Finnish 101

I think my dad is taking seriously his job at educating the littles in true Finnish culture. Since they are officially 1/4 Finnish, it's gotta be done. He went all out this past weekend and lessons began with breakfast. A favorite breakfast that my dad ate as a child is a special cinnamon toast crumbled and soaked in warm milk called gorpu maito. A little Finnish bakery in northern Michigan (called Trenary Bakery) still makes the stuff and somehow a Piggly Wiggly in Howard stocks it on their shelves for all the local Finns. I think my parents must keep the bakery in business. Henry and Bryn had two or three helpings each and wanted more. My dad was beaming every time the words gorpu maito were yelled out by either one.

My mom, who is 100% Finnish in heart, carried on with the lessons as she had those two carrying and stacking (well, it was more like throwing) wood. A hike down their street followed and then they had to pose with the neighbor's deer, giving them kisses and all.

Check out the sticks in their hands..... hiking sticks! Walking around my parents house I pulled out two stakes that were used to save two white pines that I planted several years ago. They were inches tall and now are at least 15 feet so I figured they were safe from my dad's lawn mower now. Henry and Bryn each needed one and carried them around all afternoon.

Then........ Bryn and Henry got ready for their first SAUNA, pronounced correctly I might add. For those that wonder, in Finnish it is pronounced sow'na, not saw'na, as some say it here. Anyway, they loved hiking out to the sauna and trying out the top bench that I usually covet as my place to relax and sweat, sweat, sweat. They came in with Grandpa to check out the fire I started in the stove and by dinner time it was 120 degrees and steamy. I am sparing you shots of the Hinsa clan but needless to say Bryn and Henry enjoyed it all. I hope they love it as much as we do as they grow up.

Hiking with Sam and Abbey

Although Finn tried to throw a wrench into our hiking trip by jumping into the mucky pond in a lousy display of hunting prowess, the kids had a blast hiking around the pond and just being silly with Sam and Abbey. Henry did mention several times that the water looked good enough to swim in but thankfully none of them got close enough to the chilly water to freak Kristi or me out.

This is their attempt at human helicoptors which came after a half dozen songs of Ring around the Rosie.


Kristi and Henry definitely have a special something which is why she is working her muscles spinning my Hee-man around.

Baby Love

Lately Bryn and Henry are all about their babies. They are forever changing the diapers, giving them bottles or as you will see dancing around with them. It is so amazing to think that two years ago, they were tiny babies themselves so to watch them care for a baby doll just makes me melt. Henry is so gentle with his and to see him straighten out his baby's dress so it covers her feet ... well.. it's the sweetest thing ever. Bryn's baby always seems to have "pooped all over her clothes" so she is constantly undressing hers and requesting wipes to clean her up. Hate to admit that I am excited to find them some second hand doll clothes so they can actually change their outfits. Oh, did I mention their favorite tune to play on itunes lately? None other than the Supremes singing Baby Love.

The things they teach us!

We ventured across Monroe St. and into the Arboreteum for a hike this afternoon. Henry and Bryn were both sporting their hiking boots and tramping along the path chatting about the grass, sticks and who was going to lead. Jay asked them to be quiet to see if we could see some animals. After a while of hearing all sorts of noises and only finding squirrels and birds they taught us some things about wildlife we didn't know. Henry said that he couldn't see the ducks because they were sleeping underwater. News to me, but Bryn agreed with him. Then I see Bryn cranking her head back and asked her if she was looking for a cardinal. " Mommy, looking for deer sleeping in trees." I answered with the obvious, "They sleep in trees? I thought they laid on the grass?" "No, deer sleep up in trees."

Our little boy

THE BEFORE ...................................................


AND AFTER..............................



