crunch time

Where have I been the past several weeks, you ask? 

More like, where haven't I been.  July has taken us all over the map, and we're only halfway through the adventures.

First, there was J's brother's wedding in Indiana - a long weekend of late nights, early mornings, and lots of fun.

Then, we came home for one day and were off on an impromptu trip to Florida.  Since we got back from there late Friday night, we've been packing, packing and more packing.  And running errands.

Oh, and did I mention I got a job, that I fly to San Francisco for a week of training for?  Super, super exciting!  But it's added yet another thing to the mix, and now means that I leave this Sunday (the 24th) instead of the 28th - for good. 

No matter how many times we pack up our lives, I can honestly say it never gets easier.  Everything has it's place, yes, but it is exhausting.

Though, unlike last year... this year I am the one jetting off to someplace new and leaving the stuff behind for the hubby to take care of.  I was more than excited about the idea of him being stuck with it (sounds harsh, but I've had my fair share of 'being stuck' with packing up and moving everything!)  but I've realized the past few days that I need like to have everything done my way or it drives me nuts. (okay, who am I kidding... I've known I've been like that for my whole life.  I have no idea why I thought this time would be different....)  We have specific boxes labeled for different rooms (kitchen, bathroom, etc) and I like everything to go back right in their place.  It's like putting a puzzle back together- everything has it's place, it's just up to us to find it again.  If it were up to J, he'd throw it all into the nearest box and have it all mixed together.  Efficent now- yes, Organized when it comes time to unpack next Spring- NO!

I'm a little nervous about not being here to finalize everything, but I now the hubs will do an amazing job.  He'll be taking Maddie by himself now too, so I'm sure I'll worry about that until I hear that they are safe and sound in Finland.  Guess that's my mommy instincts :)

So, it's going to be a good 10 days or so until I'm back to blogging as usual.  Now is time for packing and spending my last little bit of time with family/friends, heading to San Fran to start my new job on Sunday (!!!!) and then heading straight to Helsinki from there (literally from one side of the globe to the other!)

Hope everyone's having a great summer and staying COOL!  It's been HOT here lately- TOO hot, and I'm kind of excited to get to some cooler weather.  There can never just be a happy medium, huh?  Funny how that works.

I better get back to my work and get some good sleep - Crunch time is in full swing!

happy 4th of july weekend!

Happy holiday weekend to my fellow Americans!!  (and okay.... I guess happy Canada Day to you Canadians, too)   And to everyone else- just Happy Weekend!

We kicked the weekend off already with a nice little boat ride last night.  Maddie got to experience her first ride on the boat, and we had no idea how she would do- but she was great!  She absolutely loved life on the water, and I'm pretty sure if she could talk, she'd be begging us to buy a boat of our own.  She was so good that she earned herself another boat ride tomorrow night for the fireworks!

I'm on a boat!

Loving Life!

Enjoying the pretty sunset on the lake

Woo hooo! Good thing I have my fancy schmancy
life jacket on in case I fall out!

For my fellow hockey wives, today also marks the beginning of Free Agency here in North America.  There are always mixed feelings when it comes to being a free agent- to some it is an opportunity to be free from an organization that they no longer desire to be with (and seek a new contract with potentially higher pay), and for others it's an extremely stressful time of uncertainty until a job is nailed down for the upcoming season.  Here's to hoping any and all of you get the deals you guys want in the least amount of time (and least stress) possible! 

Hope everyone has a fantastic, safe, long holiday weekend! 

moi moi finland, hello america

Well... for those of you who don't know, the team lost in game 7 of the quarterfinals on Monday night, putting and end to their season.  It was a little earlier than hoped and it was too bad they couldn't pull out a win and keep going.  But, on the bright side....

WE'RE COMING HOME TO THE U.S. of A.!!!

(nope, no excitement in that or anything... not one bit ;) )

I wish it was as simple as heading to the airport and jumping on the next flight, but unfortunately, it's not.  Stuff has to be packed up and moved to the rink for storage.  The apartment needs to be cleaned out.  Laundry has to be done.  Our car needs to be returned.  Maddie needs to go to the vet to get her papers for back home (this is about the only thing we have completely done so far... haha).  Keys to our apartment, cell phone cards, TV card, have to be returned to their proper owners.  Hubs has team meetings.  Planning a time to see our friends here before we take off.  Tickets have to be booked (...minor detail).  All of that wonderful, fun stuff that is even more fun and wonderful when it stands in the way of getting home!

