A Visit to the Children's Home

Lina with the group

Little Alexey doesn't speak

Steve-o with Rousslan

Brothers Rousslan and John

Christmas party at school 18

Lunchmate/princessa Veronika

Little frog, little frog - hop, hop, hop. Little frog, little frog - stop, stop, stop!

Best friend in Latvia: skolatai Irina

Christmas!

Uh-oh! This Santa is spotted as a fake! (The girth was the giveaway.)

"All I want for Christmas is a head of hair..."

Decorating the June-sized tree

Shriek for the Shrek!

June "paying" her "payno"

Look out, Maybelline!

June Coon

Wistful yet sporty...

Sunday tradition: an ice cream social

Going ice-scooting

First snow

See a name written in the snow?

December Update: Grandma "Inga" is here for a 2-week visit, and Zoe and June are thrilled as can be. We won't be surprised if Inga goes on strike for shorter hours and better pay...

Some exciting "firsts": We've had our first snow, which was enchanting, but it suddenly melted overnight and now we're left with gray slush. Zoe just had her first day at "kindergarten" yesterday, and it was fabulous -- cheery, cozy, friendly. The instruction is mostly in Russian with a little Latvian mixed in, but Skolatai Irena knows a little English, so Zoe's not too lost.