Taco Bell

One of the first mandatory stops on my visits to the US is always Taco Bell. 

(that might change now that I've been to Moe's though...)

Here we are at one, with a friendly Taco Bell guy :)

reminiscent of the 'good old days'... :D

games of 'who can make Lahja turn red the fastest'

good times :)

Larisa and Mike

Once upon a time... Larisa met Mike. And they got married!

it worked out perfectly that I was able to be there for the big day :)

My other family :)

a little reunion of us 8th grade people, 

Casey, Michael, (Mike), Larisa, me and Jason

... and they lived happily ever after :)

Sister love

This was me leaving for an entrance exam in Turku and then on to the States for the summer.

The party

Laura's graduation party was held here at home, after much preparation

These are all the cakes and cookies, and cupcakes, and sweet rolls...

Here is the main chef :) Alina

Elina, our guest of honor all the way from Germany

Elina, Laura, me, and Simi, Elina's friend from Germany

Laura's classmates, Esko and Kristiina. 

Laura actually started 1st grade with Esko, 12 years ago.

with Mom and Dad

The Ladies :)

Hyvä Laura :)

Laura graduated high school at the beginning of June. 

The ceremony was held at Toivonlinna, near Turku. Dad and I couldn't make it, but the rest of the family was there to witness it :)

marching in with her class

in her Spanish gown, found after MUCH searching :D

The whole class

with Kristiina

Charles

Charles left at the end of May. He had been here in Mikkeli for over two months for an exchange program, studying public health. His hometown is Homa Bay, near Lake Victoria, in Kenya. 

He was a frequent visitor at our house on Sabbath afternoons and we enjoyed getting to know him while he was here.

Catching up

So.. Summer is nearly over already!

I guess it's time to put up some pictures, eh?

This was at Sleeping Bear National Lakeshore in Michigan, about 3 weeks ago.