Rovaniemi, Finland

For MLK weekend, we flew to Rovaniemi, Finland. This is in the northern part of Finland where the arctic circle begins. We decided to stay in Santa Claus Village in these cute cabins below.

We arrived after 6pm and enjoyed a dinner with live music after we checked in.

The next morning we had breakfast at the hotel and then we separated ways. Eli, Embry and I went on a tour where we took snowmobiles to a reindeer farm and husky farm. At both places, we also got a sleigh ride pulled by the animals. Embry couldn't ride on the snowmobile, so she rode in a bucket sled behind the guide. Danny and Evan went ice fishing and then went on snowmobiles as well.

Before Eli, Embry and I took off, we explored Santa Claus Village for a bit.

I couldn't help myself and bought her another stuffed animal.

Embry got to drive a snowmobile on a snow track for kids. She was so excited!

Eli had to ride behind me on my snowmobile, because he doesn't have a driver's license. Here's him pretending he's driving.

The weather was a perfect temperature for us. Just the week before it had been in the negatives in Finland, and this past weekend while we were there, it was in the 20s/30s Fahrenheit. Most of the snow had fallen off the trees, but it was still beautiful everywhere!

We enjoyed a short ride at the reindeer farm. Eli "drove" us.

We then got to feed the reindeer.

This one went crazy and was so excited to be fed until I found out that I wasn't supposed to feed him!

We got hot berry juice and a cinnamon roll at the reindeer farm.

Up next was an exciting sled ride with the huskies. They were fast!

After we got back, we met up with Danny and Evan in Santa Claus Village. We ate at an Asian restaurant for dinner.

Here was what Danny and Evan experienced while we had been gone all day. They didn't catch any fish, but they still had a great time!

The guide even let Evan drive for a little bit!

That night, the whole family was supposed to go on a northern light hunt, but it was 100% cloud cover so we didn't make the kids go. Danny and I went by ourselves and we saw reindeer in the woods, sat around a campfire and ate sausages and cookies. Even though we were super bummed out on not seeing an aurora, Danny and I enjoyed the evening together. These are the only 2 pictures we took.

The next day, we went and looked at the reindeer in Santa Claus Village for Evan to see and then we split ways again. This time, Danny took Evan and Embry on a long husky sleigh ride. Eli and I went to Snowman World.

Mary and baby....snowman?

Here are the pics I got from Danny from their husky sleigh ride.

Danny didn't realize at the point these pictures were taken that Embry was laying down so uncomfortably, so don't worry, she sat up after these pictures were taken!

After we met back up, we took a bus into Rovaniemi to enjoy dinner. Danny finally got to try the salmon soup. Once we got back to our hotel, Danny took the kids to Snowman World for the 2 that missed it, while I went back to the room to start packing for our early flight in the morning.

We had an incredible time at the arctic circle and will remember it forever!