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Mauno's 70th birthday

Mauno is my aunt's husband and very dear to us. He had he's 70th birthday at the end of August in central Finland in a small village called Riiho. It was a lovely birthday! It was amazing that both of Mauno's parents were there too. The other thing that impressed me was that the birthday was held in Mauno's former school where even his father went to school. There are still people who not only know from which part of Finland they are but they also now the actual little village where their roots are. It's hard for someone like me who don't have any roots to understand. Here's the school:

It's not in school use anymore lik the most of the small schools in Finland because people move to the citites more and more. Pity! It really was beautiful place and specially the children enjoyed the place and the birthday party.

I enjoyed meeting the family the most. My father's side of the family don't meet very often and that's why it was such a special treet for me. All the cosins were there except of my brother and the one who lives in New Zealand. Many of the children of us cousins met each other for the first time there. O'boy they had fun! We tried to take a picture of them but as you can imagine... it wasn't easy to keep them still for the moment!

Well, at least they are all there (except of the two in New Zealand - pity again!). We also took a cousin picture:

Poor Mikko! The only man present! Well, maybe he enjoyed being surrounded by beautiful ladies...

Whenever my father's side gathers for party Esko, my father's brother, entertains us with songs. He's an actor and he knows how the make a good show!

In the evening the singing went on on the campfire. That's what I loved! Singing and the fire together!

All in all we had good time in Riiho! Wish we would have more of these family gatherings...