Lakeside area expats are celebrating the national birthdays of Canada and the United States at a series of parties going on throughout this week.

Even hardened soccer skeptics are being reluctantly drawn into the ballyhoo of World Cup 2014, whose first week provided a slew of exciting games, goals and dramatic climaxes, as well as fine performances by the Mexican and U.S. teams.

Mexican and U.S. soccer fans suffered heartache this week after both teams made dignified exits from the 2014 World Cup round of 16.