Hello again everyone, I am back from my latest trip - to Finland and Estonia. I have lots of photos and stories to tell you and the first one is of the plane we took to Helsinki. I was very excited to see that it was my favourite colour - pink! A pink plane! What more could a 3-year-old girl ask for?!?
Friday, July 21, 2006
Muumi bandaid
We got a bit of a scare when we arrived in Helsinki. We had a message from the hospital in Germany that there was a problem with my last blood test, my platelets were very low they said. I have no idea what platelets are, but I thought that word sounded very funny.
The doctors told Mama and Dada they should get my blood checked again as soon as we could, so we had to find a Finnish doctor to help us.
Luckily it wasn't too hard, and even though I had to have my least favourite thing in the world, a finger prick, it was alright because the results came back fine and I was all OK to have a holiday.
The best thing about all this was that I got a special band-aid from the lady who did my blood test. On it were some Finnish cartoon characters, called the Muumis. I really liked the pictures so afterwards Mama bought me some Muumi cards and we learned the names of all the Muumi characters.
The doctors told Mama and Dada they should get my blood checked again as soon as we could, so we had to find a Finnish doctor to help us.
Luckily it wasn't too hard, and even though I had to have my least favourite thing in the world, a finger prick, it was alright because the results came back fine and I was all OK to have a holiday.
The best thing about all this was that I got a special band-aid from the lady who did my blood test. On it were some Finnish cartoon characters, called the Muumis. I really liked the pictures so afterwards Mama bought me some Muumi cards and we learned the names of all the Muumi characters.
Zoo ferry
Once we got over the stress of my blood test, we started to enjoy Helsinki. We took a ferry to the zoo, which is famous for its big cats. I found this little cat in the shop there, and decided I better take him home. His name is Ziggy.
Helsinki port
After Helsinki we took a ferry to Estonia. The ferry was so much fun, because they had two play areas for kids, and lots of activities for us to do. I went in a lego building competition, and won a visor.
This is a view from the ferry, back to Helinki port. You can see another ferry in this picture, and ours looked a lot like that one. It was huge, with 8 floors and lots of cabins and decks and stuff.
This is a view from the ferry, back to Helinki port. You can see another ferry in this picture, and ours looked a lot like that one. It was huge, with 8 floors and lots of cabins and decks and stuff.
Monkey pool
In Estonia we stayed at a spa hotel which was very nice for Mama because she could swim and have a massage, and very nice for me because...check out this kids' pool! We had a lot of fun there.
St Katherine's passage
This is me and Dada in Tallinn, the capital of Estonia. It was a very pretty old town with lots of beautiful buildings. This is a famous passageway there, called St Katherine's passage.
Bendy tree
I'm not sure if you can see it in this photo, but on our way to play in a park we found this funny looking tree. We had never seen one so bent over.
Foster Grandma Lorraine
While we were in Tallinn we got some very, very sad news. Auntie Barbie rang and told us that her mum, my Foster Grandma Lorraine, had died. She had cancer, a very horrible kind, and she fought it for 10 whole months, but on the 14th July she said goodbye forever.
Foster Grandma Lorraine was an amazing woman. She had 10 kids, and lots of grandchildren and even great-grandchildren, but she still "fostered" me, and always spoiled me and sent me cards and presents. She used to always draw a funny face and write "Wacko" and that would make me smile.
When Mama told me what happened, I wanted to know where Foster Grandma Lorraine had died to, but Mama couldn't explain very well. I really hope it's someplace very, very nice, because that's where she belongs.
We went to the biggest church in Tallinn, this orthodox one on top of a hill, and lit some candles as our way of saying "Goodbye Foster Grandma Lorraine, we love you."
Foster Grandma Lorraine was an amazing woman. She had 10 kids, and lots of grandchildren and even great-grandchildren, but she still "fostered" me, and always spoiled me and sent me cards and presents. She used to always draw a funny face and write "Wacko" and that would make me smile.
When Mama told me what happened, I wanted to know where Foster Grandma Lorraine had died to, but Mama couldn't explain very well. I really hope it's someplace very, very nice, because that's where she belongs.