Does he not look like a little boy? His long blond locks from the top had never seen the clippers at his first haircut and Jay was getting antsy to trim him up. He didn't sit still for the entire cut so we still have a little work to do to make it look salon perfect. Jay and I couldn't stop staring at him for the first day or so. Oh, the scratches on his face are thanks to his sister. When her temper flares, she goes for the face. I think the maddest I have seen Jay get is when he witnessed a Bryn mauling.

Our cleaning lady

Our cleaning lady doesn't charge us a dime, loves to clean up after her brother and can unroll an entire roll of "towel paper" in seconds. Good deal, huh?

Yes, it does appear that Bryn has taken after me with her obsession (want to call it love, but it's not even close) for cleaning the dining room. The other day as they were slurping down blueberry/banana smoothies, she couldn't help but jump up and clean every purple puddle that Henry dripped on the table, bib and his lap. He was a tad annoyed at first since his only focus was on how quickly he could empty his bowl, but he later gave up and used it to his own advantage. While she was wiping him up he reached over and started pouring her smoothie into his bowl.

Last night after dinner, Bryn was whining for water so I hooked her up with a sippy cup full but she lost it and shoved a washcloth in my face, crying "water on towel". She wanted me to put water on her cloth so she could get on her hands and knees and clean under the table. I think she was under there for at least 15 minutes and was so proud of herself when she deemed it clean. This may not work out bad for us after all!!

Ready for the Roadtrip

Here's a typically random conversation with Henry and Bryn, on the morning of our trip to St. Cloud.

Halloween fun, all day long

I loved that Halloween fell on a Wednesday this year since we had a day FULL of activities. Unfortunately it didn't start our very smoothly as I managed to have my own little meltdown when I couldn't find their face paint. Don't know why at 7 am it was such a big deal to me but it was. Henry's line that morning was "It's OK mommy" and Bryn just looked at me with this very perplexed look in her eyes and said " Mommy's sad" That of course kept me rolling along. In retrospect, face paint would have only ended up on everyone at music class and all over Courtney's house so it was better Jay did accidentally throw it away :) Here's some pics from our Music Together class with all the costumed kids banging on Miss Eliza's drums. That's her, in between my Raggedy Ann and Andy.


As predicted, once they were in dress up mode, it never stopped. After nap they wanted to join the animal kingdom and squeeze into last year's 18 month outfits. We headed to Wingra Park with Jay and took some fun pictures while we played up on the hill.

Henry loves to do the splits and Bryn loves to copy him so here you go......




Attack of the bumble bee and dinosaur!!!

We did take them to some neighbors' houses for trick or treating. It wasn't the candy or the costumes that they loved the most it was the fact that they got to ring doorbells and knock on doors. As soon as we left one house they quickly shouted out who was going to "Press the button" on the next house. It was kinda funny listening to them at the doors. Jay and I are all about manners so we were practicing what to say before we would get to each house. I think all the two of us said over and over was" Now what do you say guys?" They didn't quite understand what order they were supposed to do it so they either yelled out " thank you, Happy Halloween or Trick or Treating (always put that -ing on the end)" We ended the night by surprising Norb and Karyl which was fun!

We had so much fun celebrating Jay's 34th birthday yesterday! B and H made him a couple cards complete with beautiful pictures. I made sure I wrote down what they were drawing since it seems their artistic ability leans my way. Oh well. Bryn drew him a dolphin, honey bear and kitty cat while Henry drew a couple airplanes, pig, and a ghost.

Nothing finer than starting the day at Mickies Dairy Bar for breakfast with a walk to their favorite house in Madison. Yep..... Bucky's house. He lives so close to us, they shout out a hello every time we pass by. Since we were traveling by feet Henry was the brave one who decided to "knock on Bucky's door" to see if he was home. Bryn's knock lasted a split second since she was a little scared to think that he may open the door. No such luck which made them both happy to talk about what he was probably doing.
We did stop by the Shell to watch some club hockey being played. I think it was their first time seeing a real hockey game. The zamboni was even cooler than all the middle aged guys skating around and around so we stayed to wave the driver along the ice.

