Kiara – 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 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 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 60: Independence Squared

April 5, 2026Posted in 365 Project, Activities, EspooTagged 365 Project, Activities, Espoo, Kiara, OutdoorsLeave a comment

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 57: Easter Blessings

April 3, 2026April 6, 2026Posted in 365 Project, Alanna, Festivals, Kiara, People, TraditionsTagged 365 Project, Alanna, Espoo, Holidays, KiaraLeave a comment

I adore the Finnish tradition of Easter blessings (virpominen). It is such a joyful thing to do. I firmy believe one should make an effort, which is why we take care with both decorating the willow branches, and dressing up as traditional witches. These witches then go from house to house, blessing the home and handing over a decorated branch in exchange for chocolate eggs or other candy.

In addition to the nearest neighbors, in Finland you can still ring any doorbell and ask for permission to bless the house. A lot of the people in “our route” we only see this for one time a year. But naturally, after doing this a few years, we favor the houses where people have been especially excited to see us.

We clearly left a bit late this year, as almost every house commented they were already worried we would not come at all.

Day 56: The Second (Of Many)

April 2, 2026April 6, 2026Posted in 365 Project, Alanna, Family, Festivals, Home, KiaraTagged 365 Project, Alanna, Espoo, family, Home, KiaraLeave a comment

Girls’ birthday always ends up being multi-day affair: the celebration during the actual day with immediate family, followed by family birthday with exetended family, and last (but not least) the party with friends.

The good thing about twins is that you do this once a year.

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 51: One More Trick

March 28, 2026March 29, 2026Posted in 365 Project, Activities, Home, KiaraTagged 365 Project, Activities, KiaraLeave a comment

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 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 37: Birthday

March 12, 2026Posted in 365 Project, Alanna, Family, Festivals, KiaraTagged 365 Project, Alanna, family, KiaraLeave a comment

Alanna and Kiara turned 8 today. It’s a cliche – but I truly can’t believe it’s been eight years already!

The girls are at that wonderful age, when they can behave like big girls for a little while – discussing plans to meet up with friends and writing secrets in their diaries. And the next moment they are happy little kids again, playing with magic birds and a baby dolls.

May it last for a long time still!