Summer 2022 - Bretagne - Conquet

Our second week of holidays took place in Conquet together with our French friends from Orléans. We stayed in cottages next to each other in a cozy holiday village 2 min. from the centre - they with their orange cat Cannelle, us with our 7 month old poppy Taica The week turned out again splended with a mix of water sports (sea kayaking this time), biking tours and culture. We got a taste of local village celebrations "Fest- Noz" and patiently queued 2 hours to get first our bracelets and secondly our lobster menu served in (sneef single-use) plates. We sat in long tables with hundreds of other guests and got to enjoy Breton live-music while we enjoyed the long-waited lunch. An experience rarely repeated in Brussels!
Conquet is interestingly built and it has a charm of its presque-iles, light-houses and biscuiteries. We felt the place was more touristic than Audierne and therefore lost slightly its charm. It was nevertheless such a pleasure to see the kids enjoy each others company - the big girls together, three middle ones together and well my Eva with me❤ Towards the end of the week I attended quite an inspiring workshop to make home made cosmetics with my girls. They were very impressed and happy with their organic toothpaste and facial. I later found a mind-changing book on Zero dechet, which I read with great interest. I realize my rested mind is open to make perhaps life- changing decisions towards a more sustainable way if living and my only regret is we have not started earlier.. As we were close to Brest, we could not not visit the Oceanopolis aquarium, to our children's great happiness. It was also a nice break for the culture and sports we had been so intensively been engaged to. I have forgotten to mention our beach experiences. This week was exceptionally hot in Bretagne and people seeked refreshment from the several breathtakingly beautiful beaches. Only to discover the freezing cold water of 14 degrees! This did not impede my troup, even my 4 year old, to venture the water though. I was concerned, boring mama, of getting bladder infections..Inadmittedly, even I had to go dip in the sea to cool-down, so hot was the wheater. The bretons are equipped well and the cool tempetatures do not bother the water sports either. The 6-7 mm suit really does keep you warm (prooved and tested!) and allows to enjoy surfing, body boarding, kite surfing or wind surfing. We discovered a whole surfing community, mostly germans, with their VW vans packed with the surf equipment. The kids started to dream about mobile car with the freedom it would allow.. Another highlight of the week was our joint meals with our friends, enjoying local delicacies and the French kitchen. Our last night dinner will remain in my mind for a long-time, with the surprise private cabinette, warm service and my sons singing, which took the attention of the whole restaurant! Vive l'amitie et vive la France! Saturday arrived too soon and it was time for re-pack our suitecases and head towards our next destination. We said warm farewells to our friends, whose holidays were ending and had to return to Orleans. Stop-over worth mentioning during our traveling day towars North was the medieval, harbour city Morlaix. Despite the exceptional 36 degrees heat, we visited the old typical wooden "pan-house" of wealthy commercants, who had gained their fortune on selling the lin and hemp textiles. The long traveling day took an end in our next holiday home, a modern airbnb fair in a small village close to Perros Guirrec. Ah the comfort of hot shower and clean sheets!

Summer 2022 - Bretagne - Audierne

After a frantic trip from Finland, unpacking, laundry and re-packing all in a half-day, we steered our 7 seater towards beautiful Bretagne. We had a stop half-way in Chartre to admire the famous cathedral and have a good night sleep. The next day we continued our journey towards the coast, only to stop in the mediavel village Vitré to visit the castle and enjoy lunch. We arrived to our destination late in the evening at the golden moment before the reception closed. Despite the missing sheets and bad smells in the bed room (...) we were happy to have safely made it. The first days have been full of activities: biking along the river Goyen, hiking along the coast to admire the breathtaking views of the Atlantic ocean and Pont Crest and even saw a family of dolphins enjoying the waves! What an amazing surprise. The village is very pretty and lively fishing village with authenticity hard to find else where. Today's higlight was the 3-hour kayaking journey along the river Goyen. I was very concerned how I would handle my four-year old in the kayak, but thanks to the excitement of the adventure and the helping pair of my eldest she behaved like a princess! The children could not believe how easy it was to catch the crabs as the tide changed and we paused to have a snack on the sand only a moment ago covered in water. Such a great bonding activity to do together! The kids were already pegging for a re-do in the next days. Personally, I will need to let my arms rest at least for a day..  Along with the beautiful river kayaking, another highlight of our stay in Audierne was definitely the surf class we attended with the three eldest ones. The surf in Bretagne is clearly not the same as what we experienced in 2020 in Biarritz, but the laid-back atmoshere typic to the surfing community and gentle waves were nevertheless very attractive to all of us. My eldest proudly counted to have been up on the board 12 times! The ESB surf school can be warmly recommended. We got the combinaisons and actually a private class for the price of collective class. This happened at other times as well in Bretagne and moms purse was grateful. On our way from Audierne to our next holiday destination up the Coast we stopped again for some surfing at the Crozet. It is inadmittedly impressive how quickly even my 7 year old caught the technique, found his balance, and was able to surf. Well done! Our week in pittoresque Audierne got a perfect ending, as we accidentally bumped into my friend from Brussels, who had just bought a holiday house from a nearby village! We were invited to visit their charming new home, meet the family and enjoy some truly delicious home-made Breton Far. Both with my husband we felt truly inspired by their brave move to get their second home from abroad. To be meditated.. p.s Audierne remained our favorite spot in Bretagne. It's authentic charm, friendly people, pretty and lively fishing harbour, Saturday market, and one of the best ice cream parlours holds a special place in our hearts and minds.

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!