Finally made it over to the pumpkin patch and farm while we still had the chance. They both enjoyed feeding the sheep with Jay's help although they never quite held on long enough to have the sheep eat out of their hands.

Henry, the kitty cat whisperer........

The place even had some playground equipment and Bryn found a bar to hang from. I will have to time her. That little thing can really stay on for awhile, at least longer than I could.

The morning wasn't complete without a pumpkin bath. At least the weather was warm enough that it didn't matter how soaking wet they got. I'm surprised they didn't worm their way into the pool of water.

Jay's favorite part of the day had to be the fact that we cleaned out our garage while they napped. How do two people who hate to shop end up with a garage FULL of crap? Can I blame it on the littles and all the "double" things we have parked in there? It's crazy. I think we have both gone out to the garage to just sit and marvel at the clean floors and open space. Even have little Foxy Lady parked inside now.

No, I'm wrong, Jay's best part of the day was when we hiked up the hill and were chilling at the Village Bar for his birthday dinner of cheeseburgers and fries. Nummmmmmmm.

Takin' it to the streets with mass transit

Well, after months of sitting on our front porch and squealing with excitement every time a Madison Metro bus drove by, H and B finally got their turn. Grandma and Grandma Affeldt got them ready and made their way over to the bus stop last Friday, and the rest is history.

The bus dropped them off at the Children's Museum at the top of State Street, where Henry could practice his diapering skills...

Bryn could listed to an elephant's trunk?...

and they could both make "dinosaur tracings" with melted down crayons.

Of course no trip to the top of State Street would be complete without a stop to see the popcorn man. mmmmmmm. Thanks guys!

the Raggedy's

Here is the prototype for Bryn and Henry's halloween costumes.... straight from a Raggedy Ann and Andy book that was mine as a kid. Never even thought to consider that the Raggedy's could be twins but with the same hair, same smile, and the exact same height it could be true. Oh, how could I forget the socks! Found out the original book was written in 1918 for a little trivia fact you can slip away.

And here is the real thing..... Thanks to my mom for staying up late over the last week trying to get their red hair made. Since they both have head circumference's that max out on the growth charts she had to start over a couple times to accomodate for their size.



It was the a great weekend (warm, sunny weather too) since we not only got to hang out with Grandma and Grandpa in Madison, but their cousin Liam and my sis drove up too! Liam also was sporting a Hinsa original with his cute clown costume. We loaded them up on Sunday morning and headed to the zoo. They don't really understand the whole "trick or treating" thing yet, nor do they need any candy. Shhh, don't tell them that it's me that loves the ooey, gooey, chocolatey treats..... We spent our time seeing our friends Piglet and Tigger, saying hello to our favorite animals and trying to avoid any adults in scary costumes. No standing in lines for us. Plenty of people didn't seem to mind the lines at all as we weaved in and out of them to find our way out.

Here is my favorite pic of Liam.... those cheeks....

Oh yeah, Bryn did manage to find herself a sucker which she enjoyed as it bled blue stickies down her chin.

As soon as Shannon undid Liams buckle from his stroller, he was off and running with his cousins following close behind.

A lapfull for Grandma, but I think she was enjoying it all.

The one pic of them all before Henry slyly escapes.



Still can't believe that the hair stayed on until the bitter end.

They both perked up as we got home and saw that Grandpa was in his truck and available for play.
Once we got them all down for naps, mom and dad left and Shannon and I put our feet up and chilled out for a while. But of course, the halloween spirit was turned on for the day so once they got out of their cribs Bryn and Henry decided that there was nothing to wear to the park but last year's halloween outfits. Didn't matter that it was in the 70's and warm as they pulled on their cozy fleece outfits. They snuggled in the wagon for a ride to park when suddenly Shannon noticed that Bryn was lovingly rubbing Liam's head. It was so sweet!


The return of the Bee and the Dino!