I despise packing and moving (someone remind me again why I picked a lifestyle that requires I do this twice a year again?  oh, that's right, a cute boy brainwashed me into thinking it'd be fun ;) )  but I'm keeping my eye on the prize:  4 wonderful summer months spent at home, with family and friends, eating all of my lovely American foods, trips to Target whenever I feel like it, drying the laundry in a ¡dryer!, driving a car (warning to those of you I will be sharing the roads with back home: this girl hasn't driven in 7 months!) buying milk by the gallon so we don't have to go to the store every. single. day.  Don't get me wrong, I like Finland a lot, and I'm sure come July I will be more than excited to get back.  But no matter where you're from, I think we all can agree.... There's no place like home!

We don't have an offical date of arrival set yet, but it will more than likely be sometime this weekend or early next week.  The hubs is acutally at the rink right now for meetings and figuring all that good stuff out and we hope to have our flights booked by tonight.  I know I kept talking about our European trip we were going to take at the end of the season, but, for several reasons, it's just going to have to wait :)  We may decide to take a trip somewhere warm once we get back, but we'll see how we're feeling.  Right now we need to just focus on getting home first. 

So, off I go to continue packing and cleaning.  I'm still waiting for my personal assistant to come and help me.... but she just never seems to show?  Not sure what's up with that ;) 

Moi Moi Finland, see you in 4 months :)

Hello America, can't wait to see you!!

moving to europe with your dog

When I started this blog, I knew I wanted to include some information and tips on moving to Europe, whether it be hockey related or not.  I will post my experiences and tips for packing, what to bring, what to do when you get there, and all that good stuff another day.  Since it's that time of year when new contracts in Europe start to arise for next season and the moving process with your dog can take quite a while, I figured now would be a good time to focus on:

Moving to Europe with your Dog

When I first found out that Europe would even be a possibility for this hockey season, one of my first questions was "how the heck do I move a dog to Europe?!"  It may sound simple, but it is actually kind of a pain in the butt (some countries are worse than others, ie: UK and Sweden!).  But, if you're like us, leaving your precious pooch behind is simply not an option.  Plus, who better to keep you company when you're over here?  It's definitely worth the (mild) headache, and hopefully this post will help make your process a lot smoother (and a LOT less confusing than it was for me!)  Depending on what country you are moving to and what vaccinations your dog already has, it may take a month or two or it could take several months or longer.  Be sure and plan ahead!

Thanks to my friends Google and Google Translate, our wonderful Vet at home, and some tips from fellow hockey wives, I managed to get all of the shots, paperwork, microchip, checkups, plane tickets, etc. done.  I think the most confusing part of it all was that the regulations are different for different countries.  Luckily, it is the same throughout most of Europe, so this post should help most of you out (thank goodness for the EU!)

Now, our dog, Maddie, is a Maltese/Poodle/Bichon mix, and weighs 10 lbs (or 4.5 kg in the land of Europe!)  so she traveled with me in the cabin under the seat. 

Depending on the size of your dog, you may or may not be able to do this also.  The regulations vary by airline, but for the most part the maximum weight for in-cabin travel is about 15 lbs (~7 kg, including the carrier), though in my opinion, a dog much bigger than Maddie might be too big for the carrier (which, of course, has size restrictions as well).   Anything over these limits requires travel as cargo.  The vet/vaccination/paperwork process should still be the same, but the plane ticket/crate process will be a bit different.  (note: this information is for travel from the U.S. to Europe.  If you're traveling from Canada or another country, some of the steps and requirements may be different)

Anyway, here is your "to-do" list to prep your pup for the trip across the pond:

