Partyin' with the Russians!

Mike's aunt from Florida visited over a long weekend, and the Russians were partying!! (Mike's mum is 100% Russian, and Aunty Nancy was married to Olga's brother Alex.) The festivities began on Friday night with a celebration of Russian Orthodox Easter, with Russian appetizers:

Zakuski (Russian appetizers)

Ready for a party!

Mike with the Swedish vodka

The vodka shots

With the pelimeni (Russian dumplings in broth)

Nick got hold of the camera!

There they go with their shots!

I was called a lightweight because I was the only adult not doing shots. I sipped my vodka slowly instead.

Chris indulging in his Russian side

On Saturday we hosted a birthday tea party for Olga (whose birthday was on Sunday) and our dear friend Annette.

The spread

Lively conversation

Sisters-in-law

Our butler, Mike, sat down for some tea

 

Dad popped in for a cuppa after taking Nick to the park

Annette and Mike

 

Aunty Nancy and Dad

With my mom and her dear friend Alberta,
who she worked with in the St. Vincent's psych ward

With Mom
(who helped a great deal with the party!)

Mom, Mary, me, and Annette

 

The Russian familia

Dad modeling the cap we got for him for his birthday: S'more Tester!

Sunday (Olga's actual birthday) we sent her and Aunty Nancy to Portland Center Stage to see "Anna Karenina," and we went to meet them for a Russian celebration after the play.

Monday, Aunty Nancy's last evening with us, we celebrated the 100th birthday of Mike's grandmother, Alexandra Plotnikoff (Olga's mother and Nancy's mother-in-law), who lived with Nancy and her husband Alex for several years in Florida. Out came the Russian goodies and vodka once again!!

Finishing off the vodka with more shots!

Nancy left Portland yesterday, sadly too early to see the man stripping down for the TSA screeners at the Portland airport! :)