Finnish 101

I think my dad is taking seriously his job at educating the littles in true Finnish culture. Since they are officially 1/4 Finnish, it's gotta be done. He went all out this past weekend and lessons began with breakfast. A favorite breakfast that my dad ate as a child is a special cinnamon toast crumbled and soaked in warm milk called gorpu maito. A little Finnish bakery in northern Michigan (called Trenary Bakery) still makes the stuff and somehow a Piggly Wiggly in Howard stocks it on their shelves for all the local Finns. I think my parents must keep the bakery in business. Henry and Bryn had two or three helpings each and wanted more. My dad was beaming every time the words gorpu maito were yelled out by either one.

My mom, who is 100% Finnish in heart, carried on with the lessons as she had those two carrying and stacking (well, it was more like throwing) wood. A hike down their street followed and then they had to pose with the neighbor's deer, giving them kisses and all.

Check out the sticks in their hands..... hiking sticks! Walking around my parents house I pulled out two stakes that were used to save two white pines that I planted several years ago. They were inches tall and now are at least 15 feet so I figured they were safe from my dad's lawn mower now. Henry and Bryn each needed one and carried them around all afternoon.

Then........ Bryn and Henry got ready for their first SAUNA, pronounced correctly I might add. For those that wonder, in Finnish it is pronounced sow'na, not saw'na, as some say it here. Anyway, they loved hiking out to the sauna and trying out the top bench that I usually covet as my place to relax and sweat, sweat, sweat. They came in with Grandpa to check out the fire I started in the stove and by dinner time it was 120 degrees and steamy. I am sparing you shots of the Hinsa clan but needless to say Bryn and Henry enjoyed it all. I hope they love it as much as we do as they grow up.