We didn't have any visitors in Luanda over our two-year assignment there. We had a few (including Bri's mom and dad) who wanted to come and see us; but it was difficult to get out and about, there wasn't a lot to see or do, and we ultimately ended up discouraging those brave few that were willing to travel to what the Portuguese called "the end of the earth" to come and visit us. We have been looking forward, therefore, to seeing more of our family and friends in Latvia where the history and security situation were more conducive to visits.
Our first visitor was a welcome surprise. Bri graduated from lawchool 17 years ago but has stayed in close contact with his good friend Andy. Andy and Briant met each other the week before law school when they were both studying at the law library and quickly became a two-man study group in law school. They spent the reset of law school chasing each other and pushing each other; they tied for second in the rankings after their first semester, were the first presidents of student organizations, worked together on law review, were offered the first clerkships, and ended up clerking for the same judge on the Ninth Circuit before Andy headed east and Briant headed west for private practive. Andy has since become a law professor and an expert on international anti-corruption laws, and emailed Briant in September to tell him that he would be in Tallin, Estonia for a conference and wanted to come see us. We love Andy and his energy and friendship, and welcomed the visit!
Andy flew in on a Friday night, Briant brought him back, and they talked about life and living, late into the evening. The next morning, the kids were excited to see Andy -- he came and visited us both times we were in D.C. and was great to play and connect with our kids, and they remembered and enjoyed interacting with him. Here he is trying to blow a bubble with Rhea's putty as she asked him too. He's always up for anything!
After Bri cooked us all breakfast, we headed into the city center and to the Riga Central Market, one of our favorite stops. There, we wandered through the old zeppelin hangars dedicated to different foods.
Note the women turning their faces away from my camera. They are very quick to watch for cameras. ;)
Andy entertained the kids by looking for the most bizarre/unique food items we could find (various pig body parts and cow innards topped the list). 
We grabbed some pastries, headed outdoors, and perused the dozens of stalls there before heading into the city center. 
This weekend was the Riga Fall Festival, and we parked and made our way into the heart of the craziness at the Dom Cathedral Square. There, a large stage was set up and traditional latvian dancers and choirs performed as the backdrop to dozens of stalls selling cheeses, fruit and vegetables, honey, handcrafts, clothes, and the million things on display.
We ended up buying some cheese, a felted hat that represented the harvest and looked like something Gandolf would wear around the garden, some pastries for the kids including a traditional Latvian sweet potato pastry, and some other handicrafts. 
This guy caught our attention playing the cello in a deserted, yet very acoustically pleasing, side street. He played "Be Still My Soul" and "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring."
The kids love musical artists and always want to support them when we see them on the streets. Over the years they've gained an appreciation for musical instruments and the persistence, hard work, and focus it takes to learn them. 
After the kids started to fade, I took Thomas to a youth activity at the church while Bri and Andy walked around for a few more hours and talked and caught up. On our way to the car, without Bri who had the money, we saw this budding musician trying his hand at earning some money on the street corner. This got my kids' wheels turning--Thomas thought of the possibilities with bringing his portable piano keyboard to play or even solving the Rubik's cube as his money making talent, while Rhea discussed her cartwheel and backbend potential. Savvy recognized that she's new to the clarinet but discussed her future possibilities with that. No fear or limits with these kids...I love it!
While Thomas was attending the youth activity, I sat in the primary room with the girls. Rhea of course gravitated straight to the chalk board and began teaching with the materials she could find. Temples because the subject.
Savannah found a few objects to entertain her--rope and a toy animal. That of course meant that she went straight to roping the animal (toy) being driven by her inner cowgirl and horse riding passions. :) I was not surprised by either of these girls' choices of entertainment. ;)
At one point, the youth came down to the primary room as they were on a scavenger hunt that Elder Barnes had set up using scriptures. Here's Thomas (to shortest one) reading the clue in English.
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