EATING....THAT'S WHAT WE LOVE TO DO

I think this past week I have been eating more than usually during a whole month at home. But what can you do when the food is so good and company is so great? I don't think i am the only one in our family who feels that way.

This was the place to hang out for the midnight snack. Do not be fooled by the light from outside...it does not get dark during the night.

And i need to make a note that JAFFA is definetely the choice of a drink. Jason and kids have consumed it....liters and liters.

WE LOVE TO SLEEP

One of the best parts about taking a vacation is to catch up with some sleep. We have done it plenty....in all kinds of random places here in Finland.

SANDCASTLES AND SWIMMING

We made our traditional trip to Lappeenranta harbor to see this years sand castles. The theme was "kalevala", Finnish folklore.

It was a hot day so we needed to cool down with some ice cream and swimming in the local public beach.  There is a place to jump in the water. You can choose 10 meter or 5 meter. Niko and Jason were the only ones brave enough for 10 meter (little more than 30 ft.). Maija and Markus jumped down from 5 meter. (Kai went shopping with his uncle).

Of course for lunch we had to have the Lappeenranta's specialty, VETY and ATOMI. You can only get it in Lappeenranta.  

Which ice cream should i get?

Kids with their cousin, Elisa

Jason on the top...wondering...

Maija coming down from 5 meter

Niko coming down from 5 meter. Earlier he jumped doen from 10, and told us that he really felt during his fall down, that this is it.  The world, or at least his...is coming to an end.

FAMILY HOME EVENING

This morning I slept until 10. It felt so good, after waking up 5 am every morning. I think i am finally over the jetlag!

We had a fun day just spending time together.  Boys went to play basketball. Americans vs. Finnish. Americans won twice....to Finns dismay!  I think there will be another game on Wednesday....Finns are insisting!

In the evening we had a family home evening together.  We had a visiting magician....named Esko. He was amazing.  And then...of course we grilled, ate, swim and went to sauna, until morning hours....sleeping is really not a priority here. So fun!

This is what Maija does during the day so she can stay up all night swimming and going to sauna

Niko coming from the lake and running to sauna

Magician in action

VISIT TO MY OLD WARD

Usually, when we are in Finland we go to my parents ward, Kouvola on Sundays.  However, i grew up going to Lappeenranta ward.  It has been at least 10 to 15 years since I visited Lappeenranta ward last time.

One of my old, good friends, invited me to come to Lappeenranta this Sunday, so that is where we ended.  Lots of my cousins were there also after yesterdays family reunion.  It was such a nostalgic feeling sitting there, in the back row with my cousins...it was like old times.  As a teenager, we tended to sit together, not with my family, but with my cousins and friends during our church services...I am not saying that is how it should be done...but that is what we did, when we were somewhat rebellious teenagers....and it worked for us, and our parents, in their wisdom, let us get away with it. Bless their hearts!

It was great seeing the old, now little older looking faces, in the same room where we all gathered for years and years and years. Some things don't change. Thank goodness!

After the church we drove back to Kotalahti, and met the others who had gone to Kouvola. My parents had invited the missionary elders to come over as well.  We had a nice dinner together and then the elders gave us an uplifting message about listening the spirit and followibg its promptings.  The elders had to leave after that and we continued the evening by roasting sausages and making some crepes.  I am sure there was sauna and swimming involved as well.  Sauna is going pretty much around the clock here.  It is currently monday night, 11:45 pm, and most of the people just decided to go sauna and swimming....maybe a fifth time today.  You just have to love the summer time in Finland!

Jason taking it easy....or gathering strength for a late night socializing

Making, and having dinner by the lake

Esko cooking crepes

Timo prepared for the mosquitos

Markus took over the crepe making

Niko taking a nice little break at the lake.  He also made some of his cousins happy by bringing them some water lily leaves.

Isla with a water lily on her hat

Around 11 pm Timo, Esko, and Markus decided to play a board game. The rules were little suspicious. Esko kept making them up as they were playing...

i took these pictures around midnight...just before heading to bed.