The last day of the Advent calendar contained math flash cards.
Then of course we had Finnish Christmas, and American Christmas, and family time here in Helsinki. We visited Amos Rex museum and saw the new Mary Poppins movie.
30 December 2018
23 December 2018
December week 3
Here were the calendar treats for the week :
17 lollipops
18 washi tape
19 socks
20 wooden ornaments
21 candy cane ornaments
22 neck buffs
23 smarties candy
20 December 2018
Otso: 5 Years, 2 Months
Summary
His main interests these days are Ninjago and Star Wars.
Learning/Development
He is practicing reading words little by little.
He is practicing with the pedal bike, but we still use the balance bike to get to and from päiväkoti. The only problem with that is that he is really too big for it and he drags his feet on the ground.
Language
He likes reading in both languages, but Finnish comes more easily when he speaks.
We tried a couple of the "Bob" books for reading English and he seemed to like them.
That said, his bedtime "reading" is often a search and find book. The current favorite is "where's the wookie?" which is star wars themed.
Toys/Games/Other
The kids are quite busy lately with various Christmas activities. When they have down time, they have been playing creative games together. Also, Otso often just gravitates back to the Legos.
Social
He has a few friends now from päiväkoti. He does not seem as focused on one person as he was before.
Events
24.11 Montsa open house
28.11 playing at Samppa house
30.11 puuro juhla at päiväkoti
1.12 Boulder climbing
2.12 watched Star Wars for the first time
4.12 Finnish independence day party at päiväkoti.
6.12 independence day party at the Hukka home
7-9.12 Nakkila visit
9.12 Christmas movie downtown
15.12 talvisirkus with the Hukka family
16.12 Seurasaari joulupolku
18.12 päiväkoti joulujuhla
Random
Otso was part of a couple of performances at his päiväkoti Christmas party:
- penguin song
- some rhyme about being cold
He was very shy about telling us, but he seemed to perform ok.
He likes dressing up and wearing his bow tie.
19 December 2018
16 December 2018
December: week 2
The calendar continues! This week:
10 chocolate Santas
11 silver and gold marbles
12 Tatu and Patu calendar
13 Christmas book
14 Pokemon toothbrushes
15 Talvisirkus
16 Lumi chew necklace, Otso "jewel"
09 December 2018
December : first week
The calendar continues!
3 December : reflective mittens for Lumi, winter boots for Otso, socks for Kimmo
4 December : gold and silver paint metallic markers
5 December : wooden Christmas tree ornaments
6 December : Christmas activity book
7 December : chocolate licorice sticks
8 December : flannel shirts for Kimmo and Otso, tights for Lumi
9 December : Christmas movie downtown
02 December 2018
December - first couple of days
December is here, and we have begun our Christmas advent calendar.
1 December: trip to boulder keskus for climbing
2 December: glitter bracelets
25 November 2018
18 November 2018
All of them
The current household project : rebuild all the Legos, according to the instructions. We're on the home stretch now.
10 November 2018
01 November 2018
22 October 2018
08 October 2018
03 October 2018
Lumi: 7 Years, 8 Months
Lumi is old enough that she deserves some privacy. I will now be emailing these updates to family. If you want to get the email, please let me know!
Angela
Angela
30 September 2018
24 September 2018
23 September 2018
20 September 2018
Otso: 4 Years, 11 Months
Summary
He has settled into the "school" year at päiväkoti.
The biggest change this month is getting over the fear of putting pencil to paper. And now he is really enjoying drawing.
Learning/Development
He is interested in what words look like. He sometimes wants to know what words say in the books we look at.
One thing lately we have been working on is comfort with drawing and writing and art. His teachers are also working hard to help him over his fear of mistakes. And now suddenly he loves to draw! He sits with a marker and a piece of paper and demands "what should I draw?". The kids are making drawings and taping them to the walls. They said they want to completely cover the walls with their drawings so that "you have to put them on the ceiling."
Language
He enjoys both English and Finnish books.
His favorites in English are Richard Scarry, Arnold Lobel, and Sandra Boynton.
Toys/Games/Other
He is enjoying playing Alias. He can do a pretty good job of describing things so that we can guess them.
Social
He has started to list the preferred guests for his birthday party.
Health (eating, sleeping, etc)
He branched out from the strawberry fluoride tablets, and now he likes the mint ones. He says they are "spicy!"
Events
25.8 brunch with Vaari and Leena and family
26.8 Samuel birthday party
2.9 first time back at perhe sähly for the autumn
3.9 - 9.9 Matt and Mike visit
8.9 Suomenlinna
9.9 Maunula maja
16.9 - 21.9 isä gone
19.9 school picture day
20.9 "airplane trip day" at päiväkoti
Random
He had a great time at hoplop at Samuel's birthday party. He played with Salli most of the time. He was delighted to get a hoplop token and didn't want to spend it.
He has settled into the "school" year at päiväkoti.
The biggest change this month is getting over the fear of putting pencil to paper. And now he is really enjoying drawing.
Learning/Development
He is interested in what words look like. He sometimes wants to know what words say in the books we look at.
One thing lately we have been working on is comfort with drawing and writing and art. His teachers are also working hard to help him over his fear of mistakes. And now suddenly he loves to draw! He sits with a marker and a piece of paper and demands "what should I draw?". The kids are making drawings and taping them to the walls. They said they want to completely cover the walls with their drawings so that "you have to put them on the ceiling."
Language
He enjoys both English and Finnish books.
His favorites in English are Richard Scarry, Arnold Lobel, and Sandra Boynton.
Toys/Games/Other
He is enjoying playing Alias. He can do a pretty good job of describing things so that we can guess them.
Social
He has started to list the preferred guests for his birthday party.
Health (eating, sleeping, etc)
He branched out from the strawberry fluoride tablets, and now he likes the mint ones. He says they are "spicy!"
Events
25.8 brunch with Vaari and Leena and family
26.8 Samuel birthday party
2.9 first time back at perhe sähly for the autumn
3.9 - 9.9 Matt and Mike visit
8.9 Suomenlinna
9.9 Maunula maja
16.9 - 21.9 isä gone
19.9 school picture day
20.9 "airplane trip day" at päiväkoti
Random
He had a great time at hoplop at Samuel's birthday party. He played with Salli most of the time. He was delighted to get a hoplop token and didn't want to spend it.
16 September 2018
09 September 2018
03 September 2018
Lumi: 7 years, 7 months
Summary
This month, Lumi started school. She also got her own phone.
Social
She has some new friends from her class, Enni and Helmi. She seems to be having a good time with them.
Leisure
She loves to read. Lately she has enjoyed some Japanese comic books.
On the weekend of 18 August, she stayed in bed reading after she woke up in the morning, instead of coming downstairs to play with Otso.
She loves to take her money and shop at the second hand store in Maunula. She sees how much farther her money goes at a place like that.
Learning
One of the summer assignments is to practice walking to school safely.
She started piano lessons. She seems to enjoy it.
At first she insisted that she needed to wait to do her homework at home, instead of getting it done during her after school club. But she may be starting to see the wisdom of getting it done earlier and leaving her more time to play.
She likes her math workbook.
Language
Now that she has started school, she gets a mix of English and Finnish each day. Her school day is in English, but the afternoon "club" is in Finnish.
Health
Her afternoon club is run by HJK, and it is very sports-oriented.
She has branched out from the strawberry fluoride and now she likes the mint one. She says she likes how it feels fresh, and when she opens her mouth then it feels cool. She is pleased with the sensation.
