Jenny

Hello!
Talk about frusterating.....I am tired, and should not even still be up, and I went and put a blog entry in with pictures....just to realise when I was all done, that I put it on the Forstie blog instead of the kuoppala blog!!
Anyways, here are a few pics from the park on Sunday. We went with our family to celebrate the October birthdays. On the way home we stopped and picked up Anna and Tia who were spending the night. Frans stayed a while and helped Jari do some drywall repair in the kitchen, while us girls went home! Dropped them back at home tonight, and their kitchen looks awesome! The cabinets are darker than what they had before, but I think the kitchen looks bigger. I love it, and am sure they do too! I'm with Becky, maybe after everythings all done, Anita won't want to move! Anita, you should post some 'in the process' pictures!
Anita, I left those shoes at your house, and foregot to give anna some $! Sorry!
Where are you Heather, haven't heard you on the blog in a while!
I would keep rambling, but I am going crosseyed!!
Later, Jenny

Missi and Ivan

Hey all! Not much from here, but I thought I would post quickly. Tomorrow, Ivan should be starting my boss' garage!!!!! Work has been a disaster area for the past two weeks. The concrete guys have done a lot of work and are now almost done. Just half of the driveway left! So next is getting the garage built. That is where Ivan gets to come with me to work for a week or so :-) Otherwise there is not much else. I know this is a short entry, but it is now time to get my girls up from their quiet time. We had a long day and needed some time to relax!

Maybe I will get Ivan on here next week to enter his thoughts on something!

~MISSI~

Mr. B

A few of us went to Bullfrog's the other night for dinner. Liz and I talked to Mr. B. He was very excited to see us and the other Forbes/Cherry "kids" that were there.
Heather

Knock, Knock...

here's a photo of one of my lawn signs. this campaign has been my life lately - doorknocking, lawn signs, etc. - its all good fun.

we just had a "meet the candidate" event and our former oil delivery man ("be-a-man; be-a-truck" to david) stopped by and says hello to everyone...

e.

Is this gray on my head really just blonde stuff coming through?

The title of this post is a serious question. Do not laugh.

While I was in nursing school I found that if I went to Super Walmart (Sorry about that Shawn) once a month and did a massive grocery shopping, I usually had food in the house. You can do a lot with cream of mushroom soup and the likes. Lately I've been going to Costco. Great that you have pickles in the house, but doesn't do much for the dinner menu. So, today Brock & I went to Walmart. Two carts full of food ... and I mean staple sort of things. That means the only junk food I bought today wasn't even really junk food!

Here is the "blonde" part.

Why didn't I turn around when I was halfway there?

Jari called, when I was halfway to the store, with the exciting news that our kitchen cabinets will be ready to be picked up on Saturday.

Do you have any clue what that means???

I just filled all the cupboards with food. All those soup cans, tomato sauce cans, spaghetti sauce bottles, ziploc bags, etc. all have to move.

Am very excited that the soup is here, but where do I put it all on Saturday when I have to move out the kitchen?

Coulda, shoulda, woulda really survived until next Wednesday ... I think.

Am scrapbooking a book about my house. Am going to do a 12x12 book that shows life here. Told Jenny that I wouldn't take a picture of the kitchen unless it was "cleaned" first. So, will snap pics of before and after ... hopefully we'll have new pics to blog a week from now!!!

My other question is: do you suppose I'm getting countertops? I never picked any out.

Anita

Laundry Pile

Hey All!

I saw something about posting laundry piles.
Well, this is a clean pile on my bed and there's
a little munchkin amidst the clothes! Not as
clean as the clothes are, but sure cute.

I have more I'll publish later! : )
: )

LK

Charlie says...

Hey peoples!! I havn't posted here for a while, and I don't have any recent pictures of any laundry piles (I may be wrong, but I think I'd get a boot in my hiney if I posted one anyway) But, I'm working on a webpage that shows a little bit more of my stress reliever/habit/excersize program. Before the weekend is over, I should have most of the pictures on it that I'm going to be putting there, short of later "action" shots of... stuff. The url is www.commandotrailers.com/motocross Its barely started yet, but this afternoon, I'll be gettin a buncha more pic'a'chures.

food

err I mean... chow

Brainerd photos

Pics from Mom & Isa that i'm finally getting posted. The bald eagle was between Brainerd and Stoney; the gorgeous water scene is the pond and Stoney Lake in the background. -e.

