Toothless

Between this picture

and this other

there are only three days of difference.

On Thursday morning, I received a call from Pol's kindergarden. He had fallen down and although they told me that it was not too serious, I had to run to the Hospital to sign some papers. As you can imagine, I did not run, I flew.

After all, it was not too serious, but I came back home with a little boy with the whole face bruised and a tooth less.

Pol is a fearless, independent child that wants to try everything right here and now.

If you try to help him, he will do it again. If he fells down, he goes there again because he needs to understand why this has happened.

My little adventurer!

The Wonder Garden

When we moved here, living in the centre was something very important for me. We were lucky enough to find a fantastic apartment 15 minutes walking to my place of work, so I do not usually take any public transportation.

Maybe this is the reason why it has taken me some time to know about this project:  The Wonder Garden.

With the occasion of the 150th anniversary of the railway station and Helsinki as 2012 World Design Capital, you can find an oasis just in the middle of the platforms.

 

It seems that it was a competition for the design of the Garden and some students of Häme University won the contest.

The result is colourful and very relaxing, something really important in a place where rush used to be the main visitor.

Just relax and check it by yourself.

A breeze of Spring, beauty and good taste is the best way for starting and ending a day, don't you think so?

Mother's day

This weekend we celebrated Mother's day in Finland.

It is funny that Mother's day is not the same day all around the world. Maybe this is because every day should be Mother's day, don't you think so?

Anyway not every day you receive beautiful presents made with so much love and, of course, not every day your kid's kindergarden invites you for coffee and buns

Before continuing my story I want to thank all those teachers that spend their time thinking and looking for a special present to prepare with the kids. This litle something becomes invaluable for fathers, mothers and even grandparents. Believe me, I will never thank you enough.

The point is that teachers from Pol's kindergarden invited all mums for a snack on Thursday afternoon. The important social event started at 2:30, impossible time for a working mum, I may admit. When I arrived, I found the little boy already eating and enjoying his time.

As mommy wasn't on time, he was totally focused on eating his portion and mum's too. I don't blame him, he needs to grow more than me now.

Once he finished, he explained me the whole party without losing even one detail.

I have to recognise that although he says many words already, noboby can understand him when he starts with his long speeches. Even though, he seems so convinced  that people keep me asking if he talks proper Spanish. I must admit, I also ask whether is Finish or not, but it seems that he has developed something more similar to the Esperanto language.

This is the beautiful present that he prepared for me. I love the text the teachers write in Spanish for me: "Buena Suerte a la Madre. 13.05.2012. Saludos Pol" , what can be translated as "Good luck for the mother. Greetings Pol"

For a Spaniard the text it's quite funny, as we do not use "Good luck" to congratulate people. In a context like this, it can be understood as "I know that your boy is a bit naughty. Good luck with him. ;)"

Of course, I do not explain this to the teachers, and a bunch of good luck is something that never should lack, but it is always funny to see what Google Translator does.

As we were the last ones, before going home he taught us how to sing and dance. Even without understanding a word of the songs that he is singing, you can recognise it from the tune. He can sing songs in 4 languages and lately his favourite is "Twinkle, twinkle little star".

When we were able to say good-by to Minnie Mouse and everybody left (including the cooker and the cleaner), we headed to the park. A present like that deserved some god runs.

Happy day to all the mothers and mothers to be of the world!

Moko

Helsinki is full of magical places. Places displaying and selling Nordic design, or any kind of beautiful things, inclusive in the most hidden places.

Moko is one of them. Located in an old industrial area and surrounded by designer studios, Moko is a place where you can find everything, or almost everything.

This little house at the end of the corridor is not for selling. 

It's part of the area where children can play and it is filled with comfortable cushions.

There is also a table full of crayons and paper and the toilet is also prepared for the little ones.

They have (vintage) furniture, linen, clothes, stationary, hundreds of books, crockery and even food.

They have unique pieces, like the old camera or the cash register that you can see in the picture

and imported goods.

Boxes of any colour you can think and cosmetics in wonderful packages. I love that. I can buy all of them even if I'd never use them.

Everything is "casually" located, although I am sure that it has taken hours to achieve this effect.

The kind of place where you can spend hours: touching, opening drawers, searching, looking at everything, choosing and thinking where to put so many beautiful things in your life.

 

Besides they have a marvellous coffee shop.

 

Full of flowers, light and life.
With long tables, unmatching chairs and interesting people to look at.
There are also magazines, dishes and cups so beautiful that you want for your own home and a relaxing atmosphere to think, imagine or just be there.

Look how amazing cakes they have:

And children are welcome.

Definitely Moko is one of my paradises and you cannot miss it if you come to Helsinki or just live here.

MOKO: Perämiehenkatu 10 (www.moko.fi)

4 years

It has been 4 years since I arrived here.

In Spain I left my professional career, friends and family.

It was indeed a tough decision, but I do not regret it. My family and friends are still there for me and, although I had to make a twist to my professional career, changes have been always welcomed to my life.

