Year 2011

Our Mothership Adventures had a full year of 2011. In fact it was so busy it was hard to pick just a one photo for each month. The collage above is made of twelve months, with January being the first one on top, and December being the last one on the bottom right.

We spent JANUARY in New Hampshire, enjoying homeschool activities like Nerf Club, and our ice skating rink the Captain built next to our house.

In FEBRUARY we took a fun trip to Maine with friends and parents to do snowmobiling. The kids also started homeschool skiing lessons and archery.

In MARCH we continued enjoying all the snow and snow sports in New Hampshire. Took out our snowshoes, also. Little Miss turned five years old!

We found ourselves in Maine for the month of APRIL. We purchased an old summer camp, and shivered through a snowy and wintery month without any insulation, having lake water come out of faucets and having adventures in just washing our laundry.

In MAY some of us took a quick trip to Florida. On our way up North the Mothership broke down in Virginia, delaying our return, but all ended well.

We spent most of JUNE in Maine, although I returned to Virginia to attend a homeschool convention with my sister, and to pick up Little Miss who spent a week or so with cousins.

In JULY we spent time on Nantucket Island with family and friends, and some time in New Hampshire, as well. One of July's highlights was Nanny winning a watermelon eating contest on Nantucket Main Street 4th of July celebrations. Go, Nanny!!!

AUGUST was very difficult. One of our children had surgery, and recovery wasn't easy. We packed our belongings and said good-bye to our beloved New Hampshire home. We stored our furniture and boxes in my in-law's basement (where they still are). Mr. A & Missy got to to Finland with my sister's family, and missed the whole moving circus. Recap here.

We returned to Maine in SEPTEMBER. We tried to live in our camp, but the rebuilding process (and the fact we didn't have a kitchen) made it so challenging we ended up renting a house up the street. We enjoyed picking apples and blueberries and making a ton of pies.

OCTOBER was a quiet month in Maine for us. We got a lot of homeschool done, did a gold panning field trip and went on a lot of hikes.

We left Maine in NOVEMBER with a bang. Or a slide. On our way out of town the Mothership became a 35 foot toboggan and slid off the road. Fortunately no one and nothing got hurt, and after being towed out, and spending the night on the side of the road we continued our travels. We spent most of November in Virginia, parked next to my sister's house and spending time with family.

Most of DECEMBER we enjoyed Florida. Aah... Such a special time living in our RV, and visiting Orlando, St. Pete, Manatee Springs, and celebrating Gotcha Day, Adoption Day, five birthdays and Christmas. Simple times, good times..

Thank you so much for being part of Our Mothership Adventures!! Happy New Year 2012!!!

Glimpses of Christmas in an RV/Kurkistus jouluun asuntoautossa

Getting ready for Christmas.
Jouluun valmistautumista.



Christmas Eve - the day our family celebrates Christmas.
Jouluaatto - päivä jolloin meidän perheemme viettää joulua.



Christmas Day - day of playing, relaxing, fun and eating (eating too much!!)..
Joulupäivä - päivä täynnä leikkejä, lepoa, hauskanpitoa ja syömistä (liikaa syömistä!!)..

While our Christmas was very different from our usual Christmas celebrations, it was wonderful. It is sweet to realize it is not the beloved traditions that make Christmas Christmas, but rather the message: Christ, the Savior, is born.

At Christmas Eve service at our church we got to witness a friend give his life to Jesus - which, as one of our sons said after presents, was the best gift of this Christmas. Amen, yes, indeed! Thank you, Jesus!!! (If you'd like to listen to our Christmas Eve service online, please click here.)

I can't believe I'm writing this, but this Christmas in our motorhome, in Florida at a campground, may have been one of our most special Christmas' ever... One we will never forget, at least:)

Linking this post to Stefanie's Sunday Snapshot.