Events
3.8 MuuMaa
5.8 drive home from Nakkila
9.8 first day of school
12.8 BBQ with Hilla and August
13.8 first piano lesson
17.8 her phone arrived!
19.8 BBQ with vaari and leena
22.8 play date with Helmi
23.8 phone is active ; she walked home by herself
25.8 brunch with Vaari and Leena and family
27.8 first chorus meeting
29.8 forest field trip
31.8 Enda birthday party
Random
8.8 I suggested that she read a curious George book and instead she chose something else, saying, "this makes more sense. A monkey?! In school?! "
She has a phone now. We are working out family rules and protocol.
28 August 2018
21 August 2018
20 August 2018
Otso: 4 Years, 10 Months
Summary
We are back in the beginning of the school year. It feels good to have a päiväkoti where he is supported and cared for. He was sad to leave behind the summer schedule of nonstop family time, but he is also enjoying his friends at päiväkoti.
Learning/Development
Now that Lumi is reading confidently, she loves to read to Otso in the car. It helps everyone travel happily.
He has trouble with drawing and writing because he hates to make mistakes.
Language
We had been back from the US for 2 weeks and still the kids were speaking English with each other as often as Finnish (maybe more).
But after päiväkoti started again, he strongly prefers Finnish.
Toys/Games/Other
Favorites right now: playing "dog family" with Lumi, throwing the American football
Like the pool, he does not want to get in the lake.
He named his stuffed animal husky "tabby". He really likes Mummu's stuffed animal Viiru and she let him take it home to Helsinki to borrow. He carries it around by the tail. He also bought a stuffed dog at the second hand shop and he really likes it.
Social
He is happy to be back with the full set of friends at päiväkoti. The list of favorites is currently : Touko, Salli, Samuel, Eeli, and Tarmo.
Health (eating, sleeping, etc)
He is having trouble sleeping at home. He likes to have the fan on.
Events
19-22.7 mökki
23.7 Sami&Ilona visit
27.7 HopLop
28.7 BBQ with Heidi and Ari
29.7 BBQ with Sami and Ilona
30.7-5.8 Nakkila
3.8 MuuMaa
6.8 first day back in päiväkoti
9.8 first day back in montessori instruction time
13.8 BBQ with Hilla and August
19.8 BBQ with vaari and leena
Random
He really resisted the passport picture.
5.8 he showed me how he has prepared one of his old toys for "when we have a new baby"
He informed äiti that her legs are "like a cactus" because they have little things all over that prick you. However, his favorite snuggling is to put his head on äiti's belly. He usually tries to lift up my shirt for cheek-to-belly contact.
He had left his little plastic spiderman at Meredith's house, and she mailed it to him, along with a stack of pictures of spiderman doing various things in their home. He loves the pictures and decorated his room with them. He has even asked for some of the toys from the pictures so that he can recreate the scenes.
We are back in the beginning of the school year. It feels good to have a päiväkoti where he is supported and cared for. He was sad to leave behind the summer schedule of nonstop family time, but he is also enjoying his friends at päiväkoti.
Learning/Development
Now that Lumi is reading confidently, she loves to read to Otso in the car. It helps everyone travel happily.
He has trouble with drawing and writing because he hates to make mistakes.
Language
We had been back from the US for 2 weeks and still the kids were speaking English with each other as often as Finnish (maybe more).
But after päiväkoti started again, he strongly prefers Finnish.
Toys/Games/Other
Favorites right now: playing "dog family" with Lumi, throwing the American football
Like the pool, he does not want to get in the lake.
He named his stuffed animal husky "tabby". He really likes Mummu's stuffed animal Viiru and she let him take it home to Helsinki to borrow. He carries it around by the tail. He also bought a stuffed dog at the second hand shop and he really likes it.
Social
He is happy to be back with the full set of friends at päiväkoti. The list of favorites is currently : Touko, Salli, Samuel, Eeli, and Tarmo.
Health (eating, sleeping, etc)
He is having trouble sleeping at home. He likes to have the fan on.
Events
19-22.7 mökki
23.7 Sami&Ilona visit
27.7 HopLop
28.7 BBQ with Heidi and Ari
29.7 BBQ with Sami and Ilona
30.7-5.8 Nakkila
3.8 MuuMaa
6.8 first day back in päiväkoti
9.8 first day back in montessori instruction time
13.8 BBQ with Hilla and August
19.8 BBQ with vaari and leena
Random
He really resisted the passport picture.
5.8 he showed me how he has prepared one of his old toys for "when we have a new baby"
He informed äiti that her legs are "like a cactus" because they have little things all over that prick you. However, his favorite snuggling is to put his head on äiti's belly. He usually tries to lift up my shirt for cheek-to-belly contact.
He had left his little plastic spiderman at Meredith's house, and she mailed it to him, along with a stack of pictures of spiderman doing various things in their home. He loves the pictures and decorated his room with them. He has even asked for some of the toys from the pictures so that he can recreate the scenes.
18 August 2018
11 August 2018
05 August 2018
03 August 2018
Lumi: 7 Years, 6 Months
Summary
This month we traveled to the US, and also had vacation time in Finland. It has been an exceptionally hot summer (a big heat wave in Europe) and she has been in her bathing suit most days.
Social
She is having a great time with her cousin Zoe. She is also playing with Sophia and Samari but it's nice to have someone closer to her own age to participate in the imaginative role play.
She had a great time with Pihla. They played imaginative role play games like "we are the queens and ..."
Leisure
In Florida we have gone to the pool every day and she loves it. She is using floaties that we bought in the US, but listening to Tita Des ' swimming instruction and trying a little.
She loved the space center, but is not so interested in becoming an astronaut.
She is really interested in money. She count and recounts her money and spends a long time in a store deciding what to get.
At the mökki, she is still using her floaties in the lake. But she loves being in the water and splashing around.
Learning
Both kids are having trouble with the round doorknobs in the USA.
She seems to have made a big reading jump! Previously she has comfortably read picture books, but now she has graduated to chapter books. She loves to read in the car, in bed, on the sofa -- wherever -- and it can be difficult to pull her away. Otso is not happy about it because often she would rather read than play.
Language
Not much change here; she speaks easily in both Finnish and English.
Her English vocabulary is increasing in the USA.
Health
She is experiencing a bit of sunburn for the first time. But overall she has done fairly well in the sun and despite the sunscreen she has a golden tan.
She did a great job sleeping through the night on our first night back in Helsinki. It is hot upstairs so she and Otso are sleeping in the basement on gym mats and it really suits her.
29.7 lost a tooth : left top lateral incisor
Events
4.7 movie theater - Trolls
5.7 space center
8.7 drive to Georgia
9.7 hair cut -- a cute angled bob
10.7 hike stone mountain
11.7 splash pad
12.7 horseback riding lesson
14.7 play with Paige and kids
15.7 visit to Meredith's house
16-17.7 flights home to Helsinki
18.7 leikkipuisto
19-22.7 mökki
23.7 Sami&Ilona visit
27.7 HopLop
28.7 BBQ with Heidi and Ari
29.7 BBQ with Sami and Ilona
29.7 lost a tooth!
30.7-5.8 Nakkila
Random
She observed that "in America, it is cold inside and warm outside." (in air-conditioning in Florida summers)
She bought a giant hair bow with her own money but was very sad when she realized that she can't tie it in her hair anymore because she got a hair cut. So we returned it to the store.
