The life and times of K, K, A and H !: 2014

Hello friends and family. I won't type out a long winded spiel about our trip to Estonia but I will say that it was a wonderfully special time to have mom along with us to experience the beauty of Estonia that WE know and love, but this time through the lenses of her own eyes and senses.

I, but ESPECIALLY Kärolin was very proud to show mom around her home country, but best of all for her to experience life as the locals live it, namely through the meeting of her family in their daily routines. It all unfolded beautifully with many conversations, laughs, and memories tucked safely away into our hearts and minds. So we'll let the pictures and captions fill in the rest of the tale from our 2 week stay in Estonia. Hopefully it will all make sense. If it doesn't we'll reminisce when we can sit down together and take the trip again through our blog. Enjoy!! We sure did. :)

Here we go! Mother/son photo from the tripod to start off mom's FIRST EVER trip across the Atlantic to Europe. She was as calm as she looks. :)

Anxious and ready to get through to her gate!

Checked in, through security, now just waiting to board. What an experience we're about to embark on!

One last step in North America and then she will be setting foot on European soil in about 9 hours.

European soil! Well, actually, Schiphol airport marble in Amsterdam. But close enough. :) We had a flawless speed walk through Schiphol to border control and then on to our gate. Luckily this time we didn't have to take the shuttle bus out to our plane on the tarmac which is usually the case because we had a slightly larger plane this time which required the terminal ramp.

The lovely Kärolin and mom on mom's first restaurant experience in Tallin's 'Old Town'. We're at a restaurant called Leib (meaning 'bread' in english) which is setup in courtyard contained within the 'wall' of the Old Town. The ambiance is modern but you can't help but imagine being amongst life as it were in Medieval times some 800 years ago sitting where a much different life took place.

Early morning stroll to the City Center Marina on the edge of Tallin's main Harbour Port for tourists travelling the Baltic Sea from Finland, Sweden, Norway and mainland Europe.

The steeple of Oleviste Kogudus or St. Olaf's (Olav's) Church - one of the most striking landmarks in Tallin's Old Town and oldest known churches. I'll attach a link from Wikepedia rather than reiterate the verbiage from there. It's quite an interesting read. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Olaf's_Church,_Tallinn Mom can fill you in more as to the significance of her wanting to see this church while visiting Estonia, but it has something to do with an Estonian friend of Harve and June's named Alex who has ties to this church from being Baptised here while living in Estonia early on in his life I believe.

St Olaf's Church from the City Center Marina.

Fisherman trying their luck early in the morning. Unsure of what they're fishing for but I know you probably wouldn't want to eat the fish that live in the Marina.

Mom and I were up much earlier than Kärolin and Anni the first few days so we'd go on some early morning walks to show mom some of the places around Tallin's downtown where Kärolin lived and frequented and where I joined her just before Anni was born in March 2013. Here mom is standing in the middle of Magasini Tn (street) where we lived with some traditional wood homes (flats) that are quite typical around Estonia. We lived in a more modernly renovated house across the street out of frame.

Nana and Anni on the Baltic Sea. If you look closely you can sea the exhaust stack from one of the ferries headed off to Finland.

Kadriorg Park in Tallinn. This is the largest urban park in Estonia covering 70 Hectares.

Japanese Garden in Kadriorg Park.

Russian Tsar Peter the Great http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_the_Great built the building behind for his wife Catherine I of Russia. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catherine_I_of_Russia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_the_Great I'll let Wikipedia do the explaining here as well.

Kärolin said this is a very famous arch where a lot of people get married and have wedding photos taken.

Mom enjoying sauerkraut soup at a Russian restaurant in the Old Town. Can't recall the name.

Medieval snorkel stove circa 1488

Medieval hot tub restored. Tub dates back to 1488 and was used by His Lord, Peter 'the little' after his many Nordic swims in the Baltic Sea.

My girls at an old Estonian Prison, now a tourist attraction.

Kuldse Notsu Korts or Golden Pig restaurant in Old Town. We were accompanied by Liis, a good friend of Kärolin's, and Kärolin's youngest sister Indra. Anni was snoozing in her stroller.

Mom and I at the City Center Marina the morning of day three.

St Olaf's Church again this time with mom in the photo.

One of the Baltic Ferries. Mom was REALLY impressed with these large ships!

On the steps of St Olaf's (Olav's) Church. Unfortunately each time we went it was closed and we weren't able to see inside.

