Getting Ready for Baby

Happy Birthday Mommy!

We ate mushroom soup for Karen's birthday, and put a fork in forty years. Ella blew out the candles.

Trip to the Zoo

Today we rode the Zoo bus to Korkeasaari, Helsinki's zoo. We saw lions, a tiger, a leopard, a snowy owl, ibix, a Eurasian owl, baboons, bison, a sloth, kangaroos, emus, bears, gray seals, and many other animals. Ella saw "Baboons eat bananas." Karen made a lunch for us, and the weather stayed sunny all afternoon.

Ella and Karen on the Zoo Bus (#11)

Ella saw the baby kangaroo, and the baby kangaroo saw Ella

First Day of Helsinki Daycare

Ella went to daycare for the first time Monday October 6th. "Boys and girls talk Finnish," she said. Her teachers are Merja, Tiina, and Marja. Each day the group goes to a park from 9-10:30. They eat lunch at 11:00. Nap is from 11:45-1:45. They play inside, then have a snack at 2:30. They go out again from 3:00-4:30. Ella has to dress in warm clothes.

High Heels

We started dance class last week at the High Heels dance school. Today we went for the second time. Dance class is fun! Our course is called PikkuBabyBailatino (Little BabyBailatino). We dance, walk backwards, bend over, touch our toes, and do other moves to latin music. The class meets for a half hour every week.

Showing Marcia and Grandpa Around

Grandma (aka Marcia) and Grandpa came to see us in Helsinki. We visited our favorite haunts: The Museum of Natural History, Cafe Esplanad for korvapuusteja and milk, and the steps at Senate Square. In this picture we're on our way to Senate Square after running around the halls at the University of Helsinki.

A Present Came in the Mail

A present arrived in the mail yesterday. It came in a red envelope, and was fun to open.