While hiking stone mountain, she spotted a large black snake! Very exciting for everyone, including fellow hikers.
At Meredith's house, the pet hermit crab peed on Lumi's hand during the 10 seconds she was holding it.
22.7 lost the scoop of ice cream off the top of her cone.
This month we traveled to the US, and also had vacation time in Finland. It has been an exceptionally hot summer (a big heat wave in Europe) and she has been in her bathing suit most days.
Social
She is having a great time with her cousin Zoe. She is also playing with Sophia and Samari but it's nice to have someone closer to her own age to participate in the imaginative role play.
She had a great time with Pihla. They played imaginative role play games like "we are the queens and ..."
Leisure
In Florida we have gone to the pool every day and she loves it. She is using floaties that we bought in the US, but listening to Tita Des ' swimming instruction and trying a little.
She loved the space center, but is not so interested in becoming an astronaut.
She is really interested in money. She count and recounts her money and spends a long time in a store deciding what to get.
At the mökki, she is still using her floaties in the lake. But she loves being in the water and splashing around.
Learning
Both kids are having trouble with the round doorknobs in the USA.
She seems to have made a big reading jump! Previously she has comfortably read picture books, but now she has graduated to chapter books. She loves to read in the car, in bed, on the sofa -- wherever -- and it can be difficult to pull her away. Otso is not happy about it because often she would rather read than play.
Language
Not much change here; she speaks easily in both Finnish and English.
Her English vocabulary is increasing in the USA.
Health
She is experiencing a bit of sunburn for the first time. But overall she has done fairly well in the sun and despite the sunscreen she has a golden tan.
She did a great job sleeping through the night on our first night back in Helsinki. It is hot upstairs so she and Otso are sleeping in the basement on gym mats and it really suits her.
29.7 lost a tooth : left top lateral incisor
Events
4.7 movie theater - Trolls
5.7 space center
8.7 drive to Georgia
9.7 hair cut -- a cute angled bob
10.7 hike stone mountain
11.7 splash pad
12.7 horseback riding lesson
14.7 play with Paige and kids
15.7 visit to Meredith's house
16-17.7 flights home to Helsinki
18.7 leikkipuisto
19-22.7 mökki
23.7 Sami&Ilona visit
27.7 HopLop
28.7 BBQ with Heidi and Ari
29.7 BBQ with Sami and Ilona
29.7 lost a tooth!
30.7-5.8 Nakkila
Random
She observed that "in America, it is cold inside and warm outside." (in air-conditioning in Florida summers)
She bought a giant hair bow with her own money but was very sad when she realized that she can't tie it in her hair anymore because she got a hair cut. So we returned it to the store.
While hiking stone mountain, she spotted a large black snake! Very exciting for everyone, including fellow hikers.
At Meredith's house, the pet hermit crab peed on Lumi's hand during the 10 seconds she was holding it.
22.7 lost the scoop of ice cream off the top of her cone.
29 July 2018
22 July 2018
20 July 2018
Otso: 4 years and 9 months
Summary
This month we went to the US. He had a great time and it was a good English refresher course.
Learning/Development
He doesn't know how to be angry without yelling or hitting these days. When he is mad or stressed, he most often hits Lumi or äiti.
He doesn't know how to be angry without yelling or hitting these days. When he is mad or stressed, he most often hits Lumi or äiti.
Both kids are having trouble with the round doorknobs in the USA.
He is quite interested in reading and looking at letters, especially in Finnish.
Language
The trip to the US is making a big difference in his English skills. He really wants to play with his cousins, so he needs to speak English.
However, the kids still speak Finnish to each other. And he still says "he goed" instead of "he went", and he does not pronounce the "th" sound in "there" or "they" or others.
Update : toward the very end of the US trip, they were sometimes playing in English together. Now that we are back in Finland, they are speaking English often together.
He is adding the phrase "so [adjective] that I couldn't talk" often. For example, "it was so funny that I couldn't talk" or "it was so scary that I couldn't talk".
Toys/Games/Other
Favorites right now: the Brain Quest questions pack
He does not want to get in the pool, despite the very hot weather. He stands at the edge and throws the football with his cousins. He also liked bocce ball.
He loved the splash pad! It was a relief to find some kind of water play that he enjoyed.
Social
His best buddies at päiväkoti kesähoito right now are Salli and Samuel.
He is enjoying his cousins in the US, especially the older two, Sophie and Samari. He likes to kick and throw balls with Samari, and I'm not sure what he does with Sophie (take funny pictures, horse around, etc).
Health (eating, sleeping, etc)
Bedtime is much easier now that he isn't napping at päiväkoti.
He likes to sleep with the fan on at home.
Events
20-27.6 grandpa and mama dollie!
29.6 last day of daycare
30.6 flight to USA
4.7 movie theater Trolls
5.7 space center
8.7 drive to Georgia
10.7 hike stone mountain
11.7 splash pad
14.7 play with Paige and kids
15.7 visit to Meredith's house
16-17.7 flights home to Helsinki
18.7 leikkipuisto
19-22.7 mökki
Random
28.6 showed up in the bathroom naked except with a googly eye finger puppet on his penis, so his penis looked like the nose.
16.7 (pointing to luggage handlers at the airport) "at night I am going to dream about doing that stuff at the airport!"
19.7 (getting dressed) "I saw my nuts!"
14 July 2018
03 July 2018
Lumi: 7 years, 5 months
Summary
She has finished up with preschool. We may take advantage of the daycare in the few days before school starts in August, but basically this phase of her life is complete.
Social
She has a few friends, but is more attached to adults right now. She loves Otso, and enjoys playing with him.
She loved staying home with Grandpa and Mama Dollie while they were in town. They read a bunch of books and played board games.
Leisure
5.6 after much badgering, she agreed to ride her bike to daycare. and she loved it! it's a nice breezy downhill ride.
9.6 she tried again to ride the 20 inch bike, and really enjoyed it! Now it looks like she is riding a properly sized bike with 3 gears, and she loves it.
We started a new book series "Zoey and Sassafras" and she enjoyed it.
She loves money. She loves to count how much money she has, and tell everyone about it. She got a lot of pocket money from Grandpa and Mama Dollie, and she counted it over and over like Scrooge McDuck.
Learning
Her reading is really coming along and is smoother every day. I have not been able to find another series that really captivates her like the fairy books used to do. Junie B Jones was a bit interesting, and she likes Zoey and Sassafras, but neither were enough to make her beg to get more.
Language
Not much change here; she speaks easily in both Finnish and English.
Health
It shows when she doesn't get enough sleep. She clearly needs a lot, and when she is tired, she gets really spacey.
Events
4.6 started at the new daycare for the few weeks of June
2-9.6 Andy and Andrea visit
11.6 Otso invited Salli for a playdate, but Lumi enjoyed playing with her just as much
15-17.6 Nakkila
16.6 Eeva's confirmation
20-27.6 grandpa and mama dollie!
29.6 last day of daycare
30.6 flight to USA
Random
She has a new joke: Mitä Jesus sanoi kun hän sai uudet sukset? "Jee! Sukset!"
24 June 2018
22 June 2018
Otso : 4 years, 8 months
Summary
It's summer time! We have had an unusually dry and sunny month.
Learning/Development
He doesn't know how to be angry without yelling or hitting these days.
He doesn't know how to be angry without yelling or hitting these days.
He really loves numbers and counting. Kimmo noticed that when playing a board game, after a roll of the dice he can usually do the addition quickly without stopping to count (e.g. when he rolls and 5 and a 6, he immediately says "yksitoista" and moves 11 spaces).
