This week we have become big fans of ice-skating. Beatrice went with her school on Monday and she liked it so much that we all went on Tuesday again and then again on Thursday. There is this lovely ice-rink in the old town just next to the Niguliste church with views towards the old town center with snowy rooftops and old church towers. Surprizingly Raoul and Karl absolutely love ice-skating as well and are amazingly good at it considering Tue was their first try. They didn't even want to use the frames to help with the balance, just off at full speed. This ice-rink attracts interesting crowds as well, lots of tourists just passing by and deciding to go spontaneously, young romantic couples, kids having fun, some grown-up first time on the ice - that's a fun site! The kids just keep asking every day if we can go ice-skating again. They are supposed to have a live camera on the web but last time we tryed it didn't work. www.uisuplats.ee

It has been a sort of holiday week anyway. 24th of Feb is the Estonian national holiday with military parade, president's reception for the 900 VIPs on TV etc. we went to see the parade for the first time. It was a lovely day -9 degrees, sunshine, light snowfall, just perfect. Waded through knee-deep snow to get high up on the hill-side of Harjumagi to have a good view. Was quite cool to see all this, Raoul especially liked it, kept asking "When are they going to shoot at the enemies?" Hope not in our lifetime (although they are in Afghanistan). After the parade kids could go and climb into the military vehicles, touch the canons etc. To my big surprize there were a lot of Russian-speakers around, waving Estonian flags. Found this a big difference compared to 12 years ago.
Mum and dad and sis and b-in-law came over for dinner and to watch the reception - the main past-time for the "commoners" that day, commenting the dresses etc...
Yesterday Beatrice had no school as well and we did a small winter olympics in the park with a Canadian girl from her class and her family. It has become milder and the snow is melting now. Everyone was quite wet after 1.5 hours and we really enjoyed the hot chocolate at their house. Also a good opportunity for the kids not to forget their English.
Today we are off to ballett - Snow-White and the seven dwarfs. Boys will go to the movies with my sis.

Happy New Year!

Who would have imagined it but we did end up celebrating Chinese New Year here last Sunday. We had tickets for a children's play that was really funny especially seen from the first row. Rushed back to the car afterwards to find the square near the carpark covered in smoke and fire - they had set off real chinese style fire crackers to welcome the year of Tiger. Also there were artists making snow sculptures of the 12 animal signs. Good fun. And then I got back to make my pineapple tarts. Just as expected the assembling part turned out too tricky so I gave up after a while and just made circles of pastry with the pineapple filling on top. Worked for us.
On Monday had my CNY class at B's school. Lots of preparations in fact - bought some forsythia branches, sheets of red paper, sweets, tangerines, collected all sorts of chinese nicknacks at home, decorations that the boys had made previously. Dressed up in our chong sams (both B and me). I gave them a short overview about the customs and traditions and then we made the ang pow envelopes. Think it worked really quite well. Was a good opportunity for me to meet the girls as well.
Karl has been at home with a virus for the rest of the week - ears and tummy! Luckily the others have been healthy. Today we are kind of snow-trapped again. It has been snowing more and more and today there is fierce wind and temperature around -15. B has a friend over to play and it is actually quite nice to have a Saturday without having all these activities. Was planning to go out in the evening to a concert with my sis but am getting quite doubtful in this blizzard.

Found this book in google about third culture kids. I have been feeling quite torn about bringing my kids here. In a way they need an identity and after having read parts of the book I feel assured that this is a good idea. On the other hand I keep asking if it is right not to give them an English language base education. Anyway, for all of you my expat friends, this is a great input. Have a look! Can't get the print version here, Amazon doesn't deliver to Estonia1


Hopefully a slightly milder temperature tomorrow - we need our weekly skiing exercise!

Finally got my car back yesterday in the worst snow storm so traffic was moving at 10km/h. With our rental car friend managed to figure out a few more buttons but still so much more to "unlock".
Have been preparing for the Chinese New Year! I always seem to adjust to the customs of places we live with a slight delay - best after we have moved to the next place. I suggestewd to Beatrice's teacher to do an hour for her class about the customs of CNY celebrations in Singapore and of course it has grown into a mini-project. First it took ages to find the right tone and thickness of red paper - will make some lanterns and ang pao's. Then of course searched the net for pineapple tarts. Corina thankfully sent a recipy but that seemed to require at least a degree from Larousse! So found a much simpler version and have prepared filling and pastry but putting them together still seems a bit daunting. Pastry keeps crumbling away so I might end up just cutting out round shapes and splashing some filling on top.
Last weekend we did another attempt of cross country skiing. Karl started askind "when are we there" after 10 meters skiing and was a total whimp even though his skiing was so much better than first time. Beatrice and Raoul however enjoyed it very much and after we were back at the start after the first round the wanted to do another one! And then one more. Just left Karl behind to play in the snow at the start. Will go again today. Beatrice's school does lessons for them and hopefully she will catch up some technique.
Also went to see a kids musical which was very very good - based on a few books of one of today's best Estonian kids authors (who happens to be a uni friend of mine). All kids know these stories by heart. The music was lovely, catchy tunes and dances, crazy costumes.
Boys went to an English playhour at the International School. Unfortunately there was only one other boy this week but hopefully normal group next time. This is probably the best I can do to keep their English going (apart from watching CN). They have had a great week at kindy as well - went to a trip to the old town by tram. And the "snow city". Also had a puppet theatre at kindy.
Beatrice and me went to a Mandarin lesson on Thursday. Mainly with the aim that she could keep some of what she has learned in Singapore. For me it sounds like Chinese! We'll see if we can keep it up. Either it is the age or total lack of reference to another language but it does not look very promising for me. As was to expected - after nearly 2 years in Singapore my Mandarin consists of less than 10 words. Will have to spent the next 1000 years learning in that pace.