C'est fini

Well Christmas is officially over and I have that empty feeling that follows after every Christmas. Don't get me wrong I love the lazy days between Christmas and New Year's, but after Christmas I always feel slightly empty. I feel like I always look forward to Christmas so much and then it goes by in a flash. It was nice though. On Christmas eve we ate a lot of good food, played a couple of games and we even got a visit from Santa. Talking about Santa reminds me of an argument we had with my sister of Santa Claus. She is from Denmark and apparently if you ask any Danish person they will tell you that Santa comes from Greenland. Which is all wrong. He is obviously from Korvatunturi! 


Instead of a traditional turkey supper, we had a pot lock. Meaning that everyone brought a little something to eat. There were tables full foods and I really tried not to over eat, which believe me, was not easy at all. There were meatballs, chicken wings, salads, meat pie, fried rice, you name it. And a traditional French Canadian Christmas food called "sipout" or something (I have no idea how to spell it). It's basically a meat casserole with potatoes and all kinds of different wild meats. I didn't really even have desert, except for the little forkfuls I stole from Riley's plate.


We got home late on Christmas eve, so Christmas day was pretty lazy. We went over for brunch at my host parents's daughter's house and afterwards we just relaxed at the house and then had dinner at home with them. After dinner was the moment Emma had anxiously been waiting for. Opening of the presents! This year I honestly didn't want anything for Xmas so it wasn't really a big deal for me. Nevertheless I ended up opening so many packages and I felt so spoiled. I got all kinds of small things that I love and I also have a year's supply of chocolate!


Yesterday we went skidooing or well snow-mobiling officially, with Riley my host father and Emma. It was fun and the weather was absolutely perfect for it, but half way through my host father's skidoo kind of broke down. The engine stopped working and he could not get it to work again. So we had to call for help and Riley and Emma drove his skidoo to get a wire so he could pull my host fathers skidoo behind his. Tomorrow we are going again with a bigger gang. Should be fun! 


I don't feel like writing anything more, so I will just put up some pictures. Oh btw six more months to go. I don't know what to say about that. I am happy, but so sad at the same time.


WARNING ! Lots of pictures ahead: 

Dolled up for Christmas eve.

Aww is the word.

Here too!

I got to sit on Santa's lap too yey.

Merry Christmas hun.

If I was in trouble, they's have my back. So guys don't mess with me!

The point is to knock over all the cups...

... or was it to just make us look stupid?

Such a cutie, made my heart melt.

Minou minou.

Jen loving her new scent.

"Mettez sur le nez à Liisa"

Christmas can be tiring.

I got so spoiled. Thanks you guys. (NOTICE ALL THE CHOCOLATE)

So spoiled I tell ya.

We love the snow, ok?

I am gonna watch some television avec ma soeur. Bonne nuit guys!

c'est Noël !

So the last couple of weeks have been crazy busy! I've barely had time to open the computer, so I really haven't had time to write at all. Last weekend we went to Timmins to finish off the last of our Christmas shopping. The mall was pretty packed with people, which is always one of the joys of Christmas shopping... 


On Sunday we had our first "Christmas" with Riley's family, because his father had to leave for work so he is not going to be here tomorrow, which is a bummer. We had a ham dinner, which i loved. Of course it was not the same thing as back home, but it was still good. It'll be strange not having the house filled with the ham smell, not having the oh so wonderful lanttulaatikko and it will be strange to open the gifts on the 25th instead of Christmas eve. Now I know many people aren't big fans of the traditional Finnish Christmas food and most people get sick of it after three days of eating it, but not me. I love it. We always stuff ourselves until we are ready to burst, go into the living room to digest for a few hours and then sneak into the kitchen to grab a slice of that cold leftover ham and lanttulaatikko. And all the food tastes just as good the second and the third day too.


I've had a lot of school stuff to do during the last couple of weeks, so I a very relieved to have a break from it all. On our second "Christmas" was on Wednesday, and this time it was because Riley's grandparents left to Florida on Thursday so we celebrated Xmas with them too. This time we had Chinese food.