- Research. Find as much information as possible on importing a dog to the country you are moving to.  Beware: just because Google takes you to a website, does not mean it's legit.  Obviously most of you are fully aware, but I found a lot of conflicting information out there, and by the time I separated the legitimate information from the illegitimate, I had wasted a lot of precious time.  Try searching for the local government food & agriculture website (their version of the USDA , which should have information about the importation of pets to their country).   In Finland it is called Evira.  Also, go to the USDA APHIS travel website, scroll down to where it says "List of Countries".  Find the country you are moving to and you should be linked to their pet import requirements  (note: you will later have to get an export stamp on your vet health certificate from the USDA APHIS office within a few days of your travel.  They use this list of requirements to check things off, so don't forget any of them!  They won't stamp your papers otherwise) .  Also, make sure your veterinarian is an approved vet (you can find a list of USDA Accredited Veterinarians on the USDA website link above) because all of the vaccines, treaments, and certificates must be filled out and signed by an approved vet only.  My recommendation is to find a vet who has lots of experience preparing dogs for travel to other countries.  Our home vet does, and it made the whole process a lot easier and a lot less stressful for both me and her. 


- Rabies/Titer Testing.  If the country you are moving to is considered "rabies-free" (hint: Sweden and the UK are the two main ones I can think of in Europe) you will need to have a rabies/titer test done well in advance of your travel.  You must do this or your dog will be quarantined upon your arrival!  The rabies titer test is done to ensure that your dog's rabies vaccinations have provided them with enough rabies antibodies for travel (ie: they want proof that your dog won't be spreading rabies into their "rabies-free" country).  Your vet will take a sample from your dog and send it to an EU Approved lab.  This must be done no less than 30 days after the rabies vaccination (given once the 15-digit chip is in place, as stated below) and at least 3 months (may differ in some countries) prior to importation.  If your dog does not "pass" the test, he or she will need another rabies vaccination.


- Vaccinations/Treatments.  I assume you all take your dog in for his/her annual checkup and shots, so this shouldn't be anything out of the ordinary.  The biggest one here is the rabies vaccination (there are certain standards for the type of shot, make sure you check with your vet to determine that it meets these standards).  Since you are coming from a country with low-incidence of rabies (both U.S. and Canada are considered this) your dog will not need to have the Rabies/Titer test done (unless the country you are moving to is "rabies-free" and requires it).  The requirement here is that your pooch needs to be given the vaccine at least 21 days prior to importation (this doesn't always apply to booster vaccines, but your health certificate must state the prior vaccine also).  The rabies vaccine must also be given after the 15-digit microchip is in place (I state it in the next section also, but this is an important one!) and the Rabies Vaccination Certificate (you should get one of these along with the rabies tag each time your dog has gotten/gets a rabies shot) must be signed and state the last day the vaccination is valid.

As far as other vaccines go, rabies was the only one we were required to have, but Maddie got her annual Bordatella (kennel cough- usually required for boarding and grooming) and Lyme disease vaccinations.  Not only is it important to us for her to have these, but I think it is important to have them on your certificates and paperwork to show that you take your dog's health very seriously.

Some countries, Finland included, require treatment againts echinococcosis tapeworms.  This needs to be done within 30 days of traveling.  It is just a little treat-like pill that they chew up and swallow, but must be given by the vet (and, once again, included on that health certificate signed by the vet!)


- Microchip.  Europe uses 15-digit micro chips for pet identification (conforming to ISO Standard 11784), and all dogs must have one.  Maddie had one put in her when she was a puppy, but it was a 10-digit one (of course we Americans have to have our own different way of doing it, it'd be too easy for them all to be the same!)  so she had to get another one.  We use the Home Again chip and like it.  There's one tiny catch with this one though:  your dog has to have her rabies vaccination after the chip is in place.  Our vet literally did them one right after another, which is perfectly ok, they just have to be done in that order.  So, even if your dog technically isn't due for another rabies shot yet, he/she may have to get another one if she has to get a new 15-digit chip (which was our case).


- Booking Plane Tickets.  This is where the huge headache came in for us.  Since the team was booking our flight, we had to relay all of the information on how to book a pet to them.  Between that and the language barrier, I'm amazed that it all worked out smoothly.  I can honestly say this was the most stressful part of our move (for me at least, lucky hubby was already in Finland!) 