In all this time I have learned that the timing is different up here.

Autumn starts in August.

Winter knocks our door at the end of October and says good-bye at the beginning of May.

Spring comes from one day to the other and it goes as suddenly as it came. Maybe this is the reason why it is one of my favourites moments of the year.

Watching how everything changes from black and white to a profusion of colors is one of the most beautiful things of the world.

End of June is the middle of Summer. A period of time that you must enjoy 100%, as darkness is approaching fast.

I have learned that the word cold has not the same meaning for everybody and that the quality of the clothes is much more important than the amount of them.

At the beginning we were two. Now we are three.

At the beginning we were alone and now we have plenty of friends.

My Spanish blog started with the idea of telling  family and friends how was our life in this cold land.
My first post was about a snowy day and it has been thousand of them like it.

And in the meantime, many people have joined us in our journey. First in the Spanish version of this blog and some of you, here, where I try to translate what it is going on.

It is amazing to think how fast everything has happened, how many things we have learned, how many experiences we have lived.
 

I would like to celebrate it. Blow up candles, eat cake and open presents.

I would love to make you a present, but I do not have one for every of you, so I have decided to do a giveaway.

You only have to let a comment in this post or in its Spanish version and, next Sunday, an innocent hand will choose two of you.

As present, there are two options:

1. A printout of one of my photographs.

You can find them in this blog, in the Spanish version or in my flickr account.   The winner can choose one, all except my family photos.

2. The second choice is a story.

You send me one or two of your pictures, explain me something about them and I will prepare you a story.
 

This is a picture of Pol in his first birthday. You can see here what he liked and what he didn't like at that moment of time.
Things have changed since then.

Let's blow the candles together, because there are plenty of things to celebrate.

Notes.-
1. The pictures for this post have been taken during those four years. It is amazing to see how much I have learned since the beginning.
2. I am NOT a professional photographer, but photography has given me many things during these 4 years. This is the reason that photography will be involved in the giveaway.

The sledge

Last week it started snowing.

It snowed during the day

,but also during the night.

All day long snowing.

 

So this weekend, we weren't able to go anywhere with Pol's pushchair. It was like trying to push it in a beach full of sand. No way.

At the beginning we were considering let him walking, but after half an hour and only 10 meters covered, we decided to come back home and try the sledge.

 

Of course, the sledge was the best solution, as every Finish knows.

 

We walked, we played  and after so much exercise, we decided to make a break having a coffee.

 

We parked outside and just enjoyed the moment.

Pol talked to everybody. I am sure he was explaining how marvellous day he had had in his own language, this that nobody is able to understand, but it is so funny to hear.

Regata is one of the most picturesque places in Helsinki. Although it appears in all travelling guides,  it is always full of local people. There are people enjoying a coffee after some cross-country skiing, people sitting outside enjoying winter sun at -10ºC temperature or like us, people relaxing after ten minutes of exercise.

I would love to show you pictures of the interior of the cafeteria, but the little one was very tired and we have to come back home.

 

Another day I will invite you to a virtual coffee. It's a deal.

In the meanwhile, here it is the milk.

 

For this weekend

I had plenty of things planned:

1. Cook stuffed potatoes for "El Club del tupper"

"El Club del tupper" is a cooking project of 11 Spanish bloggers. We cook the same recipe every month and share our experiences with everybody that wants to read us.

Last month we cooked sweet bread that it is very typical for the "Three wise men" day. It was delicious.




This month Lucía has challenged us to cook stuffed potatoes in the way her aunt does, but we haven't had time to look for potatoes suitable for being stuffed. Finish's potatoes are usually too small for this matter.

Following the link, you can see the recipe.
Of course, it is in Spanish, but I can translate it for you if you want it.
Just let a comment telling me.

2. Buy and sledge and enjoy sliding in the snow.

Pol loves playing with the snow and I am sure all our falls will deserve his happy face (plus sliding is one of the funniest things in this world)

3. Going out and take pictures of our beautiful winter, so I can share them with you.

This picture was taken from my office's window.
It's the closet we have been from the snow, I mean both together.

Result: 0 of 3.

We have been doing practical stuff: shopping boring things, cleaning and so on, so the best part of the weekend can be summarised like this:

Come up, let's read tales here in bed.

This is our last favourite book. It is from Marion Billet. 

It is called Nature and the illustrations are beautiful. 
It has a small buttons in each page that reproduce sounds from nature and Pol loves to play with it.

When mommy is tidying up, I have to do it too.

Now that his little hands can open every drawer and reach any high surface, his favourite toy is the cutlery drawer.
I have removed everything that it's dangerous for him and now it's full of  tops, plastic spoons and wood cooking utensils.

 The paradise.

Having a nap together:

This happens to me almost every time I try to get him to sleep, but this time is just pretending.
It is my second picture with him for my "52 moments with mommy project"
Do you want to join me?

Oh, look at that! Outside it's night again.

Ok, let's have a coffee and relax!