***********************************************

Vaikka joulumme oli kovin erilainen normaalista joulustamme, se oli ihana. Oli upeaa huomata ettei se ole meidän rakkaat traditiomme, jotka tekevät joulusta joulun, vaan joulun sanoma: Vapahtajamme on syntynyt. Kirkkomme jouluaaton jumalanpalveluksessa ystävämme antoi elämänsä Jeesukselle, ja kuten yksi pojistamme sanoi lahjojen antamisen jälkeen, se oli tämän joulun paras lahja. Aamen! Kiitos, Jeesus!! (Kirkkomme jouluaaton jumiksen voi katsoa netistä täältä.)

 Vaikea uskoa, että olen kirjoittamassa tämän, mutta tämä joulu asuntoautossamme, leirintäalueella Floridassa, saattoi olla yksi ihanistamme jouluista - tai ainakin yksi mitä emme tule unohtamaan:)

Merry Christmas/Hyvää joulua 2011

“Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven,

and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” Luke 2:10-14

********************************

Mutta enkeli sanoi heille: "Älkää peljätkö; sillä katso, minä ilmoitan teille suuren ilon, joka on tuleva kaikelle kansalle: teille on tänä päivänä syntynyt Vapahtaja, joka on Kristus, Herra, Daavidin kaupungissa." Ja tämä on teille merkkinä: te löydätte lapsen kapaloituna ja seimessä makaamassa." Ja yhtäkkiä oli enkelin kanssa suuri joukko taivaallista sotaväkeä, ja he ylistivät Jumalaa ja sanoivat "Kunnia Jumalalle korkeuksissa, ja maassa rauha ihmisten kesken, joita kohtaan hänellä on hyvä tahto!" Luuk. 2:10-14

Hyvää joulua 2011!

Celebrations/Juhlaa

Gotcha Day started our week of celebrations.
Thursday night we had a yummy family dinner at a Chinese restaurant.



Friday we squeezed in a homeschool Gingerbread House Decorating Party, although we decorated and ate gingerbread men (found at Publix:)



Saturday we celebrated our last day of No Teenagers.



As on Sunday we went from No Teenagers to Four Teenagers as our quadruplets turned thirteen.
We had a fun family birthday party that started at Fort Desoto campground and ended at Medieval Times in Orlando. (Still pinching myself here - how did our little babies turn into teenagers!!??)

Sunday was also Little Miss' Adoption Day. Five years ago on the 18th, on our babies' 8th birthday, we signed the adoption papers in China. Of course we had to celebrate that, too! It's our Family Day:)



A couple of times we managed to go cry hang out at the beach, loving the sand, sun, shells, waves and swimming. We love Florida!!



Monday we spent traveling to Manatee Springs to see the manatees. We saw some pretty far away, but some of the kids enjoyed swimming at the springs. Our first campground didn't work out so well, so we drove down to Crystal River to stay at another.



Today we have had a lazy day, celebrating my birthday. It has been perfect! Sleeping in, taking kids for a long swim at the heated pool, doing some house motorhome work aka laundry, making the Captain grill hamburgers, just staying put. Heaven.

Especially since tomorrow we plan to get back on the road. We are hoping to get settled at Fort Desoto again, decorate The Mothership for Christmas, and get some meal planning done. Our Christmas this year will be very different, our first in the motorhome & in Florida, but the message of CHRISTmas will be the same.

Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. Luke 2:11

Linking this post to Hip Homeschool Hop!

  

*********************************************

Tämä viikko on ollut yhtä juhlaa. Torstaina menimme kiinalaiseen ravintolaan juhlimaan Pikkuneidin Gotcha-päivää, kun saimme hänet syliimme viisi vuotta sitten Kiinassa. Perjantaina menimme kotikoululaisten Piparitalojen koristelujuhlaan, jossa me koristelimme kaupasta ostetut pipariukot :) 

Lauantaina juhlimme viimeistä päivää ilman teini-ikäisiä, koska sunnuntaina neloset täyttivät kolmetoista vuotta! Sunnuntai oli myös Pikkuneidin adoptiopäivä, viisi vuotta sitten Kiinassa allekirjoitimme adoptiopaperit ja virallisesti Pikkuneidistä tuli tyttäremme, ainakin Kiinan viranomaisten silmissä. 