They certainly don't make it easy to book a dog on your flight with you.  Airlines usually charge more for booking reservations over the phone, so it's recommended to do it online.  However, there is no way to make your "pet reservation" online, and most have a limit as to how many pets can be on board at one time.  So, every time we have traveled with Maddie, we have to scope out the ticket that we want, call the airline and say "okay, we're going to book "x" flight # on "x" day, and want to travel with an in-cabin pet.  Is there enough room for her on that/those flight(s)?"  If there is, then we go online, book it quick, and call the airline right back to make the pet reservation so we can confirm that she will be allowed on the plane.  Make sure you get a confirmation # or some sort of proof that you have a pet reservation.  Some airlines say that they won't "confirm" it until you check in (some do it as first-come-first-serve) but I'd push for it anyways.  How the heck are you supposed to just "show up" at the airport not knowing if your pet will be able to travel with you?  Like, what do they expect you to do with it if they say no? 

Another tip: if you have to connect flights, try and book all of your connections on the same airline.  This was another headache for us.  Even though I was traveling on "partner airlines", they seemed to have a lot of trouble communicating about travel with a pet.  If you must travel on more than one airline, make sure you call each airline separately and confirm your pet has a reservation on the flight. 
Another note about connecting flights:  I don't have personal experience with this since I flew directly from New York to Finland, so I can't be of much help... but if you are connecting in another European country other than your destination, you may have to go through Customs in that country also, and therefore could potentally need to have all of the paperwork for importing a pet to that country also.  You may or may not, I'm not sure, so just make sure you check that out before you travel!

Also, most countries accept imported pets at "approved points of entry" only, where the pet must be presented at customs.  Most big cities should be "approved", but it should specify which airports you can fly into with a pet when you are resesarching and reading over your country's pet import requirements.

All in all, the headache that comes from booking flights is totally not worth it.  More often than not, no one even notices that you have a pet with you (besides security- you have to have a special note on your ticket to bring your pet through).  No one on the plane ever even notices Maddie was there.  We usually get comments as we are deplaning from the flight attendants or other passengers like "Oh my goodness, a dog! She was so quiet, I had no idea you even had one with you!"

*This process might be slightly different if you are traveling with a large dog that travels as cargo, so check with your airline about the protocol for that (or maybe another fellow hockey wife/anyone who has traveled to Europe with a big dog would like to add their experience/advice??)

- Carrier/Crate.  If you have never flown with your dog before, you will need to purchase an airline-approved soft-sided carrier (for in-cabin pets) or hard crate (for pets traveling as cargo).  Airlines have specific requirements for these, and specifically state maximum dimensions and weight.  Make sure the carrier/crate is big enough for your dog.  He/she should be able to turn around in it and lie down comfortably.  We use a soft-sided Sherpa carrier (size Medium) and it has worked really well for us.  Most airlines are familiar with and approve of Sherpa carriers (provided they meet the size restrictions) and it has been very durable, it's comfortable to carry, and there are storage pockets in it for leash, food, toy(s), treats, paperwork- so you can keep it all in one place.  You can find them, along with lots of other larger hard crates at most pet stores (I believe ours is from Petsmart).  Don't wait until the last minute to do this either, make sure you get it well in advance so your dog has a chance to check it out and get used to it.  Put familiar toys, blankets, treats, etc. inside it so they feel comfortable with it and know that it is "theirs" and let them explore.  I usually take Maddie's out a day or 2 before we travel.  She knows that her carrier is her "airplane bag" and that it means that she will be going somewhere soon.  It gives her a chance to become familiar with it again and to mentally/emotionally prepare herself for a trip. 

For dogs traveling in cargo, I think many airlines require there to be water attached to the crate.  You should also have copies of all paperwork attached to the crate itself, as well as carrying them with you.  Most people I know put them in some sort of plastic cover (like one of those page-protectors for binders, so you can still see through it) and tape it to the outside of the crate.  Make sure it is secured well, but that any airline or customs workers can easily remove the papers as needed.

