Summer 2022 - Finland

It is the second day of our long summer vacations and clearly the whole family has already reached the holiday mood. Our summer started actually a week ago with distant working from the dearest place of all, at the grand parents in Finland. The week was full of adventure and activities, the highlights being visiting the summer cottage in Pielavesi, picking blueberries (and enjoying them with milk and sugar!), swimming and fishing in the lake. The fishing deserves a special mention, as my father really took the time and demonstrated the full process starting with digging the worms, teaching the catching techniques and even clean and prepeare the catch. My 4 year old was fascinated by the worms digging part, my 7 year old son still talks about the 18 fishes they caugh (and the huge hauki they missed..). For me and my husband, the evenings with my parents, enjoying quietly a glass of wine and chatting away the day or watching a detective were like the cherry in cake to end a perfect day. I really appreciate the time and effort they give to prepare our visit and warmest of all welcome every time. It is the only place in the world I find my balance and feel secure and grounded. Running in the morning the familiar trail along the lake side and forest is my all-time favorite. The climb on the hill is tough and the descend always as rewarding. Sweat and endorfins guaranteed! One final mention not to forget is my parents pampering us with the nordic delicacies - fresh fish caught by own hands, elk meat hunted by own hands and lingonberries, cloudberries and blueberries personally picked. It is the healthiest and most ecologically, locally sourced menu prepared with love that I can think of. In addition it is genuinly delicious. Thank you äiti and isi for yet again a wonderful stay. We already miss you❤

Celebrating The End of school year

It is 8.45 pm after a long Saturday, the first day of summer holidays. All my four children enjoy the pool, the energy levels are borderline hysteric, but we are too tired and comfortable on the sun beds with my husband to intervene. Taica was rescued from the water splashes to my husband's cuddling. Seeing his tribu in water creates as much stress to him as to us. What a blissful moment of everything being here and now. Yesterday we followed our traditional visit to the ice-cream parlour. The morning was hectic, with me working the morning, an emergency with the poppy who found the forgotten chocolate bar in the lobby and one child sent accidentally to the bussline from school. Actually quite usual affaires in our family, and the blood pressure raises despite the most committed meditative mind. Sun sets, I had a fantastic bonding day with my youngist 4 yo riding with her and seeing a completely new, calm and brave side of her. She feared nothing and enjoyed much more than mom the thrills of her very first rollercoaster! The kids truly deserved the outing to the seaside, they have worked hard the past year and the school reports made us very proud. They are amazing. Thank you universe.

Birthday bubbles

The month of May continues in celebration as we get to receive my parents in visit since four years! The expectation of my children and thrills of preparation is heartwarming as they count the days. Re-uniting after covid has a whole new meaning to all of us. Sharing our "quotidien" or daily activities with the grand-parents is important. My children are raised to preserve their genuine authentic selves and I often observe adults being speechless in front of their sincerety and honesty. It makes me smile and I hope it reminds us all of the importance to keep the connection to our source and accept ourselves as we are. In the midst of the visit program of visiting near by chateau, zoo, and enjoying each others company in the garden and pool I praise to the feeling of healing and gratefulness to have my parents together, in good health, sharing our home and this moment with them. The celebration continues, as I start my birthday today with a session of yoga, running around our beautiful parc and a dip in the pool. I could not ask for more. Namaste.

Paris and babteme

The past week fills my senses with pure happiness. Starting with a private weekend in Paris visiting finally Pompidou centre with its Yves Saint Laurent exposition, enjoying well-acclaimed theatre play and an authentic Parisian flee market on Sunday. Besides, the Parisians were far from being arogant and we had not one, but several genuine, positive encounters with them. Our hotel stood on Montparnasse and over the weekend we celebrated the arrival of summer along with thousands of other mostly parisians sitting and reading in parks, jogging, trolling along river Seine or sitting in the sunny terrasses. 36 hours away from home and my heart is filled again with creativity, lightness, joy. My week ended with blissful morning today, with house full of children, morning jog and the very first dip into our brand new heated swimming pool. The feeling was amazing. I cannot describe how fantastic it is to think I may if God blesses enjoy this morning routine for years to come. Not to mention about the thrill amd happiness of the children, of course. They would stay there from sun rise to sun set. I nod and send a thankful blessing to the Universe as this was worth every single penny we have invested in it. Invested in a quality of life. Cant't beat that!

