Children – Blue Moment

Day 76: Snitches, cauldrons and skateboards

April 22, 2026Posted in 365 Project, Activities, Alanna, Festivals, Kiara, TraditionsTagged 365 Project, Activities, Alanna, Children, Home, KiaraLeave a comment

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 74: Just a Little Magic

April 20, 2026April 20, 2026Posted in 365 Project, ActivitiesTagged 365 Project, Activities, ChildrenLeave a comment

Girls’ birthday party with friends is finally this Saturday. They are currently fascinated with Harry Potter world, so I promised to organize a Potter-themed party.

I wanted each of the little wizards and witches to have their own wand. Wooden chopsticks, some hot glue and spray paint can do magic.

Day 71: Jumping up, up, up…

April 16, 2026Posted in 365 Project, Activities, Alanna, Espoo, Home, Kiara, OutdoorsTagged 365 Project, Alanna, Children, Espoo, Home, Kiara, Outdoors, SpringLeave a comment

Last year Santa brought the girls a trampoline. I was a bit worried it wouldn’t be used much, but I didn’t need to worry. Last summer, there was barely a day that girls didn’t go jumping, at least for a bit. Most days, there would be several friends bouncing with them.

We set the trampoline up again today (you have to take it into storage for winter). Thirty minutes later, you could already hear the laughter of four little girls.

Day 67: Warm Milk

April 12, 2026April 12, 2026Posted in 365 Project, Everyday objects, Family, Home, TraditionsTagged 365 Project, Children, Everyday objects, HomeLeave a comment

Warm milk has been a part of our bedtime routine since… well… since the girls were just born. We transitioned from mother’s milk to cow’s milk and from bottles to sippy cups to normal cups – but the routine stayed. It is a taste of calming down (most nights).

Day 64: Next-Level Egg Hunt

April 9, 2026Posted in 365 Project, Alanna, Asikkala, Family, Kiara, TraditionsTagged 365 Project, Alanna, Children, Finland, Holidays, Kiara, Summer CottageLeave a comment

In my family, escape rooms are a thing. We regularly go with my siblings, their partners, and sometimes include our parents. The girls have tagged along for a few times as well – and keep begging to come again.

So this Easter, I built them their own escape-room-style egg hunt. They had to solve puzzles, break codes, search for clues, and even reveal invisible writing. Along the route they had to uncover boxes and find matching keys or number codes.

A few of the challenges were quite hard, but the girls managed to locate all of their eggs. Apparently, it was more fun that our “typical” hunt, so I have a feeling we may have started a new tradition.

A great addition the already existing tradition of spending the Easter in our summer cottage with my parents

Day 53: Happiness

March 30, 2026March 30, 2026Posted in 365 Project, Activities, Alanna, Family, Finland, KiaraTagged 365 Project, Activities, Alanna, Children, Finland, KiaraLeave a comment

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 45: Stars are Born

March 22, 2026Posted in 365 Project, Activities, Alanna, Kiara, WorkTagged 365 Project, Alanna, Children, KiaraLeave a comment

I work in consumer product business and we needed to shoot a simple product video for a new launch. When our intended model got sick, Alanna and Kiara stepped in at short notice.

I was very proud of the girls. They handled the whole thing as little pros. They listened to instructions, patiently went through all the repetitions, and kept a positive attitude. After all, I had promised them a salary.

I don’t think the experience made either of them dream of acting as a career.

Day 42: Roughhousing

March 20, 2026March 20, 2026Posted in 365 Project, Alanna, Family, StuartTagged 365 Project, Alanna, Children, family, StuartLeave a comment

Stuart relaxes by lounging on the couch, reading a book or browsing his tablet. Often, one of the girls ends up curled next to him.

Occassionally – probably too often in Stuart’s mind – the girls start a game of “daddy playground”. The rules seem varied and complex, but involve a lot of climbing, swinging, tickling and shrieking.

Highly relaxing!

Day 26: Muizenberg Beach

March 2, 2026Posted in 365 Project, Activities, Africa, Alanna, Family, Kiara, Stuart, Travelling, WaterTagged 365 Project, Activities, Alanna, Children, Kiara, Outdoors, Scenery, South Africa, TravelLeave a comment

Cape Town faces the Atlantic, so the water is pretty chilly even in summer. Muizenberg Beach is a popular surfing destination because of the good waves it gets, but any sane surfer wears a wetsuit.

Despite the cold, Kiara and Alanna squeezed every bit of fun out of the waves, sand, and sun in the last hours before heading to the airport. Since they were soaked to the skin and covered in wet sand, we had luckily scheduled time for a shower before starting our trip.

Day 17: Heat and Wine

February 18, 2026February 28, 2026Posted in 365 Project, Africa, Family, Nature, Outdoors, TravellingTagged 365 Project, Children, family, Outdoors, Scenery, South Africa, Travel2 Comments

It was hot today… 35C at highest. I am not sure if I have just forgotten what it normally feels like, or if I have lost my heat survival mode after living four years in Finland.

We battled the heat with excessive time in the pool and relaxed walk in the (shady) forest. In the evening, when it started to cool down slightly, we headed out to a nearby winery with a quirky restaurant. Cold white wine and a frozed daiquiri improve any night.