Better Luck Next Year??

For the past few months, Maddy has been attending a dance class in Helsinki. It's for 4-5 year old girls and she has mixed feelings about it. Some days she loves it, other days not so much.
To end out the spring season, they had a dance performance for the parents. Since parents are not allowed to watch their regular classes, it was an opportunity for us to see what they've been working on.
Unfortunately, Maddy froze on stage and was the only girl who didn't do her performance. She said later on that she didn't enjoy the other parents watching her, and she didn't like the costumes. Hopefully we have better luck next year. Fortunately she did practice her moves at home so we got the idea.

Sophia Eloise Myderwyk!!!

Very happy to announce the newest precious addition to the Myderwyk Family! Sophia Eloise Myderwyk was born on May 15, 2012 to my little brother Jeff and his wife Alicia. New big sister Bella!!!!
Sophia is the 9th cousin for Maddy and Charlie, and Myderwyk grandbaby #9!

Welcome to the world, my beautiful niece Sophia. Can't wait to meet you in August.

Gardenia and Easter Eggs

Easter was a fun holiday this year! Maddy was fortunate enough to have three different Easter events and she loved all of them! The first was for the Otaniemi International Network, and the second was for the Canadian Finnish Society. Both contained arts and crafts and Easter Egg hunts for the kids. We also did an Easter egg hunt at home, which I believe I already posted about.
One day, we met Lina, Gretchen and Nellie at Gardenia, which is a small botanical garden center by the university of Helsinki. It was really nice and the girls had a wonderful time weaving in and out of the plants. Andrew got more practice on the new camera and actually took some wonderful flower photography also.
Another successful and fun holiday for the kids!

Chinese New Year

For the second year, we went into the city center of Helsinki to celebrate the Chinese New Year. Since the time difference isn't as bad as Canada, I think it is 6pm when the new year officially begins. It's a nice event, with Chinese decorations and Chinese food and dancers and entertainment. Of course the Chinese lanterns and the dragons were the hit. Every time we walk by this square now, Maddy recognizes it as Chinese New Year and asks if we can return next year.

This year we walked to the Toolonlahti Bay after the festivities and watched an AMAZING fireworks show over the bay. We were actually so close that we were covered in cardboard and sut from the fireworks going off. Note to self: stand back a bit further next year.

Even though there is no part of my heritage that is Chinese, it is a fabulous culture to celebrate and it's a wonderful event for the kids. And the spring rolls aren't too bad either.

Winter Pictures

Since spring is here in Finland, I decided it's about time to post some pictures of our winter here in Finland. It was a slow start to winter, the snow didn't come until January 2nd, which inconveniently was the day we flew back from Paris. So it was a bit sad to see the darkness outside without the glow of the snow to lighten things up a bit. I believe most of Finland was relieved when the snow finally arrived, because it wasn't nearly so dark and dreary anymore.

The kids enjoyed the snow. Madison of course enjoys tobagganning and had a few family excursions to the hills. We also have a hill right across the street from us. Andrew enjoyed this year much better, as Maddy is now capable of walking herself back up the hill with her sled, so he can just sit at the top of the hill and make snow angels while he waits for her to return.

Her skating was also greatly improved over last year. It is such a joy to watch her experience new things, and see the results of her practicing.

In February, we had a Girls Night Out with some of my girlfriends from playgroup, where we took all of the girls to a Disney on Ice show: Disney Princesses. They were positively thrilled.

Lina also had a wonderful birthday party at an indoor playground called Huimala. This place was massive! Even Charlie enjoyed bouncing on the bouncy castle (or rather, sitting on it while all the other kids made him bounce).

The winter was busy, with my return to school and us adjusting more to our Finnish life. Things just keep getting better!!

Happy Mother's Day!!!!!!

Happy Mother's Day to all of those beautiful women in my life who are new mommies, old mommies, or mommies-to-be! What a fabulous day to celebrate those women in our life who are amazing and loving and wonderful.
Finland celebrates Mother's Day as an official holiday (ie stores are closed) so yesterday Andrew took the family out for dinner. I also got to buy a new pair of running shoes in the hopes that my butt will finally get into shape (other than its current shape, which is extremely round....).
Got to sleep in this morning, spent the morning outside with the kids in gorgeous sunny weather, and took them for a walk after naptime down to the lake.
Of course the winning moment is a Mother's Day song from Maddy, a homemade card from both of my children, and a bedtime rant from Maddy that was like "I love you every second of every day, and during the night, and during the day, and when we are playing, and when we are cleaning my room, and in the afternoon, and while I'm sleeping, and during breakfast and lunch and dinner, and especially when we are playing".
Don't need any fancy jewelry, spa treatments or large bouquets of flowers. Some extra snuggles and my kids telling me they love me will be the perfect Mother's Day present.
Although sleeping in until 8:30am came in a close second..... :)

More Pics on Andrew's Camera

Andrew has been taking some online photography courses and is getting quite good at learning how to use his new camera. He went out a couple of weeks ago to take some Baltic Sea night shots and this is what he came up with:

LUX

One weekend in January, we went to Lux Helsinki, which is a collection of light installations located around the city to bring some light to the darkest time of the year. We met up with our friends Gretchen, Krister, and Lina to tour the city and view all of the installations.

We started in the Senate Square with a giant Rubik's Cube. This light installation named “Rubix Xpress" is based on a video in which a 6-year-old Chinese boy solves the Rubik's Cube puzzle in 37 seconds. This feat is repeated in the Senate Square in a slowed down version.

Of course along the way, the girls found large piles of snow to play and climb while the parents admired all of the installations. There were installations located all throughout the city centre, including a Lantern display hanging on a bunch of trees through the park.

We also watched a light fire show and got front row seats. The girls really enjoyed this part, although we made sure she understood that playing with fire is not for kids.

We finished the collection at the Olympic Stadium, where the tower was lit up in a variety of different colours.

It was a wonderful afternoon/evening enjoying more of what Helsinki has to offer.



Movie Cinema Experience

A few weeks ago, my girlfriends and I went to the movies. I wanted to take a few minutes to talk about the movie cinemas in Finland.

When you purchase your movie ticket, you always have to pick your seat ahead of time. So when you order your ticket, a screen comes up by the register with the seating chart of the cinema and you have to select your seats. It's really wonderful because there is no rush to run into the cinema and pick your favourite seats. You can buy your tickets, go shopping or buy candy, and then show up just before the movie is about to start. I think it's great.

Spring has Sprung!

What a fabulous two days in Finland!! We just got back from our Holland adventures and it appears as if spring has finally come to Finland. The grass is greener, the snow is gone, and the daffodils have bloomed. Maddy was so excited to pick some flowers for the dining room table! It's also warm enough now to hang my laundry on the clothes line, one of my favourite pasttimes. Which is good, considering I had four loads to do when we came back from Holland....
Football season starts tonight. Can't wait to see Maddy out on the soccer pitch tonight. Stay tuned.