Laskiainen!

Since the 1930's, a small community in northern Minnesota called Palo has hosted the Laskiainen, a Finnish sliding festival. The festival coincides roughly with Shrove Tuesday and also my dad's birthday. My dad used to take my sister and me there every year to slide down the hill and then warm up with some mojakka (stew) or pea soup. It's a really wonderful family event--and one that seems to bring out the kid in everyone.

I was thankful to be home for the Laskiainen this year because it's been such a long time since I was able to go. Troy had never been there, but he was in when he heard about the steep, icy sliding hill. We borrowed an old-school, wooden tobaggan from his folks. It was a fast and thrilling ride!