Land for sale

I just heard last night that Broar (?) Isaacson's place is for sale. Miriam is selling it. 40 acres if anyone is interested.

Shawn and I closed on Julie's land yesterday. We are going to have a bit of an issue with her. The furnace was to be left in the house and she took it, so we are planning on pressing criminal charges. Need to send her a serious message or she will just keep coming back. She was hoping we would save her fence posts for her or go and pull them out. I don't think so. The purchase agreement states that fencing, etc. needs to be left, so should be interesting if we see her back here in the spring. Anyway, we will be working on getting that house down soon and working on increasing the size of a pasture for animals. Can't wait! It's so weird to think we own all the way to Hwy 37. Now, to buy land going the other way - Just kidding!
Heather

Happy Birthday Denise

Happy Birthday to you,
Happy Birthday to you,
Happy Birthday dear Denise,
Happy Birthday to you.

Heather and Shawn

Happy Birthday Jari!

Jari:
Here's wishing you a very Happy Birthday. May you be filled with fun, laughter and love today and every day throughout the year!

~jen~

Birthday wishes for Missi

Wishing you a Happy Birthday (on Sunday)! Wishing you fun and laughter on your birthday and everyday!
~jen~

Happy Birthday Laura

Happy Birthday to you,
Happy Birthday to you,
Happy Birthday dear Laura
Happy Birthday to you.....

Wishing you the best!
Heather and Shawn

Happy Birthday Ivan!

We had girls crafting night in St. Paul last night. H was working on next year's christmas cards and J was working on gifts that will be given late for this past christmas! We all know who is on top of it and who is NOT!

We both wish to say Happy Birthday to you, Ivan! May your day be as wonderful and as special as you are!

~h & j~

Funeral in Eveleth

Pete Peterson, 71, of Iron was a classmate of your fathers. We went to the funeral today in
Eveleth. He had throat cancer. Survived by his wife who is a resident in the Eveleth Nursing
Home as has had MS for years. Their one son graduated with Jen. He has 2 children.

Other classmates there were Russell Putikka, Don Lampi and Wilmar Salo. Gail Peterson,
Pete's niece, played and sang. Told Gail I really miss her painting classes. I asked how her mom
was doing and that was an obit we had missed. She had passed away 12-10. Gail's dad was
Pete's brother.

Gail's aunt, Eleanor Anderson, was there. Wilhart is in the Buhl Nursing Home. Some of the
others there were Rickers, Briskis: John, Bob and George. Bob was using a cane. George had his arm in a cast. Audrey Wiita, Hartlieb's, Pete Kemp and more. Pete said the Fire Dept. meal
will be on 2-9th. That's the day before we leave for AZ.

Couldn't go to Garys on Christmas Day so went now. Looks nice with all the windows in.
Wood stove is hooked up; was nice and warm. Tristan was napping in the truck. dk

AZ christmas fun continued...

Lindsey had to have ALL of our lights up...she begged and begged Frans until he finally got them all up! They had fun hanging them!Frans and Lindsey singing on christmas eve at Paul and Kendra's....We had to get Lindsey and Kierstyn out of bed on Christmas eve to hang the stockings and put the magic key for santa on the front door (from Anita), and put out cookies and milk for santa...good thing we didn't forget all those things! Opening gifts on Christmas morning... (Lindsey and Alanys)

The girls loved their new jammies from Grandma K! (Alanys, Kierstyn and Toni)And they LOVE their new trampoline from santa!!Toni with her new sleeping bag from Wayne and Becky...had to sleep with it the first night! She used it this past weekend when she stayed the night with my sister Heidi....She was so excited to be bringing it along to use!
Baby Trina's first Christmas!

It's been a while!