Jenny

Our little mozart?



I need lighting equipment for an upcoming wedding, so rented them for today to get comfortable using them. Finally got some pictures of Alanys! Her "1 year" pictures at 17 months! Not bad....now I just have to send them out! Found this little piano at a garage sale last week, and when I brought it home, Frans says....let's not let the kids play with it (and break it) and use it for a prop for pictures... A few days ago it had little 4 inch legs, now they are who knows where! But the kids do love playing with it!
Happy Friday everyone!
Jenny

Birthdays & Cartwheels

We have a darling, most caring, kind hearted 15 year old daughter in our world now. She is counting the days to a learner's permit so she can drive. Yikes!

Watch out world. When she figures out how to make it happen, she will certainly make a difference. Liz, she may give you a run for your job! It must be something in the genes.

The grass is cartwheel ready. You won't catch me out there trying it, but was a good time laughing watching everyone else. Up in the northern parts you are looking at snow ... Jenny & I are busy planting grass. And I am dreaming of leaving this? I may need my head examined!




Even Duke enjoyed a good rolling around!

Jenny

I brought Lindsey to school this morning, and thought I'd surprise Frans and put down the grass seed before he got home from work. I spent about 45 minutes in Ace Hardware with the girls, trying to figure out which seed and mulch to buy. I had to buy some new weed whacker string and a new hose too, because we only have one, and I am not going to be carting it to and from the backyard twice a day! So I got my excersize for the day lifting these 50 pound bags out of the van....some nice fellow helped me put them into the van at Ace. Well, I got home to find the weed whacker was out of gas....it needs to be gas and oil mixed. So Frans will have to stop on his way home to get some. So we vacuumed out the van, and went to story time at the library, and now are home, and Toni and Alanys are napping.
Here is Kierstyn all dolled up....she loves playing dress up when Lindsey is at school and the other two are napping! She keeps saying, "am I the prettiest princess?" This is my girl who couldn't care less if her shirt was striped, and her skirt was polk-a-dot, and she had mismatched shoes on...brush my hair? Why mom?! She doesn't sound like Frans' daughter does she?? So I just love when she plays dress up:)
How is the campaigning going Liz? What are you gonna do when it's too cold to bike outdoors Heather? I can't believe it is snowing there Heather!! It is so balmy here! Hard to imagine snow!
Frans and I are trying to budget our money, and have started paying cash for groceries and gas. Mainly just to see where our money is going. I saved all my receipts for September and sat down last night to itemize everything. I realized that I went to the grocery store about 16 times last month...and that isn't counting my target/wallmart runs! So I called Anita to try figure out if the amount I am spending on groceries is way too much or too little compared to others! And also to try figure out a way to go to the grocery store only once a week instead of 6 times a week! So I made some lists....I listed all my meals I make, (and some I'm going to start making, thanks Anita!), and all the ingredients, etc I need to go with the meal. I also listed everything else I buy like TP, cleaning supplies, health/beauty, etc.. So now I am going to plan my meals for the month, and try do my shopping for the whole month in one trip. So before I go to the store, I am going to go down my list and figure out everything I need! Hopefully this works, and cuts down on my trips to the store. I will run to the store for one thing and leave with 12! Which results in higher grocery bills I'm convinced! Even if you are getting stuff you 'need'! Wish me luck, I will let you all know how it goes!
Well, I better get running, need to wake the girls up and go pick up Lindsey!
I would love to see pictures from everyone too!!!! I am not about to put a picture on of my laundry pile, I would feel too guilty for sitting on the computer!
have a great rest of the week everyone!
Jenny

Where are some pics from the rest of you?

I know there are a few more cameras floating around that have to be capturing things like growing laundry piles & the likes. Where are you?

HAPPY BIRTHDAY REINO, FATHER-IN-LAW, DAD, GRANDPA

You're someone I look up to and someone I care about.
Your devotion to your family is endless and with that there is no doubt.