- European Union & USDA Health Certificates.  There is one standard Veterinary Certificate that is used for travel into any of the EU countries.  It can usually be filled out in the country you are moving to's native language, or English (be sure and check what languages are approved in your specific country).  This certificate includes information about your pet, your information, and microchip, vaccination, treatment, etc. info.  It must be filled out in full and signed by your approved/accredited veterinarian.  It also must be looked over, signed and given a raised seal by the USDA, as mentioned below.  There is also a USDA form that basically lists the same information that must be filled out and stamped as well. 

- USDA Approval & Stamping.  This is your last step of the travel prep process!  You must make an appointment and go into your local USDA APHIS office within either 7 or 10 days of your flight (I can't remember which, and can't find it anywhere in my paperwork, so make sure to check when you call your local office).   Here they will look over your EU Vet Certificate and USDA Health Certificate, make sure that they have been filled out and signed by an accredited vet, and give the USDA certificate a stamp and the EU certificate a raised seal, saying that they looked everything over that your pet is healthy and meets export requirements.  The cost of this mandatory approval is like $35.  If you had to have a rabies titer test done, it is something around $100.  Keep these documents in a safe place until travel, they are VERY important!

travel tips:
- limit your dog's food and water intake the day of your flight.  If you are flying in the morning, do not give him/her food that day until you arrive at your destination.  If you are flying in the afternoon/evening, you could try giving your dog some food (maybe half of a usual serving size) but do so at your own risk!  You don't want your pup to have an upset tummy on the plane.  Better for them to be a little hungry than throwing up!
- make sure your dog gets plenty of exercise before you get to the airport and plenty of opportunities to go to the bathroom.  It's going to be a long flight, and you want him/her to be as comfortable as possible (and hopefully sleep most of the time!)
- Maddie is trained to go to the bathroom on a "potty pad", so we always pack a few in her carrier.  When we go on long trips I take her into the "family bathroom" in the terminal, and put the pad down so she has an opportunity to go to the bathroom between flights/right after a long flight.  It's also a nice way for her to get out and stretch her legs!
- you can offer your dog small amounts of water during the flight, but don't overdo it.  I usually give Maddie a water bottle cap-full of water every now and then.  Enough to quench her thirst and keep her hydrated, but not too much that she gets a tummy ache.
- always bring a little bit of food with you, even if you plan to buy some at your destination.  You never know what will happen during your travel or once you arrive, so it's important to have a little extra food with you for your dog to eat in case you get stuck.  This way, you can feed him/her right away when you get to your destination also.  Trying to find a pet store immediately upon arrival in a different country is not going to be easy.  Plus your dog will most likely be hungry!

Life After you Arrive in Europe
- Food.  This was another one of my big questions I had before moving.  Luckily, my husband was over here before I was, so he had time to scope it out and check out what kinds of dog food they had.  Hill's Science Plan (called Science Diet in the U.S.) is widely available and highly recommended by vets.  This is what we started using.  I've also seen Purina in Finland, along with a few others that I can't remember.  If your dog isn't already eating this brand at home, and you plan to switch to it when you get here, I recommend getting a small bag at home and introduce it to your dog before you move.  Mix half the old food and half of the Science Plan, so your dog's stomach can get used to the change.  Dogs can get sick from a switch in foods (add that on to the change in environment, and your dog might really be thrown off for a while), and this is the easiest way to prevent that.  Since it's also available in the States, we will be able to stick with the same food from now on, even in the off-season.  (Warning: I can't speak for all countries, but in Finland, like everything else, dog food is EXPENSIVE.  We're talking 50 euros for a 7.5 kg bag!)

- Culture. For the most part, dogs are widely accepted throughout Europe.  In some countries, they are welcome almost anywhere (restaurants, bakeries, stores, etc.)  In Finland, there are lots of dog parks (even in the city!) for your dog to run and play, on or off their leash.  When I was reading up prior to our move, I read that dogs are "so well behaved in Europe" and that dogs with any sort of behavioral issues are highly frowned upon.  Maddie is very well behaved, but she's not perfect.  She loves people, and therefore runs up to every one she comes across.  She isn't vicious and would never bite, but shes a dog, and dogs bark once in a while.  Big deal.  Anyways, I was worried even our precious pooch would be out of place when we got here-- definitely NOT!  Most dogs we have come across are just the same or worse than she is.  It's no different than at home.

