Today's incident involved Rita throwing a pine cone at a boy at surf camp. Because he told her not to look at a boy who was changing (or something like that). And then they started arguing about whose surfboard is longer. Apparently Rita thinks hers (which really isn't hers ... it belongs to the camp) is longer. So he called her a baby. And then she threw a pine cone at him. Not sure where you find a pine cone on the beach but apparently that's what happened. Oh, and BTW the pine cone didn't hit him.

School finished the third week of June. We now have a 3rd grader! Rita finished her second grade year with a pretty good report card. Most of her academic marks have moved from below basic to basic or proficient. By April, Rita had finished her 1st grade math workbook and the teacher started testing her at the 2nd grade level. Most weeks she was earning 70-80% on those tests. The teacher has given us the 2nd grade math workbook to go through this summer so she can continue to practice at a higher level.

We have also asked her reading teacher to spend some time with her this summer. Starting in a week, Rita will go to her house 2x per week for reading, reading comprehension and writing lessons. We have been supplementing her lessons with a reading list and she's reading at the 1st-2nd grade level. We are very happy with her progress this year.

The areas where she needs the biggest improvement is in self control and playing socially with her classmates. She gets very competitive and will act out if she doesn't get her way. She also likes to boss little kids around. We've seen it ourselves and we are trying to bring attention to it and teach her the right way to deal with things. It's harder to deal with it when it happens at school. The details from the teachers are sketchy, and at times it seems like she is being provoked but whenever it happens, it ends in a tantrum and sometimes she yells and/or kicks the other kids. The teachers usually sends her to the office to "cool off".

Now that school is over we are enjoying the summer weather. Rita goes to summer camps at the Y during the day. She's taking swimming, surfing, soccer, softball and gymnastics this summer. We have been having "girls day" or "girls night" and going to SeaWorld. I love that Rita loves SeaWorld so much. I remember going there will my family and loving it. Instead of a doctor, Rita now wants to swim with the dolphins when she grows up. (Just like me!)

Another fun summer thing are our evening walks with Thani. We have been going out for a family walk and visiting neighbors most nights.

My journey for the perfect peep-toe pump started on Saturday evening at Nordstrom's. I discovered these Stuart Weitzman patent leather pumps on the clearance rack at 1/2 off or $156. I wasn't planning to get patent leather - I just need some black dress shoes suitable for summer - but there were so many options in patent leather I tried some on and loved the look. I liked these because they are dressy, but they could be dressed down casual due to the chunky heel. I didn't get them because I couldn't find a pair that had heels with similar grain and color. For $156 (originally $315), I expected them to be paired better and to spend that much they had to be perfect. (I tried two other pairs at Nordstrom's but I wasn't loving them ... so I moved on.)

Finally, it's May! Rita had been asking about her birthday and counting down the months and days since her last birthday. This year, we had a smaller party with about 15 children over from her class, Indian Princess (daddy-daughter camping) and the neighborhood. Since I was traveling the week before her birthday (NYC for a work conference), Michael prepared everything! We had pigs-in-a-blanket, mac & cheese, veggies and cake (decorated by Aunt Kristin). Michael organized the games too ... yarn dolls and tie-dyed t-shirts. It was a great Sunday afternoon!

The farewell session at camp. Isn't she cute?

R's school promotes good "character traits" throughout the school year and May is "Perseverance" month. Students who excel in exhibiting the particular traits are chosen to have lunch with the principal and guess what - this month R was chosen!

I can not argue with this one. They've got her figured out!

Ever feel like you are being constantly bombarded with questions? That's me. R will ask questions the minute she wakes up until minute she falls asleep. She asks questions while brushing her teeth, going the bathroom and watching TV. The TV one really annoys me because we can't watch anything without her asking why someone or something is doing this or that. It's a neverending test of my mental endurance these days.

She's also been asking some really interesting questions. Like, "What was my last name in Russia?" or "Why don't you still use my Russian last name?" I've been giving her the information she requests and then I remind her that when she became part of our family she received our last name. Just like when I married her dad I stopped using my last name and now go by our family name. She seems to accept this explanation but then will ask the same questions again every few days. Today she asked why we don't have her use both last names (ie. her Russian last name as her middle name) and also how to spell her Russian last name.

She also asked me whether it is OK to miss Russia. I said "Of course!" and asked her what she misses about Russia. She says it's the food ... she misses her "macaroni soup". I have asked her many times what macaroni soup was like and she says it's macaroni in a milk and cheese. I've confirmed many times that the recipe doesn't have any meat or vegetables. Anyone heard of this, or do you think this is a detsky dom special?

Lately, Rita has been writing us notes during her afterschool program. I think this writing thing with her started because they put together "family books" at school - and so they have been writing about their families alot over the last two weeks. It also explains all of the questions she has been asking. The family books turned out great - we just received ours tonight at the school Open House. I'll try to share the book in another post.

Her letters are short and really cute and so loving so I thought I would share a couple of them.

Daer Mom
I love you so much because you the best and smart. I like when you walk the dog and dinner. I like to swim with you. I love you mam. You cool. Bot you and I are best friends. You love me I love you back. Sometime we go to dinner because I love you.

and

Dear Mom and Dad
I love you so much. Becaus yo are cool and fun to play I like wolking the dog because I miss you so much I lik when you make dinner and lounch thank you for the nicle that I got and you dad I love you dad because you take me to medoco place and I miss you so much thank you to. I love you. Thank you for the presents. Love Rita


Did you notice that we are "Mom" and "Dad" now? Sometimes Dad is "Daddy" but we aren't Mama and Papa anymore! :(