I respect you and need to take the time to say that you mean so much to me.
You are a strong foundation, a pillar of strength, the roots of our family tree!

You deserve the best, a day of rest, a special day just for you.
Wishing you a Happy Birthday and thanking you for all the things you do!


We hope you have a grand birthday on Thursday!
Dave, Jody, Tanner and Mitchell

more rain

I see there is a lot here I have not read yet and I need to read them soon but I's tired. I was up camping for One day at father and sons camp but had to come home to shoot a wedding on sat. here is a picture of a lake on the way back to Phoenix.

Happy Birthday!!

Happy Birthday to you!
Happy Birthday to you!
Happy Birthday dear Alyx!
HAppy Birthday to you!
I LOVE YOU and hope you
have the best 15th Birthday ever!!
Anna Marjanen

Happy Birthday

Happy Birthday to you;
Happy Birthday to you;
Happy Birthday Dear Gary,
Happy Birthday to you!!

Hope you have a great birthday!!

Heather

Jet Trails

This morning Jari called me to go look outside as Air Force One was leaving Sky Harbor. I looked and looked ... and lo and behold ... the plane was finally in sight.

Didn't have the camera with me. Hadn't thought of that.

Ran in to get it when I noticed the sky. The wind took the jet trails and they were absolutely amazing! Looked like someone was rolling a ball of string around the earth and I was on the inside.

Anita

A little of this & a little of that

Well, life just moves right along. Last week, or the week before, I had commented somewhere that I had this VERY LONG list of things I was going to accomplish. I don't even remember what they were, but do remember not getting ANYTHING on the list done. Isn't it great that tomorrow is still another day?

A few pics from yard progress. Brock riding the dirtbike was taken after the pool came down and before Jari started scraping the yard with the "rental toy". The yard is still not completely done, but ... the grass is green, the mushrooms are growing, the vines are getting water, the tree has new green after the shock of planting ... things are moving slowly but surely!
































Was showing Mom & Dad the latest and greatest thing I found. Learned about it from a visitor at the hospital one day. Works awesome. Suppose to take that nasty tar off the car when you are driving a freshly done road and there is no other way to get where you're going. Also, tho' I've not had the opportunity to try it yet, is supposedly great for cleaning bugs off windshields/grilles etc. I absolutely adore the fact that it takes all those dirty hand brown/black marks off the front of a nearly white microwave. It has that finish with cracks and grooves ... they collect everything they shouldn't. Anway .... it can be found in an auto parts store ... or I found it in the auto section at Walmart!

Was going to take a picture of the nastiest smelling paint remover cans today ... lo and behold ... someone actually took out the trash! The girls' bedroom floor is DONE!!! With the exception of filling tack strip holes, the paint is off the floor. Took a month I think. Used probably a hundred WIDE razor scraper blades (that is no joke ... the hundred are gone) and three cans of JASCO paint remover. (At least they weren't the gallon size!)

Yesterday was a day for chocolate. Should have had several bags in the house and had none. Call it a hormonal boohooing kind of day. (Excuse sounds good anyway!) Today was going to be a great one! Did Egyptian history with Brock this morning, worked on some math .. then headed for a writing workshop. Problem: today is not the 4th as I thought it was. It was a bit of a trek, we took several wrong turns, only to find we were about 24 hours early. Will try again tomorrow! Now I know that there is a JoAnn's in the same parking lot. That must be the reason I went today and couldn't have time to browse. I left my coupon at home. Tomorrow should be interesting as well!

Before I forget. For anyone who likes chocolate & coffee. I bought this at Costco. We make it with water and even I like it. Me who orders plain coffee at Starbucks. I seriously think I must quit going to Costco. That place is ridiculous ... I know why their carts are so big. Wish they had those little baskets you carry. Have gone to Walmart many times and refused to take a cart. If it doesn't fit in the carry basket, it isn't coming home with me. Then ... willpower goes out the window ... and I'm praying for an extra arm or two. Really, just how much toilet paper, bath soap, shampoo, dog food, window cleaner, ammonia etc. can you really fit in a carry basket anyway??

You all have a wonderful day!