Language
Not much new here; Finnish still much stronger than English. Lumi usually speaks to him in Finnish.
Not much new here; Finnish still much stronger than English. Lumi usually speaks to him in Finnish.
Toys/Games/Other
Favorites right now: "Leijona Kaarti" or "Lion Guard", part of the Lion King franchise. He really loves the show. It has taken over Paw Patrol as favorite.
Favorites right now: "Leijona Kaarti" or "Lion Guard", part of the Lion King franchise. He really loves the show. It has taken over Paw Patrol as favorite.
4 - 7.6 was "futis koulu". the first day he went and was excited to put on the new gear, but he didn't want to join. he sat on Kimmo's lap the whole time and did not participate. There was not much improvement on the following days. He enjoyed watching the drills and trying a few on the sidelines.
17.6 he wanted to try the pedal bike, but the tire was flat.
Social
His best buddies at päiväkoti kesähoito right now are Salli and Samuel.
His best buddies at päiväkoti kesähoito right now are Salli and Samuel.
Health (eating, sleeping, etc)
He switched to the "big kid" room for nap time at päiväkoti. This means that he doesn't have as much space to lie down and he isn't really expected to sleep.
He likes to sleep with the fan on at home.
He loves apple juice, and sometimes we can get him to branch out to pear juice or a blend with apple. He didn't want to drink the black apple juice, though. (https://www.valio.fi/mediafiles/970d1fac-e81b-4784-bd19-91ea7a66fe9e?Width=300&mimeType=image/jpeg)
Events
21-25.5 äiti gone
21-25.5 äiti gone
23.5 play date at Samppa's house
24.5 rieha at eskari
30.5 spring juhla at eskari
1.6 circus at päiväkoti
2.6 Andy and Andrea arrived, went to mökki
4-7.6 "futis koulu" = soccer school2-9.6 Andy and Andrea visit
11.6 playdate with Salli
15-17.6 Nakkila
16.6 Eeva's confirmation
20.6 grandpa and mama dollie arrive!
Random
He loves to wear a cap and sunglasses on sunny days.
He especially loves the adult size "Party in the USA" baseball cap that Andrea and Andy brought.
17 June 2018
10 June 2018
03 June 2018
Lumi: 7 Years, 4 Months
Summary
She is done with preschool! She has a few more weeks of daycare before the summer break, and then it will be time for school.
Social
She is happy to have a friend in her class for the autumn, but is a bit sad that most of her classmates from eskari are grouped together in the other classrooms.
Leisure
She is enjoying the freedom to move around the neighborhood without supervision. She is clearly tired out by her old bike but is still nervous about riding the bigger 20" bike. She resolves the issue by not riding much.
Social
She is happy to have a friend in her class for the autumn, but is a bit sad that most of her classmates from eskari are grouped together in the other classrooms.
Leisure
She is enjoying the freedom to move around the neighborhood without supervision. She is clearly tired out by her old bike but is still nervous about riding the bigger 20" bike. She resolves the issue by not riding much.
She has not enjoyed her gymnastics class this spring, but saw it through to the end.
Books: The "You Should Meet" series is fun so far -- she was really impressed with Misty Copeland and Katherine Johnson. She has re-discovered the Junie B Jones books and she is enjoying the jokes (äiti is torn about this: they are funny but the kid is kind of rude and also the book is written with lots of grammatical oddities so that it sounds like the voice of a 6 year old ... but she does not have a lot of exposure to English all day so it feels wrong that our English reading is full of "bad" English). She also really likes having the audio books to listen to after we turn out the lights at bedtime.
She loved playing with the heavy duty water guns at the neighbors' house.
Learning
She really enjoyed the school open house day and she is excited to start school in August. They gave all the kids ice cream and they loved it.
28.5 learned about the money you get from the store for recycling bottles. We found a bottle on the path and she took it to the store. She is delighted, and now watches like a hawk for discarded bottles and cans.
Language
Not much change here.
Health
Health
21.5 lost a tooth : bottom left lateral incisor
Events
5.5 grilling with the neighbors
8.5 school open house event
10-13.5 - nakkila!
15.5 lumi's last jumppa -- family fun
19.5 Asta's birthday party
21.5 tooth!
21-25.5 äiti gone
23.5 play date at Samppa's house
24.5 rieha at eskari
26.5 spent the night at Viena's house
30.5 eskari spring juhla - kids got a diploma and a rose
1.6 last day of eskari
2.6 Andy and Andrea arrived, went to mökki
27 May 2018
20 May 2018
Otso : 4 years, 7 months
Summary
Not a huge change between this month and the last month.
Learning/Development
Not a huge change between this month and the last month.
Learning/Development
He doesn't know how to be angry without yelling or hitting these days.
Language
Not much new here; Finnish still much stronger than English.
He doesn't seem to remember Norwegian at all.
Toys/Games/Other
Now that the weather is warmer, he is more active. At home, his favorite thing is either sähly in the basement or Legos in the living room. He also still quite likes board games and card games.
He likes to bike to and from päiväkoti.
Social
Social
He enjoyed playing with Clemence. He thought "Baby Marie" was cute but kind of difficult.
He had fun with the next door neighbor's kid when we were planting the hedge. His friends at päiväkoti: Samppa, Tarmo, Eeli, Salli.
Health (eating, sleeping, etc)
He is having a terrible time going to bed lately. He often stays up quite late begging for us to stay with him. Then he gets up early in the morning and wants us to spend time with him.
6.5: he took a sauna with us! Normally he panics and leaves after a second or two, but this time he stayed and played with the water for long enough to sweat.
12.5 he came in to the sauna in Nakkila, and then Lumi threw cold water on his belly and he left and refused to come back.
Events
21.4 spring open door event at päiväkoti
27.4 - 1.5 the DuPuis family visit!
1.5 vappu
5.5 grilling with the neighbors
10-13.5 - nakkila!
15.5 lumi's last jumppa -- family fun
17.5 big field trip with the whole daycare to a farm
Random
I told him that in the USA kids go to school on yellow school bus and he said "cool! I want to go on a golden school bus!"
13 May 2018
06 May 2018
04 May 2018
Lumi: 7 Years, 3 Months
Summary
She is doing well, and seems to be happy. She is ready for school to start, it seems. We are just biding time now until August.
Social
14-15.4 she had a very social weekend: lots of time outside playing with friends in the neighborhood. she biked around with them and played at our house and at their houses. It was good for her; her peers keep her behavior in check better than her brother does.
She played with Clemence but was enthralled with little Marie.
Leisure
She doesn't have a favorite "toy", so to speak. She enjoys workbooks and art projects, and taking care of stuffed animals.
She was never a huge princess fan, but now she is definitely out of that phase. She loves cute animals and such.
She plays in the basement a lot on the gymnastics rings.
Learning
She is reading more and more confidently. But she still likes to have adults read to her, thank goodness.
Language
During the vappu weekend, our friends visited from Stavanger. Lumi said she understood their Norwegian, but it was difficult to speak it. She was really interested, though.
Health
Her arm muscles are visibly larger since we put up the rings in the basement.
Events
6.4 Heidi and Ari for dinner
11.4 Lankinens and mummu for dinner ; saw Ella musical with esikoulu class
18.4 Touko and Kuutti for dinner
21.4 spring open door event at Otso's päiväkoti
27.4 päiväkoti closed for the day; she got to visit the Teradata office
27.4 - 1.5 the DuPuis family visit!
