Stories and flavors from our family table
Stories and flavors from our family table
If you’ve ever wondered what happens when a family of food lovers, a heap of family history, and a dash of international adventure get tossed into one big pot… well, you’re about to find out. We are a blended family with four kids (three still …
Last Wednesday, we finally met our new family member, Charline. We drove to Vehendi Motel, where exchange students were welcomed with songs. When the time came, Charline ran to us with so much enthusiasm that she almost knocked me off my feet! After a shared …
A quieter kind of beginning The Christmas tree has been carried down to the cellar — the same artificial tree our family has used for over twelve years now. Its branches fold in on themselves easily, familiar and patient. Ornaments are back in their boxes, …
This past week has been a whirlwind of work, school, and family moments – some exhausting, some joyful, but all part of our everyday story. Henry shined in school, bringing home nothing but top marks, and proudly finishing his Pixel Art drawing that Charline had …
This past week has been a whirlwind – the kind where you feel like you need an extra Sunday just to recover. I had only one day off, and the rest was swallowed by long shifts at the restaurants. But even in the middle of tired eyes, lost socks, and endless to-do lists, our family still managed to sprinkle in some laughter, new experiences, and—of course—good food.
Henry has been shining at school (I swear he’s growing faster than my sourdough starter), while Michelle… well, she decided to take a little “vacation” from classes. After a bit of detective work, I discovered she hadn’t been taking her antidepressants. We’ve fixed that, and today she bravely went back to school. Small victories matter.
Charline continues to surprise us with her energy and creativity. Every day after school she runs off to art school, where she’s fallen in love with Pixel Art. The best part? She dragged Michelle and Henry into it too. Now our evenings often end with the three of them huddled over sketches and digital designs, while little Roosi tries to “help” by adding her own artistic scribbles.
Of course, not everything was smooth. On Friday, both Charline and Roosi came down with fevers, which meant we had to skip my nieces’ birthday party. By the next day they were already bouncing back, but it reminded me how quickly plans can shift when you’re raising a big family.
There wasn’t much family time this week. Mostly, evenings ended with TV shows or the kids drawing together. Charline has been sharing her new Pixel Art skills from school, and it’s turned into a fun little home art club with Henry and Michelle.
Honestly, I don’t know how we’d survive without two adults in the house. My long shifts mean Arvi often ends up cooking dinner – otherwise, the kids would only eat at 10 PM. I’m grateful for him, even if he sometimes thinks my kids are spoiled little rascals (well… he’s not completely wrong 😅).
In between work, doctor visits (Henry had two fillings done like a champ, and Roosi had her very first dental check-up—sparkling teeth all around! ✨), and school drama, I somehow managed to whip up a proper potato salad one evening. It wasn’t fancy, but it was exactly what we needed: comfort on a plate.
Ingredients:
600 g boiled potatoes
2 chicken fillets, pan-fried and diced
3 pickled cucumbers
1 fresh cucumber
1 onion (or green onion if you like it milder)
3 boiled eggs
200 g Hellmann’s mayonnaise
200 g sour cream
1 tsp Põltsamaa mustard
Salt to taste
Instructions:
Chop everything into bite-sized cubes.
Mix mayonnaise, sour cream, mustard, and salt into a creamy dressing.
Combine with potatoes, chicken, and veggies.
Chill in the fridge before serving – if your family lets it survive that long.
Sometimes chaos is loud, exhausting, and messy. But when there’s tasty homemade potato salad on the table and a house full of kids (healthy teeth included), comfort finds its way back to us. 💛
This past week was all about getting back into the school rhythm – and for us, that meant juggling long workdays, new beginnings, and making room for both joy and tiredness. The first of September came with celebrations: Michelle and Charline started their school year …
This past week has been full of little adventures, preparations, and emotions as summer slowly gives way to the school year. One of the biggest highlights was visiting schools with Charline. We first went to the art school, which completely captured her heart. She is …
Last Wednesday, we finally met our new family member, Charline. We drove to Vehendi Motel, where exchange students were welcomed with songs. When the time came, Charline ran to us with so much enthusiasm that she almost knocked me off my feet! After a shared lunch of solyanka, meat pies and muffins, we headed home to start our adventure together.
Food quickly became part of our story. On the very first evening we cooked lasagna – with homemade pasta sheets cranked through the machine by Roosi. Charline loved it, which already felt like a small victory. Since then, our kitchen has been busy: spaghetti with meat and tomato sauce, mushroom gravy with fresh chanterelles, and of course, our Sunday pancakes.
One of the biggest differences for Charline has been our “always open kitchen.” At her home meals are at fixed times, while here anyone can grab something whenever hungry. At first it felt strange to her, but we told her that in a year she might find it even harder to go back to rules. She laughed and said she might not go back at all – maybe she will just stay with us forever.
Our days have been filled with laughter, card games, Mexican soap operas, and even a new kitten named Misuki. There have also been small challenges, like homesickness, tiredness, or learning to cook from scratch (she had never cracked an egg before!). But when Charline made her very first pancakes, golden brown and beautiful, her proud smile said it all.
And then came Saturday – our family day out in Võru. We strolled through the Great Food Street, sampling everything from local dumplings to sweet pastries, while musicians filled the air with fiddles and accordions at the Folk Music Festival. At one point, we squeezed around a long table set right in the middle of the street and enjoyed a meal together – a photo was, of course, mandatory. Looking at it now, it perfectly captures what this exchange year is about: sharing food, culture, and laughter across generations (and countries).
We are only at the beginning, but it already feels like Charline has brought new energy, curiosity, and warmth into our family life.
2 eggs
1 tsp salt
400 ml milk
150 g wheat flour
A little oil for frying
Whisk together eggs, salt, milk and flour until smooth. Fry in a lightly oiled pan until golden on both sides. Serve warm, preferably with laughter at the table.
Family thought of the week:
The kitchen may be always open, but the heart even more so. ❤️
If you’ve ever wondered what happens when a family of food lovers, a heap of family history, and a dash of international adventure get tossed into one big pot… well, you’re about to find out. We are a blended family with four kids (three still …
