Hello to all!

Just wanted to post a few new pictures of what is happening at the house!

A few weekends ago Ivan layed carpet in one of the back bedrooms.

Nice soft padding!

And nice soft carpeting!

This past Saturday, Ivan finished the last coat of paint in the master bedroom, went to Home Depot to get carpet, then layed it!  I was so excited to see this room finished!  The accent wall is a dark grey, with all the other walls light grey.  It turned out just like I hoped.

To add a little bit of color, Ivan suggested a dark red curtain.  I think it looks great!

This obviously is not anything with the house, but I had to tell Diane about this cake.  We celebrated my parents birthday this weekend and I was planning making a cake with two layers and frosting inbetween.  Ivan suggested putting some of Diane's jam inbetween instead of the frosting.  It was delicious!  Thank you for the jam!!

So the house is almost done.  There is one bedroom and the loft/stairs left to be carpeted, and a whole lot of trim, then we will be done with what we planned on doing when we bought the house.  I say "when we bought the house" because there is a lot that has been added to the list, but that stuff can wait!

That is about it!

~MISSI~

Merry gets married!

Given away by her two oldest grandsons...

Calvin and Danyelle

 Mykl and Joyce

 Some of her granddaughters sang a song.

Heidi couldn't contain her enthusiasm about the couple getting married :)

Late Notice!

This coming Saturday, Merry Warwas is getting married. If anyone is interested in going in on a gift, let me know right away and send a check in the mail :) They don't want gifts unless they are practical, so I'm thinking gift card to SuperOne or something. I plan to be at the wedding on Saturday. If anyone else would like to come, feel free to do so. It is at the Loon Lake Community Center at 1PM.

thoughts and opinions please

here is a logo disign that we came up with.  what do you think?

Celebrating E's 40th at Houlihan's

Opening her 1st of 40 gifts from Mom and Isä is a picture taken at the Eveleth City  Council meeting we attended.  Oh, the 1st gift was that red bag made by Gladys
Ruonavaara for holding plastic grocery bags which she used to put the wrapping paper
from all the gifts.

Pa made the "Liz" sign with 40 pennies starting with the year she turned one.  We could
not find all the pennies as you can see by the blank spots but when she finds them they
could be added.  The 6 books are all murder mysteries by Margaret Daniels, President
Truman's daughter and take place in Washington D.C. so Liz will be familiar with all
the places that are the settings for the murders.

Houlihan's was a nice restaurant and we all enjoyed what we had ordered.  Waitress
asked if he (Pa) was always so smiley!  We got S'mores for dessert free!!

p.s.  We got "Ultra Foam" on Favorites

Happy Birthday to No. 5

Elizabeth, Happy 40th Birthday.   Time has flown.  Lots of memories.  You have done
such a variety of things you should write a book.    Love, Mom and Isä

been busy

I have been to busy to remember to post anything on here in a long time and we are hoping that it is going to stay that way for a year or so down here. figured I would put a link on here to show one of the things that has been keeping us busy. Give feed back to what you think I should post on here. I have my idea's but would love to hear yours.   link to my new blog is     http://ultrafoamllc.blogspot.com/

Ivan's surprise 30th birthday for Missi on 1-16-11

 Ivan asked Jody to pick up this beautiful cake.  I think all guests arrived before Ivan and Missi got to the house.  We parked in front so she didn't get suspicious.  With the high snow banks I don't think the cars were really visible.

When we arrived Jody asked me to make a large ribbon for a card.  I asked, "A large
ribbon for a card?"  No, for a car!  Ivan was giving Missi a car for her birthday, a Ford
(how do you spell it?)  The car that's talked alot about.  In front of the car that was
hidden in the garage is the ring bearer from their wedding.  Grown but very recognizable.  Isä had a commitment in Brainerd at 6:30 so we couldn't stay too long but was nice to be there for the little while anyway.  Happy Birthday Missi.

Happy Birthday

WISHING YOU ALL A HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Okay, so not everyone is celebrating a birthday this month but there are a few of you. So to:
Cole
Ivan
Missi
Jari
Denise
Wayne
(and whoever else I so rudely forgot)
!!!!HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!

Ivan, Jari and Wayne this one is for you:

Two elderly men are sitting on a bench outside a retirment home and one says, “Ted I am 83 years old now and I’m just full of aches and pains. I know you’re about my age how do you feel?”


Ted says “I feel like a newborn baby!”

“Really? like a newborn baby?”

“Yep no hair, no teeth, and I think I just wet my pants!”

Happy Birthday "Old Geezers"! Hoping that your birthday is everything you wanted it to be or wish it to be.

