FAMILY PHOTO SHOOT= CHAOS

We had our threaded family photo shoot yesterday. 

It included grandparents, parents, and grandkids - 25 people all together.

Jen White did fantastic job, and made it as painless as possible.  Here are some Behind the Scenes Shots. 

 

 

AND WHILE WE WERE OUT...

...a bear came for a visit....

 

"Who sat on my chair?"

"Who used my computer?"

 

How does the story of the Three Bears and Goldilocks goes again?

 

 

THE MIRACLE OF MODERN DAY TECHNOLOGY

It used to be that once you left your family and went overseas you would never see them again.

I remember the time when I went to BYU, and talked very rearly with my family in Finland.  The phone calls where expensive, and every second counted.

Oh, how far we have come from those times.

There is Skype, Face Time, Instant Messaging...

Markus and his cousin from Finland spend hours catching up on Christmas Eve.

The world truly has become a much smaller place...in a very good way.

CHRISTMAS PUZZLE

I love traditions!

One of ours is puzzles during Christmas time.

They invite, attract and gather...

something about the combination of playing and working together...

 



SO QUIET

It is the morning of December 26th.

Everything is quiet.

Everybody is in bed, fast a sleep still.

 

Nothing like the morning of 25th.

 

What a wonderful Christmas we had.

 

The rule is that you need to stay in the basement (where the bedrooms are) until Jason and I come and get you... 7 a.m.

 

When we went to get the kids around 6:55 Markus and Niko were still asleep.  Kai was laying in the family room couch, fully dressed, ready to go.

Maija was curled up in a chair in her pyjamas...anxiously waiting for Jason and I.

 

 

 

Next five minutes Maija was jumping on Markus and Niko, trying to wake them up.

 

 

Once they were up it was time to line up to the stair case...youngest to oldest...tradition from Jason's childhood.

 

 

SANTA DID COME!

 

And left a trail of chocolate behind him....

 

 

Christmas breakfast is always fun.

We only have "sugar cereal" on Sunday mornings (to get the kids up and moving easier...to church)...and Christmas!

Easy for mom, yummy for kids!

 

 

And then we open the presents from each other.

 

 

 

 

My favorite present from Jason was an itinerary for my sister to fly over here for an extended weekend.  It has been for awhile since I have seen anybody from my side of the family...about a year and a half.  This girls' weekend will carry me over until my next trip to Finland.

 

Rest of the activities included playing with new toys...napping...and watching "Home Alone".

 

Around 2 p.m. we went to my in-laws' house where we continued the festivities with more family.  We ate a delicious Christmas lunch/dinner, visited, opened some more presents and LIVED and LOVED!

 

What a wonderful day!

 

Once we got home Jason and I went to sleep, and told the kids that they could stay up until midnight...enjoying the Christmas day a little longer.

 

Hence the very silent house in the morning of December 26th.