28.4 Viena birthday party
30.4 she got to stay home with the DuPuis family
1.5 vappu
2.5 conference with eskari teacher
3.5 vaari babysat
Random
14.4 she and Otso rode their bikes around the neighborhood without adult supervision.
20.4 for the carnival at Otso's päiväkoti, we are taking a shift to help sell balloons. Then Lumi told Otso, "and I'm going to give free balloons to all the kids!", which was a sweet impulse but we had to say no to protect the fundraising nature of the event.
She is doing well, and seems to be happy. She is ready for school to start, it seems. We are just biding time now until August.
Social
14-15.4 she had a very social weekend: lots of time outside playing with friends in the neighborhood. she biked around with them and played at our house and at their houses. It was good for her; her peers keep her behavior in check better than her brother does.
She played with Clemence but was enthralled with little Marie.
Leisure
She doesn't have a favorite "toy", so to speak. She enjoys workbooks and art projects, and taking care of stuffed animals.
She was never a huge princess fan, but now she is definitely out of that phase. She loves cute animals and such.
She plays in the basement a lot on the gymnastics rings.
Learning
She is reading more and more confidently. But she still likes to have adults read to her, thank goodness.
Language
During the vappu weekend, our friends visited from Stavanger. Lumi said she understood their Norwegian, but it was difficult to speak it. She was really interested, though.
Health
Her arm muscles are visibly larger since we put up the rings in the basement.
Events
6.4 Heidi and Ari for dinner
11.4 Lankinens and mummu for dinner ; saw Ella musical with esikoulu class
18.4 Touko and Kuutti for dinner
21.4 spring open door event at Otso's päiväkoti
27.4 päiväkoti closed for the day; she got to visit the Teradata office
27.4 - 1.5 the DuPuis family visit!
28.4 Viena birthday party
30.4 she got to stay home with the DuPuis family
1.5 vappu
2.5 conference with eskari teacher
3.5 vaari babysat
Random
14.4 she and Otso rode their bikes around the neighborhood without adult supervision.
20.4 for the carnival at Otso's päiväkoti, we are taking a shift to help sell balloons. Then Lumi told Otso, "and I'm going to give free balloons to all the kids!", which was a sweet impulse but we had to say no to protect the fundraising nature of the event.
29 April 2018
22 April 2018
Things to see from space
We have a big cardboard box in the living room that is now a spaceship. Lumi drew some scenery.
20 April 2018
Otso: 4 Years, 6 Months
Summary
Not a huge change between this month and the last month.
Learning/Development
Often when there is a lot of something, he says there is "sata" (100). Also sometimes miljoonaa.
3.4 said that the biggest number is miljoonaa.
His teacher says he is quite quick at math exercises (and that he knows it).
He is great at helping, most of the time. He loves to be tasked with something, especially it if feels like an exciting new thing. 7.4 he helped make rice pudding, and did most of the work (under supervision of course). 14.4 he helped make waffles.
Language
Not much new here; Finnish still much stronger than English.
Toys/Games/Other
He seems to be leaning toward superheroes lately (batman, thor, spiderman, etc) and a bit less toward Lightning McQueen and Paw Patrol.
1.4 he was at first overwhelmed and scared to even come out of the locker room at the Flamingo spa (an indoor water park). eventually he got comfortable enough to splash around in the baby pool. then he moved up to the baby water slides, and eventually playing in the big pool and the giant jacuzzi. he loved when the bubbles came.
Social
He is friendly with a lot of the kids his age at päiväkoti.
His teachers say he is mostly fun to have around, but he can be very stubborn and very opposed to new things.
Health (eating, sleeping, etc)
He is having a terrible time going to bed. He often stays up quite late begging for us to stay with him.
Events
25.3 Maija Poppanen jääshow
29.3 day off from päiväkoti
30.3 good Friday, went to the zoo
1.4 Flamingo Spa with the Lankinens
2.4 easter bunny brought lots of candy; hunting eggs
4.4 parent teacher conference at päiväkoti
6.4 Heidi and Ari for dinner
11.4 Lankinens and mummu for dinner
15.4 Salli's birthday party
18.4 Touko and Kuutti for dinner
Random
24.3 he laughed very hard, the hardest I have seen yet, when I informed him that some people call testicles "nuts". And he pointed out that they look like macadamia nuts.
Sometimes when Kimmo hugs or kisses him, he claims that it is something that girls do.
27.3 he was showing off his belly when he got undressed and i said "you have a lovely belly" and he replied very sincerely "äiti, you have a lovely belly too."
He told me wants a skateboard with fire and water on it. Fire on top and the sides, and water on the bottom. (?)
14.4 he and Lumi rode their bikes around the neighborhood without direct supervision.
Not a huge change between this month and the last month.
Learning/Development
Often when there is a lot of something, he says there is "sata" (100). Also sometimes miljoonaa.
3.4 said that the biggest number is miljoonaa.
His teacher says he is quite quick at math exercises (and that he knows it).
He is great at helping, most of the time. He loves to be tasked with something, especially it if feels like an exciting new thing. 7.4 he helped make rice pudding, and did most of the work (under supervision of course). 14.4 he helped make waffles.
Language
Not much new here; Finnish still much stronger than English.
Toys/Games/Other
He seems to be leaning toward superheroes lately (batman, thor, spiderman, etc) and a bit less toward Lightning McQueen and Paw Patrol.
1.4 he was at first overwhelmed and scared to even come out of the locker room at the Flamingo spa (an indoor water park). eventually he got comfortable enough to splash around in the baby pool. then he moved up to the baby water slides, and eventually playing in the big pool and the giant jacuzzi. he loved when the bubbles came.
Social
He is friendly with a lot of the kids his age at päiväkoti.
His teachers say he is mostly fun to have around, but he can be very stubborn and very opposed to new things.
Health (eating, sleeping, etc)
He is having a terrible time going to bed. He often stays up quite late begging for us to stay with him.
Events
25.3 Maija Poppanen jääshow
29.3 day off from päiväkoti
30.3 good Friday, went to the zoo
1.4 Flamingo Spa with the Lankinens
2.4 easter bunny brought lots of candy; hunting eggs
4.4 parent teacher conference at päiväkoti
6.4 Heidi and Ari for dinner
11.4 Lankinens and mummu for dinner
15.4 Salli's birthday party
18.4 Touko and Kuutti for dinner
Random
24.3 he laughed very hard, the hardest I have seen yet, when I informed him that some people call testicles "nuts". And he pointed out that they look like macadamia nuts.
Sometimes when Kimmo hugs or kisses him, he claims that it is something that girls do.
27.3 he was showing off his belly when he got undressed and i said "you have a lovely belly" and he replied very sincerely "äiti, you have a lovely belly too."
He told me wants a skateboard with fire and water on it. Fire on top and the sides, and water on the bottom. (?)
14.4 he and Lumi rode their bikes around the neighborhood without direct supervision.
15 April 2018
08 April 2018
03 April 2018
Lumi: 7 Years, 2 Months
Summary
Both top front teeth are out now. The new ones are growing in but for now she has a big toothless smile with a huge gap for the new teeth.
Social
She is enjoying more friends, though she definitely needs alone time to recuperate. She also loves to have time to play with Otso.
Leisure
She is enjoying playing crazy 8s with the regular deck of cards.
She loved our visit to the science museum. She liked the planetarium show ("incoming!") and enjoyed all the little experiments. Her favorite was the lab time when she made her own slime.
