Lapland, Finland

Nearing a year ago, our family went to a Santa's village in Lapland, a region in Finland. It was a fun memory-making trip.

Despite arriving at the airport before check-in for our flight was allowed, there was such a long delay in the process that we had to rush and run to our plane. We intended to eat breakfast in the airport before hand, but time no longer allowed. We found we were slightly unprepared when we didn't have the correct currency on hand to buy the expensive on-flight food either. Our kids were some serious super-humans this day for handling the entire time and flight so well with the lack of sleep and decent food that they had. I'd say God was certainly helping us out.

We arrived!

The girls were pretty tuckered after our flight and napped on the way to our hotel.

We didn't waste any time and went sledding on Europe's longest/or second longest sledding hill our first night there.. No tow rope provided.

Macie

Koen

Hadley and Jon

Macie and Kristin

Breakfast in snow suits

Macie

Hadley

Koen and Hadley

Koen, Macie, and Hadley

Hadley trying to feed the reindeer

Koen and Hadley

Macie

Hadley and Koen

Jon and Macie

It was a beautiful Winter Wonderland

"Ice Fishing" It never seemed promising but we can now say we did it.

Dog sledding was fun and Jon got to lead the team.

We got to take a ride through the snowy forest and happened to "stumble" upon a cabin where silly elves awaited us outside and led us in to meet Santa.

We had written Santa letters before our trip, sending them to him via fire. Koen didn't want to send his though out of fear it really wouldn't make it, so we copied his letter. But Santa came through and had each of the kids' letters in hand when we met him. It was well done.

Koen and Hadley LOVED driving these little snowmobiles around a tree.

Hadley

Macie

Koen

Koen

The igloos looked cool (haha... cool) at night.

Jon was called up to help in a pretty silly elf show and had to act like a reindeer.

Hadley was pretty attached to our group's helper, Sian (pronounce Shawn).

I am going to miss Macie's smallness.

In front of the part of the hotel we stayed in.

Opening up gifts from Santa.

Final night dinner which included singing the 12 Days of Christmas Carol with everyone in the room.

On our last day, we started early to get in one more fun session of sledding.

Macie, Hadley, Jon, Koen

Macie and Jon

Hadley

Koen

We walked through the village to do a little souvenir shopping before we headed home too.

The kids played in the snow while they waited for Dad to pay in the tiny store. Many of us know the experience of walking through gift shops with kids... its best to get them out fast. :)

Macie

Hadley

Koen

Just outside our hotel.

I LOVE watching little ones run in their giant snow suits.

Still having fun while we head back home.

Goodbye Finland!

The sister hug is so sweet.

Macie napped on the floor.

The skies are amazing.