Maanantaina matkustimme katsomaan manatee-merilehmiä, ja jouduimme vaihtamaan leirintäaluetta, ja tänään olemme viettäneet minun syntymäpäivääni, laiskotellen. Aah - ihana päivä ollut!!! Huomenna jatkamme matkaa taas, mutta toiveena on päästä takaisin Fort Desoto-leirintäalueelle, jossa aiomme viipyä joulun yli. Aika koristella asuntoauto joulua varten ja suunnitella jouluateria. Meillä on tulossa ensimmäinen joulu Floridassa, asuntoautossa, mutta onneksi joulun sanoma on sama:

Tänään on teille Daavidin kaupungissa syntynyt Vapahtaja. Hän on Kristus, Herra. Luuk. 2:11

Thankful Thursday, Part 2

Five years ago today, we met our beautiful daughter Little Miss for the first time, in Guangzhou, China. We are so thankful. Adoption starts with a loss, and our little girl had already endured heart-breaking losses in her short life, yet we will always thank our God for bringing her into our family, and marvel at how our Heavenly Father brings beauty from ashes.

I loved reading Gayly's post today, I hope you pop over to quilt-n-mama, too. Adoption truly is a miracle. Happy Gotcha Day to Gayly's family, and also to all the families who traveled with us to China five years ago!

A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, 

is God in his holy dwelling. God sets the lonely in families. Psalm 68: 5-6

*********************************

Viisi vuotta sitten tänään saimme Pikkuneidin syliimme ensimmäisen kerran. Olemme niin kiitollisia! Vaikka adoptio alkaakin menetyksellä ja pikkuisemme joutui kokemaan monet menetykset lyhyen elämänsä aikana, olemme niin kiitollisia, että Taivaan Isä toi hänet meidän perheeseemme. Vain Jumala pystyy luomaan kaunista surusta ja tuskasta...

Hän on orpojen isä ja leskien puolustaja, Jumala pyhässä asunnossansa,

Jumala, joka antaa hyljätyille kodin. Psalmi 68: 5-6

Thankful Thursday/Kiitollisuuden torstai

We are so thankful for:

- Safe travels from Maine to Virginia to Florida
- Being able to spend some time in beautiful St. Pete
- A beautiful campsite on Fort De Soto campground
- Seeing our Florida friends
- Warm days and cool nights
- Clean bathroom & laundry facilities at the campground
- Getting used to living in such a tiny space again
- Being together as a family, making memories
- Finding new, meaningful ways to celebrate our Savior's birth..

Linking up with Thankful Thursdays at Three Thinking Mothers. On a Wednesday. Kind of on a Tuesday night (I'm up really late).

While we are working and homeschooling (roadschooling), we are sort of on vacation time. I need that clock that counts the days, not hours, while RV'ing :)
I think I will go ahead and publish this, a day early. On Thursday we have another reason to be thankful, but I hope to write more then:)

********************************************

Olemme tänään kovin kiitollisia turvallisesta matkasta Floridaan, mahdollisuudesta viettää joulukuu rakkaassa St. Peten kaupungissa, kauniilla leirintäalueella (missä puhtaat pesu-ja pyykkitilat), lämpöisistä päivistä ja viileistä öistä, ystävien tapaamisista, pienissä tiloissa asumiseen tottumisesta, yhdessäolosta, sekä Vapahtajan syntymän juhlimisesta..

Ja juu, huomasin juuri ettei vielä ole torstai. Noh, menkööt postaus nyt jo, torstaina on erityinen syy olla kiitollinen myös, mutta siitä lisää myöhemmin:)

Colonial Williamsburg & Christmas Town, Take II

On Thursday we returned to Williamsburg, Virginia, this time with the Captain's parents and Grandmother. My sister and her three kids also met us at Colonial Williamsburg, but couldn't make it to Christmas Town this time (wisdom teeth surgery, eek!).

