Petru's Happy 71 for Buni on May 6th 2013

Summer adventures 2013 - part 1

It's getting close to the end of July, I have a few minutes, so time for a few words on our summer adventures thus far.

Petru has been very busy with the Arlington Children's Theatre, where he is rehearsing for The Little Mermaid. He is a sailor and part of the sea chorus. He has a few lines, and I think he would have secretly liked to have a bigger part (i heard him say to his cousin on the phone yesterday "I have a few solos"). I think this is just perfect for him. Rehearsals are brutal but he truly enjoys this experience and I am considering trying to have his audition for the Fall as well. 

Petru spent the first week of his summer vacation at home, playing with neighbourhood friends, going to the museums with Chris, and going to our town beach as a family. He spent part of the second week at Grandma's and then back home. Last week and this he is doing a sports camp in Lexington. I am very impressed with it and Petru's swimming and tennis have been taking off. He managed to do really well in this setting, with HSlers as counselors, and lots of physical play, something that he is growing into. 

At home, we have been playing lots of games: Apple to apple, monopoly junior, uno, and Petru is becoming better able to deal with losing. 

There is of course, lots of homework. RSM gave them a big package so he has been doing 1 page/day, primarily things that will prepare him to add 2 or 3 digit numbers in his head, and also multiplications/divisions. He has been doing a lot of procrastinating, which is hard for me to watch....

He also has been reading daily, and has started to read Harry Potter on his own at times, though he still prefers me to read it. I am enjoying the book very much myself.

There have been many trips to Watercountry, games to pass the time while in line (aka, I describe a character from HP, and you tell me which one; which character are we and our friends most similar too - apparently I am Hermione and Petru is Ron), games to make the drive shorter (e.g., make up a song about a family member). 

Next week Josephine, our french aupair is coming for 3 weeks. We area all very excited. 

Pictures soon!

From Petru

In the car this afternoon, sounding very frustrated:
"Mom, it is so frustrating when the thing you wanted to invent has already been invented"

Happy 13 years

Happy 13 years to Chris and me. We pre-celebrated by listening to Liz Weil's interview on "Married (Happily) with issues" on public radio. Today I got red roses and 2 games picked by Petru and Chris - PERFECT presents for ME. One of the games - Pachisee - was a game that Chris and I used to play everynight in Romania during our 8 months exile...Petru has theater rehearsal tonight up to 8, which means a short run and nice dinner at home.