Thursday was an exciting day for me, and I am really bummed that I forgot to take my camera with me. I had my very first volleyball tournament, and  after only playing volleyball for like a month, believe me it was a little nerve racking. I couldn't really fall asleep the night before because of the butterflies in my stomach and Thursday morning when I got on that court my legs were literally trembling. During the first game I was honestly very lost, because the rotations and movements on the court are extremely confusing, especially cause I have never ever practiced it. But all the girls were so helpful and supportive. They were the ones who made sure that I kept my chin up and kept playing even though I made mistakes. And I was pretty proud of myself, because I am the type of person who gets easily frustrated if I feel like I am letting my team down, and this time I didn't get frustrated. My last game of the day I actually played the whole game and it went so much better than the first one. I had fun and that's what really counts. 


After the tournament I went home to take a shower and then it was time to get ready for the Christmas formal dance. I am not usually the type to really dress up and do my hair and make-up, but yesterday when a couple of the girls did my hair I loved it! I have never ever curled my hair, and last night was the second time in my life to have someone curl my hair. I borrowed a gorgeous black dress from one of the girls and with my make-up and hair all done I actually felt pretty. We got ready at one my classmate's house and at around 9.45 we left to the dance. It was a fun night, with a hint of drama, but all in all I had a really fun time.


Today was such a relaxed day at school. We had no regular classes. Instead we had all kinds of activities in which you could collect points and then win prizes at the end of the day. I didn't win anything, but I was so happy so see one of my classmates win a video camera, which he was drooling over. We got to wear our pj's at school today and it was awesome. I've never been so comfortable at school. 


I am super excited for Christmas. It'll be a cool experience!

Best game ever.

The photographer had some problems with the lighting...?

Mmmm, c'est bon.

Now I'd like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas! Joyeux Noël ! Hyvää Joulua! God Jul! Häid Jõule! ♥ ♥ ♥ 

My hair is still curly from yesterday! I love it.

Linnan juhlat

I just wanted to make a quick post about this year's Linnan juhlat. Even though I am across the world from Finland I watched the Linnan juhlat online during my lunch break. Of course I only saw the start of it, but it still made me feel very Finnish. It wasn't easy trying to explain this traditional "party" to other people.


I am going to have to agree with the rest of Finland, because I love Jenni Vartiainen's dress. Not everyone can pull off a bright orange, but she looked absolutely gorgeous. The cut of the dress is really unique and different. All in all she was just breath taking.

Vraiment belle!

There were some other dresses that I really liked too:

I love the color and the cut of her dress.

This is definitely my second favorite. It's just so unique and down to earth. LOVE IT.

This is a dress I could actually picture myself in. I adore the colors and the flowiness. ( I don't think that's a word? Oh well)

This dress made me laugh! Such a cool idea, without being tacky at all. A memorable dress.

I really like the detailing in this dress. Stands out without being too flashy.

Her dress is so classy and simple, but absolutely wonderful.

I also have to mention that even though I might not exactly love Tarja Halonen's dress, but she is such a good role model when it comes to dresses. She is faithful to her own style and the thing that I love is the fact that she took an old dress that she wore before and added details to it. 

I watched this interview where Jani Toivola was mentioning how he witnessed a Lotta talking about her experiences and around her were gathered people from at least fifteen different countries. And that made him proud of Finland. I thought it was such a good example of the multiculturalism in Finland, and how it should be encouraged. I really wanted to link it here, but I wasn't able to find it anymore. Anyway I just really would have wanted to link it here, because the interview just really made me smile.


I have to go eat now and then I am off to the gym. Salut!

pictures taken from: 

http://yle.fi/linnanjuhlat/2011/

http://www.mtv3.fi/helmi/minisaitit/artikkeli.shtml/2010/12/1236774?linnan_juhlat/puvut_ja_tyylit