Tag: Activities

Day 76: Snitches, cauldrons and skateboards

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The Day was finally here. Harry Potter birthday!

The house was packed – at first with wands, owls, floating candles, Gryffindor colors and golden snitches. And later the chaos was completed by 127 excited little wizards and witches (or that is what it felt like).

The Herbology lesson (plant your owl pot) was popular, as was the Potions lesson (mix different color juices) and Levitation class (on the trampoline). But nothing was as eargerly anticipated as the opening of the Honeydukes candy shop after the other food was finished.

Our little witches loved the day – but I am happy it is a whole year to the next kids birthday!

Day 60: Independence Squared

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The girls got new bicycles from Santa. They were delivered today amid huge excitement. Six gears!

In addition to just being great fun, the return of bicycle season adds volumes to girls’ independence. We have strict boundaries on how far they can go without adults or special permission – but even a distance of a kilometer or two is much faster on a bicycle.

Easier distance means more play, more friends, and more adventures, especially with the extended daylight hours.

For Stuart and me, it means fewer calls begging for a lift home.

Day 53: Happiness

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The girls and I decorated the willow branches for Palm Sunday. The combination of bright colors and cheerful catkins make me happy – especially as we had fun decorating them together.

Projects like this can be hard to start after a full day at work, but once you get going (typically bacause you have to, like now, with no other opportunity before Sunday)  they are well worth it!

Day 52: Knitting

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I love the idea of knitting. Every so often, I get excited, dig out my needles, and start a new project.

What draws me to knitting is the thought that, once you have learned it, your hands can create something beautiful, while your mind wonders elsewhere.

The problem is that I don’t have the patience to get to that level. I try, make mistakes, undo the progress, try again, get frustrated, and leave the project.

Until next time.

Day 51: One More Trick

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Kiara and Alanna go to a circus school every week – and love it! Before this, we tried dancing and gymnastics, but they were not quite right. My girls don’t want to move as they are told, they want to move as they feel.

So circus school fits their personality better. They still practice flexibility, performing, and working in a group – but they can also do tricks, climb, juggle, and build pyramids. And they are encouraged to find their own way of doing things.

Now, Kiara has gotten it into her head she wants to start cheerleading. She is small, so she wants to be a ‘flyer’. We’ll see.

Day 50: Catkins

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Appearance of willow catkins (pajunkissa) is a sure sign of spring – although the whole reason the catkins have “fur” is to protect the flowers from the cold.

In Finland, there is a tradition of collecting willow branches before Palm Sunday, decorating them and having kids go around the neighborhood to exchange the branches for candiy. It’s a Finnish version of  “trick-or-treating”.

Or, actually, you should say that trick-or-treat is American-style virpominen. After all, the Finnish tradition has been around for hundreds of years.