Dance Graduation

Yesterday Melissa was excited to receive a graduation certificate for completing her dance year. She has really enjoyed her tap / ballet combo class this year, and will definitely continue on with dance next year.

The weather picked a great day to be cooperative, as the graduation was followed by a bbq picnic & lots of fun outdoor games...

Thumbelina Dance

Melissa's ballet class has been practicing all year for this month's dance performance. The girls received their dance costumes last class, and tried them on with their dance. Seeing cameras are restricted at the final performance at the Abby Arts Centre, these are probably the only pics I will get of them in action. They are dancing to the tune "Thumbelina"...

After class we went to Kiera's house and practiced getting all dressed up, lash extensions, lipstick, curls and all!

(a little editing fun :)

The girls reminded me of the show "Toddlers & Tiaras" (not that I've ever watched it, but see tons of their commercials on TLC)

Current Art

Here is some recent art Melissa drew at preschool...

Bobs & Lolo Concert

Last month Melissa's favorite children's artists Bobs & Lolo came to Abbotsford to do a fundraiser concert for Autism Speaks. It has been quite awhile since Melissa has seen them live, so we didn't hesitate to get in on the action :)

"Jellyfish, jellyfish... Oh how I wish I could be a jellyfish"

"Rain Drop"

"I Love Bugs"

Happily bouncing to the music :)

Melissa with Bobs, getting an autograph...

Mother's Day

I was invited to Melissa's preschool on Friday for a Mother's Day tea. First they had us mothers take a seat in a circle, and our children gave us a hand massage with lotion and tranquil spa music...

Then they sang "How much do I love you" to us mommies...

Then we played a game similar to the "Newly Wed Game" where we had to guess what our children answered on different questions. I got asked what Melissa answered when asked "when does your mommy look most beautiful". I wasn't sure what she was going to have told them, so I wrote down "when I smile?". But her answer was "when she wears her dress with flowers & beads". Just so turned out that she had strongly encouraged me to wear it that morning!

We watched a video where each child shared a way that they know their Mommy loves them...

Then we sat down and enjoyed tea & cake served by our little ones...

It was the most special morning!

Birthday Preschool Party Day

Birthday month at preschool is very much looked forward to. This month was Melissa's turn to sit on the birthday chair!

Build-a-bear

Yesterday Melissa spent some of her birthday money on a Build-A-Bear. If you aren't familiar with the concept, it is where you buy a unstuffed animal and then are involved in the process of "bringing it to life". There certainly aren't any shortages of accessories to go along with your newly made stuffy! Melissa has been really set on making her own for about a year now, this was no spur of the moment decision!

After selecting her animal shell, she was in charge of stepping on the pedal that blew the stuffing into the stuffy...

Then she gave it a squeeze test to see if it was full enough...

Warming the kitty's heart in her hands before inserting it inside...

Making a wish... (she held this pose for a really long time - later she told me she didn't know what wish to make for her kitty!)

Washing & fluffing her new stuffy...

Then next she proceeded to make a birth certificate & name her stuffy "Sparkle", as well as pick out an outfit for her!

Here is Sparkle... all settled into our house!

Melissa's Friend Birthday Party

Melissa celebrated her 5th birthday with her girlfriends at Castle Fun Park. The theme was Fairy Princesses. So when the girls arrived they were issued tiaras, wands & wings to add to their most beautiful dresses!

First to arrive was Kiera, and the two fairy princesses struck a pose

(or 2 or 3)...

The six fairy princesses, ready to go mini-golfing!

Melissa started the game off...

and the fairy princesses followed suit... they did really well for most of them having no experience mini golfing.

All together at the last tee...

Melissa and preschool friend Autumn...

Lunch followed, and nothing but the best for these little fairy princesses... pizza!

with flower cupcakes...

Present opening...

Lastly the girls enjoyed the arcades and rides together...

This was a first for us trying a birthday party outside of the home, and I was very pleased with the ease of preparation! Plus Melissa was more than thrilled, so a win-win situation all around!

Harlem Globetrotters Game

This weekend we went with my family to see the Harlem Globetrotters here in Abbotsford! As a child I had watched one video of them (over and over), and always imagined getting the chance to see them in person.

A photo infront of their tour bus...

Their warm-up routine...

Melissa & her cousins got treated to cotton candy... Melissa takes notes from Lexi on how to inhale it best ;)

I think one of the highlights of the game for Melissa was this Big G dance, an intermission entertainment thing. I didn't take this video, but found it on You-Tube, but it is pretty much the same thing as we saw. Melissa cracked up (along with everyone else) when Big G threw himself down on the floor...

Melissa sitting on Nani's lap and laughing at Big G's dance...

The infamous tutu under the shorts when he was pants... "don't take my picture"... haha...

Good fun... hopefully they will come again :)

Egg Hunt

On Easter Sunday neighbour Kim invited "munchkin" over for her annual Easter Egg hunt at his place. Very eagerly Melissa put on her gumboots & grabbed her handcrafted bunny basket and headed over!