Sunday, December 14, 2008

SWEET 16 CELEBRATION

Davis is the son of two of our best friends, Inese and Peteris. They have always treated us as one of the family so we were invited to Davis' 16th birthday celebration. It was a big party with nearly all of the extended family there. Aunts, uncles, cousins, friends and the two Americans all had a great time.

Things are done a little differently at a Latvian party. Instead of a birthday 'spanking' you get tossed in the air for the number of years you are celebrating. (Good luck on them trying that for my next birthday!) We also had several songs, a cello special, quartet by some of the cousins and of course, enough food to feed an army.

Probably the most interesting part of the night was when they played the game 'charades'. Have you ever tried to play this in a foreign language? Talk about not translating....

We are ever so grateful when we are allowed glimpses into the culture and especially family traditions. Plus, we are now being treated more like family and less like guests. I certainly prefer to be family. Paldies jums!

 

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Inese and her cakes...

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Mother and son (Davis)...

 

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Mom and Dad (Peteris)...

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Maybe the light is finally coming on...

 

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Cousins Emils and Rudolphs (Rudy)

 

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Two excellent singers: cousins Emijia and Toms...

 

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Most of the birthday celebration crew...

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