Today, it's all about Roo.  We just think he's the coolest seven year old iin the world and would love to share a little bit about this lovebug.

First and foremost, Andrew loves his family.  His favorite place in the world is his home. 

He is a fantastic older brother and watches out for Colin constantly.  He tries to be patient when Colin destroys all of his Lego constructions and although four and a half years apart, they love to play together.  Most commonly, they enjoy the CHASE with some sort of pirate or flamenco music playing in the background.

He loves his dada tremendously and the two of them enjoy Dada and Roo time doing construction work, attending cubscouts, baking, cooking, and gaming.  But the most excitement in the household occurs when the two of them have swords in hand, fencing and doing historic combat in the barn.

With his mama, he loves to snuggle in the morning and enjoys pillow talk at night, discussing his day and all the trials and tribulations of second grade.  We also game and cook together, but mostly, we enjoy singing and dancing with each other...which can get a little crazy and loud at times...especially for Colin.

Andrew and his Gram share many important things.  First, their birthdays are two days apart...meaning they're both Geminis.  Secondly, they have very similar senses of humor, and likes and dislikes.  One of Roo's favorite evenings is to spend a night with Gram at her house, making chocolate chip cookies and watching Disney TV (remember, we don't have TV at our house).  We call this his "culturation," afterall, ya can't play Ben 10 on the playground, if you don't know who that is.

This year, Roo started exploring fishing with his Grampa, a hobby both of them love.  For the first time ever, Roo went ice-fishing with Grandpa out on the lake at Rutland State Park.  They look forward to spending many other wet and wild adventures together. 

Although farther away, Roo loves his Nana and Pop-Pop and keeps in touch on the phone and through pictures.  Most recently, he started his own e-mail account and has really enjoyed writing back and forth with them.  His memories of Arkansas are very sweet and he looks forward to future visits with them.

 This summer, Roo looks forward to another week spent with his favorite cousins in the whole world, Zaza and Anna.  He is already planning everything he would like to do with them to show them New England.  Last summer, he was thrilled to experience San Francisco and the sunny land of California with his Aunt Susan and Uncle John. 

One very special person in Roo's life is his GGMA.  He loves seeing his great-grandma and sharing lobsters with her and many a good laugh.  They enjoy telling stories to one another and teasing one another.  Most of all, they enjoy each other's hugs and smiles.  GGMA LOVES watching Collie and Roo do all their brotherly antics.

 Physically, Roo is still in the 99% percentile for everything, meaning he's the second tallest kid in his grade, dwarfing many fourth graders.  (The tallest kid's parents are 6'7" and 6'4"!)  He tends to be a protector to his friends on the playground and takes his role as "Champion" seriously.  He's very careful around smaller people, like his brother, but certainly knows how to keep his footing when rough-housing with Dada.  He cut down our Christmas Tree this year!  Check it out!

 He loves hiking in the woods, climbing, and most of all, swimming.  Basically, any activity that involves water will entice Roo to go on forever...as long as he doesn't get sand in his shorts!

Roo's favorite day of the week is Friday!  Feland Family Fun Night.  Dinner is usually AJ's pizza or Chinese food and we always watch a movie together as a family.  Recently we have been going through the Star Trek Next Generation series, which Roo LOVES!  Check out his picture of the Enterprise that he designed himself in Microsoft Paint and his portrait with the A and J of AJ's.

Roo also earns house points, like in Harry Potter.  First, he worked from July 2007 to January 2008 to earn points towards a Wii.  He received no allowance, was given no new toys (except for Christmas) and took on a great number of household chores including:

1. Garbage and Recycling
2. Laundry (He does all of his and puts his own away in addition to rotating ours.)
3. Setting the table and emptying the dishwasher
4. Vacuuming and dusting the barn and his room
5. Cleaning up TRAIN TRACKS
6. Getting the mail

He now is earning house points towards a sushi lunch and movie with mama and dada.

This year, Roo's teacher, Mrs. Wawrzynaik, really has done some great projects with the kids and Roo is enjoying his schoolwork.  His favorite project this year was his presentation and book report on Abraham Lincoln.  Roo read a biography on Lincoln, researched more information on the web, borrowed costume pieces from our friend, Devon, brought in his Jacob's Ladder and talked about Lincoln's life as a child, a young man, a lawyer and a president.  He even memorized the first paragraph of the Gettysburg Address!  His teacher was so impressed she had him tour neighboring classrooms with his report. 

Roo is easily reading on a high school level and is already in book three (!) of the Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis. 

Obviously, we are extremely proud of our amazing young man and look forward to sending along updates as he continues to grow...and grow...and grow...I mean he's already wearing my shoes and shirts!