December 6th

Sunday

Priecīgus Ziemassvētkus!  We had a big party today.  So all morning, we were getting things ready - mom mixed up everything for her potato salad, we got the tablecloth out, and everything. 
I was going to hang a few spruce boughs on the door for Christmas, in lieu of a wreath, but Marija had a fit and said that spruce boughs on the door means that someone died in the house.  Of course, mom had no idea, and wanted to hang them anyway, but that would be horrible, and so I convinced her we shouldn't.
Valija came over first, and said that Alberts didn't want to come (I had offered to help her with his chair). Then came Nagite and Kristine - and Kristine was dressed in full Santa Claus costume!  It was excellent.  They had also made little trinket gifts of a mini-card, pen, and konfekte.  A bit later, Mara shows up, with a friend, Erika, who plays the accordian!  We had music and singing, and at on point, when she played Tutalin, Tagatin.... mom even suggested we go into the other room to dance!  As usual, mom enjoyed her raspberry liquour with juice and got very silly.
That night, I had them open their gifts.  I gave mom a fleecy pair of socks for the house, a regular thin wool pair of socks, eyeglass retainers for her reading glasses, and a toaster.  She loved it.  I gave Marija a small weaved cloth and a calendar with information about blossoms and teas and other healthy things.  I had wrapped it in an old map from one of those airline magazines and she loved the map more than the calendar!

Word: apdāvināt = to give a gift
Dish:  the potato salad, desa, and speka rausi were the biggest hits. 
Highlight:  santa and all the dancing and laughing
Lowlight:  packing my bags later that night

Random Observation:  We are such a matriarchal family.