Canadian Picnic

Who says you can't enjoy a nice al fresco lunch at -10C - especially when it's sunny. Or maybe Papuks just sprinkled too much salt on the table?

Bonne Fete to Latvija

Indeed, Mudzuks was pretty chuffed to be able to songfully salute the Motherland in not one, but three languages! (in private that is. In public they stuck to Latvian). Vecais wanted to know: if it was a birthday, where were the cake and presents? (and Mamuks wonders: perhaps next time Vecais could use some bizites too?)

The Warm-Up:



The Rehearsal:



The Performance:

Bed Bugs

At long last, the fruits of Opis' midnight dungeon labours are revealed!

Mudzuks 5.0

The new version has arrived! (And promises to be far less frustrating and counter-intuitive than Vista.) Last Friday Mudzuks celebrated in style with her extended family (in person, telephonically, by email, over Skype! Oh the wonders of modern technology...)

But here she is first, the night before, keen to usurp Mamuks' role as cake-maker extraordinaire, insisting this time that she will decorate her OWN birthday cake.

Birthday morning brought birthday greetings from Old Blighty...

... followed by an evening at home with the other side of the family. (But Vecais had to make sure that Aleks was going to be able to handle all the excitement.) (P.S. Vecais is also starting his own new philanthropic organization known as "Medecins sans pantalon" a.k.a. "Doctors Without Pants.")

Blowing out the candles...

and tucking into the loot!

On Sunday, the anxiously-awaited "friends" party went down, although thanks to Papuks' craft organization, many friends remain incognito...

...for a while.

Presents!

And, of course (Mamuks is getting all chuffed) the much anticipated unveiling of the cake!

But even Barbie doesn't get to keep her ballgown forever.

(and here's Mamuks inspecting her handiwork the night before, prior to the "accessorizing")

And finally, Mudzuks modelling one of her hand-knit gifts (although it seems as though the sugar high has somewhat dissipated by this point).

Robbing the Rich to Give to the Poor...

...or so went our family Hallowe'en theme this year! A strapping Robin Hood and his lovely Maid Marion were joined by those two other Merry Men, Little John and Will Scarlett (that's RH's brother, for those of you who only know the Disney version!)



This band of Merry Men (and lady) were lucky enough to enjoy an evening of multi-generational partying with a less Medieval crowd...


...but at our little pre-party soiree, it seems that rascal Robin decided that it was the adults who were far too rich, and his little self that was far too poor!