Snowy Owls (or "I never...")

Mamuks figures she has to start this post with a wee editorial. Cuz there's something in the air - it seems that friends and acquaintances and others have all lately been talking about the things they swore they'd never do, or the things they now swear they will never do, once kids came, or come, into the picture. Mamuks seems (vaguely and hazily) to recall a certain similar list of her own, back in the day. And near the top of it were probably things that involved spending three days and nights with other diaspora Latvians at a church camp property in the middle of winter, eating in shifts around long, crowded tables, teaching kids about the value of folklore, going snowtubing, lugging around kids in a toboggan, decorating cookies, holding hands in a big circle singing a goodnight song, drinking beer til all hours with other adults you vaguely remember from your own summer camp days... you get the picture.

But to heck with those lists, cuz MAN IS IT FUN! Maybe its the gorgeous mountain setting, maybe its the nostalgia of the long car trip to get there, maybe its the incredible coolness of seeing your own kids making genuine friendships with the kids of your own good friends. But whatever it is, there is something delightfully delightful about intergenerational good times all round.

Snowsports:

Bake-off:

Meichas:

The Boston Boys:

Shake your bootie:

He shoots, he scores... he lands on his tush!

Talent night:

1. Mudzuks and SS belt out "Kur tu teci," while Vecais obliges as the rooster-gone-mad (he is, after all, a Year of the Cock boy!)

2. Mudzuks & SS with their rocking rendition of Mamma Mia (Lily had to get in on the action, too) . The judges, MC, and band alike are all amazed!

3. Mudzuks' solo and award-winning performance of Mamin' Papin' (altho once more Lily proved a willing sidekick)