We went to the biggest church in Tallinn, this orthodox one on top of a hill, and lit some candles as our way of saying "Goodbye Foster Grandma Lorraine, we love you."
Fun train ride
After Tallin, we took the ferry back to Helsinki, and then took a train to Turku, in south-west Finland. The train there was the best, it had a play area for kids. Here I am riding a train on a train. I had lots of fun on that and the slide right next to it.
Muumimamma
OK, so this is pretty cool. Remember I showed you the picture of my band-aid and it had the Muumi characters on it? Well, right near Turku there is a place called Muumi island, where all the Muumis live. It is made just for kids like me to go visit. There are heaps of things for us to do and make and explore there, and best of all, you get to meet the Muumis. Here I am dancing with some other kids and Muumimamma. She is my favourite Muumi.
Muumitalo
This is the house where Muumimamma and the other Muumis live. You can just see me there on the bridge in front, dressed all in pink. I got to go inside the house and climb up the stairs to all the different levels, and see their bedrooms and Muumimamma's kitchen and everything.
Arm painting
There were some nice ladies there who would paint your favourite Muumi character on your face and arm for you. Of course I chose Muumimamma and I sat very still while the lady did it for me.
Labyrinth
There was a big labyrinth on the island, and Mama and Dada got lost in it. I had to show them how to get out. It took quite a while, even for me.
Resting
All that exploring on Muumi island was tiring, so I found a perfect place on the beach to rest.
Shower head
For the last night of our trip we stayed in a fancy design hotel in Helsinki. There were lots of interesting things about the place, but we found this shower head the funniest. It was even bigger than my head!
My own pink plane
All the little girls in Finland wore scarves on their head like this. Of course I wanted to look like a Finnish girl too. And my scarf had to be pink.
Speaking of pink, I decided I'd fly my own pink plane home!
Speaking of pink, I decided I'd fly my own pink plane home!
Saturday, July 08, 2006
Hospital check-up
On Friday we went back to the hospital to check that I am still going OK.
I am!
I really didn't want to go, and I really hated being there, and I really screamed a lot when they took my blood.
I was only happy when we got to leave.
Before we went, we had to catch my wee for 24 hours, and bring it to the hospital in a big jug. They wanted it for some reason. I can't imagine why. Anyway, I am learning to use the potty at the moment, so it wasn't so hard to do.
After we gave them all that wee, they still wanted more! So I had to do some in a cup while we were there. I didn't even know that I could wee in a cup. But it turns out I can. Mama and I were very proud.
I don't have to go back again for another month. Thank goodness.
I am!
I really didn't want to go, and I really hated being there, and I really screamed a lot when they took my blood.
I was only happy when we got to leave.
Before we went, we had to catch my wee for 24 hours, and bring it to the hospital in a big jug. They wanted it for some reason. I can't imagine why. Anyway, I am learning to use the potty at the moment, so it wasn't so hard to do.
After we gave them all that wee, they still wanted more! So I had to do some in a cup while we were there. I didn't even know that I could wee in a cup. But it turns out I can. Mama and I were very proud.
I don't have to go back again for another month. Thank goodness.
Goodbye Nanna and Opa
On Monday Nanna and Opa Ross went back to Australia. We were sad to see them go, but they had to go back to play with my cousin Alexander. I got them to take Xander some of my Bob the Builder toys, because he likes Bob almost as much as me.
Rheinaue park
We did lots of fun things while Nanna and Opa Ross were here, I didn't even know Bonn had so many exciting places to visit! We took a little train up to the Drachenfels (a castle ruin on a dragon rock on a big hill near the Rhine) and we visited a beautiful little town in the Eifel region called Monschau. We also had a picnic dinner in this big park on the Rhine one night.
Dad's bike
Here I am taking a ride on the back of Dada's bike. He works just near this park now, and he rides his bike to work and back every day.
My first 'm's
Thought you might like to see my first letter 'm's. Mama did the 'a's, but the 'm's are all mine!
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