Mother’s day

For me, as probably many other mom's, the most emotions filled day of the year is the Mother's day. My heart melts, as the whispering and secrecy of preparations start among my little tribu, un-announced trips to the rooms, forbids to look into cupboards and non-chalant questions as "mom, what's your favorite cake by the way? I'm just asking like that you know?"❤ And the morning of the D-day, when the littlest ones climb on my bed, without knowing really the trims yet, and the elder ones hushing them to join them in the hall way. And the Grand entry wing their arms full of self-made cards, bracelets, key chains and poems, which always fill my eyes with tears. The look in the eyes, as they observe my reactions and level of joy, which -to my very best- try to always exceed their excpetations. It is really probably one of the most love packed moments in our year and daily lives. I really feel gratefule, proud and blessed for having four beautiful souls to raise. And I do send a silent recognition of my richeness everyday to the universe. After a delicious piece of "Tarte à au Citron à la merengue" and our weekly tennis lessons, we pack our car and head again towards the French coast to celebrate the long weekend ahead and the Schuman day. We make a stop in De Panne, and to my childrens great surpise, offer the finally the long-awaited ride on the beavh promenade with the Cuistaxes along with a stop at the ice cream parlour. The joy is tangible and well-worth the 6 eur investment!
In the evening we arrive to the quaint little village of Wissant close to Calais. It's street mapping makes me smile everytime, as we try to navigate in the narrow street with our 7-seater. Our appartment is by the sea, and kids are extatic in finding each their corner in the new home away. The day takes its end with a very authentic meal in the local brasserie, while listening to the fisher men (look-a-likes) chat over their beers next table. The few days we spend in the coast started with a beautiful trek on the coast, enjoying the impressive land marks of the area, th nez-blanc and nez-gris rocks or falaises as the French say. We spent the afternoon in the near by village of Wimereux, and discovered even a flee market on another village on our day of departure. Our children really love the French way of living, the precious stone hunts and castle building on the beach, French kichen with the mussles and cheeses, but also the rare treat of watching all together cuddleded in the sofa the French documentary television series, such as on adopted animals or..famille nombreuse (big family). Monday evening, a tired, a bit sun burned happy bunch returned home, keeping their promises and finishing their homework. As for me and my husband, we always conclude it is one hell of a hassle to plan, prepare and leave, but it's fortunately most often worth it!

Easter break

Enjoying time with family, the bike trails, seaside scenery and French cuisine were on my wishlist for this shortist 5 day Easter break in the West Coast of France. We had also another grand objective for the trip, that is, to provide vaccination for our new puppy Taica. I was quite apprehensive to begin with the idea of sharing the appartment with Taica without the home trimmings of his crib and gated area. He took full adavntage of the new freedom and ended up sleeping in my daughters suitcase next to her It was heartwarming to notice the extent the French love dogs and my beautiful daughter carrying him around attracted a respectful amount of comments, smiles and conversations of people of all ages. Another amusing experience was of course our bike rides as a family of 7 members, where my husband lead the tribu with a trailer carrying Taica and I mastered the tail with Eva on my back seat. The kids were very heroic in biking 40 km in one day, even my 6 year old and of course having energy still to hit the pool afterwards! Estelle practiced for her gymnastique competition on all our walks and was determined to hunt all the 40 eggs hidden in the shop windows in the streets. We actually spent each afternoon tracking the map and streets and missing eggs with the girls, quite good exercise of orientation! The beautiful houses inspired the creativity of my eldest, who designed a residence village for each family member. What a wonderful perspective that would be! With my son, the change of scenery triggered reflections beyond the ordinary, and while biking the km we discussed about the space and ants, and whether the ants can make a difference of a plane and space fleet..These are the precious moments I keep in my heart. These random conversations and moments, which make my life so amazing. For my baby girl, the highlight of the holiday was surely her first ride on a pony. It was a bond made in heaven! She was calm and collected and seemed to clearly enjoy the new experience withut fear. Well done Eva love! With my husbands, the calm moments of sitting down at a restaurants, while knowing the kids would be served soon, with a glass of chardonnay were magic. The winter has been intense with my new job and I do miss the afternoons with my little ones, but at least we have the holidays, reminding me intensily how fortunate we are to have each other. Namaste.