We really appreciated having a second day at both places, and were able to see and do things we missed the first time around. At Colonial Williamsburg we really enjoyed walking through the palace and wig shop, and at Busch Gardens Christmas Town our absolute favorite was the show Gloria. (Well, not sure if the boys enjoyed it as much as Alpengeist-roller coaster, but it was an excellent show retelling the Christmas story of Jesus' birth.)

The best part of Thursday, Friday & Saturday though, was spending time with Grandma, Grandpa & Nanny. They decided not to come to Florida with us, and by now must be back in Maine, so we really treasured our time with them in Virginia. Thank you for meeting us, we had a wonderful time!



Grandpa's pancakes were the best part of Saturday!

*****************************************************

Meillä oli oikein mukava toka vierailu Virginian Williamsburgiin viime viikolla. Oli ihana viettää 2 -3 päivää Kapteenin vanhempien ja isoäidin kanssa ja näyttää heille Colonial Williamsburg ja Christmas Town. Molempiin paikkoihin tarvitsi ainakin kaksi päivää, että näki kaiken haluamansa, joten oli kiva mennä uudestaan niin ulkomuseoalueelle, kuin Joulukyläänkin. Kapteenin vanhemmat päättivätkin lähteä takaisin pohjoiseen, ja me lähdimme lauantaina ajamaan etelää kohti.

Trial Run/Koelähtö

The Mothership Adventures is ready to take off again!

Sort of.



We leave today, but come back tomorrow night. (Will my sister's family ever get rid of us???)

The reason for our trial run is my sister's wisdom teeth surgery on Friday morning. Since we'll be in the area (we plan to visit Colonial Williamsburg tomorrow and Christmas Town again on Friday, this time with the Captain's parents and (his grandmother) Nanny, who left Maine on Monday), we are coming back to watch my niece and nephews for Friday morning. Then on Saturday morning we start our engines (with Grandma, Grandpa & Nanny in their RV) and head toward Florida!

****************************************

Mothership-asuntoauto on valmis lähtemään matkaan. Tai ainakin koereissulle. Lähdemme siskoni luota tänään, mutta palaamme huomenna takaisin. Huomenna menemme Kapteenin vanhempien ja isoäidin kanssa Colonial Williamsburgiin, perjantaiaamulla palaamme hoitamaan siskoni lapsia hänen viisaudenhammasleikkauksen ajaksi, sitten käymme Joulukylässä uudestaan, ja vasta lauantaiaamulla starttaamme kohti Floridaa.

Busch Gardens Christmas Town, VA

The Mothership Adventures crew is still in Virginia. The Mothership is parked on the curb of my sister's house, and the neighbors are probably wondering when the MotherBeast is moving on. Since Thanksgiving is over and all. Not quite sure yet, but soon-ish, we think.

We had a great (second) Thanksgiving with my sister's family, and for the most part have been laying low (well, as low as you can with a crew of thirteen and being way outnumbered by the kids) and enjoying time visiting each other.

Yesterday, however, we visited had a wonderful outing to Busch Gardens for the first time. We even bumped into some friends from New Hampshire, and my sister saw local friends as well as friends from Maryland in there. (Hi Linda!!!)



The full park wasn't open. The day after Thanksgiving Busch Gardens Christmas Town opens with rides, attractions, shopping and shows. It is only open on the weekends, from 3 pm until 9 or 10 pm, depending on the night. Which worked great for us, we were able to go to church first, come home for lunch, and then head to Williamsburg.

Our half of the crew traveled in the RV and got a great RV parking spot near the England entrance. We even had turkey soup in our crockpot in the RV, but didn't want to leave the park even for an hour to go eat. The soup was a nice midnight snack before bedtime ;-) Dining at the park wasn't cheap, but it wasn't too much either.





We had four adults, one 17-year old, four 12-year olds, two 5-year olds, one 4-year old and a toddler in our crew. And everyone had a fantastic time. We got to the gate right before the park opened and stayed until they closed. My little niece was wrapped to my sister for almost the whole time, but everyone else walked and explored the park without any meltdowns or issues. There was so much to see and do for all ages. For the older kids the Alpengeist-roller coaster was probably the highlight of the park. The little boys enjoyed the train and Jr. Bumper cars.