This will be kind of a long post....Here are a few pictures of our christmas festivities. We had an awesome christmas, it seems to just get more and more fun every year! It was a bit stressful at times with all the running with a new baby, but we still managed to make it to everything, and still had a good time. Frans spent a few hours trying to fix 3 strands of lights from last year that no longer worked.....got them all working again...but in the meantime, I had already been to the store and back to get new ones....my patience lost out!The girls having fun making a gingerbread house....Kierstyn in the sunday school program...you could hear her loud and clear!Lindsey in the sunday school program..did a great job saying her piece!Kierstyn got this pencil from school....caught them making their wish list to santa...ALL the girls HELPING me bake some cookies....oh dear!
continued in another post above....

Where is everyone?

I like to look at the Kuoppala blog to see what is going on with whom. However, it seems to be realitivly quiet.
Anita - thanks for positing. Sounds like life in Alaska is great.
Becky - how are things going for you?
Charlie - how are things there?
David - How are things going? I keep hoping to see a post from you Jody to let us know how you are doing.
Elizabeth - what is new with you?
Frans / Jenny - how is life in AZ?
Gary - I know he doesn't blog.
Ivan and Missi - how is married life?
Jen - how is work going, what is new with you?
Laurie - how are you doing? How is Tristan?

I would love to see more posting by everyone. If life is just too busy, can you just let us know that? I hope everyone is doing well. Jody - I think about you often and pray that the surgery goes well!!!
Heather

Christmas Break ends in Alaska

It's over.
No more sleeping in until noon for teens in this house.
Mom can't sleep 'til 7:00 anymore either.
"Homework done yet?" will become my chant.
Lunch money pit starts filling again.
Brisk morning walks to the bus stop at 6:30 a.m.
Tomorrow morning Tia gets a ride to school ... after that ....
she is going to catch the bus at Ray & Brenda's in the morning.
Should have had an extra house key made ... oops!

Other than that ...

We are still on the house hunt. Parts of every weekend seem to be consumed with house hunting. What a nasty job when you're of that squeeky Finn variety person. We want everything for nothing. Lost one .. working on the next.

Today Jari & I, along with Amber, Ryan & Nolan, Anna and Tia, went for a Sunday drive to Trappers Creek. Was a bit smaller than I expected! Alyx & Brock declined coming with us. Can't imagine why. So ... I finally saw my moose and saw more than one! No .. I didn't get a picture. Car was moving too quickly. At least I know they exist now. I keep looking and can't find any. For some reason they seem to be in Anchorage. Listen to the traffic report in the morning and you hear "watch out for the intersection of J Street and ______ .. there's a moose in the intersection." I am not kidding. This place is great.

The weather today is a tad chilly again. House doesn't even feel warm, yet it really is. The colder it gets outside the chillier it feels in here. 5 degrees out there now but we saw cooler than -11 today. This outside chilly stuff has it's benefits. New Years Eve I watched folks coming into the house with drinks and salads. You don't need room in the fridge ... the deck works just fine.

And ... I'm threatening to go try ice fishing. They don't use an ice house. Do you suppose a tent with a tent warmer would work? I have those!

Happy New Year!

For New Year's Eve we had people over at our house: Laurie, Tristan, Kathy, Lorrie, Liz, Randy, Shawn, and myself. We had a bonfire and rode the 4 wheeler - spinning all over. We had chicken wings, Shrimp scampi (I made it for the first time ever). It was a lot of fun!

On New Year's Day we had (for Eveleth Horizons) a grand opening of a sliding hill. It was a lot of fun. There was a lot of work done by many people to make the event happen. Citizens wanted a sliding hill, the parks commission wanted a sliding hill and the City supported it. What an asset to the city....

Laurie and Tristan....

Tristan bundled up....

We had a snowmaking contest....

"The old snowman on the mountain"

Not sure of the name for this one....

"Samantha" the Hula snowgirl

Anyone want to come up and hit the sliding hill?

What did others do for New Years? Dave and Jody - did you have your annual New Year's party?

Wishing everyone the best in 2008 - May you find peace and health in the year ahead!

Heather

Happy Anniversary

Happy Anniversary to Jari and Anita. It was a very cold day 22 years ago when you were married on the Iron Range. You had first planned on a March wedding and then decided
as you were coming to the Range so everyone could meet Jari you may as well get married
at that time. Lots has happened since then. Different jobs. Different rental units. Home
owner. Moved to the new frontier. Children are growing up; nice kids. Blessings too
numerous to count. Thank you for being who you are. dk

Christmas on the Range

We got the snow over the weekend, so slowed down travel, but everyone was still able to make it...The food is ready....

