This week, we took time off and took of to visit our first American home: the Twin Cities! It was really important to us to visit the place and people that impacted our lives so deeply and wonderfully one more time before moving to Finland.
Our little travellers did so well with their new suitcases. Samu can read some signs now and is getting very good at navigating airports and transportation.
First stop: Hotel pool
On Saturday, we visited our beloved friends Ben, Ingrid, Klara, and Johanna. We had missed them so much! As we said later, entering their beautiful home is like being hugged by a giant fluffy Easter bunny: A perfect combination of people, dog, color, light, music, and food!
Samu and Sofia got to go on an Easter egg hunt with Klara, Johanna, and other kids from the neighborhood. Exciting!
The hunters and their bounty.
Golden Eye/Ei.
All this egg hunging seemed to exhaust mostly the older generation ...
As usual, we get a ton of ideas for our own home from spending time with Ben and Ingrid: We would love beds like these for Samu and Sofia!
And we definitely need a gigantic doll house. Samu and Sofia were endlessly fascinated. Especially Sofia, who spent hours in (front of) it.
Another necessary addition to our Finnish home and family will be a dog. At least one, hopefully she/he will be just as loving and patient as Ms Friday.
We took a stroll around Lake Como, "our" lake and had a late lunch there.
One of our favorite things: Kids of beloved friends being friends.
Johanna and Samu, chatting in German.
Oh, Friday!
A warm bath after the walk in the rain, during which Sofia and Klara shared their love for small things and purple.
The evening was concluded with common creative Easter egg painting.
Thank you, dear friends, for the perfect Easter celebration!
The next morning we coincidentally got a table for four at Hell's Kitchen, a brunch place in downtown Minneapolis. The kids were excited as soon as they saw their pancakes.
Perfect timing: Samu and Sofia fell asleep when we ordered cocktails.
We walked around the downtown skyway ...
and also stopped by a church.
In the evening, Hanna met with friends from her program. Those fabulous ladies are not just fantastic friends but also kick-ass scholars!
Another (holy)day. Good morning Minneapolis! <3 p="">
Samu insisted on taking family pictures before anyone could protest (or wash their face).
We met our besties again for lunch over the rooftops.
After a delicious meal (thank you Ben & Ingrid!), we saw the beautiful Macy's flower show in the same building. Or rather, we saw, smelled, and heard it.
Little friends smelling flowers.
Awwwww!
After smelling and admiring these beauties, we took a swim in our hotel pool.
Remarkably, the kids still had energy to jump on the beds after that.
It was the perfect Easter vacation, mostly because of our dear friends Ben, Ingrid, Johanna, and Klara, who mean so much to us. We are so lucky to have you in our lives! The way you live your lives, raise your wonderful kids, and create a home, makes so much sense and is an eternal source of inspiration to us. Thank you! Even though it was hard to say good bye, we know we'll see you again and again and again ...
Good-bye, Twin Cities. Thank you for the best memories of our lives. We will be back.
