Christmas....

We celebrated Christmas on the evening of the 25th. All the Smedes who were in town gathered together to open presents and have a wonderful meal. Here are a few pictures... sorry...we didn't take too many!

Oma and Luka look on (and maybe help out a little) as Oma Oma opens a present

Jon and Courtney open a present

Luka figures out what the chocolate "M" I got might stand for...

Luka opens the present we got him- hope he liked it! :)

Luka plays with one of his new toys while his parents, Julie and Jamin, look on

Funny how most of these pictures (all but one?) have Luka in em... kids are more fun to photograph than adults! :)

My verdict on the Australian Christmas? Well... it was a lovely event, but, I do have to admit that I had a hard time feeling Christmassy at any point. The lack of snow and cold and desire to cuddle and bundle did contribute. I'm not saying that I want snow...I'm just saying it didn't feel the same. So who knows...next year Christmas might just be in Michigan again. Maybe.

Hope it was a happy day or two for all whether you celebrated Christmas, the solstice, or something else. :)

Happy Father's Day Dad!

Hmm...what a difference 28 years makes...

Sending virtual hugs and kisses, and all the love a girl can have for her father!
Bucas,
Mara

The Party

Here we are- the party- the big going away party- pictures in no particular order (actually, backwards if anything!). I haven't the energy to put them in proper order! Despite the last minute change (having to move the party from our school to our apartment because of nasty rainy weather) it all turned out very well. I feel very happy after the whole thing- I realize that I very much like to throw parties- I like having everyone show up, and having a whole "house" full of guests to entertain. It's good times... so here we are... the picture run down- in totally random order...

I still have two weeks to say goodbye, but my cat was giving me a good cuddle after the last guest left... here we are...

Mook talking with Anita and Ieva looking not part of the conversation- actually, Ieva might have been talking to me as I took the photo...

Joely dancing with the kids...

Yeah, the kids are dancing, and they thought that putting the tennis racket cover on their heads was a good idea....

The boys and Bella dancing...

They are really having fun...

Ah, the posed pictures... Joel and Mara with Lari, Frank and Zelta

And there we are, some looking better, some worse...

Add Raini...

Hmmm... I think this was the, "say 'spaghetti' shot"...

Joel and Raini hanging out...

The local "family" + Zelta

Two brothers and their Latvian brides...

Bella...

Raini doing some crazy game with the kids...

Us with Anita...

Mara and Joel with Ieva and Bella...

Here's where we look like a lesbian couple with our donor sitting off to the side...

Ieva and Bella...

Action...

The Smedes (some "to-be")

Joel with Dace and baby

Me and my cat again (I told you these pictures were out of order!)

(and yes, he is biting me in that picture...)

Dainis and his girls...

The roses from my student made a splash at this party too... they are so beautiful!

Mara and Joel, Ieva and Bella...

Caught them off guard...

What a gorgeous couple! :) Dear friends D and D- See you at the cricket!

Mara and Bella in the kitchen...

Mara and Zin

The whole R family (so cute!)

All of Mara's relatives from mom's side...

Jem and Frank ponder...

Action...

Mara and Rainis

Either skinny Joel is actually evaluating his nails, or I caught this shot at a very specific moment!