This past summer we had a big Jakko Family Reunion.
Growing up, every Juhannus (Midsummer Holiday), we gathered to my aunts summer cabin.
We ate, swam, went to sauna by the lake,
played all kinds of games, had family Olympics, ect.
I remember the amazing cakes my grandmother Kerttu baked,
the fun games my Uncle Erkki lead us to. My uncles all getting very competive, and us kids cheering everybody on. I remember skiing with pieces of wood blanks tied to our shoes...going down a hill covered with blueberry bushes and rocks. Trying out wind surfing, just to end up to the opposite end of the lake, and having to swim back, pulling the surf board back with one arm, while using the other for swimming. I remember how the men pulled a cable from one side of the cove to other, and having to use this wood lever to try to get from one side of the cove to other side, sitting on some kind of a raft or boat. The wonderful memories go on and on. eventually all the families started celebrating the Midsumemr with their own children and grandchildren.
After years, about 20 or so, we had our Mid Summer Holiday celebration together again.
Now the family had grown from 20 or 30 people to around 160.
Instead of gathering to my aunt's cabin, we gathered to Kotalahti. The activities were the same. Numbers were larger, but competitive nature was still present.
We ate plenty.
Swam, and went to sauna.
It was wonderful.
Here is a photo of my grandmother, grandfather, and their seven children...and then another photo of about 50 years later. What this humble, little family has come to...more than 160 people.
My cousin Katri made a book of this reunion, and all the families got to submit pictures and stories to describe their families.
The book got done just in time for Christmas.
My parents were generous enough to purchase a book for all their children and even ship it to United States to my sister and I.
I love our Family Book! Thank you Katri for spending best part of this fall creating this book.
I will treasure it for rest of my life!
