Snow! Lunta!

Christmas time is always extra special in our family. We have a Gotcha Day, Adoption Day, and five birthdays right before Christmas. It could get crazy, but our celebrations were low key, yet still wonderful.




No school on a birthday-adoption day! Instead, the kids played Settlers of Catan, all day (almost). (Definitely a hit, thank you so much!!)

And I just need to write this here - not to brag in any way, but I want to remember it: on our way up from southern Maine on Tuesday night, we only picked up a tiny milk, a dozen eggs, a loaf of bread and a small package of ham from the gas station after filling up, to make a quick dinner that night. The Captain was really sick, our car loaded, and we really couldn't stop for groceries.

Then we arrived at our camp, and an ice-snow-rain storm started. I decided to wait it out before heading grocery shopping, and pulled out food from the freezer. We ended up even celebrating the birthdays with all that 'bounty'! I made a delicious eggless chocolate cake, and didn't go to the store until Friday afternoon!

I think God stretched our portions:)




When we arrived the lake was still open, but on our second day a very thin layer of ice formed.



Wonderful, glorious snow!



So thankful for all our blessings!


(Thankful for so many people who have voted for our blog - thank you for your support! Voting is still going on, please go here.)

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Pääsimme Maineen tiistai-iltana. Pysähdyimme matkalla tankkaamaan, ja hain asemalta kananmunia, maitoa, kinkkua ja leipää - ihan miniannokset, että saisimme illalla kinkkuleivät päivälliseksi. Kapteeni matkusti kipeänä, auto oli täynnä, joten siinä oli meidän ruokaostokset ennen mökille pääsyä (normaalisti käyn tukussa, heh). Pääsimme perille, ja heti alkoi oikein kunnon talvimyrsky. Satoi vettä, räntää, lunta, jäätä, enkä halunnut lähteä ajelemaan kauppaan. Niin sinnittelimme useamman päivän ruokakomeron ja pakastimen turvin, ja perjantai-iltapäivällä kävin lähikaupassa:)

Ennen ruokakaupassa käyntiä juhlimme adoptio-ja synttäripäivää, ja sain leivottua oikein herkullisen munattoman kakunkin juhlan kunniaksi:)

Ihana olla täällä taas. Järvi oli sula, kun saavuimme, mutta nyt viikon aikana olemme saaneet ohuen jääpeiton. Aina niin kaunista katsella. Kiitollinen mieli!

Ja kiitos äänistä! Äänestys jatkuu edelleen, linkki täällä.

A Few More Virginia Photos

These were taken on the day we left - so glad this was the only mishap!



My awesome nephews!



I think the picture above was taken a split second before the very first photo...

And such tough guys - crashing must have hurt, but no tears! (Distracting them by showing the photo helped:)



Don't you wish you knew what they were talking about?

And another reminder - don't forget to vote! There are awesome blogs to check out, here's the main link. We vote daily for Frolicking Flamingo in the funniest homeschool blog category. Flamingo Jen's blog is one of our favorites, for sure! Thank you for your support!

Next up - we arrived in Maine!

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Muutama kuva vielä Virginiasta lähtöpäivältä. Serkuilla on vaan niin kivaa yhdessä:)
(Onneksi ei kenellekään sattunut pahasti, kun vaunut kaatuivat.)

Äänestyslinkki täällä - kiitos tuestasi!

Seuraavaksi postaus Mainesta!

Thanksgiving in Virginia/Kiitospäivä Virginiassa

We had smooth travels to Virginia to my sister's house. All five of our kids found floor space or beds to crash in, while the Captain and I continued camping in our Mothership.




Four adults, four teens, four little kids, one toddler and one baby on the way kept our Thanksgiving busy and slightly chaotic:)




Despite various age differences it is wonderful to see all the cousins having such a good time together:)




I was able to go with my sister to two of her appointments. A baby girl is on her way!




After Thanksgiving we were able to help deck my sister's house for Christmas. (I brought the glögi:)




As our Thanksgiving tradition has been, we went to Busch Gardens Christmas Town for one night. Our visits in 2013, 2012 and 2011 (and a second night in 2011.) This year it was mobbed! We still managed to have a good time:)




My sister's family went to Great Wolfe Lodge to celebrate our nephew's seventh birthday, and we stayed back at their house.

Except - we surprised them and showed up for one day! That was fun:)



Now when we came up to Virginia, the plan was to stay a week, then return to Florida.



Plans, shlams.



We ended up staying for three weeks and getting airplane tickets to fly to Maine! As of now, we are visiting our Maine grandparents, cousins, aunt and uncle, and will be on our way to our Maine camp for Christmas soon!

And then will return to Virginia (for the Mothership) and to Florida.

Our Mothership Adventures!! Never boring around here:)


PS. The Homeschool Post Blog Awards are still on - please go vote for our blog here in the Best Photos Category. Thank you so much!!!!!!
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Matkustimme Virginiaan siskoni perheen luokse Kiitospäivää viettämään. Tarkoitus oli olla noin viikon, ja palata takaisin Floridaan. Suunnitelmat muuttuivat, ja päätimmekin lentää Maineen:) Jäimme siskoni luokse kolmeksi viikoksi, ja eilen tulimme tänne Kapteenin perheen luokse. Kohta jatkamme matkaa Mainen mökillemme jouluksi!

Joulun jälkeen takaisin Virginiaan hakemaan asuntoautoa, ja sitten takaisin Floridaan! Ei meillä sammaleet ehdi kasvaa:)
PS. Tässä linkki blogikisaan, muistathan äänestää meidän blogia valokuvakategoriassa? Kiitos!!