning, but she warmed up, and ended up loving it too!
I cracked up when I saw this picture of Alanys, she looks like a ref yelling "touchdown!"
I am sorry my posts are always so long...I don't know how to make my pictures smaller like Anita does!
Jenny

Jenny

I posted pictures of our family pets on the Forstie blog about a week ago, but was not able to copy and paste it over here. So I am just going to redo it here. Normal people have dogs, cats, birds or fish for pets....but not us. Nope. We like to be different. We have termites! And I am telling you, they are the nastiest little creatures that you have ever seen! Well, their days are numbered here now...we got our house treated last week! Thank goodness, they were starting to give me nightmares! The only rooms we have seen them in inside are the computer room (off the family room) and the family room. If they were in any of the bedrooms, I think I would have treated the house a long time ago...I wouldn't have been able to sleep knowing they could be falling down on me! Here are a few pictures to show you what they look like. Be prepared to be disgusted! The first three pictures are the same picture, just blown up a little closer in each one. These are the tracks they build to stay in the dark as they are coming down looking for water. (mind you, these tracks are made out of OUR HOUSE that they are slowly destroying!! Infuriating!)
The picture of Frans' finger is just to give you an idea of how long the tracks can get over night! And if you look closely, you can see the termite at the end of the track trying to reach frans' finger! Gross!
The last picture is just to show you how they treat your house. They drill these holes all the way around your house, put the treatment in(I didn't watch them do that), then patch up the holes. I should not see any more signs of termites after 90 days....and I have a two year warranty. At first I was embarrassed to say we had them, but it does not matter how clean/new your house is, they will go anywhere. Aren't they nasty?
We had an awesome day yesterday, we left in the morning and went up to Flagstaff to play in the snow....boy was there snow!! And it was COLD, but tons of fun...the kids had such a ball:) I will post some pictures of our day soon.
In other news, we spent an enjoyable day today at Marjanen's. They had a lot of the youth over (that went on the Lake Powell trip with Jari and others), and Bruce & jody Barber, and Juha & Annette Marjanen over for a bbq, and to celebrate Jari's birthday. Was a lot of fun, and got several games of Settlers in after everyone else left. And that is always a good time. Anna and Tia came over to spend the night, and the girls didn't get to sleep till midnight! We stayed way too late! Am hoping they all sleep in in the morning!! (wishful thinking I'm sure!)
Well, I am off to bed myself....(Jari told me today, that he can always tell my posts, because they are the only ones done at 1:00a.m.!!!
Happy monday everyone!
Jenny

Jenny

What are everyone's thoughts on switching over to 'new blogger'? If we do that, we will be able to have our own private blog, where nobody can read it but us. Right now we have it so no-one can comment but us, we can make it so nobody can even read it. What do you all think? I can set it up, and let everyone know when I do it.
Jenny

Happy Birthday Ivan!

Happy b-day to you
happy b-day to you
happy b-day dear buckshot
happy b-day to you!

e.

Christmas Exchange

Let's have the discussion of the "what to do about the family exchange gifts" here being as you have to scroll so far down and people probably won't find it there if they haven't seen it already and remember to look there.

Please would everyone make some comments and lets make a decision.

I'm okay with the recipe thing, but to be honest, I don't have any special recipes. I could try to make something up though. I'm fine with ornaments for everyone. Or another idea could be draw names and make it "white elephant" or regifting - somthing you got as a gift, you give to someone else. I have many wedding presents, I haven't even used yet as no where to put them - ha ha.

What does everyone else think?

Heather

A Mom of a working teen

Here I sit ... the clock says 11:21 p.m. on this computer. Alyx is at work and am waiting for a call to pick her up. We have been buring the candle at both ends so long, that the wick was gone by 6 p.m. today. But ... here I sit. I caught a nap on the road (no, I wasn't driving!) between Brock's buddies house and Home Depot. Must have been all of 10 minutes or so.

Home Depot is our new home away from home. Guess what that means anybody? HUNDREDS of feet of trim is up in the house. Tonight the floors were started. We decided that they needed something. Will post a new pic of the living room when it is complete. It will be beautiful ... my hubby is such a crafty guy! Last week we did the living top to nearly bottom. I feel like I now live in a world void of color, but the room feels bigger! And ... I am still struggling with picture frames. I love pictures of people. I usually have framed photos everywhere. I have run out of spaces for them. I keep moving the pile from floor spot to different floor spot because I can't decide what to part with.

Last Tuesday we played like it was vacation from school. These photos are actually taken at 12:30 a.m. Jari, Alyx, Brock & I played several games of Settlers. Tia had friends over to celebrate her birthday and they had "hair stuff" going on in the living room at the same time. Fun times!

Today was garage sale day. Considering my usual luck with sales ... today was a boon. Let's hope for great success tomorrow. Jenny and girls came and spent the night last night ... setting up the sale, visiting and munching Valentine candy 'til much too late.

Must go get Alyx.

Have a great day/week/month/year all!

Anita

Poem and picture

my mom has always wanted this picture and so laurie gave it to her for christmas along with this WONDERFUL poem, it made my mom cry when she read it. i don't know if who have heard it or not but here it is...

up on the rooftop of this barn we all stood pulling out nails from the delicate wood

I told them "save this" 'cause i knew in my heart theses were memories, not wood we were pulling apart

Grandpa's hands were like iron, all callused like bone he worked the foundation setting stone upon stone

he built up a fortress to feed and keep warm the animals we raised "up north" on the farm.

the red paint has faded and turned almost gray from the time it was weathered to protect all the hay.

The pictures for you to hang on your wall and have it spark memories by some, or by all.

when you glance at the barn in this old wooden frame remember the wood and from where it whence came.

Nail by nail it went up by grandpa just once..... nail by nail it was preserved by eric, brian your sons.

Merry Christmas Becky!

love, Laurie

Council

I took the oath tonight, had my first council mtg, and got appointed to the Joint Recreation Cmte, Public Safety, Virginia-Eveleth EDA, Parks Commission, and back-up for Hospital Board.

Lots to learn but i'm having fun already and looking forward to enjoying these next four years.

The Chief was pleased to hear that Eric has been "lobbying" me.

I'll give you all a tour of the council chambers next time you come to town! -e.

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year to all, i hope that this year has started out well, and continues to go well as this year begins. happy new year! -debbie