- Vet.  It's a good idea to find a vet shortly after you arrive in Europe.  This way if you ever need to get in or in case of an emergency, you already have a relationship established.  Unless you're really out in the boonies, you should be able to find one that at least somewhat speaks English. 

- Grooming.  Usually your new vet can provide you with recommendations for a new groomer as well.  From our experience, grooming in Europe is no different than grooming in the U.S.  Just a lot more expensive (in Finland, at least)!

I hope you are not too discouraged by all of this information!  In all reality, it's not as bad as it looks.  And if you have a knowledgeable and experienced veterinarian, it should all be done very smoothly.  Like I said, the hardest part is the flight booking process.  Don't skip out on any parts of the process though, or you risk your pet not being accepted.  Just make sure that you have all of your information put together for when you travel, and keep it right on you in your carry-on. 

After I researched and did all of this stuff, the guy I had at Customs when I arrived in Finland didn't want anything to do with a dog or dog papers.  I told him I had one with me, and he kind of nodded and gave me a "ok, cool... good for you" sort of look.  I was like, are you kidding me buddy?  I just spent all this time, energy and money getting this stuff done, and I can't even beg you to glance it over?  Figures.  Don't assume this will happen to you though!  I think it all depends on where you are going and the specific person who you speak with at Customs.

I hope this provides some guidance to anyone who is looking to travel/ move to Europe with a dog.  Please don't hesitate to ask any questions, I'm more than happy to try and help!  And if you have moved to Europe with a dog and would like to share your experience and any tips, feel free, I'd love to hear other people's experiences as well!

(I better end with a disclaimer.  I am no expert in traveling with a dog, nor do I claim to be.  This is meant to be a guide only.  Laws and regulations change frequently, so make sure you do your research and follow the proper protocol specific to the country you are moving to.)

Happy & Safe Traveling!

10 things i am most thankful for in 2010

Sure, Thanksgiving was a month ago.  But all of the holiday season is a time to think about what we are thankful for and also to reflect on everything that happened over the past year.  With that, I decided to make a list of my:

Top 10 Things I am Most Thankful for in 2010

(tie) 1) Family and Friends.  No brainer.  Sorry if I'm boring you by putting them at the top of every list I make, but how could I not?  We're blessed with such wonderful people in our lives, and they deserve every bit of recognition that I can give them.  You help make both of us the people that we are.

(tie) 1) My husband.  I couldn't ask for a better person to spend the rest of my life with.  This has been a huge year for us, and I know it's only going to get even better.  You're always there for me when I'm having a tough day and can always put a smile on my face. 

3) Our Dream Wedding.  It is, and probably will forever be, the best (and most fun) day of our lives.  We had 160 of our nearest and dearest all in the same room to celebrate us.  What more could you ask for?  Everything worked out flawlessly (ok, I'm sure there were a little bumps throughout the day... but obviously they weren't a big deal since I don't even remember them 6 months later!)  Everyone had such a blast and it turned out just the way we were hoping it to.  I'm even more thankful to our parents, because if it wasn't for them, it would have never happened.

4) Hockey.  Sure, it's a love-hate relationship, but there's no denying that it has brought great things to our lives.  First, it provides an income for us.  And how many other people get to move to Europe in their twenties?  There are definitely perks that come with the life.  On top of it all, my husband gets to wake up every morning knowing that he's going to a job that he loves.  Doesn't get much better than that.  As a friend of mine quotes on her facebook profile "Find a job that you love, and you'll never have to work a day in your life."

5) Other Hockey Wives.  Whether it's ones I know personally or not, these ladies make me feel a lot less alone in this crazy little world that we live in.  From advice to sharing stories, support to making new friends, I don't know what I'd do without them!  So few people understand our lives, so it's important to be able to connect with one another and have people to talk to who "get it".

6) Skype.  I hadn't really used Skype much until this year.  Now, I don't know what I'd do without it!!  Being able to talk to and SEE family and friends across the world is amazing.  I can't imagine what it would be like living over here without it (and it wasn't that long ago that people had to!)