For the adults the lights and beautiful Christmas music made our time really special (at least for me, I skipped Alpengeist:). I didn't bring our camera since we kept our carry-on to a minimum at the park, so all these pics were snapped with my iPhone - some turned out great, others.. not so much.

We highly recommend stopping and visiting Christmas Town in your travels, and you could even make it a field trip and study the various countries Christmas Town represents. We didn't. We decided to just enjoy ourselves and not call this an official field trip, this time.

One day wasn't quite enough (at least for our size crew) to see everything, but we certainly had a full and fun day. And thank You, Busch Gardens, for keeping Christ in CHRISTmas!



I am linking this post to Sunday Snapshot and Hip Homeschool Hop.

**********************************************

Olemme vieläkin siskoni luona Virginiassa, nauttien ajasta yhdessä. Eilen menimme Busch Gardens-huvipuiston Joulukylään koko sakilla. Ihan koko puisto ei ollut auki, mutta ihan tarpeeksi riitti vempaimia ja näkemistä kaiken ikäisille. Ihania jouluvaloja ja lauluja, etenkin pimeällä oli upeaa kävellä ympäriinsä. Suosittelemme!

Happy Thanksgiving 2011!

We wish you all a very Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at Mothership Adventures!



This year we have the most turkeys ever. Sixteen, so far. The Captain says they are sugatarian turkeys.



We have so much to be thankful for. Tonight I am grateful for:

- family, both my own, and for the extended family (near and far)
- fun times of playing games, cooking together & hanging out
- yummy Thanksgiving meal
- and that we are cooking it in my sister's kitchen & not the RV:)
- the break in our travels (I so appreciate my sister's washer & dryer!)
- God's plan for each of our lives (both for these next weeks as well as for years to come)
- God's grace

I am linking this post conveniently to Thankful Thursdays at Three Thinking Mothers:)

********************************************

Torstaina Yhdysvalloissa vietetään Kiitospäivää. Voit lukea juhlasta lisää täällä. Meillä on kalkkunoita enemmän kuin koskaan:) Kuusitoista tähän mennessä! Tänä iltana olen kiitollinen perheestäni ja suvustani (lähellä ja kaukaa), hauskasta yhdessäolossa täällä siskoni luona, kokkaamisesta (siskon keittiössä eikä asuntoautossa, heh) ja hyvästä ruoasta, tauosta reissaamisesta, sekä Jumalan suunnitelmasta elämäämme varten. Ja Jumalan armosta.

Hyvää Kiitospäivää sitä viettäville!

Thank You/Kiitos!!!

Thank You so much, my dear readers, for voting for Mothership Adventures on the Homeschool Blog Awards! I was quite surprised, amazed and honored our little blog was nominated.

Tonight the winners were announced, and to my great shock Mothership Adventures won Best Photos Award!! I am so grateful for each one of you who voted us - Thank You!

Check out other winners here.

**********************************************

Suurkiitos teille rakkaille lukijoillenne äänistänne!!! Mothership Adventures-blogi voitti parhaan valokuvablogikategorian kotikoulublogien äänestyksessä. Ihan uskomatonta... Olin niin otettu, että joku oli ehdottanut tätä meidän blogia kisaan mukaan, ja kun tänään voittajat julistettiin, olen nipistellyt käsivarttani - niin vaikea uskoa. Kiitos teille jokaiselle - ilman teitä minulla ei olisi ollut mitään mahiksia!!

Colonial Williamsburg

Happy Thanksgiving from Virginia!



Despite this picture we are really enjoying our time in Virginia. Today we visited Colonial Williamsburg with my sister & her family, and our nephew from Finland.

The Historic Area of Colonial Williamsburg stretches over 301 acres, and includes 88 original 18th-century structures. Hundreds of houses, shops and public outbuildings are reconstructed on their original foundations...

