Kiara – Blue Moment

Day 168: Local Sights

August 4, 2026Posted in 365 Project, Activities, Alanna, Asikkala, Finland, Kiara, Nature, Outdoors, Sport, Stuart, Travelling, WaterTagged 365 Project, Activities, Alanna, Finland, Kiara, Nature, Outdoors, Scenery, Sport, Stuart, TravelLeave a comment

When something is close to home, you rarely see it as anything special.

Pulkkilanharju is a narrow esker gormed during the Ice Age. It is surrounded by the open waters of lake Päijänne, with small green islands dotting the landscape. It is often listed as one of the most scenic drives in Finland.

But because it is so close to the summer cottage, years can pass without us visiting.

This year, we decided not only to drive across it, but also to walk the short nature trail in the national park. The girls insisted the terrain was so challenging they couldn’t possibly have finished the walk without the 1,5l of bilberries they ate along the way. It really wasn’t. But the bilberries were clearly excellent.

We finished the adventure with lunch and ice cream at Vääksy Lock. Another piece of Finland’s must-see scenery.

Day 166: The Art of a Holiday

August 2, 2026August 2, 2026Posted in 365 Project, Alanna, Kiara, AsikkalaTagged Children, Alanna, Kiara, 365 Project, Holidays, Summer CottageLeave a comment

As an adult, it takes me several days to settle into a holiday. The girls have been in a holiday for over five weeks and have no problem being incredibly busy doing absolutely nothing.

Day 156: Scateboards

July 23, 2026July 26, 2026Posted in 365 Project, Activities, Alanna, Espoo, Kiara, Sport, StuartTagged 365 Project, Activities, Alanna, Espoo, Kiara, SportLeave a comment

Last summer Alanna and Kiara got excited about skateboards. Stuart and I, on the other hand, have absolutely no understanding of the fine art of skateboarding. We didn’t even know where to start.

The City of Espoo has been running a great initiative called Skateboard Containers, where more experienced skateboarders offer advice to younger or less experienced kids. The girls were bit young, but we took them to one of the containers in Matinkylä.

Rarely have I been as impressed by a city initiative. Two 14-year-old boys took the girls under their wing and patiently taught them for nearly two hours – held their hands coming down, gave advice and encouragement. The spark those boys lit in my girls lasted the whole summer.

This year we’ve had very little time to go practice and many of those skills have gotten rusty. But the excitement is still there.

Now I just need to find them a skateboarding course. As great as the container is, it can only take us so far.

Day 155: A Fox, A Snake And Other Encounters

July 22, 2026July 23, 2026Posted in 365 Project, Alanna, Animals, Family, Kiara, Nature, WildlifeTagged 365 Project, Alanna, Animals, Kiara, Nature, SummerLeave a comment

When Alanna was just about to turn one, we took her to a small zoo. She was absolutely horrified of the goats, but determined to go and pet the tigers.

This popped to my head when we visited a small animal park just an hour from home. The bunnies, horses and wolly lambs were lovely, but nothing compared to the snakes, porcupines, giant tortoises, reindeer – and especially the foxes.

The place was thoughtfully designed – children could interact with many of the animals, but only if the animals chose to. And, since it was quite hot, not all of them did. I think it’s important for children to learn, that animals get to choose, too.

But I was practically giddy when we got to interract with a fox. I’d never been that close to one before.

Always a kid.

Day 150: With Just One

July 16, 2026Posted in 365 Project, Architecture, Espoo, Kiara, NatureTagged 365 Project, Architecture, Espoo, Kiara, Nature, SummerLeave a comment

Alanna started a week-long Animal Camp today so I got to spend a whole day with Kiara, just the two of us.

It is true that twins rarely get enough individual attention. We try, but…

Many parents of singletons admire how nice it is that the girls always have someone to play with – a home-bestie, as the girls call it. But it is also obvious how excited they are when they get äiti all to themselves. And I keep admiring how easy it is when you just have one wish to fulfill at any given time.

We had a good day: we sewed, did the groceries, read, and before picking Alanna from her museum farm camp, we popped into an old tavern (now a coffee shop) with a beautifully preserved courtyard and garden.

Just the two of us.

Day 149: Beliefs

July 15, 2026July 15, 2026Posted in 365 Project, Alanna, Espoo, KiaraTagged 365 Project, Children, LearningLeave a comment

There is a fine line between creating a magical childhood and ensuring your children know what is real.

For example, how do you explain that dinosaurs were real, but dragons are not? That blue whales and giraffes exist, but unicorns are imaginary? That bats are real, but vampires are not.

We have spent time explaining that bears can sleep the whole winter, that caterpillars can dissolve into soup and emerge as butterflies, that geese can navigate across continents, and that some lizards can grow back their tails.

But humans can’t learn to fly.

Day 148: Crafts

July 14, 2026Posted in 365 Project, Activities, Alanna, Home, KiaraTagged 365 Project, Activities, Alanna, Home, Kiara, LearningLeave a comment

Kiara, especially, is obsessed with crafts. We buy sellotape in bulk because – and I am not exaggerating at all – she uses five or rolls per week. She comes up with very practical and innovative designs and can surprise me with real out-of-the-box ideas – some of which really work.

Alanna does crafts when the mood strikes, but she is more interested in drawing – comics especially.

To build on this, I dug out my old sewing machine and we spent a happy few hours testing it out. Alanna made a beautiful dress for her doll. Kiara sewed a little pouch and a pillow.

I was just proud.

Day 145: Big and Small

July 11, 2026July 11, 2026Posted in 365 Project, Activities, Alanna, Espoo, Kiara, Outdoors, SportTagged 365 Project, Activities, Alanna, Children, Espoo, Kiara, Outdoors, Sport, SummerLeave a comment

After work, I took the girls for a swim. The hot weather is about to turn, so felt like the thing to do.

While getting ready, Kiara fussed about her swimsuit, her hair and her swimming bag. She wanted to look cool in case she saw her friends.

When we got to Oittaa, she spotted the Angry Birds playground. Luckily, at that moment, the playground and splashing in the water still felt “cool” enough.

I wish I would convince her that there is plenty of time to be big yet.

Day 143: Tenacity

July 9, 2026July 9, 2026Posted in 365 Project, Activities, Alanna, Espoo, Kiara, Outdoors, SportTagged 365 Project, Activities, Alanna, Children, Espoo, Holidays, Kiara, Outdoors, Sport, SummerLeave a comment

I admire children’s dermination to have fun once they decide they are going to have fun.

I took Kiara and Alanna to a nearby sports-focused amusement park today. The temperature climbed above 30°C and the park had practically no shade. Even so, we stayed for more than 7h and tested every climbing, jumping, pedalling, lifting, shooting, running and balancing activity available. Considering the park has more than 30 different jumping castles alone, that was no small feat.

Most of the other kids gave up, and by late afternoon only a handful of the hardiest ones were still around.

At the endof the day, we popped into a nearby supermarket, bought swimming costumes to all three of us and went for a swim. Lake water has rarely felt so good!