Sunday's Sour Cherries

Ok, Sunday it's over now, but we are still licking our wounds... just kidding! of course it was fun, and I'm happy because we were very present and we tasted the happy time with all our bodies and souls.

We started with a visit at Hornbach (DIY supermarket) to buy a ladder, because all the cherries were mature and we couldn't reach them.

Then, we went to the supermarket, with the declared purpose to buy some small gifts for the teachers and maids from kindergarten, because it was the end of the school year and we were delighted with their work, as we saw it on Saturday. We bought food and beer and when we arrived home we realized we forgot to buy the gifts. Yeah, we both have the heads in the clouds sometimes!

Radu helped Bogdan to assemble the rocking chair in the full heat of the noon... all the good guys together.

Runa was the first to use the ladder, she was the most hard-working from all of us. And the bravest. Especially when I asked her to go in the house and start to learn for the English test.

Mara refreshed herself in all the ways you can figure, with the water pumps working on the grass. Soon, the whole family followed her example.

Then, she dried up and rest for a while... not for too long, anyway.

 

I finished alone to pick up the cherries, then I removed the kernels, so my mother-in-law could make a cake. Sorry, no pics for the cake. It's gone.

For the night we had in plan a birthday party. Well... what the plans are for?

We took Bogdan's car to car-washing, put all the kids in the other car and hurried to the supermarket to buy the forgotten gifts. Bogdan received a strange call from the car-washing owner, telling that his car doesn't start anymore. 

A very nice car. 

So, Bogdan was left with his car, while I left with all the kids. 

In the supermarket we decided that Radu and Mara will fill the basket, while Runa will put everything back on the shelves. Even with such a deal, one thing I can say: it didn't come out cheap.

Back at home, Bogdan wasn't back yet. He was towing his car to the service, very far away from home. So, I quickly realized there will not be any party. Not a birthday party, anyway. He called me from the service, telling me that the car suddenly started in the service yard, when he arrived there, so he will be home in no time. I put the kids into bed, together with my mother-in-law, and we went out to have some beer together. Bogdan finally arrived, very tired after such an evening, so we sat on the terrace, drinking beer and talking in the dark. 

His mother was wetting the garden, and he asked her: 

"Mom, have you noticed that I washed your car today?" 

She answered: 

"I just put the water hose on it, two minutes ago! Why didn't you tell me earler?" We laughed as crazy all together, letting go all the tension of the day...

Hope you all had a funny weekend! May the week to be the same!

Saturday Kindergarden Report

It was a crazy, crazy weekend, YES!

And we missed most of the invitations (I mean two weddings and a birthday party), but we had so much fun together!

On Sunday we had the kindergarten annual celebration, for both Mara and Radu, at very different hours. 

Radu started at 9 a.m., so we had to wake up at 7 to be ready with all the costumes and everything. 

He started the show with a butterfly costume, the wings were supposed to be on his back, but the maids dressed him backwards. So he was a funny butterfly with the wings on his chest! He recited poems, sang lots of songs, both in Romanian and English, danced and, finally, had a swimming suit parade.

 

Tell me, with such a teacher, you wouldn't learn everything better and faster?

At 3 p.m. Mara entered the stage, she played all the roles she could get, in Romanian, English and Spanish! I am so amazed of how well things go with her and her teacher, Loredana. She is happy and willing to learn so many new things all the time! Unfortunately we lost part of the pictures, so you will not see the princess kissing the frog unless some other parents will send me some pics :).

In the evening we stopped at a garden restaurant to have dinner, the kids were so happy, and so was I, because it was so much easier than usual. We all had pizza and lots of ketchup, so everybody was very happy. Unfortunatelly, Bogdan didn't feel really well after such dinner, so we missed the weddings. Is no place like home when it comes about toilets, isn't it?

What can I say more? We fainted out at sleep time, only to continue today with our family adventures. 

Oh, you didn't see Runa in this story! She came very late, because she attended the Chinese Painting Course with Margareta on Saturday! Pictures coming soon!