Anita & clan

Jenny

Hello everyone! I am up late once again! I had full intentions of being to bed by 9 tonight, but it is 10:30, and here I sit! Frans and I were up till about 1:30 last night...him working on video, and me working on pictures from a wedding last week! Anna and Tia were here for the night, so they all had fun playing together this morning, and I was able to work on pictures some more:)
We went to Mcdonald's for supper last night, and let the kids play in the playplace....they have a ball there! Even more fun with Anna and Tia there! Toni has never gone up to go down one of the slides but one of the girls got her to go up, and once she did it, you couldn't get her to stop...really wish I would have had my camera!
Heather, that is really sad about Julia! I never bring it up to Paul, because I don't know if he likes to talk about it. I have asked him about it before, but it's been a while now. We're all thinking about her and hope all goes well with her chemo!
You should bring your camera along on one of your bikerides, and snap some pictures....of the bikers, and the fall colors! We don't get to enjoy the colors down here!
We were thrilled to have Grandma and Grandpa stay a night with us while they were here! Here are a few pictures....the one with grandma holding Alanys was taken at our house, and the others at Jari and Anita's. Frans was making them look at each other like newleyweds for the picture of them two! And I love this picture of Alyx:) We sure enjoyed their visit, and the girls can't wait to see you guys agian!!
The weather is starting to cool off here a little....ha! yeah right!! It's been right around 100-103, but now this week is supposed to be a little cooler! There is a chance for rain tomorrow, and by the end of the week it should be in the low 90's! Let's hope!
Last fall I was booked solid with weddings every weekend, and now this year it's the oppisite! Frans has a wedding for the next five weeks in a row, to my one!! It's kinda nice tho! Father's and son's camp is this weekend, which we didn't realize when we booked this wedding....so he may miss it. He was talking about maybe going up for thursday, friday and come back for the wedding on saturday. It takes a little over two hours to get to camp, so he could even come home early saturday morning... kind of a bummer for him!!
I better get off here and get to bed now, I am starting to go crosseyed! I will write more later!
Have a good week all!
Jenny

Heather

Hello everyone. I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend.

Saturday I was at a Kaleva meeting that lasted many hours. It was enjoyable, but I get recruited to do things that are outside of my comfort level, i.e. reading a poem in front of a large group of people, etc. Overall, it was very enjoyable. If anyone wants to join the Ladies of Kaleva, you're more than welcome to do so. Also, if any of the Kuoppala grandchildren want to apply for a Kaleva scholarship, remember, that they can as their grandmother and aunts are members. If you are interested, let me know.

Fall is here and it is beautiful. I was able to go biking yesterday with Kate and Annie. We went from Giant's Ridge to Aurora down different trails. We did a total of 17 miles. Much of the area was trail in the woods and the trail would be covered with colorful leaves or pine needles. It was absolutely a beautiful bike ride. This weekend was supposed to be the peak colors, but maybe next weekend will still be beautiful if anyone wants to come up and visit.

My obsession with deer hunting has begun. I've seen a doe and her 2 fawns pretty consistently. We also have 2 bucks in the neighborhood. I saw a buck 2 times the other day, but am not sure if it was the same one or a different one. They don't stay on our land, but travel through. I'm hoping they will be traveling through when deer hunting comes (preferably when I'm in my stand and not at night). I get so excited and then when hunting comes, no deer left around here. If only I knew where they go. I wish Shawn and I could buy a lot more land just to hunt on. See, I'm obsessed.

Shawn has been tilling up our land and is going to be planting some rye grass or something. I don't know what it is, but thought that sounded good. The sad part is that the deer no longer have a lot of brush cover, so probably won't be back to our house in the same pattern that they had been coming. However, if the grass grows, they may come to feast. We'll see what happens.

In case anyone doesn't know this, Julia had colon cancer and completed her chemo. She was going in to the doctor to get an "all clear" and once that happened, she was buying herself and Shawn a ticket to Alaska so she could go on vacation. So, with eagerness she went to the doctor. However, rather than an "all clear" she found out she has cancer in her liver. She is now back on chemo and it's more intensive. The doctor told her it's aggressive cancer. She is feeling miserable. Stays home a lot, sleeps a lot, eats little and generally just feels miserable. So, if anyone wished to send her a card, it may brighten up her otherwise very dreary days.

