The snow's here at last!

It was beginning to feel like the winter was never going to start 2 weeks ago with Turku shrouded in darkness, raining everyday and running at a steady lame +2-4c. Then last weekend it changed overnight to -12c and a weekend of snow! Yeah! At last it's bright white and sunny...and about -15c everyday. 

The council has almost finished building a Moomin themed playground in the park nearest our house which is awesome. They've upgraded everything in the park as well as adding a whole new playground, including the kids all time favourite: the BIG swing! We've been hanging there a lot...even in the dark as they've yet to install the lights for night use. 

The BIG swing!

E loving it

K bundled up for -14c

What is that strange glowing ball in the sky?

Glöggi at the playground for K...

..and E. 

Hanging in the steam exhaust for heated water pipes..

...which creates this great snow drenched effect on the surrounding trees. 

...roll on 2014

A very different Christmas to last year's in more ways that one. We had a quiet house without the flood of family we all enjoyed last year and we had NO snow. So dark, wet and muddy instead of bright, white and pretty. 

We had the full Finnish Christmas spread at Nana and Pabba's with Anni Mummi on the 24th including a visit from Joulupukki. Then did it all over again with a Kiwi Christmas on the 25th. 

Hope you all had awesome Christmases and the New Year brings everything you hope for. Hugs to everyone. 

K and E prepping joulutorrtu in the lead up to the big day.

K playing the kantele, a Finnish version of a lapharp. He got one of these from Santa too. 

E waiting for the Man

K waiting for the Man. 

The Man holding court. 

K and E pre present frenzy

E handing out the presents

K and E biting the gingerbread hanging heart

 

Äiti lifting Daddy...and K lifting Pabba. 

..and finally E lifting Äiti to do the same.

Croissants in a can?!?! How do they fit in there?

Still not sure how they fit but they went down well on New Year's morning.