Camp Vilis - 1 year old!

We’ve had a one-year old for a few months now, and just like the birthday decorations which were up until one week ago still hanging in our living and dining room, I’m a little late in writing this post. Since he doesn’t know how to read yet I think he’ll forgive me…

Our rule for birthday parties is; the jubilārs gets to invite as many guests to his party as he is years old – except on first birthdays. First birthdays are for the parents, and since we hadn’t hosted a proper party in some time, I fell into the pinterest hole and started planning Camp Vilis! It just so happened that my parents were in town, so I had some help with the execution and logistics of hosting, not to mention four extra hands and two more photographers! Thank goodness we had some fabulous weather and could enjoy the backyard.

We had put out some things to snack on for when the guests first arrived including trail mix, granola bars, and a fishing tackle box full of gummy worms, lures and little carabiner compasses. The guest book was set, ready to be signed. Pieces of burlap were rustic and easy tablecloths, covering the main buffet as well as the tables we had set up outside for seating. These birch bark napkins and branch & twig pencils made for a theme-fitting yet functional addition, the pencils coming in handy for the first activity.

I had tweaked a nature scavenger hunt to feature more items easily found in our backyard, and soon the kids were racing around searching high and low for pine cones, cicada shells, beetles and fairies. (To see the original hunt, click here.) A few of the kids preferred to have a bag with to collect stuff, although it’s important to stress to them not to collect mushrooms, berries, or anything alive.

The backyard was set up to keep the kids entertained once the scavenger hunt was finished. We had a couple of tents filled with comfy blankets and pillows, and stocked with books to go with the theme, but the sandbox, playground and mud kitchen proved to be just as attractive to the little campers.

Roberts was manning the grill (with a bit of help from a friend) and soon we had shish kabobs and watermelon on the table. The veggie-kabobs were a big hit – we’ll make more next time!

As you probably know I love making the cake for these themed parties, and Camp Vilis was no exception. To make the flames I melted lifesavers in the oven on parchment paper, letting the result cool before snapping into triangular pieces. This has to be done soon before serving, as the candy tends to soften over time or in the fridge, resulting in sagging flames. The hardest part was getting those toasted marshmallows on the plate – it was a sticky, gooey endeavor!

The kids gathered around to sing happy birthday to the guest of honor, and then we helped him blow out the candle on the kliņģeris (Latvian birthday bread) his vecmamma Inga had made for him. I think Vilis polished off an entire piece of cake!

We lit the bonfire soon after, offering the kids (who definitely had not had enough sugar) a chance to roast some marshmallows and make s’mores. Poking the fire with sticks soon became a favorite activity, energy levels renewed after the second round of dessert!

A huge thank you to my parents; the party would not have been nearly as cool (and all the guests would have left hungry!) if not for you and all your help: starting with the supplies, ending with your presents, all the work in between. It was such a fun day spent with friends, all the prep work done ahead of time enabling me to enjoy the party, and to spend more time with the birthday boy. Happy 1^st birthday Vilīt, you’ve got a big year ahead of you!!!

All shook up on Valentine's - earthquakes in the Upstate

Because snow and sleet just aren’t enough, let’s throw an earthquake into the mix!

 

I wrote last Friday about the crazy weather we’ve had in the Upstate recently. The snow from winter storm Pax mostly melted over Valentine’s Day, but the boys enjoyed a day outside in their snow boots and long sleeved shirts during the 65˚ day. As of today, the snowmen in the front yard are still standing, but resemble large mounds of snow instead of actual forms as the weekend was gorgeous with sunny, warm weather. However on Valentine’s evening we had an interesting shake-up – my first earthquake!

Source: here

 

At 10:23pm Roberts and I were finishing up evening chores, and the boys were already asleep when a 4.1 quake hit 7 miles from Edgefield, SC. About 90 miles south of us, Edgefield is close to the GA border, so unsurprisingly the earthquake was felt all the way from Georgia to North Carolina. Said to have been a rather large quake for the area, no damage has been reported other than minor cracks and a few collapsed walls. The SC Emergency Management Division said that the state receives about 15-20 registered earthquakes per year and Friday night's was the 13th in the past year. The largest since a 4.4 earthquake in Charleston in 2002, it was nowhere close to as big as the 7.3 quake that struck Charleston in 1886.

 

Our earthquake felt like a large truck driving by, or an extended gale of wind; the windows rattled, the walls creaked and both Roberts and I were in slight disbelief that it had been an quake until we verified it on the USGS site a few minutes later. Thankful that it was just a minor one and no injuries have been reported, it was nonetheless an exciting evening for us here in the Upstate. I can only imagine what the next week has in store for us!