7) Money.  But not in the sense that you're thinking of.  I am thankful that we have a steady income to support ourselves and pay the bills.  It seems like a simple thing, but so many people don't even have that.  The security that it provides makes day to day life a lot easier (which, I know, is where the irony comes in, since many say that money only complicates things)

8) Maddie.  She probably knows me better than anyone else, even my hubby.  She hears all my secrets and  see how I act when nobody is watching.  She nurses me when I'm sick, sleeps on my feet when they're cold, and listens to me when I need someone to talk to.  No one else gets so excited every time I walk in the door and makes me feel as important as she does.

9) Finland.  I feel so blessed to have been given the opportunity to live in this beautiful country.  I learn something new about it every day, and it has been a wonderful place to live.  Almost every person I have come into contact with has been welcoming and helpful.  The team has been wonderful to us, and I have only good things to say about our stay here so far!

10) Learning so many new things about myself.  Okay, that's kind of broad.  But I think I have grown a lot as a person in the past year especially, and I'm really proud of that.  Every challange that I face (and overcome) makes me aware of what a strong person I am.  I think I have always been ahead of my years in maturity, but I think I have surpassed even that in this past year.  I have learned a lot of new things about the world, cultures, people, myself, and life in general.  I'm pretty content with who I am right now :)

Also:  I added a "my story" page at the top.  For those of you interested in reading, you can also find it here.

♥

4 days until Christmas!

♥

'tis the season

Well, I got to spend about 24 hours with my hubby and he's off again.  Today is just a day trip for their away game, and then after tonight, they have their Christmas break and don't play again for 2 weeks.  I know he's looking forward to a little break (though they still have practices) and not eating some form of chicken and pasta for every meal.  Guess that means I'll have to find even more new recipes to try! :)

We started off our day yesterday with a trip to the new dog park that Maddie and I found.  J was really excited to see her playing in the snow.  The only problem was it was 10-15 degrees colder than a few days before when I was there with her.  We spent about 15 minutes there before all 3 of us were so cold that we couldn't feel our fingers and toes.

snow dog!

After the dog park, J had to go to the doctor to get his finger looked at and x-rayed.  The top joint of his pinky finger got hit with a puck and popped out of place in the game on Saturday.  They popped it back in right away and there is no fracture.  He played the rest of the game Saturday and won't miss any time at all.  Just a little sore, nothing a big tough hockey player can't handle! ;)  Luckily, it didn't prevent him from doing his Christmas shopping yesterday either :)

In the evening we made Christmas cookies.  We doubled the recipe and ended up with 50+ cookies.  Yikes!  J brought the majority of them with him today to share with the guys on the bus on the way home from their game.  I told him he is not allowed to come home with ANY... we already have too many here.  Making Christmas cookies is one of my favorite holiday traditions.  He wasn't as excited about it as I was, seeing as he was exhausted from their trip.  But he sucked it up and we had a good time :)

the finished product!

It seems like it never stops snowing here, and I know back home in the U.S. they have gotten a lot of snow in the past few days also.  Tis the season, right?!  But its the perfect time for a reminder to everyone to be extra careful when they're out and about in this kind of weather.  It's time to finish up Christmas shopping, kids are getting ready and excited for break, lots of people are heading to holiday parties, etc.  Drive slow, wear your seatbelts, keep an extra eye out for pedestrians, and get a designated driver!  There are many precious lives out there- it's just not worth it! :)

ask and you shall receive

Wow, is it December 11th already!?  Where does the time go.  Feels like just yesterday I was saying "wow, I can't belive it's December already", and now it's more than 1/3 over.  Good because its closer to being done with these silly road trips, bad because the holidays are my favorite time of year and I hate to see them come and go so quickly :( 

I woke up to more snow this morning.  I don't know where we're going to put it all... literally!  They are removing it from the city by the truck load, but seemingly not fast enough.  The roads are poorly plowed and many of the sidewalks too.  I feel really bad for all of the elderly people and people on crutches or disabled that I see trying to get around.  I think it's difficult for me- I can't even imagine having to deal with that all winter.  Oh, and they don't use salt or sand or anything either.  If/when they do use something, it's little rock pebbles.  Unfortunately, I think this is about their extent of "snow clean-up" here, taking care of it initally and leaving you to fend the rest for yourself.  Maybe I'll have to hook Maddie up to a sled and use that to get around ;)

All of my whining about wanting a girls night finally paid off.  Last night a couple of us got together at one of the other wives house.  It was a nice, relaxing evening with a couple friends and some wine.  Just what the doctor ordered :)  Ask, and you shall recieve!

