Probably not Petra's favorite picture but I think it's insanely cute.

last picture of this story - my typical outfit. got some kick-ass new pants, a total bargain at around 70€ and seriously warm. the weather here is much more consistent than in chicago. for my first four weeks here it was really mild at 0 to 10C (32 to 50F). But this past Sunday a "cold air mass from Siberia" blew in, no kidding, and it's been -15 to -7C (5 to 19F). The cold weather has brought much more sun though. Prior to this we hadn't seen the sun once since our wedding except when I got above the clouds on my flight to Copenhagen last week.

take care and hope everyone is getting ready for some great holidays, love, Brendan

getting pretty close to home, say seven blocks.

here's the parliament building. I leave the library around 1:30 and dusk is already near. Still, though, Helsinki is gorgeous. the city is built around several bays. the music library is in the city centre just on the other side of the two main bays. so like the other library I've been going to with the english language section, the vast majority of my walk is not on roads but in parks and along the bay and the railroad tracks. normally we would take the tram downtown but I wanted to see the sun a little.

so these two pictures and the two previous were taken on my way there at around 12:30, so you can see that the sun doesn't get too high near the winter solstice.

some pictures from my walk yesterday to a new library, Kirjasto 10, specializing in music. it's pretty sweet. also you can get on the internet for 30 minute blocks.

Us with the statues in Helsinki. I'm not sure if anyone else thinks this is fun, but for us it is :)

Hiking in Nuuksio and had our first glance of snow. The matching outfits are pretty sweet!

It really is pretty wild waiting for the entrance.

When Petra and I were apart the excitement would build for days and days when we were about to see each other again. But this time I didn't expect it. It was like "ok, I guess I'll get ready with everyone else and then see Petra at the wedding - no biggie."

But it ends up to be pretty insane. The biggest event of my life is rolling along, ok, Petra will be here. Time rolls by, I'M GETTING MARRIED IN FIVE MINUTES. Ok, deep breath. Dry my eyes, everyone else seems to know what's going on. The excitement is crazy, wonderful - THIS IS IT. We can see it in each other's eyes and smiles. Now we're just on the absolute brink of getting married! Then there's the shadow of an arm on the door - everyone stops breathing. The door starts to open. It's all unfolding so slowly!

Then she walks in! My emotions bubble over uncontrollably, laughing and crying. She's here, she's gorgeous, she's marrying me!

No comment necessary.

Beautiful! And my appiukko and good mirror pic of my brother in law Karri.
Petra and Karri. The guitarist is in Riikka's band and came along to accompany her.
When this was brought in I said something like "she signed! she's here!"

Riikka putting the buotineer on Brendan.

Buotineer work.

B - ah, here we go. Petra made the adornment in her hair.
Getting ready at friend's hair salon in Turku. B - this is not the final do.

Wedding day. After lunch with my parents, en route to Petra's parents to get ready!!

This is out our front door. Ice skating rink up ahead.
Courtyard off shared balcony.

It's about twenty minutes from home. I am ecstatic because over halfway home, up at the car in this picture, the path turns into sidewalk, and for the first time I am walking next to roads.