May chuckles

~On the way home from school, Derek and I started playing a game. Every time he saw a red car, he hit me. Every time I saw a blue car, I hit him. (Modified slug bug game.) Do you know how many red and blue cars there are in the Helsinki/Espoo area? Anyone following us must have been wondering why we were whaling on each other.

~With a son who has nut allergies, I had to learn the Finnish words for nuts pretty quick. Dan has given me a package on two different occasions and asked me to check it for nuts. Why is this funny? The ingredients were listed in English. 

~On an escalator. I'm one stair up from Dan. Suddenly, he turns and stomps on my sandal clad foot. HARD! What the heck?!? He had lost his balance and was trying to regain it. Less on my foot next time, please.

~Getting ready for Derek's Exhibition and trying to convince Lauren to dress up a little bit.
Lauren: When did I sign up to go to this?
Me: The day we brought Derek home from the hospital. We support each other by going to each other's events. Just like Derek is going to sit through your awards banquet on Monday night.
Derek: Uh...what?

~Me: How do you catch a unique rabbit?
(Correct answer: U-nique up on him. Ha ha.)
Lauren: Don't you cut off his foot?

~When Ken was here, he held up his hand to Lauren and Derek for a high five. Lauren flinched because she thought he was going to hit her and Derek asked if he had a question.

~Breaking the news to the kids that we get to move.
Me: I have something exciting to tell you guys.
Them: What?
Me: You're going to have a new brother or sister!
Lauren: Really?!?
Derek: Ugh
Me: No, not really. Instead we're moving!
Lauren: Awww, it'd be cool if you were having a baby.
Me: Not gonna happen.
Derek: (laughs)

~Dan has invented a new dance. It's a cross between the haka (cool) and the hambone (not cool).

Sports Awards Banquet

Mondy night was the Upper School sports awards banquet. The guest speakers were both women. One is an Olympic sailor. The other did professional snowboarding until she had a career ending injury. (She went into a little detail about it. Collar bone sticking out of her coat. Shudder.) They both talked about going after your dreams, planning, and working hard.

Then each sport was recognized. An MVP and MIP were awarded for each tournament. Finally, a male and female athlete were named for the year.

Oh yeah. We had a banquet. Potluck.

(Here's as good a place as any to mention that when our school has a potluck or teacher appreciation thingy the food is excellent. I think it has everything to do with the different ethnicities at our school. No boring casseroles. Someone always brings sushi. Sushi at a school function. How cool is that? Vegetarian dishes are a big thing as well. We're trying all kinds of new things!)

Lauren played basketball at the
Friendly Olympics

Volleyball team went to Cyprus.

Popcorn ice cream

Another first at our house. Popcorn ice cream. Dan and the kids LOVE popcorn so to find it in ice cream form is newsworthy.

I only bought one for us to taste.

The 'kernels' on top were actually a crunchy candy.
Yummy.



Here, Dan is trying to take the ice cream into the closet so he can eat it all himself.
The children didn't like his plan.

I think they liked it.



Dan and Derek camp

Friday night Dan, Derek, and another father/son team braved the rain and cold at Nuuksio. This was the first time Derek has ever camped!

The tent.

The fire shelter.
Fires at individual campsites are not permitted.

Getting ready for dinner.

On the hike.

Father and son.

Getting ready for bed.

 They were really cold, but they survived. Derek said on a scale of 1 to 10 camping was a 6. Perhaps warmer weather will up the score.

Exhibition time

The culmination of Grade 5 and all the years in the

Primary Years Program took place on Thursday.

Exhibition explanation

Opening ceremony

Derek giving his speech.

With his backboard.

The backboard explaining all about Ronald McDonald House.



The Lower School principal asked all the kids to choose a quote. Derek chose this one because earlier in the year he did a project on FDR.



This was an optional activity.
Derek created the perfect Ronald McDonald house on Google Sketch Up.

Another optional activity.
Powerpoint on fundraising for RMH.

Lauren posing with the Unit Board.

Derek pointing to his part of the Commitment Ball.
He wrote about how he was committed to do his best work for Exhibition.

Proudly showing off his Exhibtion T Shirt.
Students were to decorate the shirts according to the theme
'Dream it. Do it.'

Representatives from Ronald McDonald House Finland.
Leena and Johanna.
(Pretend Derek's eyes are open.)

Lower School principal Mr. Piacentini.
He rocks a kilt.

Ms. Ohls, aide in Derek's classroom.

Mr. MacGregor, Derek's teacher.

Great job, Derek!

Text of Derek's opening ceremony speech:

Hello, my name is Derek Detter.  I studied Ronald McDonald House Charities. I chose the topic Fundraising, because I always wondered, “What are those little boxes in McDonald’s for?” When I learned what Ronald McDonald House did, I became very curious about the charity, and then made the decision to support their cause.

 I revealed the many PYP attitudes, profiles, and virtues I had in Exhibition.  I had reflected that I wanted to improve at art after looking at previous art pieces, but I believe I have improved a lot, and that gives me confidence. With that in mind, I made my amazing backboard display. I was extremely proud of myself that I made my backboard. I couldn’t have made my backboard without the virtues determination and commitment. By taking risks, I was a risk taker. I know my backboard is one of the finest pieces of work I have made. I thought I have progressed in group work, as when I help in a group, our work is much better. While creating a fantastic article with my fellow group members, I proved I had cooperation with my group, and was a communicator with my group by sharing my ideas.

 I would like to thank the teachers who helped me, Mr. MacGregor and Ms. Ohls. I would also like to recognize my friends who helped me on my backboard, and my family for supporting me all the way. Thirdly, I would like to acknowledge Ronald McDonald’s House Charities, especially Ms. Leetovaara and Ms. Selachius. Because of Exhibition, I will always remember, anything is possible, if you work hard to get it. 

Pretty flowers in the backyard

Lego Robotics


Derek's Lego Robotics after school club finished up on Monday. Each team got to choose one of three tasks for their robot to complete on the final day....Candy Grab, Dancing Robot, or Sumo Bot. Derek and his team chose Sumo Bot. Family and friends were invited in to see the final challenge.

First they got to share about their robot.



They explained sensors, why they built it a certain way,
and who did what.

Derek and the 'bot.

The sumo ring. Derek's group competed in two bouts.
The idea was to push the opposing robot off the table.
They won both their bouts.

Names in Thai

Ken went on a mission to Thailand

for two years where he learned Thai.

Here are our names.

Lauren said mine looks like a weird smiley face.

Since I was up...

2:15 am Monday morning.
Definitely not the dark season anymore.

Cyprus volleyball tournament

Finally getting around to posting the pictures from Lauren's trip to Cyprus May 12-15.

We learned that Cyprus has two sides to it-a Greek side and a Turkish side. The girls did not need visas to go to the Greek side.

Unfortunately, the good departure flight times were on the Turkish side. They ended up leaving at 3:15 am on Sunday. Ick. Needless to say she slept A LOT when she got home.

Also learned that it rains about 50 days a year. It rained for 3 of the 4 she was there. The gym where they were playing had water running down the wall. Glad they got at least one sunny day!

From the plane

Rainbow off the wing

She said it reminded her of Utah without the big mountains.

She was impressed with the citrus trees.

Blooming...

We're all jealous Cyprus has a Burger King!

Tournament play

The team.

Team in action.

International School of Cyprus. Used to be a hotel.

L's teammate and host siblings Andreas and Angelica.



Host bunny.



"He was soooo cute!"

L's team got second place and tied for the sportsmanship award.
Go Huskies!