Mom with the steeple of St Olaf's Church towering above.

Mom in the Center Square in the Old Town.

Mom picking blueberries amongst the naturally manicured Scots Pines.

Beaching at Võsu in Lääne-Viru County. This is a very popular resort type spot along the Baltic coast. Great beach!

Great spot for Anni because the water is shallow for a long way out.

Family photo shot by Nana.

Anni had a blast playing in the sand!

Queen of the Castle!

Not real impressed that dad tried to take her out for a swim.

Nana dipping her feet in the Baltic Sea.

All dressed up and ready to go to Grandma Hilma's home for her infamous home cooked meal and hospitality :)

Hangin' with Vana Vana Isa (Great Grandpa) Kuido.

Kim and Hilma.

Mom and Hilma.

Grandma Hilma, bless her heart, didn't have a family picture of me with Kärolin and Annika so she took down all the Grand kids pictures with their significant other so I wouldn't feel left out. She is very intuitive and thoughtful. So we took family pictures, various combinations, and got some photos printed so that mom could gift them to Grandma on our second visit a week or so later.

Mom, 'in' with the family. It was actually a big deal for Kuido who normal isn't much for pictures, except this time is was his insistence that mom be in a photo with him and his family! So sweet to see that all happen. He looks quite proud as well in the photo. :)

Not too bad except Kim was slouching!

Family picture with Anni getting a little impatient.

Plumbing the kitchen sink in our flat.

Cutie pittuty!

Helping isi (dad) tile the kitchen floor.

Mama taking care of business.

Daddy trying to get a kiss.

Getting ready to go underground (5 meters) at a decommissioned Oil Shale Mine. They provide jackets and hard hats since there are some low clearances and temps of +5 Celcius, so it can get quite chilly after an hour or so! Oil Shale provides the majority of electricity in Estonia through burning it. It is quite an abundant resource for this country.

Heading down.

One of the Forewoman in her white hard hat and dressy clothes!

Anni was less than impressed to have her hard hat on.

Maybe a little unsure??

"Now THIS is a little more fun than listening to a bunch of garble I don't understand!"

One more try with hard hat on!

"Okay, I'll cooperate."

Imagine heading to work on this rig!

This train, among other mining equipment our guide started up for us, is part of the tour and brought us back to the beginning. The men and women who worked in this mine took this train to and from work each day underground.

Pühtitsa Dormition Convent, Kuremäe, Estonia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/P%C3%BChtitsa_Convent

One of many amazing cemeteries in Estonia.

Still can't figure out if these were stacked for drying or just decoration? Pretty neat none the less!

Trip to Vasknarva on the Russian/Estonian border. We stood on the banks of the Narva River that feeds Lake Peipsi and looked over into Russia.

Mom looking up at an old Estonian border control tower.

Anni living on the edge! The water dropped off very quickly in the fast flowing Narva River.

Pühtitsa (Kuremäe) Monastery. We didn't go in.

Morning coffee admiring our tile work. Anni entertained us with her mama's slippers.

Anni discovered Mikel's smokes. Thankfully the bench was heavy or Anni might have done a header!

Shed clean up day. Mom was instrumental in scrap drywall organization into boxes. We needed to make room for this years firewood delivery.

Mikel getting stuff done as well.

Open toed shoes! Good thing the Occupational Health and Safety Inspector didn't show up.

There is the mess mom had to start with. She cleaned like a champ! We were quite thankful. :)

Doing some soffit and facia repairs on our building.

Anni just loved to run into the street! Mama safely got some photos of Anni and her different expressions!

Our building of 4 flats from Aia Street.

Anni had more fun taking apart and playing with the shoe rack that nana had built then it actually got used!

Mushroom picking day.

The girls eyeing up their entry points into the forest.

Nana showing off her mushroom picking skills.

Anni proud as punch with her basket full of mushrooms.

She was copying dad and blowing off the loose debris from the mushrooms. She did eat a few as well!

Headed home with her pick.

Trying to put a handful of sand into the basket! She didn't fully grasp the mushroom concept.

Showing off the days pick.

Heli's family gathering party. These events are always so fun, especially with Margo involed setting up games to play. Mom met the rest of the family this day (those that could make it anyway).
Left going clockwise: Rainer, Kätlin, Mom Hilma, Kuido, Heli, Ly, Raivo, Kärolin.