2 MIPs

Tonight was the athletic awards banquet. Each team was recognized and the coaches chose a most improved player and a most valuable player.

Lauren, as co-captain for basketball, got to talk about their experience at the CEESA tournament in Sofia.

Derek and the middle school boys basketball team.

Derek receiving the award for Most Improved Player
for the boys volleyball team.

Lauren receiving the Most Improved Player award for the girls volleyball team.

WAAAAYYYYY proud of you guys!

Goodbye

Goodbye Elaine and Earl! You will be missed.

We couldn't let them leave Finland without a reindeer.

I'm going to miss my temple buddy.

Guitar recital

With the guitar teacher, Victor.

The piano, voice and other teacher at the school held a recital with all of her students. The kids' guitar teacher got together with her and arranged for Lauren and Derek to participate as well. I thought all his guitar students would be performing but it turned out to be only L and D.

They wrote the music and lyrics for the song they performed.

Lyrics:

Oh, it shines so bright

But it's still so far away

All I had to do was try

In a world, in a world so shy

'Cause I started in December

Ended in May

Maybe it's a start

Maybe it's a way

Maybe it's not so far away

Out there in the wild

It's never, it's never mild

Beauty and the beast reside

Pain and gain, side by side

'Cause I started with a mission

Ended with decision

Maybe was thought

Would not back away

At least I've got something to say

Cake

Cake made and 'buttered' by Derek.
Tasty!

HYVÄ SUOMI

Yep, I know last week they were all decked out in USA gear.
We recognize the fair-weather-ness of it.

I can't see the IIHF patch.



I'm not sure what this is about.

Not your spot

Our parking spot is #1. In front of #1 is a small space. Not big enough for anyone to park in without being in part of our spot. Yesterday someone parked in the little spot AGAIN, making it impossible for me to park without being in #2. So frustrating. And the car stayed there ALL DAY!

It's time for action.

I text the owner of our apartment. He says to call either the parking company (Rouholahden pysäköinti oy) or the police. I call the police (Somebody dial 112). The person spoke little English but gave me a different number to call. That number had a recording in Finnish. I keep pushing buttons to see if it would kick me over to a live person, but no dice.

NUTS!

I call my Finnish friend Elina and ask her to listen to the recording and tell me what to do. She ends up getting through and tells them my story. She reports that they will come to our place and I need to go out and prove it is our spot with the rental agreement. Thanks Elina!

Phone call. Lady speaks Finnish. I only understand 'auto' and our address. I look out the window and see their car. I run out. After much pantomiming and showing of the rental agreement, they issue a ticket, which I have to sign. Then they tell me kiitos which I assume means I can go.

The parking police.
They hang out for about an hour. I keep close watch on them.

The owner of the car shows up and parking police lady makes her stay put until...
the tow truck arrives!

She didn't get towed. The guy did put two plank things down for her to drive up on the curb.
I'm going to guess that she got charged for the tow truck appearance.
Dan: Don't you feel a little bit guilty?
Me: No.
Dan: Our car is going to get keyed.

USA vs Switzerland

The 2012 IIHF World Championship is being played in Finland and Sweden. We got tickets to the US vs SUI game.

Official mascot of the games.
Hockey Bird.

Stretching is so important.

Warm up.

Great seats right on the glass!
Lauren and Derek's face paint got them on the jumbo-tron multiple times.

Swiss fans who took our family pic.

The Swiss crowd had cool hockey songs that they sung the entire game. We were envious, since the US has no such hockey songs, until they started a melody that was clearly
Twisted Sister's We're Not Gonna Take It.
Ummm.

Getting ready for the national anthem.

Dan's new best friend.

Action

Derek's friend from school, Alex.

We don't understand what was
so great about these goofy paper hats.


Lots of fun and USA won!

Tickets

"Hey guys. Here are the tickets if you want to look at them or the info that was sent with them. But be careful with them, please." After everyone left, this is where I found them.

Middle school friendly volleyball tourney

ISH has lots of kids who did volleyball this spring season but not enough committed to travel to the tournaments. Because of this, the activities director arranged for the kids to have a friendly tournament with the International School of Estonia. ISH had three co-ed teams. Blue, red, and green. Lauren was on red. Derek on green.

Siblings shaking hands at the beginning of the game.

All four teams.

Coaches and parents game against the students.

Old people on three!

Red team won the tournament.

So tired after the big day.