Preschool Sports Day

Today we celebrated Melissa's graduation from the 3-year old preschool class. Here she is with her two fabulous teachers... I can't say enough good things about them! 

After the usual "Party Day" performance indoors, we moved outside for the Sports Day events. Here the kids are all lining up in their two teams for the first relay race.

So after explaining to the kids what they were to do in this relay, the teacher said, "on your marks, get set, go..." and all the kids went at once!!

Complete chaos!

After an explanation that they each take turns, they tried again... one at a time!

Melissa booking it back...

A different relay, fill the sponge and empty it into a bucket... Melissa in position, ready to go!

And she's off...

After the races, Melissa enjoyed some free-play with her friends... 

On to some different stations, cookie decorating...

Fruitloop necklace making...

Water-balloons...

A little water fight with Daddy...

Bubble blowing...

So thankful the weather cooperated for us, as yesterday was sketchy, and tomorrow is looking the same. Couldn't have been better, and on top of that Ken was able to get the day off of work! I know we will certainly miss preschool during the summer months.

Water Park Party

This weekend we went to Dominick's 4th birthday party at Centennial Park. The sun was a shinin', and it was a perfect day to run around in the water park. This was Melissa's first time actually enjoying running through the water park without me pushing her, and basically carrying her through. Wonderful to see her really enjoy something that is supposed to be fun!

She had made the decision to get into her swimsuit, but began by pacing the edges, not sure how she was going to go about this...

She took the plunge!


The birthday boy - Dominick - officially four!

Posing for me...

The crowd gathers as Dominick opens his presents...

Enjoying the cupcakes...

A little more water-play with a new friend. I think they are trying to work out who is the leader between them :) Melissa would tell her what she thought they should do, and this girl would listen, and go do something completely different!!! haha

Garden Visitor

We have very frequent visits from two friendly Monarch butterflies in our garden this year. This is very exciting to Melissa as she has no fear what-so-ever of insects. She wants to hold them all, and if possible keep them in her bug container, which tends to be a long stay hotel (or last stop) for many! Melissa is so eager to hold the butterflies that she chases them around with her finger out to land on, just like in the movies! 

T-Ball

Ken has been enjoying introducing Melissa to sports as she is getting old enough to play. This week we bought Melissa a t-ball stand, ball & bat. Here are some pics of her using it...

Barbie Collection

Melissa has asked me to post this picture she took of all her barbies. Here they are posing out side of their tent on a camping trip!

Can you spot the relic? One of these barbies is mine from my childhood. 

Lemonade Stand

One of the customers on day one of our garage sale, made a great suggestion... that Melissa should have a lemonade stand! So day two, she set up shop!

Cousin Xander was over for a visit and got in on the business venture! Here they are ready for their first customer...

First customer, Melissa collects the money, and Xander hands over the lemonade...

Little friend Riley came by and got in on the action...

I didn't count up all her proceeds from the sales before she put it into her piggy-bank, but she did pretty good! The weather was certainly in her favour... and possibly all the calling out "get your nice (instead of 'ice') cold lemonade here!" Who could resist??

Ice Cream Truck

This weekend after a hot day at our garage sale, Melissa was treated to her first ice-cream from an ice cream truck! The options were a little daunting, and hard to choose which one to try!

She went with a Fudgsicle... and it hit the spot! 

I think this may now start the begging every time she hears the music of the ice-cream truck, which is very frequent where we live. Gone are the days of telling her it is just a music truck!

Gardening in the Country

Yesterday Melissa & I took Papa up on his offer for us to plant a garden in his currently unused portion of field. We chose three hardy, low maintenance vegetables to plant - corn, potatoes & pumpkins. 

Papa rototilling the soil... this man is in his glory when it comes to farming and using farm equipment! 

Melissa was hesitant at first, but soon got right into the wonderful feeling of soft warm dirt to run in! Brings back memories :)

First up, corn...

A little posing for the camera... (with Nani behind it!)

Melissa spent most of the down-time feeding Annie lots of grass...

The spuds which were more than ready to hit the dirt...

Dad & I planting the potatoes, just like old times...

Melissa helps plant the last one :)

Melissa playing in the super tall "Fall Rye"...

Planting the pumpkins. If even half of them grow, we will have quite a lot of pumpkins!

We are looking forward to checking in on the garden every time we visit Papa & Nani's!

Lil' Gardener Class

We signed up for the 'Lil Gardener' class again this spring. The instructor is different this time around, and the projects not up to the same level as last time, but Melissa has been enjoying it and it has inspired us with our own gardening.

The first week we planted lettuce, tomatoes & peas. Here is how they are coming along today, 4 weeks later. (there are 5 tomato plants coming - yikes! They were late to arrive, and in the mean time we purchased a couple of larger ones, so we will have plenty this year if they all produce.)

The third week, Melissa painted a flower pot that she is going to be planting flowers in, in an upcoming class.

This past week the children helped the AgRec gardeners plant plants in the planters around the AgRec.