Ready, Set, Go!!!

We were off and running this weekend-literally.  Friday, we were invited to a friends house for coffee and snacks.  This family is here with IP but they are originally from Brazil.  The kids made fast friends with their two young girls. 

This weekend was Imatra Days so there were a lot of activities going on in town.  Saturday morning I ran in a 5 mile fun run around the lake.  I can check running a race in a foreign country off the list.  I even made the local newspaper.  That evening, while the kids were at their new friends' house, Mike and I escaped to a local Irish pub for a drink.  We ran into another American couple, who are also there with IP, and enjoyed a couple of drinks while getting to know one another.  The pub resembled an authentic Irish pub- I could definitely get to love that place.  Later, we  met up with our friends and kids for dinner.  The weather was beautiful so we were able to eat outside and listen to a local cover band belt out local and American rock tunes.  Many of the restaurants in Finland have a kids play area where the kids can go play while the parents eat.  We adults were able to visit peacefully while the kids played.  What a brilliant concept!

The kids both now have new bikes and are eager to ride them to school by themselves.  We are going to do a practice round tomorrow.  I will jog the mile journey with them as they ride their bikes.

Lesson of the day:  Corporal punishment of children is illegal in Finland and punishable by law. So spare the rod!

Extra! Extra!  Read all about it! (Or just look at the pic-lol)

Alayna posing for a picture in our "backyard"

The kids can't wait to ride their new bikes to school.