She is enjoying dolls and characters and that sort of play. She is very creative with paper too -- she makes outfits and accessories for her dolls and stuffed animals out of paper. She enjoys recreating at home the arts and crafts that she did in preschool.
We have been watching Mary Poppins to get ready for the ice show, and she adores all the songs.
1.4 she loved the indoor water park and had a great time on the slides. but she had a terrible time remembering to not run, and to stay with the group. she claims she can "swim" but still wants to wear flotation support
Learning
She has seemingly entered the "facts" stage, where she loves to learn new facts about the world and share them.
18.3 I guess she has made a lot of writing progress. She refused help to spell "syntymäpäivä".
Language
Both languages are pretty strong these days, but now she plays with Otso in Finnish.
Events
3.3 Josh visit
4.3 jääjuhla - pony rides and dog sled rides
9.3 neighbors came over for the evening
10.3 Heureka Science museum
13-16.3 Kimmo gone
14.3 front tooth out!
17.3 dinner at Michele and Janne's
25.3 Maija Poppanen jääshow
30.3 good Friday, trip to the zoo
1.4 Flamingo spa with the Lankinens
2.4 easter bunny brought lots of candy; hunting eggs
Random
14.3 she woke me up at 3:45 am to tell me that her tooth fell out.
11.3 we smelled a man's cigarette and she pointed out that it was gross to smell. And we talked about it and she said she would not ever do it because it stinks. But then she paused and said, "well, maybe when I'm a grown up". I guess she thinks it might be acquired, like wine and spinach and other things she currently does not like.
She really wants a pet, and I have sort of promised to get her a fish this summer.
27.3 she borrowed a realistic - looking doll from her friend. I was calling it a "dead baby" and she said "it's not dead, it's just old!"
30.3 favorite animals at the zoo were the otters
Both top front teeth are out now. The new ones are growing in but for now she has a big toothless smile with a huge gap for the new teeth.
Social
She is enjoying more friends, though she definitely needs alone time to recuperate. She also loves to have time to play with Otso.
Leisure
She is enjoying playing crazy 8s with the regular deck of cards.
She loved our visit to the science museum. She liked the planetarium show ("incoming!") and enjoyed all the little experiments. Her favorite was the lab time when she made her own slime.
She is enjoying dolls and characters and that sort of play. She is very creative with paper too -- she makes outfits and accessories for her dolls and stuffed animals out of paper. She enjoys recreating at home the arts and crafts that she did in preschool.
We have been watching Mary Poppins to get ready for the ice show, and she adores all the songs.
1.4 she loved the indoor water park and had a great time on the slides. but she had a terrible time remembering to not run, and to stay with the group. she claims she can "swim" but still wants to wear flotation support
Learning
She has seemingly entered the "facts" stage, where she loves to learn new facts about the world and share them.
18.3 I guess she has made a lot of writing progress. She refused help to spell "syntymäpäivä".
Language
Both languages are pretty strong these days, but now she plays with Otso in Finnish.
Events
3.3 Josh visit
4.3 jääjuhla - pony rides and dog sled rides
9.3 neighbors came over for the evening
10.3 Heureka Science museum
13-16.3 Kimmo gone
14.3 front tooth out!
17.3 dinner at Michele and Janne's
25.3 Maija Poppanen jääshow
30.3 good Friday, trip to the zoo
1.4 Flamingo spa with the Lankinens
2.4 easter bunny brought lots of candy; hunting eggs
Random
14.3 she woke me up at 3:45 am to tell me that her tooth fell out.
11.3 we smelled a man's cigarette and she pointed out that it was gross to smell. And we talked about it and she said she would not ever do it because it stinks. But then she paused and said, "well, maybe when I'm a grown up". I guess she thinks it might be acquired, like wine and spinach and other things she currently does not like.
She really wants a pet, and I have sort of promised to get her a fish this summer.
27.3 she borrowed a realistic - looking doll from her friend. I was calling it a "dead baby" and she said "it's not dead, it's just old!"
30.3 favorite animals at the zoo were the otters
01 April 2018
High rolling
Lumi bought this 10€ dancing chick yesterday with her own money. This is her biggest purchase yet. She and Otso are simply thrilled with it.
27 March 2018
20 March 2018
Otso: 4 Years, 5 Months
Summary
No big changes to report this month. He is enjoying the same usual toys and games, both home and at päiväkoti. It is nice to see that he is branching out more socially at päiväkoti.
Learning/Development
At päiväkoti, they recently made a little wheel for days of the week. There is an arrow and you can point it to the current day. It seems to have help him understand how the days change.
Language
English is challenging for him. He can often come up with most of a sentence, but then a couple of words are in Finnish. Those few days this month when Kimmo was traveling did seem to help, though.
Toys/Games/Other
He did not want to try skiing. Or skating. But often when we pick him up in the afternoon he is playing sähly with some kids at päiväkoti.
He is enjoying playing crazy 8s with the regular deck of cards, and Uno is currently a family favorite.
He still loves Legos and it is best when Kimmo is playing with him.
Social
He in branching out a bit at päiväkoti and wants to invite more kids to play dates.
Health (eating, sleeping, etc)
Got a black eye during "flashlight night" at perheliikunta when the kids were all running around in the dark.
Events
19-21.2 Mummu babysitting!
22-25.2 Nakkila
27.2 isä's birthday
3.3 Josh visit
4.3 jääjuhla
7.3 Samppa play date
9.3 neighbors came over for the evening
10.3 Heureka Science museum
13-16.3 Kimmo gone
17.3 dinner at Michele and Janne's
Random
8.3 he said sometimes the are bad guys coming to his room in a dream, but then he calls superman and batman. superman comes quicker because he can fly, but batman has a car.
He likes to snuggle against the belly of äiti, when she is wearing something soft.
No big changes to report this month. He is enjoying the same usual toys and games, both home and at päiväkoti. It is nice to see that he is branching out more socially at päiväkoti.
Learning/Development
At päiväkoti, they recently made a little wheel for days of the week. There is an arrow and you can point it to the current day. It seems to have help him understand how the days change.
Language
English is challenging for him. He can often come up with most of a sentence, but then a couple of words are in Finnish. Those few days this month when Kimmo was traveling did seem to help, though.
Toys/Games/Other
He did not want to try skiing. Or skating. But often when we pick him up in the afternoon he is playing sähly with some kids at päiväkoti.
He is enjoying playing crazy 8s with the regular deck of cards, and Uno is currently a family favorite.
He still loves Legos and it is best when Kimmo is playing with him.
Social
He in branching out a bit at päiväkoti and wants to invite more kids to play dates.
Health (eating, sleeping, etc)
Got a black eye during "flashlight night" at perheliikunta when the kids were all running around in the dark.
Events
19-21.2 Mummu babysitting!
22-25.2 Nakkila
27.2 isä's birthday
3.3 Josh visit
4.3 jääjuhla
7.3 Samppa play date
9.3 neighbors came over for the evening
10.3 Heureka Science museum
13-16.3 Kimmo gone
17.3 dinner at Michele and Janne's
Random
8.3 he said sometimes the are bad guys coming to his room in a dream, but then he calls superman and batman. superman comes quicker because he can fly, but batman has a car.
He likes to snuggle against the belly of äiti, when she is wearing something soft.
13 March 2018
Heureka
We went to the Heureka science museum over the weekend. The kids had a great time.
Lumi loved this exhibit where you build an object with feathers and straws and a paper cone and then see how it floats in an upward current of air.