Laurie and Tristan opening his presents...

Shawn ....

Laurie...

Isa recording what they got and from whom....

Gary...

Jen with her blanket from Anita....

Tristan checking out Grandma's tonsils (or lack thereof)...

Tristan and Grandpa...

We have been dog sitting.... Lucky is with us, while Randy is out of town.

It was so much fun to spend the holiday with some of the family. Waiting to see pictures on how the rest of you spent your holiday!

Wishing everyone a wonderful New Year!

Merry Christmas

We would like to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and all the best for 2008!Come on over for pulla....

You're always welcome to our home....

Just a few other pictures:

Shawn and I were able to visit with Amber, Ryan, and Nolan when they were in MN. It was so fun to see them and to meet Nolan.

Here's a wintery scene from our "neck of the woods". We have more snow now thanks to this weekend...

I hope all you have a wonderful Christmas and I can't wait to see pictures posted of how and where you celebrated the season!

Heather

You know you're tired when ....

You know you're tired when ....

I ran to the post office today on my way home from work. Made a quick stop at the grocery store. Was thrilled that I could use my Safeway card at Carr's so I didn't have to pay over $7 for 18 eggs. The cashier rang up my items. I slid my debit card and she looked at me and said "your card has been declined". Don't you love those moments??? The thing is ... I know the card is good. So what had I just done? She asked me if I slid my Safeway card instead of the debit card. No, didn't do that. I slid my DRIVERS LICENSE through the machine. Like the state of Arizona is going to pay for my groceries or something. Don't bother trying it ... it doesn't work. I decided that if I couldn't remember to use a debit card instead of a driver's license to pay for food ... it was time for a nap. The nap was great.

Yesterday Tia turned 11 years old. 12 years ago I would have never imagined this day would come. I had a houseful of little people then .. my own and others I "borrowed". Now my baby is 11 years old. Two short years and I'll have yet another teen in the house. Anita Laulainen shares the same birthday (she truned 12) so we had a joint party over at Ray & Brenda's house. It was a lot of fun!

Time to go swap some laundry. For some reason the dryer doesn't keep up with the washing machine. Maybe it's balking at the cold too. I'ts -4 out there right now. Just a tad chilly ... but the wind isn't blowing. Life is good!

More land....

Shawn and I signed a purchase agreement to buy "Julie's" land next door. So, we will have an additional 32 acres attached to ours. She has 30 days to remover her belongings and then we will be closing on the house on or around January 15th. I'm very excited. We will have more pasture land and need to get more goats - Shawn says cattle - or sheep. We may end up putting a new sewer in and building a house of some sort to rent out - We will see. The possibilities will be endless - once we really do own it. The current owner said that she already considers it ours but we have to wait for Julie to move her stuff out.

HAVE A WONDERFUL DAY!

Happy Holidays

Just wanted to send a little note to everyone. Wishing everyone a wonderful holiday!

This past week, Shawn and I were able to go to the 'cities. I, of course, for a meeting. We were able to meet with Amber, Ryan, and little Nolan. It was so much fun to see them again. Really makes me want to move to Alaska. Wednesday, I had 2 meetings in St. Paul, but Wayne Skoog came to pick up Shawn and they hung out for the day. After the meetings, I went out there to pick him up. If I ever thought of moving back to the 'cities, I'd just have to do that again and reality would convince me that traffic is not fun. Wayne was really nice and had dinner cooking for when I got there. We enjoyed a nice visit with them. Stayed too late and got home too late, but it was fun.

This weekend, we plan to do some Christmas caroling and then a 40th b-day party for Randy. Not sure who all is going to come over for that tomorrow night. Sunday, Shawn and I may head to Brainerd for the Sunday School program there and do some computer things for Isa.

