Two weeks off

Things around me are getting crazy. I need more time, space, need to plan and do few projects… I’m taking days (up to two weeks) off from blogging. I just sat down for few hours to make scheduled posts for 8 days and now I’m saying goodbye for few weeks. Take care you all! Ilze

Update

Now all three girls are ill. Even Helmī have a temperature. No flu… something else. We stick to a lot of C vitamin, herbal teas, and few meds… Girls are puzzling and I’m doing my best to keep them in bed and happy! It feels like I’m next! While girls were sleeping I’ve tried to get … More Update

Postpone

I have to postpone all my plans and actions related to the Etsy shop. Girls are ill! Nothing serious, but being all at home where Janis try to work from… is serious! Or at least “good workout” for me! Linna was ill on Friday (only temperature – about 38.8C). Now she’s having running nouse. Nelle got … More Postpone

Sunday

Mario & Nora visited us on Saturday after Nora had choir show in Smiltene. We had a lovely time chatting inside cause weather outside was rainy & windy! Sunday morning I started with coffee and made Tuna tortilla wraps. After that, there were chatting & chilling! I was too relaxed to look for my phone, … More Sunday

Another shaker card!

OK. Do you remember our first shaker card!? I was inspired by Lana and her shaker card “Hello”! Nelle came home from kindergarten last Thursday and announced that her teacher is leaving on Friday! “She will have a baby and we have to make her shaker card!!!”… I paused… “It’s only a few hours till the … More Another shaker card!

Few days off

Janis changed his work and have a new contract since 10th of January. He decided not to dig in until this Monday. So, Janis had few days off – seven working days if be exact! He spends that time doing what he normally can’t. Usually, we shop our food here in Gulbene, but since Janis didn’t … More Few days off

Marley

Our Cat Marley is getting friendlier and friendlier every day!! And now as far as I can tell (I’m almost 35 and I never had a cat before and I don’t look under the tail of cats I met along the way) our cat Marley is SHE! Is Marley a girl name?! Cause our cat Marley … More Marley

Home alone

Or should I say – Home alone with Linna? Last week was interesting! Interesting cause we were apart from each other! Janis went to Riga to sign a new contract with a new IT company. And stayed in Riga for two days. As you know Nelle has time with me on Mondays, after School of … More Home alone

Art School for Nelle

Last time Nelle had her art class was before Christmas and the next time the Art School opened was on Monday 8th of January! This period without the Art School was hard for Nelle and me! She asked 100 times – When will the school open!? For example, on Monday they have to paint a picture on a sandpaper using … More Art School for Nelle

Enchanted forest

We can’t imagine a better way to entertain kids and awaken their imagination than a walk into an enchanted forest on a sunny day as it was this Sunday! I call this forest (that is actually more like woods 50 meters away from our house) enchanted cause I and also my girls believe these 100-year-old trees … More Enchanted forest

Monday

We all know Mondays… Really!? NO! I would say “No! It is the same as the other days!” …six years ago! But now – OMG! Tomorrow is Monday!…Twice more coffee! And like it wouldn’t be enough! That “Monday” thing is real even if you are staying at home mom. And those who are saying “Mondays … More Monday

Linna in action!

This is good! I like where it is going! Sometimes Linna likes to help. Whenever I ask – she doesn’t want to help. She likes to come and help every time I keep my mouth shoot and ignore here. Nice! Now I will have new tactics! I will start cleaning something and I hope, I … More Linna in action!

Happy Mail Day #7

What I got in the mail I mentioned in yesterday’s blog post? The best thing I could get after such a crazy&stressful  morning I had two days ago! Tea and cookies from my blogging friend GrumpyTyke! What a lovely box! Thank you!!! It was right on TIME! Really! How did you do that!? I had real Yorkshire … More Happy Mail Day #7

Sad girls…

…they were sad when I said “NO!” to snow angels and jumping around in snow cause they were all dressed up for going to Gulbene! Yes, we have separate cloth for city and home! Otherwise, you can’t survive in the countryside! And it doesn’t matter actually, cause when I told, that we are going to … More Sad girls…

Happy Mail Day #6

Another thing for cardmaking. Not just “another thing”! Something I wanted for ages but wasn’t ready to spend 105,- Euro! Now it’s here and I got it for a half price cause it’s used but it was written: “Condition: Like” I usually don’t believe but this time it really is “like new”!!! Bargain! Introducing, my … More Happy Mail Day #6

Oh, it’s a full moon!

Girls were driving me crazy at the weekend! I couldn’t explain why! They were so active and challenging! Fighting with each other, running, jumping, banging head and believing that they can fly… form sofa to armchair! Helmī was the craziest, the most active, the fastest, the crybaby and the extreme sports winner for sure! I would say discoverer … More Oh, it’s a full moon!

