Summer

XX has already finished her first one-week camp. The theme was yoga, team work, taking care of yourself and Mother Earth. There was lots of artwork and singing and playtime. XX came away with new poses and new friendships.

She's also moved up to the next level of ballet. It's no longer "Pre-dance," but "Ballet 1." It's a real ballet class with barre and centre and XX is no longer front and center, no longer the student chosen to demonstrate every step. She's the youngest, smallest and newest in class and she has to watch carefully to learn. I know this because I peek in, but mostly, I don't hear her name called out as much for not listening, or playing monkey, or too much giggling. The standards I live by.

Her teacher had talked about possibly moving her up in the fall. She likes students to be 6½, but thought XX might try at 6. XX's answer was "NO!" Taken aback, Miss N. questioned, "You don't want to go to Ballet 1?" XX said, "Yes, but not in the fall. Now."

And so, once again, she talked her way into the level she wanted. She did it in Chinese school, demanding to be in the class for kids from Mandarin-speaking homes, and again in acting, asking me to talk to the teacher to see if she couldn't take even though she was too young. She proved herself worthy in both places and is doing so in Ballet 1 as well, though there isn't too much evidence of balletic promise in this:

Note, she's wearing my 4½ inch heels.

She's already worrying about her costume for the performance next fall, and thinking even further ahead to when she's in Ballet 2. Always planning.

In violin, she's pushing herself to get to a certain piece by August. She's further along than I'd thought, so she may actually get there.

There has been lots of play time. She ate the last peach off our tree after swimming the other evening. Red, too, has enjoyed the peaches, eating as many as five at a time. He also seems to be taking most of the strawberries.

The usual goofiness ensues. She's helping to clean while wearing a ladybug hat. A hat that is a dog hat, by the way. She said Ariel told her she could borrow it.

With two more months, including two more camps and two trips, it should be a busy summer.

Visitors

We had visitors this week.

They enjoyed the water and were quite unafraid of us, Red included.

They stop in once a year, but stayed longer this time, even making an afternoon trip to walk around the patio. XX thought they might be looking for YeYe, who loved them so much.

I thought it was more that I was thinking of Dad. Each time the ducks arrive has been a day I've thought about him a bit more than usual. Tuesday was anniversary of the day XX became a US citizen. I thought of how relieved we were to land on American soil with our child and how proud Dad was to have one more grandchild, one born in Asia as he had been. He was glad to know she was automatically an American when the plane touched ground.

So I wasn't surprised to see the ducks. Neither was XX. When I heard a splash in the pool, I thought it was Red. I asked what happened and XX answered casually, "The ducks are here." As if she had expected them.

She was happy to see them and told them so many times. She invited them back for the following day, but they didn't oblige.

We'll wait.

Weekend Fun

Family Day was just the start of the weekend. Though we had nothing planned for the day after, our neighbors called early that morning. Their granddaughter was visiting and wanted to see XX.

Meghan is 8 ½ and reputed to be another "spirited child." Next to XX, however, she seemed calm and cerebral. She was sweet and patient with XX, who loved having a friend over and commented that Meghan was "even older than Kyra" (who, at 7 ½, is all things "big girl" to XX).

The two of them rode the scooter, ran, jumped, and picked lemons for lemonade.

What's more, Meghan also has a little dog, Fletcher, a Jack Russell terrier, who came over as well to have a playdate with Red.

They all played together again on Monday. XX really wanted to share something with Meghan and asked her to choose one of her stuffed animals. I think XX cringed a tiny bit when Meghan chose a panda, but was adamant about sharing something nice and so insisted it was fine. Meghan wrote her a lovely thank you and drew a picture for XX, and the two were happy. Both Red and XX were sad when, too soon, it was time for Meghan and Fletcher to leave.

But the tears were wiped quickly because later that day, was the last acting class. Following that, was a short performance.

If you've ever done improv, you'll know it's simultaneously terrifying and exhilarating. XX and her classmates (imagine six kids all with hugely outgoing personalities and you have an idea of how hard the teacher works) seemed to experience only the adrenaline rush of being onstage and being given acting challenges on the spot. XX got to play a television host interviewing a famous architect in this piece. She did a great job of coming up with interesting questions.

At one point, when the pressure was on in another game, I was surprised to hear XX call out her contribution in Chinese! She heard it and switched back to English immediately and kept her spot.

Just getting these kids to sit and listen for an explanation was a challenge during the classes, but every one of them focused when the houselights went down and stagelights up. They performed well, listened to each other, remember game rules and were funny. You could see they all enjoyed making the audience laugh, but as they are too young to be obnoxious about it, the show was pure goofy sweetness.

The perfect finish to the weekend, a fantastic start to the summer ... we're ready.