I hope everyone has a good week and I look forward to reading something from each and everyone of you.

Hey all! It has been a long time since Ivan and I posted! I am going to try to post more now that I have more time. Both of the girls I nanny for are in school in the afternoons on Tues., Wed., and Thurs. so I will have some free time! Although on Thursdays I will be helping out in the oldest girls Kindergarten classroom, but that will be fun (and good on my teaching resume). In a few months I will be getting a 3 month old baby girl also. A friend of my boss had a baby a month ago and will be bringing her to me. That will be interesting and a lot of work. That poor baby will be carted around-town all week long! Right now I feel like a chaufer becuase of all of the activities the girls are in. Sarah is in school 5 days a week in the afternoon with Spanish class before school on Tues. and Thurs. She also has Ballet on Tues. nights. Molly has swim class Mon afternoon, school Tues., Wed. and Thurs. afternoon and ballet on Friday mornings. Wow! Well enough about the girls!

Ivan's work is slowing down, just like Jody's, but he is still working! He has been going all over fixing other peoples bobo's. But soon he will be taking some time off to build my bosses a new garage. He is very excited to do build again, not just fix. When Ivan is not at work he has been growing grass! He has done a great job cleaning up the lawn. The crab-grass is almost gone and there is new grass growing in its place.

Well, back to work I go! ~MISSI~

Lindula's

Hi everyone! Is anyone out there? I have a newer job at work and tend to look at the blog spot more often. Before, there used to be so many postings and I would be really late on seeing them. Now, I rarely find a new posting. What is everyone doing?

KUOPPALA'S

From the Manor: Report on last weekend? Report on past week is more like it! To Hasscib for Srs. Camp on 9-15,
return home on 9-17. Interesting presentations. Flew to
AZ on Mon., taking shuttle from here at 5 a.m.! Could have
taken a bump but didn't dare as couldn't talk to anyone in
AZ. Was told later that we should take a bump whenever
it is offered. Yes, we should have. First evening there, Jari
did halibut, salmon and hot dogs. Frans, Jenny and girls,
also Bill and Jane came over. Nice evening. Enjoyable time
at both homes. Finished two states and did outline stitch
on plane for a third. Precut floss so didn't lose scissors at
security. Got home 7:45 p.m. on Sat. To Rockford for
Sunday. Saw Jen there. Invited for meal at Kiviahde's;
Ken and Edna Kesti also there. Evening home services in
Brainerd. Today perhaps we rest up before held mail is
picked up from the post office after 12:00, and then go
through that.

Did Heather Rinerson have little dark spots or something
on her eye lids? Wasn't that a Rinerson who worked at
Coop Economy Mart when Ivan did? His name isn't
listed so perhaps I remember wrong. Who was in
Heather Rinerson's grade? dk

Lindula's

Hello. I hope things are going well for everyone. I just wanted to fill in everyone on my wonderful weekend. Calm the jealousy, you can come up and share the joy anytime you'd like =).

Friday after work, didn't feel well. ( I need to get to the chiropractor as I've been having a lot of headaches again. Okay, enough of my sob story). So, we didn't do much. Did some cleaning of the house, etc.

Saturday, got up early and went with Shawn to Princeton. He had tried to sell a dump truck at an auction and it didn't bring what he needed, so we went to pick it up. He drove it back. Then, we worked on putting soffit (I'm not sure if that is how you spell it) on the house and blocked off the eaves so the cats can't get in anymore. Worked on that until about dark. Made supper and I was going to bike. I was still biking when Shawn (who had gone to his mother's called. Sheila is up - I knew that and had seen her, but now Dan and Maurie were up to). I got to ride for 10 more minutes, finished only 12 miles, was hoping to do 18, and went over there to visit. Got home late.