Have a great week ahead, my friends!

This Moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see. {from www.soulemama.com}

The Râşnov Citadel

Yesterday morning the kids woke up very early, while we would give anything to sleep a little bit longer after the wedding party. Of, course, we didn't have that chance, they started to argue and shout and yell, so we packed very fast and left for home. Bogdan decided to take a different road than at arrival, so we could have a short visit at The Râşnov Citadel, recently restored. I might have a slightly different opinion of what it means "restored" for the Romanian autorities and myself. But the trip was nice and the view was splendid.

The Râşnov Citadel was build around the year 1215 by the teutonic knights and it was mentioned in official documents for the first time in 1331.

The citadel was conquered only once in history, by Gabriel Bathory, around year 1600. And that happened because Bathory's soldiers discovered the secret source of water of the fortress, a hidden spring outside the citadel.

The fortress wasn't easy to reach, you have to climb the mountain to get in, and from the observation point (once a small church) you can see the whole area. Perhaps the whole country. Anyway, for sure the inhabitants could easily notice an enemy attacking them.

But, if you are kind of lazy or tired, you can use the tourist tractor (it really is a tractor!) to go up and come back in the car parking. The ticket for a round trip is 3 Lei (0.8 Euro).

We received roses at the entrance in the fortress, it was a local event named "The Roses Celebration". Nice. The ticket costs 10 Lei (2.5 Eur) for the adults and 5 Lei (1.2 Eur)  for the kids.

The kids loved the trip, we let them climb and run all over the place, and they deeply admired the astonishing view. 

We were staring at the dolls in the window and the dolls were staring back.

We were so tired after climbing all the rocks in the citadel...

And I almost forgot: there is a local legend attached to Râşnov Fortress. During a particularly long siege of the fortress, the citizens of Râşnov were concerned about the lack of available fresh drinking water. Two Turkish soldiers, having been captured earlier, were assured that they would be given their freedom in exchange of digging a well in the centre of the fortress. According to local legend, it took them 17 years to finish the well, but they were still killed afterwards (we are a very compassionate nation). This famous well still sits in the centre of Râşnov Fortress, and is 146 metres (479 feet) deep. In reality, the well was dug by some local saxon artisans, payed by the City Mayor.

So, if you are in Brasov, hurry up and pay a visit to Râşnov Citadel! It won't take long and is such a beautiful and interesting place to see!

Sofia's Wedding Day

We started our weekend yesterday with Sofia's wedding party, the first one of the season. Sofia is my colleague and my dear friend, beautiful, smart and ambitious. For her wedding we traveled to Poiana Brasov, one of the most beautiful mountain resorts in Romania.

So, dear Sofia and Mihai, may the years ahead of you be filled with love and lasting joy!  Congratulations to a couple whose match truly seems to be perfect for each other. Hope you will invite us to the beautiful events of your future life together!

Sofia was wiping a happiness tear in the corner of her eye after the first dance, passionate and sweet. And long. But they survived, despite the huge emotions.

Finally, we gathered all together for a group picture :). Me, Sofia and Lavinia, friends and workmates.

I love Bogdan's pictures, I always thought his pictures are much more better than the usual wedding photographies.

 

Lavinia and George's wedding will be the last of this season for us. I mean, for the summer, because in September we'll start again! Can't wait for their wedding, it will also be in the mountains, in a gorgeous place I always loved: Cheile Rasnoavei.

Mara and Radu were running all the time, danced with me for a while, then running again. Somehow, Bogdan managed to catch them in some pics.

 The sweet Lolita...

... and Radu, licking the mirrors and making funny faces... 

This is the NO face, not so funny sometimes...

 

And finally, Runa, who was dancing all night long, all kind of music, she was upset when we decided to leave. By the time we reached the hotel she fell asleep so fast, I didn't got to tell her "good night".

And I will end this post with a quote for the newly married, I know they'll love it:

A successful marriage requires falling in love many times, always with the same person.
 - Germaine Greer

This Moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see. {from www.soulemama.com}