During our girls night we got into some discussion about the differences between the U.S. and Finland (and other countries/cultures) and why certain things are done certain ways in different places, etc.  It makes me feel so lucky to have this experience of living in a different culture and learning about it.  It also makes me proud to be able to teach others about our culture and what it is like to be an American.  Now, I'm not one to get all into politics (though this conversation was not just on a political level) I pride myself in being very accepting of others and new cultures.  It's not always easy for me being here, far away from home, family and friends, and on top of that not having all of the stuff that is so familiar to me.  However, I think I have adjusted to the differences very well and have been educating myself and learning from others about what life is like in Finland. 

All of the girls from the team that I have talked with are very accepting of our American culture as well... (though I think the hockey world is fairly cultured, seeing as many of us spend time living in different countries) and though they most likely prefer their country to mine, I'm just happy that they make the effort to try and understand some of the differences, and though it is not the way they may do or see things, they don't see it as wrong- just different.  Not everyone that I have come across in Finland is able to see the differences the way that my fellow hockey wives do.  However, I think a lot of it has to do with being uneducated.  Obviously there are lots of stereotypes out there, so I am glad that I am able to do my (small) part to help clear up any confusion.  Finnish people are very proud, which I can understand.  They have a nice country that is very beautiful, rich in tradtion, and from what I've learned so far, runs fairly smoothly (though it's a little easier when you're a cold country of only 5 million somewhat isolated in the north  ;) )  I don't agree with everything that they do here in Finland, and I don't agree with all of the ways we do things in the U.S. (political and otherwise). But, I am an American, and I'm proud of it.  If you're going to challenge me about my country, I am going to defend it :)

I also took some time yesterday to check out the Christmas market downtown.  It is lined with red cottage/huts and lots of wonderful hand made items and gifts.  There is everything from mittens to jewelry to candles to clocks and home decor and beyond.  I got a pair of really pretty hand made earrings.  I plan on bringing J back Sunday or Tuesday when he has some free time... maybe I can give him some hints to help him with his Christmas shopping... ;)  Here are a couple pictures that I took:

The guys will be home after their game tonight, yay!  That's the one nice thing about these trips... it makes it that much more fun when we do have a chance to be together.  We get excited to see each other and spend time with one another :)

wanted: girls night

Well, the team left for their trip today (I feel like I'm constantly saying that lately!)  so it's just me and Maddie-girl here again.  It's been a real bummer lately that there aren't any other North American girls here also (though the one that left does come back after this weekend! woo-hoo).  There are tons of girls from the team, I've mentioned before that virtually all of the guys are married or have a serious girlfriend, but since they are all from around here, they're busy with their own lives most of the time.  They're either busy with kids, work, school, family, friends, etc.  They are all great girls... extremely nice, welcoming, and fun to spend time with when we get the chance, but unfortunately that doesn't happen very often.

That's probably the one thing that I wish were different about here.  It would be nice to have some girls to hang out with when the guys are gone (and just for an occasional girls night here or there!)  Don't get me wrong, I love having time to myself and no offence to Maddie.. she keeps me great company, but I need some girl time!!  I know it makes it that much harder for my hubby to leave also, knowing that I'm here alone.  So to any of my friends at home reading this.... feel free too book a flight over..... cough cough :)

On a brighter note, Maddie and I went for another walk today and discovered a really nice dog park close to our place.  We have been to another one that was further away, but this one is much bigger and nicer, and close to home!  They have many of these dog parks throughout the city, and I'm so excited to find one close to home.  It's in a little wooded area also, so she's able to run around and play without it being on the middle of some street corner downtown.  She had so much fun playing in the snow... it was a good thing she was wearing a red sweater so I could see her or she would have gotten lost!

eating some snow

 beautiful winter scenery in Finland :)

Well, dinner is almost ready and last nights episode of Glee is almost uploaded.  Time for me to eat and hit the couch for a bit :)