Sunday, biked to church at Julia's and then planned to bike home too. Well, in the field by Julia's there was a dozer. Several of the Lindula's stopped to talk to the men there. They are putting in a house. Julia doesn't own the land right up to the road. There's 4.5 acres and it was sold to someone. They plan to move a house from Hibbing to the spot. So, the big debate was if they could. In the township, you have to have 9 acres to build. However, if the lot is grandfathered in prior to 71 or 76 or some such thing, you may be able to. The decision was that Shawn call Planning and Zoning in the morning. Well, with them buying the property, Shawn and I had work to do of moving all of his fencing. He claims it's $400 worth of fence posts and you don't want someone claiming that it is theirs. So, we worked on that until dark and no, I didn't get to bike home. Now, we have barbed wired strung out all over the place until we can think of a creative way to roll it onto something so we can reuse it at our house. Anyone got any clever ideas? Wire rolls off spools nicely, but doesn't go back on so well. Oh yeah, to alleviate his mother's worries, we also cleaned her chimney. Shawn was kind enough to sweep it and then I got to clean up the mess. I'm so glad I have an outside wood stove. All I do to clean the chimney, is leave the door open, burn it hot and watch the flames shoot out of the chimney and I bet it's clean when I'm done. Maybe not so healthy for the stove?

That was my weekend. How was everyone else's weekend?

Tristan

Tristan is doing wonderful.
He smiles alot and is very independent. Loves to sing
and make loud noises. He loves banging on things. Grandma
Kathy taught him how to play the "drums!" Thanks Grandma!
Obviously you can see his new teeth! All six of them so far!

Bath time is a favorite!

So, is climbing into cupboards and
opening and closing cupboards and drawers.
Getting locks this weekend!

Grandma Kathy buys him so many adorable
outfits, the one above is one of my fall favorites.
Hugs & Kisses!
Love, Laurie and Tristan!

Jenny

It seems like I don't blog very often anymore! I will admit, that I look at it several times a day to see if there is anything new! So I will make a better effort at blogging myself more often!
How is everyone? Laurie, Liz, Jody, Charlie, Becky, haven't seen you guys on the blog in a while! (I know you others don't have computer access) How is the biking going this week Heather? I didn't do anything on Monday...went to Jari and Anita's for a yummy fish dinner, but did not have time to excersize! Went to curves yesterday, and will take a walk today I'm hoping!
Here are a few pictures of Kierstyn on her first day of Sunday School. Ever since Lindsey started school, she has been so excited for sunday school to start! I was running around that morning like a headless chicken, so Frans did the picture taking!
The kids have been in their swimming suits all morning begging to go swimming....but I just can't get out there! The water is getting way to cold to go for me! I know, I am a wimp! The weather here is getting so nice! Now, if you ask Reino and Diane, (they are here now) they may tell you different! I was watering out front at 10 this morning while the girls rode their bikes, and with the wind it felt so good! I never broke a sweat....park weather will be here soon! Yay!
Nothing too exciting has been going on here...Frans has cut down on the sidework so he has been home more. He is going to have to do something about his allergies soon....they are bad right now, and I don't know how he is going to make it through the rest of fall and spring! Anita needs to hurry and finish this class so she can work her magic on him!
I better get going...get Toni to bed, and I need to bake some cookies!
Have a great rest of the week everyone!:)
Jenny

Heather Rinerson

just heard that Heather Rinerson, age 33, formerly of Cherry was killed in a car accident last night. i'll post the obit when its published. the "older kids" probably didn't know the Rinersons, but each of them (Carrie, Jared, Heather, Nathan) always had huge smiles and bright eyes and lively personalities and ambitious dreams - they were good people all and adored by many.

Hey everyone! i haven't posted a blog in awhile ..only commented and the last blog was what .. 5 days ago!? yeesh! David ..if you get a chance remind tanner (if you need my number i won't post it on here but i can get a hold of you whenever is a good time) that the option is still open on throwing together a snowboarding video and if anyone else is interested by all means give ideas on this post and let me know. I offered the idea at a few other people and they didn't really want to follow so! why not make a family one ex: "SNOW DAYS!" ..anywho .. thats what i'm kinda thinking about if we get some interesting ideas. Anyway .. uh ..(has nothing else to say)

--Blayde

Biked 23 miles

I biked 23 miles last night, so have about 26 more miles to go to meet my goal. Others?
Heather

Heather

How is school going for everyone?