Hope everyone's holiday preparations are going well. All of you are invited to come and spend Christmas day with us, if you would like. The more the merrier, just let me know, so I know how many potatoes to peel.

Heather

Holiday stress management tips

Holiday Stress Tips – Management Tips for the Holiday Season
(www.acqyr.com/Holiday_Stress_Tips)

01: Do what you can
Too much food. Too much to do. Too much everything

‘Tisn’t the season of excess. At least it shouldn’t be. Having too much on your plate (literally and figuratively) will overwhelm.

Be aware of time constraints on yourself and your schedule. Don’t over-book yourself or stretch yourself (or your pants) too thin

02: Set a budget
Too little time. Too little money. Zero patience.

‘Tis the season of giving, but no one said giving had to be expensive. Set a budget and stick to it.

There is no greater gift than giving yourself, your time, and your full effort. What comes from the heart outweighs all else.

03: Creative
Pure imagination

‘Tis the season of imagination. Imagine making your own gifts. It’s not only more personalized and heart felt, but you’ll be de-stressing, too.

Arts and crafts, baking, or card-writing will get your mind off things. Plus you’re avoiding the stressful shopping scene and saving money.

04: Count your blessings.
All is calm. All is bright

‘Tis the season to celebrate. What do you have to celebrate? More than you think.

Concentrate on what you do have, not what you wish you did.

05: Expect the time crunch, not perfection.
Year end projects. Last minute shopping. Time pressures galore

‘Tis the season of the time crunch. With so much expected of you – family, work, social events, and more – it’s just not possible to meet every demand.

Unreasonable expectations will lead to great disappointments. Manage what you can with the time you have. There’s no use in stressing yourself out.

06: Beat the procrastination bug.
Make a list and check it twice.

‘Tis the season of much to do. Your mind may drift onto your long to-do list, but don’t let that distract you from the task at hand.

Get everything out of your head and onto paper. Once you do, stop worrying. Trust that things will get done in time.

07: Beat the shopping rush.
City sidewalks, busy sidewalks, dressed in holiday style

‘Tis the season of busy malls and parking lots with long line-ups and stress filling the air.

Avoid the hustle and bustle by planning ahead, ordering online or making personalized gifts. Don’t let the stress of others rub off on you.

08: Let Go
Little battles everywhere. At Home. In the Parking lot. At work.

‘Tisn’t the season of conflicts. Trying to win small battles may cost you health, happiness, and peace of mind.

Grudges, arguments, and fights waste energy and magnify stress. Instead, let go and seek peace in your heart.

09: Create new traditions.
Let nothing you dismay.

‘Tis the season of togetherness. Don’t let conflict create division among your family or friends.

Rekindle relationships by creating new holiday traditions that involve everyone. Taking a fresh look will give you all something to look forward to.

10: Eat, sleep, and be merry.
Sleep in heavenly peace.

‘Tis the season to be healthy. Bring good tidings to your body, mind, and stomach by managing your diet and sleep.

Good health starts with healthy food and quality rest. Otherwise you’ll feel bloated, tired, or cranky, and that just might rub off on others.

11: Be Jolly
O tidings of comfort and joy.

‘Tis the season to be jolly. Santa isn’t the only one who has the right to be jolly. After all, if he can be jolly with is workload, you can be too.

Remember what “Merry Christmas” and “Happy Holidays’ mean. Don’t perpetuate anxiety or fear. Instead, spread joy and happiness.

12: Laugh, dance, sing, and play.
Joy to the world.

‘Tis the season to be free from stress. There is much more to worry about, but there is much more to bring you joy.

Embrace each moment – good or bad – with a smile. Live, love, and laugh. All else will fall into place.

A few pictures of our new Alaska home.

A few pictures of the rental house we have in Alaska. I don't know how long we'll be in here ... but could get use to having all this space. Makes me wonder where everything fit in the other house!! The house is rather spacious ... and we have an empty guest room! Welcome!! Will try add other pictures. Maybe I need to just do one at a time .. after getting use to the ease of Bebo .. Blogger can be incredibly frustrating sometimes. :)