Happy Mail Day #4

It’s interesting how I made friends by blogging! Last week I received lovely watercolor prints made by my blogging friend Jodi from USA! She is such an inspiration to me! When I first saw her blog I wanted to grow up and be like her! Now I know, that everything is in my hands! She is … More Happy Mail Day #4

Linnas Godfather

Our beloved Linna’s godfather visited us on Monday. We chatted about life and how you get used to “unnormal” things pretty fast… And it’s true! In the first, you might think that something hit you very hard but after few times you get used to it! What doesn’t kill us makes us stronger. Linna was … More Linnas Godfather

10th of November – “Mārtiņdiena”

—wikipedia Mārtiņi or Mārtiņdiena is an ancient Latvian winter welcoming holiday when the time of pieguļa and shepherding came to an end. According to a solar calendar, Mārtiņdiena marks the midpoint between the autumnal equinox (Miķeļi) and winter solstice (Ziemassvētki), and is celebrated in the middle of November. Mārtiņi ended Veļu laiks (Time of the Dead) and started Ledus laiks … More 10th of November – “Mārtiņdiena”

Rainy days – walk

It’s been raining here in Latvia. I feel how changes our routine… time spend outside now is spend inside. Walks get shorted and fewer. I don’t like it! We all need to go outside and have a walk to be awake and in movement! Movement is life, health, and happiness. Life without movement stagnates and declines. It’s hard to … More Rainy days – walk

My Birthday Girl!!!!

Today is Helmī Saule’s 2nd birthday! I can’t believe it! Oh, well I can believe it but still… 2 years! That’s serious! She’s not a baby anymore! She’s a girl! GIRL! This Monday she had her first one hour visit to the kindergarten. We had to play peek a boo to get her dressed. I had … More My Birthday Girl!!!!

Cousins 1st Birthday

We receive an invitation to our sibling’s cousins 1st Birthday! They have only one cousin and that’s from Janis side. His name is David and it’s Janis sister’s first child. They were celebrating the 1st week and 1st month and 6 months and so on and now it’s finally a first-year celebration. We were welcomed … More Cousins 1st Birthday

Permaculture festival 

It’s hot here in Permaculture Festival! It’s +31 degree Celsius! I don’t want to build walipini or rocket stove.  I spent time with my girls at kids tent…. and attended lecture about compost. We painted with all natural colors like curry, blackberries, peppermint, beetroot juice and much more… Ilze

Permaculture Festival…

Today we are driving to Permaculture Festival. It’s 4th Permaculture festival this year but I never heard of it before. What is permaculture festival? It is a great event where people meet with smiles, trade knowledge and ideas about how to live in beat with nature. Will see. I’m interested in soil regeneration and compost building and Janis … More Permaculture Festival…

Moody Moon

I never thought I could tell the Moon phase by watching my kids! And I mean that FULL MOON phase when kids don’t want to go to bed and jumping around till 1 am! And, YES! I’m informed about those reserches that show that the moon doesn’t affect the behavior of children the way we thought … More Moody Moon

Kitty Cat / Sunset

A small trip that made us smile. Made us happier, healthier and calmer. All cats need love – even old ones! A Lovely sunset at the end and all without crying went to bad. Summer, I love you! Ilze

Līgo / Jāņi 2017

Jāņi 2017. Celebrated at Salacgriva (my hometown), Latvia. I made floral head wreaths (I don’t know another name!!!) for all girls and me and Jāņi cheese like planned. This time it Jāņi cheese wasn’t that good. The first thing to do when I’ll get back home – find my Jāņi cheese recipe and post it … More Līgo / Jāņi 2017

Sea: Gulf of Riga

We call it sea. But it’s a gulf.Doesn’t matter. Nelle calls it a big lake. Anyway… Girls were at sea again. It’s not that warm yet but Janis and girls love the sea and I think free time might be handy. So, I let them go and have fun in the sand…. not water! It’s … More Sea: Gulf of Riga

No way! Leidersbach

No way! After having a good time in Lich, we couldn’t head back home. It just didn’t feel right. We all felt like we need to travel a bit more…. just a bit more before we head back. We drive a bit down (away from Latvia) and stayed at a funny small city called Leidersbach. It’s … More No way! Leidersbach

My happy place

As you know we were in the Berlin for a few days and the main reason was to see Viola – Nelles Godmother and to celebrate Nelles 5th birthday. We decided to leave the caravan near family friend’s house and drive all the way (more than 400km) to the Berlin just by the car. That … More My happy place

Nelle turns 5!

Nelle turned 5! She had her birthday in one of the Berlin’s park. The day started early and Nelle got here birthday crown from Godmother and called herself a princess. We woke up early – had breakfast and went to the park to be sure we had the BEST spot in the whole park. And … More Nelle turns 5!

