Traditional Finnish Family Sauna

As they have for decades now, the Aho men gathered for a multi-generational sauna.  We have plenty pictures of these guys sweaty, naked, and wrapped in a towel!!!  (Thank goodness for towels!)

Juhannas

For the Nativity of St. John the Baptist (Juhannas in Finnish), the Finnish American Center invited the U.S. ambassador from Finland, Kirsti Kauppi, to speak.  In honor of the festival and the honored guest,  the Pikku Kivajat performed!  It was a chilly, chilly day for a Saturday in June.  Good thing those little feet were moving fast!

Dad's Homecoming

Four weeks to the day, the man returned from Alaska.  Alive.

Happy Father's Day!

We had to record a message to text to Alaska for Dad this year, but luckily, Grandpa Al was available to celebrate with us!!  We're blessed to have these men in our lives.

Gitche Gumee

Reagan's turn out Gitche Gumee this year.  She was a little nervous, as she didn't know a soul.  But that brave girl handled me leaving her there far better than her Mama did!!  She had a great time and can't wait to go back!

Goodbye, Sister Ellen

After years of faithful service to this community, Sister Ellen is retiring.  We will miss you!  Take a well-deserved rest, Sister!

Laser Tag

Turtles

It's egg-laying season, apparently.  Because there are turtles EVERYWHERE.  Driving these days is like playing a live-action game of Frogger.  Usually, we see little painter turtles trying to cross the road, but yesterday and today we saw these two big snapper turtle-mamas!  Why they lay eggs next to the road I don't know, but apparently, that's the turtle thing to do!!

Bridgefest

We have lived here for fourteen years now, and have NEVER been to Bridgefest.  I have always worked on Fridays, and the parade is always on Friday nights.  And Rob hates parades.  So.... it's never happened.  Well, today, I got off work early, so Bridgefest it was!  The boys were in the marching band!  Our first marching band parade!!  WOO HOO!!  I'm not ashamed to admit to a bit of a nostalgia, reminiscing about my own marching band, and all the fun we had back in the day.   Band geeks forever. 

he kids sounded GREAT!  Quinn on trumpet, Colby on base drum.  Unfortunately, that base drum was a bit too large for young Colby, and he is now sporting two war wounds in the form of upper thigh bruises.  Poor kid.  We have to suffer for the music, though, boy.  Suffer for the music.

Fun In the Yard

Not the best media quality here, because of the low-light, but the kids and I decided that what this summer needed was a little volleyball/dance party out in the yard.  So that's what we did.

Alaska Continued

Alaska June 12th - 14th