Lumi loved this exhibit where you build an object with feathers and straws and a paper cone and then see how it floats in an upward current of air.
Otso loved the exhibit with 1000 wooden blocks.
And he was stoked about the gift shop.
06 March 2018
03 March 2018
Lumi: 7 Years, 1 Month
Summary
She seems really ready for school. She is ready to learn new things.
Leisure
She got a few stuffed animals for her birthday, which she is enjoying. A favorite toy is the "Incubaby" which hatches out of an egg.
17.2 she took a 2-hour downhill ski lesson in Vihti. She was tired and hungry by the end, and her legs felt stiff and uncomfortable the next day. But she got out there and did it, and had fun.
She also practiced skating in Nakkila.
Learning
She is enjoying reading, and right now we are reading "Tuesdays at the Castle", which has no pictures.
She enjoyed the book that Grandpa and Mama Dollie sent with the Lottie doll, and she read some on her own after we read it together. It might be her first chapter book on her own.
15.2 she got into the english program at the school!
26.2 she started peeling her own carrots
We are enjoying a few of the "Let's Read and Find Out" series.
Language
Both languages are pretty strong these days.
Events
4.2 perhe partio (sledding)
9-11.2 weekend at the mökki
16.2 lost the upper right front tooth!
17.2 ski lesson in Vihti
18.2 Mia's birthday party
19-21.2 Mummu babysitting
22-25.2 Nakkila
27.2 isä's birthday
1.3 school visit with eskari
Random
She was cheering for an Olympic event and had a great generic cheer "Do that! Do that!"
She calls the Scooby Doo van the "Mystery Sheen"
15.2 the day we heard about getting into the english school program, i asked if she was feeling excited. she said "no, it was just my name on a piece of paper. boring! and school is boring too -- just math, math, and work."
She seems really ready for school. She is ready to learn new things.
Leisure
She got a few stuffed animals for her birthday, which she is enjoying. A favorite toy is the "Incubaby" which hatches out of an egg.
17.2 she took a 2-hour downhill ski lesson in Vihti. She was tired and hungry by the end, and her legs felt stiff and uncomfortable the next day. But she got out there and did it, and had fun.
She also practiced skating in Nakkila.
Learning
She is enjoying reading, and right now we are reading "Tuesdays at the Castle", which has no pictures.
She enjoyed the book that Grandpa and Mama Dollie sent with the Lottie doll, and she read some on her own after we read it together. It might be her first chapter book on her own.
15.2 she got into the english program at the school!
26.2 she started peeling her own carrots
We are enjoying a few of the "Let's Read and Find Out" series.
Language
Both languages are pretty strong these days.
Events
4.2 perhe partio (sledding)
9-11.2 weekend at the mökki
16.2 lost the upper right front tooth!
17.2 ski lesson in Vihti
18.2 Mia's birthday party
19-21.2 Mummu babysitting
22-25.2 Nakkila
27.2 isä's birthday
1.3 school visit with eskari
Random
She was cheering for an Olympic event and had a great generic cheer "Do that! Do that!"
She calls the Scooby Doo van the "Mystery Sheen"
15.2 the day we heard about getting into the english school program, i asked if she was feeling excited. she said "no, it was just my name on a piece of paper. boring! and school is boring too -- just math, math, and work."
27 February 2018
20 February 2018
Otso: 4 Years, 4 Months
Summary
He is generally nice to be around. He can get very angry when he is upset, but his main driver seems to be making those around him laugh. He likes to be a clown around his peers.
Learning/Development
He is interested in how words look on the page. We are not pushing it at all; it will be interesting to see when it translates into reading.
Language
He thinks that a snow plow is called a "snow cloud". He says "praprika" instead of "paprika". And sometimes "menolia" instead of "melonia".
He still has a cute lisp, but he does a beautiful rolled "r".
Toys/Games/Other
He really enjoys the sähly (floorball). Board games are still favorites, as are cars and Legos. His absolute favorite thing is to play Legos with Isä.
Paw Patrol is still his favorite show, but lately his interests have expanded. Now he also really likes "Be Cool Scooby Doo".
There has been a lot of snow on the ground, so we have not been biking to päiväkoti, and he says he misses the biking.
Social
Eeli is still his best friend, but he plays with others. He also says that Joppe is his friend. He is also interested in another boy from päiväkoti; we need to invite him over.
He was very apprehensive about Mia's birthday party and didn't want to go. But we took him anyway, and he had a great time and didn't want to leave.
Health
He was sick (there have been some nasty things going around : the flu, strep throat, etc), and his appetite has almost disappeared.
Events
28.1 Mia and Lili came over for a playdate
3.2 Lumi's birthday party
4.2 perhe partio (sledding)
9-11.2 weekend at the mökki
17.2 winter fun in Vihti
18.2 Mia's birthday party
19-21.2 Mummu babysitting!
Random
While playing Uno, I said I would give him a taste of his own medicine, and he thought it was "give you a taste of your old medicine."
He is generally nice to be around. He can get very angry when he is upset, but his main driver seems to be making those around him laugh. He likes to be a clown around his peers.
Learning/Development
He is interested in how words look on the page. We are not pushing it at all; it will be interesting to see when it translates into reading.
Language
He thinks that a snow plow is called a "snow cloud". He says "praprika" instead of "paprika". And sometimes "menolia" instead of "melonia".
He still has a cute lisp, but he does a beautiful rolled "r".
Toys/Games/Other
He really enjoys the sähly (floorball). Board games are still favorites, as are cars and Legos. His absolute favorite thing is to play Legos with Isä.
Paw Patrol is still his favorite show, but lately his interests have expanded. Now he also really likes "Be Cool Scooby Doo".
There has been a lot of snow on the ground, so we have not been biking to päiväkoti, and he says he misses the biking.
Social
Eeli is still his best friend, but he plays with others. He also says that Joppe is his friend. He is also interested in another boy from päiväkoti; we need to invite him over.
He was very apprehensive about Mia's birthday party and didn't want to go. But we took him anyway, and he had a great time and didn't want to leave.
Health
He was sick (there have been some nasty things going around : the flu, strep throat, etc), and his appetite has almost disappeared.
Events
28.1 Mia and Lili came over for a playdate
3.2 Lumi's birthday party
4.2 perhe partio (sledding)
9-11.2 weekend at the mökki
17.2 winter fun in Vihti
18.2 Mia's birthday party
19-21.2 Mummu babysitting!
Random
While playing Uno, I said I would give him a taste of his own medicine, and he thought it was "give you a taste of your old medicine."
14 February 2018
07 February 2018
03 February 2018
Lumi: 7 Years
Summary
She is 7!
Social
When they aren't happy with their toys in a kids meal, we encourage them to go and see if they can trade it for something else. Lumi is quite good about asserting herself in this way.
She is excited to invite a bunch of friends to her birthday party. It was rainbow-themed and she kept it classy.
Leisure
She is really into space these days. Grandma got her some space-themed gifts for Christmas, and she loves them. Especially the books. She loves the book about Scott Kelly.
We have a couple months of free HBO, and the kids are enjoying the different cartoons. The favorites are "We Bare Bears" and "Be Cool Scooby Doo".
She is excited to make a bunch of decorations for her birthday party.
She hasn't been into board games as much as Otso, but she almost always answers "yes!" when asked if she wants to play Uno. It seems like the right level for her.
Learning
We are not too surprised, but her reading is getting better and better. She is absorbing all the wacky English spelling exceptions, and taking them in stride (instead of outrage, which was the typical reaction a year ago). She is usually comfortable pushing herself now to read.
