Year End Wrap-Up

Is there any parent of a school-aged child who isn't overscheduled in May?  Recitals, tests, final projects crowd an already overbooked calendar.

There was XX's technology project.  She wanted to make a movie.  And though she aspired to a 30 minute or better yet, a 60 minute movie, 5 minutes turned out to be plenty.

She loved directing Daddy.

There were the usual onlookers, standing on furniture even, to catch a glimpse of the stars and the moviemaking process..

The outcome?  

She wanted to show it at the Spring Performance and Project Faire for the homeschoolers and was gratified with the reactions of the viewers.  She enjoyed talking to everyone and answering questions such as "How did you get those dogs to do all that?"  There were also plenty of laughs, and XX is always happy when she can make people laugh.

She also played her violin at the Performance.  She was accompanied by our neighbor, who used to accompany Steff, and the two did a great job, having had regular rehearsals for nearly two months.  She played the Concerto in A Minor, 3rd movement, by Vivaldi.

After that, there was the Chinese final.  She studied for two weeks and was happy with her results. At the awards ceremony, she was recognized as being "Hardest Working" and as having had "Perfect Attendance." The second stymied her a bit, "Well, of course I go every time!  Why would anyone miss?"

We attended a benefit performace (for a local adoption agency) of "A Little Princess."  XX was pleased to be asked to stand up with the director of the agency, after a reception and before the show, to tell everyone to take their seats and to thank them for coming.

There was the ballet performance.  XX's class was frighteningly unprepared a few weeks earlier.  Worse yet, for me anyway, while most of the class was actually listening to corrections, XX was happily twirling.

It was anyone's guess whether or not the kids would pull it off, so some extra rehearsals were called.

XX is in a level that is now expected to take company warm-up class before dress rehearsal and performance.  This meant that the final week, XX ended up taking four classes, plus rehearsals.

To say she is the smallest in the class is an understatement.  She's there, in the middle in pink.  I'm amazed at how quickly she's advanced.  Especially given her penchant for twirling or jumping or laughing or doing anything but paying attention.  Still, incredibly, she's getting it all and can definitely focus when necessary.  We are lucky in having found teachers who are firm and believe in excellent classical training, but are also patient and understanding.  XiaoXiao has come a long, long way this past year.  

It all paid off, and, of course, the performance was wonderful. 

And last but not least, there is Chicken-a-Roo.  

He seems preserved enough, so has had a first wrapping, which was disgusting by anyone's description.  Still, XX was determined to do it herself.  We're thinking he gets another few layers to really seal him in.  (I'm also thinking a good ziploc or three will also be in order if he's to remain in the house.)

And so, second grade is done and we're on to celebrating Summer.  

Family Day!

Really?  Seven?  Can it be that seven years ago, a 13 lb bundle of squall was placed into our arms and we said, "Oh, no!"

Along with this tiny force of nature, we were handed a bag of formula, instructions in Chinese characters only, and a little bit of rice cereal.  Again, no instructions that we could read.  Panic might be too mild a word considering XiaoXiao was screaming the entire time as well.

But we got past that first terrifying moment and it has been "Oh, yes!" ever since.

It was, today, coincidentally, a Family Day at the local museum, so we went to take part in crafts and other events.  One of the crafts was to make a family tree and XX spent a lot of time drawing carefully and writing in all the members of her family.

 There was also hair braiding with ribbons.  XX clutched a "baby" she'd recently adopted, a small wolf named Frank.  She was so loving with him that a few people asked if he was real.  Her reply was, "I believe he's real, so, yes.  He's real to me."

Then home to make the most magical of Family Day foods:  Rainbow Knox Blox.

Seven years of wonder, seven years of wonderful.  Are we smitten?  

 Oh, YES!

The Fifth Season

Also known as "Mud" in the Northeast.  It comes between Winter and Spring, when the snow is melting and the ground becomes a gooey muck that sloshes onto everything.  There is not a bud in sight, no flowers, only the grey of winter, with the slop of mud.  Is it any wonder that people leave, if they can, until after Memorial Day?

But that is when our dear Ed's birthday falls, so that is when we went for his surprise party.  I told XX that there was no snow, but it would still be fun.

Still, XX looked forward to seeing her uncles and their dogs.  To her surprise, there was "tons and tons of snow."  A very happy girl trudged through the leftover piles of melty ice.

She couldn't wait to have a snowball fight and the kids next door obliged. XX thought it was wonderful that they had four children and she spent glorious afternoons on the swingset and running through the fields with them.

Ed seemed thoroughly surprised with our appearance, moreso when a chef showed up at the house to cook an amazing dinner, for many local friends. It was an interactive meal and Chef Ali gave us all lessons in preparation as we went along.  It was great fun for everyone, chopping, rolling, and tasting through the evening.

Caleb the cat, on the left of the photo, kept his eye on the shrimp ...

... and was finally rewarded for his patience.

One participant was a bit skeptical and asked a LOT of questions.

But she, too, was later rewarded for her hard work, with the whisk from the chocolate sauce.

It was a wonderful trip, even with some homework that had to be done.

photo by Ed

XX and Uncle Ed had some heart-to-hearts ...

... cooking time ...

... and talks on walks.

XX also took some walks with Uncle Steve and the dogs. She loved the property with its trees, ups and downs, the stream, and just open space.  

 

We missed our dogs, but there are lots of furry children to love at Ed and Steve's.  XX and Gabey met when both were babies and the two firecrackers seemed to remember each other.  Gabey followed XX all over and she loved rubbing his soft tummy.

It made us think of our Boris as he loved being able to roam over the area.  Ed and Steve have even put a wonderful memory stone at the base of one of Boris's favorite trees.

It was a fantastic Mud.