~jen~

Christmas Eve morning visitors

 Sun is bright.  Post picture of Randalls leaving to get them into one picture.

 Shortly after they left, this Randall family arrived.  What a pleasant surprise.

 Hadn't seen Michael since his baptism so he has really grown.  Walking on his own.

Michael a little blurry in this picture.  Rosie had made some tasty banana bread and
some freezer jam.  It really perked up our day to have some family stop in.  That evening Isä started running a temp. and we ended up going to St. Lukes in Duluth on
Sunday morning where he was admitted and spent two nights.  Now we are in January
2011 and will see what this year has in store for us.  When he wrote a thank you note
to the congregation for his second basket of fruit which we both enjoy but will try and
stay out of the hospital now.

Christmas at our house....

 Just had to share that Heidi really is my daughter... she was eating butter with a spoon saying "nummie"

 Warmest wishes for the new year from our home to yours.

 Opening gifts with Aunty Jen... It took a few gifts for Heidi to realize she could just rip them open. She started out pulling off little pieces and putting them in the garbage.

 Talking to Grandma and Papa on the phone.

 opening gifts with Aunty Liz.

 She got babies!!!

 EVERYTHING becomes a blanket... towels, and Mommy's present...

She was so excited about her cow from Uncle Randy!!!

Hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas. Wishing you all the best in 2011!

A busy Sunday in the Christmas Spirit

We enjoyed a delightful Sunday School Christmas Program with our 26 students

on Sunday evening.

Jari made it home from Montague Island on Sunday evening. Weather had kept
him, along with 3 other hunters, sort of stranded there for an extra 6 days.
The final count was 4 men, 10 deer, 2 mink, 8 ducks and lots of clams.

He wasn't home in time to enjoy the Christmas Program ....

but was home in time to celebrate Tia's 14th birthday

with a houseful of friends and family. 

Take a few minutes this week and enjoy the smell of pine around you

and taste the wonderful sweets of the season!

-anita

Heidi comes to visit Santa in Brainerd

The Sunday School Christmas program started at 3 p.m.  Besides readings and singing
by the students, Fiona Lee sang, "Heinillä Härkien Kaukalon" in Finnish.  Delicious meal
after the program and then Santa came.  Some children were excited, some were a bit
"cared" of the jolly Santa.  Enjoyed having Heather, Shawn, Heidi and Jen here.  Merry
Christmas to all and to all a good night.

Waiting for Santa

The last decoration to be put up was our tree today.  Isn't it amazing how such a small
tree drops such large cones!  The Christmas cactus has some blossoms and buds.  I have three different cactus in the same flower pot.  The white and reddish bloom at the
same time.  Writing Christmas cards.  Envelopes were addressed, by hand.  Wishing you all a Merry Christmas and a Blessed New Year.

Life this weekend...

 I appreciated that Shawn took Heidi out to do chores, riding in the backhoe bringing hay to the animals. I got to clean in the house. I've learned to appreciate how quickly one can clean alone, versus putting toys away only to have them taken out right behind me :) Heidi loves the backhoe.

 After coming inside, she talked to Aunty Jen for a while on the phone. THANKS JEN! Heidi loved it!

 Elmo was sick and needed medicine. Poor Elmo, and all the other toys, get food, bottles, medicine, and they are "thirsty" daily.

Tonight, she learned to hide in her closet. I told her it was time to go to bed. She went in her room and hid in the closet with the door shut. She may be getting the concept of hide and seek soon :)

Time for more scrap iron

                                    Ready for surgery in surgery prep area

                         To room 521 w. Surgery done. This on  11 - 30 - 2011

                             Get out of bed day after surgery.  Pretty groggy.

                             Heidi comes to visit and to see grandpa's ouwe.
                             Leave hospital on Sat., 12-4, with mom driving.
                             Good roads with beautiful scenery with snow
                             laden trees.

Few pictures from around here....

Horseback riding :)

She posed for a little bit.

Then became her goofy self...

We've had a bit of snow. There's no need to only dream about a white Christmas.

Was not real thrilled with being outside

Catching up on the Wolf Lake news with Daddy.

New hip

Hope all goes well with the surgery today. sure will be nice to move around with out the pain I am sure. Will be waiting for the call after surgery to hear that all went well.
Frans

Meet our great granddaughter Madelyn Lorraine Halonen

Beautiful dark hair.  Didn't cry while we were there.  Awake a long time.  She'll be
tall, nice long fingers.  Posted by proud great grandparents!

If you get a lemon, make lemonade

This item was in the Tuesday Brainerd paper.  Looks like one way to handle icey conditions.