13.1 lumi realized "the guy" from pikku Kakkonen is made out of clay too.
26.1 they held a mock presidential election at eskari. they reviewed the platform for all the candidates, and we were very impressed that she thought that Pekka Haavisto had the best ideas.
Language
She seems very comfortable with both Finnish and English these days.
Health
We are trying a new bedtime -- 19:30. I am feeling good about it. Otso is a bit less consistent but she clearly needed the sleep.
Events
4.1 goodbye to grandma, at temporary päiväkoti
8.1 back to eskari
12-19.1 Kimmo gone
15.1 playdate with Bella
28.1 Mia and Lili came over for a playdate
3.2 birthday party
Random
13.1 she had an ouch on her forehead and she explained that "that's from swim class when I dived and hit my head on the bottom of the pool. It's happened a lot to me before 'cause I love it."
18.1 she stayed home by herself for 20 minutes while I picked up Otso from the neighbors' house.
15.1 when the cleaners arrived as we were leaving for the day lumi said hello to them and then, as she was closing the door, "good luck!"
20.1 she pointed out that the longer Isä is away, the better the presents are when he comes back.
She is 7!
Social
When they aren't happy with their toys in a kids meal, we encourage them to go and see if they can trade it for something else. Lumi is quite good about asserting herself in this way.
She is excited to invite a bunch of friends to her birthday party. It was rainbow-themed and she kept it classy.
Leisure
She is really into space these days. Grandma got her some space-themed gifts for Christmas, and she loves them. Especially the books. She loves the book about Scott Kelly.
We have a couple months of free HBO, and the kids are enjoying the different cartoons. The favorites are "We Bare Bears" and "Be Cool Scooby Doo".
She is excited to make a bunch of decorations for her birthday party.
She hasn't been into board games as much as Otso, but she almost always answers "yes!" when asked if she wants to play Uno. It seems like the right level for her.
Learning
We are not too surprised, but her reading is getting better and better. She is absorbing all the wacky English spelling exceptions, and taking them in stride (instead of outrage, which was the typical reaction a year ago). She is usually comfortable pushing herself now to read.
13.1 lumi realized "the guy" from pikku Kakkonen is made out of clay too.
26.1 they held a mock presidential election at eskari. they reviewed the platform for all the candidates, and we were very impressed that she thought that Pekka Haavisto had the best ideas.
Language
She seems very comfortable with both Finnish and English these days.
Health
We are trying a new bedtime -- 19:30. I am feeling good about it. Otso is a bit less consistent but she clearly needed the sleep.
Events
4.1 goodbye to grandma, at temporary päiväkoti
8.1 back to eskari
12-19.1 Kimmo gone
15.1 playdate with Bella
28.1 Mia and Lili came over for a playdate
3.2 birthday party
Random
13.1 she had an ouch on her forehead and she explained that "that's from swim class when I dived and hit my head on the bottom of the pool. It's happened a lot to me before 'cause I love it."
18.1 she stayed home by herself for 20 minutes while I picked up Otso from the neighbors' house.
15.1 when the cleaners arrived as we were leaving for the day lumi said hello to them and then, as she was closing the door, "good luck!"
20.1 she pointed out that the longer Isä is away, the better the presents are when he comes back.
31 January 2018
24 January 2018
20 January 2018
Otso: 4 Years, 3 Months
Summary
It is a good start to the new year. Otso likes to play and is making new friends.
Learning/Development
He is carefully looking at a lot of words. He enjoys the Brain Quest question packs.
He likes to "read" to others, using books he knows well, like the Sandra Boynton books. I was impressed when he did the Doggies book, and remembered most of the different barks.
We have a couple months of free HBO from our utility company, and the kids are enjoying the different cartoons. The favorites are "We Bare Bears" and "Be Cool Scooby Doo". Otso keeps saying "Scooby Doo is so funny".
Language
Grandma's presence has helped, but more frequently he gets frustrated with English and just shuts down instead of responding.
The week without Isä in January gave the English a boost too.
Toys/Games/Other
Favorites: lots of games for Christmas, as well as a paw patrol Chase doll.
Social
Over Christmas, he is missing his friends. He was thrilled to get back to päiväkoti to see everyone.
Eating
He did not eat very well at Christmas time. He usually does well with the protein but this time we couldn't convince him to try many different days.
Now we are a couple weeks out from Christmas, and his eating has rebounded somewhat. He still likes good meat, which helps.
He also is getting ever so slightly better at trying things that he is nervous about.
Sleeping
We are experimenting with moving bedtime a bit earlier, and reducing his nap time at päiväkoti.
Health
He does not like to take the chewable vitamin D tablets, but he does enjoy the vitamin bears.
I convinced him to try a fluoride tablet, and he liked it. Now he does fluoride after the evening brush with Lumi.
Events
20.12 grandma arrived
22.12 stayed home from päiväkoti with grandma
23.12 drive to Nakkila
24.12 Finnish Christmas
25.12 American Christmas
26.12 party at Anna and Matti house
28.12 Hukka visit
31.12 New years eve, grandma babysat
4.1 goodbye to grandma
5.1 back to päiväkoti
12-19.1 Kimmo gone
14.1 Vaari took him to perhesähly
18.1 play date at Joppe's house
Random
He still enjoys watching Paw Patrol and he often laughs out loud at the jokes. It's cute to hear him let out these big guffaws while he watches.
It is a good start to the new year. Otso likes to play and is making new friends.
Learning/Development
He is carefully looking at a lot of words. He enjoys the Brain Quest question packs.
He likes to "read" to others, using books he knows well, like the Sandra Boynton books. I was impressed when he did the Doggies book, and remembered most of the different barks.
We have a couple months of free HBO from our utility company, and the kids are enjoying the different cartoons. The favorites are "We Bare Bears" and "Be Cool Scooby Doo". Otso keeps saying "Scooby Doo is so funny".
Language
Grandma's presence has helped, but more frequently he gets frustrated with English and just shuts down instead of responding.
The week without Isä in January gave the English a boost too.
Toys/Games/Other
Favorites: lots of games for Christmas, as well as a paw patrol Chase doll.
Social
Over Christmas, he is missing his friends. He was thrilled to get back to päiväkoti to see everyone.
Eating
He did not eat very well at Christmas time. He usually does well with the protein but this time we couldn't convince him to try many different days.
Now we are a couple weeks out from Christmas, and his eating has rebounded somewhat. He still likes good meat, which helps.
He also is getting ever so slightly better at trying things that he is nervous about.
Sleeping
We are experimenting with moving bedtime a bit earlier, and reducing his nap time at päiväkoti.
Health
He does not like to take the chewable vitamin D tablets, but he does enjoy the vitamin bears.
I convinced him to try a fluoride tablet, and he liked it. Now he does fluoride after the evening brush with Lumi.
Events
20.12 grandma arrived
22.12 stayed home from päiväkoti with grandma
23.12 drive to Nakkila
24.12 Finnish Christmas
25.12 American Christmas
26.12 party at Anna and Matti house
28.12 Hukka visit
31.12 New years eve, grandma babysat
4.1 goodbye to grandma
5.1 back to päiväkoti
12-19.1 Kimmo gone
14.1 Vaari took him to perhesähly
18.1 play date at Joppe's house
Random
He still enjoys watching Paw Patrol and he often laughs out loud at the jokes. It's cute to hear him let out these big guffaws while he watches.
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