August — starting school

Yes, Mark has started school again, but Daniel and Sebastian have started kindergarten as well. They really enjoy it. They are in a class of eight kids, and they love their teacher. For the first three weeks, they have gone mornings only, but starting this week they stay until 3:20. It’s been exciting for all of us. Of course Edward and Heini miss them, and Mark has had to adjust to being a school parent.

Here are some recent photos.

July — summer in Finland

We spent the first few weeks of the summer hanging around Helsinki, enjoying the weather, and the last two weeks in central Finland with mummi, ukki, aunts and cousins. We had a great time, and a great summer all around.

Here are some recent photos.

Chalk drawing

A new post at the video podcast.

June, in California

We spent the better part of the month in the Los Angeles area, visiting Mark’s family and seeing the sites. The weather was good, we had lots to do and it was great to see the whole family. Now we’re back in Helsinki, enjoying the summer here. Trips to the park, hanging out at the local beach and grilling outside … good times.

Here are a bunch of photos.

May

We’ve been busy. In the last few weeks, we’ve moved, although not very far, and the school year has ended. Spring came and summer followed close behind. We leave for a visit to California soon.

Here are some recent photos.

Happy Mother’s Day

Every year, the week before Mother’s Day, I take the boys to the train station to have their picture taken in a photo booth. Here’s this year’s offering:

April

It was an active month. Heini started her blog, tila. We spent Easter weekend in central Finland with family, where there was still snow on the ground. Spring arrived properly, and with it more chances to be outside and the annual arrival of the traveling carnival. Meanwhile, there was a stream of fun and creative projects for the boys. We ended the month with a party for some neighbors on the night before May Day.

Here are some recent photos.

March

March was a wintry month, but in the last week or two spring is more clearly approaching. We mostly were hanging around the house and following our routines. Normal life is happy life, as they say.

Here are some recent photos.

January & February

After we were all sick for most of December, in January we were able to really enjoy the end of Mark’s holiday. The snow finally came, and we have enjoyed playing in it. Daniel and Sebastian turned four, and Mark had the sports holiday in mid February. We stayed in the city and enjoyed each others’ company.

Here are the pictures.

Edward walks!

Edward worked on walking for some time, but he finally mastered it. Here is a QuickTime movie of the second day of his truly independent, room-to-room walking.