Don't just walk the same streets as Thomas Jefferson, George Washington, and Patrick Henry— walk alongside them. Costumed interpreters undertake years of study to render the founding fathers in first person every day. See them in Revolutionary City's street-theater scenes, or ask your questions during "Conversation With a Founding Father" programs.

Alongside these giants of American history, meet people whose faces you won't find on coins or bills. The everyday people you'll encounter in the Historic Area made contributions as momentous as the founding fathers'. Without money, title, property or power, many remarkable individuals influenced the course of America's experiment in self-governance. Meet these preachers, servants, farmers, and craftsmen and hear their stories.

(Copied from their website.)

It was a full day of walking and learning and having a wonderful time together.



A perfect homeschool field trip - and a very friendly place for homeschoolers. Even though Colonial Williamsburg's website didn't offer pricing for homeschooling families, we got there and only had to pay $7.50 for kids 7-17 (6 & under was free), and adults were  $15 - a huge discount from their regular prices. At gift shops we were given 15% off, also.



One afternoon was not enough to even see our top ten list, so we need to go back sometime soon. There were some hands-on learning spots, and you could interact with tradespeople and ask questions.



Colonial Williamsburg Visitor Center had great RV parking, too, which made it easy to arrive there in the Mothership. We were able to have sandwiches in the RV before our outing and we had lasagna cooking in the crockpot for later. There were some great looking Taverns to eat at the village, but with our crew of thirteen people we chose to bring our own food.

Such a fun day!

Linking this post to Sunday Snapshot and Hip Homeschool Hop.

 

*******************************************************

Tänään kiersimme Colonial Williamsburg-kylää siskoni perheen ja Suomesta tulleen siskonpoikamme kanssa. Päivän reissusta tuli kotikoululuokkaretki, etenkin kun saimme selville paikan päällä, että kotikoululaisille on alennusliput. Kävelimme paljon, opimme paljon elämästä 1700-luvulla, nautimme yhdessäolosta, ja päätimme palata takaisin joku päivä - toivottavasti pian!

Hyvää Kiitospäivää Mothership-blogin väeltä!

From Maine to Virginia/Mainestä Virginiaan

The Mothership started the trip with a crash landing on Friday.

By the time we were done with our packing/organizing/cleaning it was late, dark, and snowing. The only thought I had was "we are leaving just in time" as the Mothership is not designed for snow. We were only headed about 2 1/2 hrs South to visit family for a day.

Shortly after we left town, this happened:



Then this:



Then this:



And then we were pulled out. Basically what happened was there was a car that had stopped in front of the Mothership. The Captain tried to stop the RV, but as he applied the breaks on the snowy & icy road, the Mothership decided to slide into a ditch. No one was hurt and no damage was done, so we are very grateful.

We decided to stay put with our "40 foot toboggan" as the guy doing our foundation said as he pulled over to check on us. So we slept on the side of the road in our RV, then continued driving in the morning.



The morning after look.

Since then we had a wonderful day visiting family, enjoyed an early Thanksgiving feast, and drove to New Hampshire. We spent half a day running errands and had quick visits with friends, before driving through Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York and New Jersey into Delaware.

This morning we arrived in Virginia, and as I type this we are almost to my sister's house where will stay for awhile.

So thankful for safe travels, despite our bumpy start.

Linking this post to Sunday Snapshot and Hip Homeschool Moms.

*****************************************************

Mothership-asuntoautomme aloitti pitkän matkan etelään liukumalla tieltä ojaan. Oli pimeää, lumista ja liukasta. Hinaajan avulla pääsimme ojasta pois, mutta päätimme jäädä yöksi tien sivuun, ja jatkoimme aamulla matkaa. Vietimme yhden päivän anoppilassa, sitten puoli päivää New Hampshiressä ystävien luona. Sunnuntaina ajoimme New Hampshirestä itärannikkoa pitkin Delawaren osavaltioon saakka, ja tänä aamulla saavuimme Virginiaan. Pian olemme siskoni luona, jee!! 


Dramaattisesta lähdöstä huolimatta matka on mennyt todella hyvin.