Lindula's

Hello everyone!

Yesterday there were several fires started along the railroad tracks. On 7 and 101 the Mesabi Daily News reported "Using water bombers, engines and brush trucks, firefighters battled an 80-acre wildfire for more than five hours that threatened homes near West Eveleth Tuesday.". They say they aren't sure what started the fire and it is under investigation.

On Keenan Road the biker's almost lost their clubhouse as the fire was there also. Thay have a plastic shield (sort of like the thing we used for the Mines and Pines) and the plastic on it melted. The other buildings were saved, but the fire got very close.

Shawn said there were 4 fires that started along the tracks, so I'm not sure where the others were.

We need RAIN!!!

Jenny

Hope everyone had a great weekend! I wanted to go camping, but Frans had to work on Saturday and Monday, so we just hung around home (or around town I should say, we weren't home much!). We went to Paul's surprise 30th at paul and Kendra's on Friday night, to Jari and Anita's for the evening on Saturday, and then to my sister Lisa and Trents for the afternoon/evening on Sunday. Monday was pretty relaxed for me and the kids....we ran to target in the morning, then later in the day we played in the water outside, and in the evening my mom and dad came over.
Here are some pictures of the kids (Kierstyn and Alanys) playing in the rain gutter. I have many memories of this growing up....It is kind of dirty, but we did swimming and baths after! And the kids thought it was just great!
About ten minutes before my folks came over, Frans and the kids were swimming, and I came out to find the sky like this. These pictures are NOT digitally enhanced, it was the most awesome thing I have ever seen! If you looked to the East, it was gray storm clouds, to the north you could tell it was raining, and this was to the west. Pictures don't do it justice, there were these fiery red hurricane clouds, then bright blue sky. Pretty cool! The sky was way more blue than these pictures show.
I was so hoping before school started that Lindsey would take after the kuoppala side and not after the forstie side when it came to getting up and ready for school in the mornings. She is fine about getting up most of the time, but she doddles around and plays until the very last minute, then she is rushing around trying to get out the door on time. That is like me....when Frans and I are going someswhere together, we are on time 98% of the time, but I am always rushing around last minute. Frans hates it, and now Lindsey does it, and I hate it!! We are going to have to really start working on it, because I get frustrated, and I don't like her going to school after having a bad morning at home. I think our family has gotten the hang of this school thing, no more sleeping in in this house! Even Saturdays, everyone is up at 7 bells! And I am weed whacking at 7:15 A.M. !! This would have NEVER happened before! And Kierstyn and Toni have gotten better at playing and staying out of mischief! They spend their day playing barbie's and sometimes I foreget they are even here!
Anita has got me all excited now to start doing some tree, vine, bush planting here! I am going to do a boganvilla (sp?) vine out front between the two front windows, and maybe plant two Sisu trees. My sister Lisa has them in her backyard, and in a year, they are already so big! And they don't shed much, and Lisa said they stay green pretty much year round. So i will try them!
I am also going to do some boganvilla's in the backyard....I can't wait!
Anyways, I kind of went on and on here, sorry if I bored anyone!
I gotta get to the grocery store now!
Have a wonderful week everyone!
Jenny

Sunday road trip with the kids

A trip to Safford Arizon to visit Ken and Donna Alanen.

Ken had his dads Model A there so he took the kids for a ride. The kids laughed and loved it.

















After that we headed for the river where the kids played in th sand

And then for a long Three hour ride home. What a day but we had lots of fun and the kids got to see Safford Arizona.

Jari

Jenny

HAPPY BIRTHDAY HEATHER!!!!!!
I tried posting this morning, but blogger wouldn't let me....
Hope you are having a great day!
Jenny

Lindula's

Wow, has this site been quiet for a while. What are everyone's plans for the Labor Day Weekend?

Tonight, Shawn and I will be taking Brian and Steven shooting at his mom's. Tomorrow, the bike ride is planned from Grand Rapids to Hibbing. After that, probably hanging out at Lindula's as Mark's and Dan's will be up for the weekend. Nothing planned for Sunday or Monday. (Bike riding? Fishing? Hopefully not working).