Happy Days

It must be the sunny days (record in Belgium for March), the cherry blossoms and mild spring wheather, which brings the smile on all of our faces. During our late evening jogging and biking with my son, as the darkness sets, he insists on pausing at the bridge. I look at him waiting for an enthousiastic comment about a fast-speeding police car, but he surprises me by wanting to look at the stars..I am mesmerised. We stand in silence and look at the dark evening sky, where the stars are starting to appear. The going gets even wilder, when he makes a proposal making surely every moms heart melt: "I want to take you on a holiday mom. Just you and me. I will buy a mini-helicopter, and fly you (to the moon?) to GREECE. And then we will go swimming to the sea, just the two of us, every morning, we did last summer." Our few moments in Greece have made keep-sake memories for him, and it makes me so happy. Probably these evening trails, just the two of us, will make as well. I promised to join him for the exquisite voyage, with a great pleasure, as it sounded simply wonderful. The spring fever does not end there. My big girls are excited with the activities resuming after pandemie. The restrictions have been lifted and school is organising covid-over-party (sorry, connecting our people party..) of the secondary students! My daughter is so pleased having bitter memories for having missed two long waited school camps and other excursions during the pandemie. My heart sings when I see her eyes lit explaining me of all and every details of the upcoming fair. Thank you Universe for offering this normality back to us! My second one is preparing for her gymnastics competition and managed to negotiate a new outfit, of course. I had to find quickly a wise reason to consume without an immeadiate need nor planning, quick quick quick! Well, she HAS been practicing for months, and therefore I agreed to treat her for the good work. Yeah. Furthermore, together with her sister, they plan a trip to the amusement park, just as in the old days. And Over the weekend I promised to take them also to the trampoline park.. What is this? We go crazy! This is like being binge-active after two years of deprivation! All the things we have missed over two years!And the sleep-overs..I say yes to all proposals, but realise I might need to visit Ikea to stock our mattresses and pillows.. Most importantly, we are planning my baby-girls birthday, 4th birthday! A good preparation for her was last Sunday's invitation to a class mates birthday party. How cute she was, in her dress, with the huge gift in the arms, full of excitement heading for her very first party by herself! Well, the organizations are still on the way for her own party and the biggest challenge is to capture the class mates parents contact details. Really, mission impossible. People have become muted, introverts, non-communicating silliots. Sorry for that. Thank you covid, I still have not met all the parents and it seems a mission impossible to trace from whatsup the connection between child and parent..Not to worry, the other party ingredients are coming together nicely - cake by my eldest (paw patrol and princess, as wished by the birthday girl), birthday dress, gifts, invitation cards..We also agreed with the teacher the happy day when she can bring a cake to school (no covis rules, yey) and celebrate with her friends. I am so happy for her. She is growing up and it makes the days easier for all of us. I already signed her up for tennis this spring and gymnastics for the fall. Having inherited our overly sporty genes, she will be a content bundle of girl❤ I cannot stop to my youngest though. Our newest family member since 10 days has become a fully-fledged member in our family. It is incredible the speed and facility this little fur ball has made himself comfortable with us. He has his favorite sleeping spots (always close to us), he goes 80% of time to the pee pads for relieving himself, he also does that regurly outside. He has learned to follow commands such as his name, sit, lie dow, here -in only little over week! He is so progressive, we had to order twice intelligence games for him to keep him entertained while we work, he completed all of the dog puzzles at no time! Our walks outside are such fun, not only because we are proud to push him in the trolly (although we think people take us for cannot-havekids-tryto-compensate-with-puppy - people) and his excitement over everything, but also by the genuine positive reactions from people! I never got the same attention with my babies, even they were superbly cute! Well, just to say, I never knew I was such a dog person, or could be so quickly attached to our puppy. We all feel it was the right decision at the right time. A lucky dog as well, getting all our love and attention. Happy days, all I can say. I feel blessed. Thank you Universe❤