Getting worse!?

Oh it looks like it is getting worse! We started our journey today. And that’s good! But there is “BUT”. Janis is getting ill. He is having angina and he looks tired. Can’t swallow, can’t speak… His body temperature is getting higher and higher. And… he is the only driver! We are in Lithuania and … More Getting worse!?

New staff

 Today I had two knew employees in my kitchen…. or should I say outside the kitchen! Girls saw me washing dishes outside and took the job over. I don’t know if they will show up tomorrow but today they got upset when I told that all the dirty dishes are clean. Happy Latvian mom, Ilze … More New staff

Finger painting

We (me and Janis) need free time to fix/install electricity in the caravan so I decided to delight my two oldest ones with finger paint and finger painting. I brought a garden table inside to be sure that it is easy to clean afterward. While the youngest one was napping the biggest sisters was able to do … More Finger painting

Hometown

Yesterday we packed first two suitcases for upcoming caravan trip… and packed two more bags for small get away to my hometown: Salacgriva. We decided to visit my mom and  “change the decorations”. About Salacgriva: It’s a small town located near Gulf of Riga (Baltic Sea), close to Estonian border. See here. If you ask me – … More Hometown

8 PM Coffee Break

Today we have sun.. and rain… and snow and hail… All together changing every half hour. Suddenly I found myself wondering around the fridge and looking for something special. But can’t find anything. I’m trying not to drink coffee and eat sweets. And I’m getting pretty good at it!   But today… at 8 PM … More 8 PM Coffee Break

Easter bunny

This year my Easter bunny left sitting on the top of my vintage cupboard. This bunny is special. It was delivered to our home at the day when Linna was born. Why?! I don’t know. I was so carried away by the easter bunnies letter and all the activities for the girls, that decoration wasn’t … More Easter bunny

Happy Easter

Happy Easter to you all! We are having fun making greeting cards. I love “Fingerprint activities” book by USBORNE. So many ideas how to paint using your fingertips. And girls love it too. Ilze

Scissor Cutting Practice: Shapes / Free Easter Printable

After all the scissor cutting practices are finished, a child might want to demonstrate his/her cutting skills. And what’s a better way then easter greeting card for a dad or a grandma?! I made few greeting cards for my oldest girl to cut out to show dad how good is her scissor cutting skill. Learn more about Scissors Cutting Practice … More Scissor Cutting Practice: Shapes / Free Easter Printable

Scissor cutting practice: Simple Shapes / Free Easter printable

Scissor cutting practice is important for developing the fine motor skills that young children need in order to hold pencils, pens, and crayons. Children should start scissor cutting practice before learning how to write. About the Scissors cutting skill development you can find in my previous post: Scissors Cutting Practice for Preschoolers.  Practice sheets for short and long … More Scissor cutting practice: Simple Shapes / Free Easter printable

Learn Numbers, Sequence & Counting: Ice Cream Scoops (free printable)

I’m so obsessed with nice looking materials for my girls to play-learn. I really enjoy the process of making them and the smiles on here faces to use them!  And my math related roots says that math is something that we need to learn and it could be so enjoyable and fun activity too! (At least for … More Learn Numbers, Sequence & Counting: Ice Cream Scoops (free printable)

March: Birthday month

I can’t believe it’s already 20th of March! This weekend we celebrated: 3rd birthday of our girl  Linna 31st birthday of my husband Janis 55th birthday of Janis father 25th birthday of Janis brother and more… (uncles and cousins, aunts and godmothers) !! We had one big party for all the Birthdays! As usually within … More March: Birthday month

Scissor Cutting Skills / FREE Easter Printable Worksheet

About the Scissors cutting skill development you can find in my previous post: Scissors Cutting Practice for Preschoolers. For better results and faster learning start with tearing paper by hand and the cut short cuts and end with wavy lines. I made Easter themed worksheets…. because, why not!  I’d say this a Preschool Cutting Activity for 3-year-olds … More Scissor Cutting Skills / FREE Easter Printable Worksheet

Weekend: Family time

It was a wonderfull weekend with my beloved ones. My brother with his girlfriend came to spend some quality time with us & girls. My brother is our Nelle’s godfather. She adores him! We didn’t leave home all weekend. Stayed inside, chatting and chilling, playing and eating. Talked a lot and even tried to make a … More Weekend: Family time

Birthday Girl: 34

I’m 34 now (almost, at 8:30pm)! Well… I’m surprised! I can’t remember the birthday with mud and rain! It’s usually something between “Snow forever!” or “Wow, It’s getting pretty cold!”. I remember how half of my birthday guests didn’t arrive because of cold. It was -27C  for a week and I turned 25 in that freezing winter. … More Birthday Girl: 34