TOW Mikus gets his first haircut

They do grow up. Mikus recently received his first haircut and although I wasn't as bad as Lauris's cut after Mikus was born (or should I say shear?) I’m very sad that under those impish bangs was a little boy, and a troublemaker at that.

Before and after, I should have put it off a few more months... 

 

Last week we celebrated a birthday several times, with cake, kliņģeris and guests. My three boys clean up pretty nicely, or so I think.

 

The cold weather has kept us mostly indoors, nursing our colds with hot chocolate and lots of Lego time, but we’ve ventured out on the sunnier days to get fresh air and burn off some of that energy (and hot chocolate). On the first long(er) hike we’ve taken without Mikus in the backpack carrier, we successfully circled Lake Placid for a one mile hike in Paris Mountain State Park. The boys carried their own weight, even packing their own snacks and water in their backpacks.

 

We’re looking forward to some out-of-town guests and another big birthday, and before you know it February will be here. Here’s hoping for some warmer weather – or – if Jack Frost insists on sticking around maybe he can provide some precipitation?

1 month

So I had put Mikus down for a little tummy time last Sunday when I looked down to see him roll over. Not quite believing my eyes, I called Roberts in to witness a possible repeat and turned him back over. And, over onto his back he went again. Over the course of the next hour he repeated this performance five times.

Should I be shouting from the rooftops that my one month-old is already rolling over, or amused that his head is heavy enough to topple him over?

Première coupe de cheveux

Another big event this month, Lauris got his first haircut! He really didn’t have much hair as a baby, so I had been reluctant to cut any of his wispy locks. There was a short period of time when his hair seemed to have a reddish tint, and as he looks a whole lot like Roberts I was rooting for a little auburn so that my genes would make an appearance as well. However, the more hair he gets, the more blonde it looks, and the hair on top especially was starting to get very long. He was getting some perma-bed-head from sleeping on his back, and although I was hoping not to have it cut too short, I did wish that we could get rid of some of that fuzz and the strands that were getting in his face.

Finally after yet another skype conversation with his grandfather in Kalamazoo where the topic of haircuts was brought up, I decided it was time (plus it would be a nice surprise for dad when he gets home from his business trip!). We cruised past a barbershop that had been recommended by a friend as being great with children, but they were booked full and the barber seemed a little surprised at how young Lauris was. So we went to the park, and stopped in the local salon on our way home to see if they could cut it. The woman took one look at little angel Lauris and made me promise to come back at 5pm that very day, of course she would give him his first haircut!

We returned as promised, mom with a bagful of books, toys and dread that we would have a disaster in the chair, Lauris with his flyaway hair doing a number from the static of his hat. He watched with interest as she finished up another customer’s hair, and then both women fawned and flirted with him as the bill was settled and au revoirs were said. Then, as I was busy pulling out Lauris’s books and toys, the hairdresser scooped Lauris up, sat him in the chair up on a booster seat, threw a special Mickey sheet over him and buttoned it behind his neck, and Lauris didn’t even bat an eye! It was as if he was a regular and was ready to talk baseball! She snipped away, and I was relieved to see that the distractions weren’t necessary and I was going to have my hands free to snap some photos.

Not even ten minutes later my little wild-haired boy had been transformed into a proper toddler, I had an envelope with a few snippets for the memory book in hand, and my camera with première coupe de cheveux pictures was stowed. As I bundled Lauris up and buckled him in I asked how much I owed. “Un cadeau” she replied, a gift, it is his first haircut.

Le petit

For the last few weeks I have seen Lauris take a few steps to get from the coffee table to the sofa, or a chair to the table, but I never quite catch the whole “play”; does he let go before the two steps, or is he letting go only after moving? Do two steps count? Does it count if he wipes out after the two?

Then Sunday evening Roberts thought he caught him in the act, so we set everything up for an instant replay. The chairs were positioned, socks were removed for increased grip, and the video camera was prepared.

First try, imcomplete. Second try, down at the line of scrimmage. On the third try we had success – several identifiable steps, in sequence and without a fall. But wait, there is a challenge, Roberts looks up unsure if the steps occurred after letting go of the chair. The play is reviewed and the ruling on the field stands, two steps!

Our players once again get in position. On the first try, Minka is flagged for interference and sent off to the other room. Who let a cat onto the field of play anyway? On the succeeding try, four steps! The crowd goes wild, but once again there is a review of the play. It seems our star player went down after the four steps. A wipe out en route… is the attempt a success?

We will continue to practice in this household, with and without socks. Once the judges have ruled he's walking, we'll alert the media. And we are the judges.