Five is FABULOUS!!

Hard for me to believe but Melanie turned 5 at the end of May... & she was excited! 


Our sweet baby girl has grown so fast...

3.5 months old... all smiles on our 4400 mile camping road trip through the southwest!

Melanie (1yr old) in Gram's garden

Melanie (5 yr old) with her friend Audrey at preschool

We started out her day with getting to go on Brandon's first grade field trip to High Roller for some rollerskating fun.  It was her first time on skates & she did a really good job!

Then that night, Gram & Grandpa joined us for dinner out... Melanie picked the China King Buffet in Winona. Afterwards we went back to our house for presents, big cookie (instead of cake) & ice cream. 

 Brandon was very helpful in reading cards for her.

Melanie got a pink BB gun.. she was thrilled.  Ever since Brandon got his BB gun, she has been wanting a pink one.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MELANIE!!

She was very excited to give her BB gun a try the next afternoon!  She does pretty good!

The week after Memorial Weekend, we did her party.  Since we've had a cold spring, I planned a little park lunch picnic party with a few friends.

 The girls had fun playing on the tire swing & running all around the park!

After some playtime, we got ready for lunch.

(Ella, Lily, Melanie, Audrey & Mary)

Ella & Mary's little brother James didn't seem to mind being the only boy... but he wanted his picture taken too!!

We brought some hula hoops along for the girls to play with... Melanie is pretty good & has her own style... guess if the arms are up, they can't get in the way!

Melanie wanted a birthday brownie... & we had little ice cream cups

Audrey's sister Clara got to also have a little ice cream with us!

The girls seemed to have a good time... & helped make Melanie's birthday fun & special!

The same week Melanie turned 5, she also learned to ride her bike without training wheels!!  It only took her a few minutes to figure it out & away she went... she was thrilled!!

As much as we sometimes miss our cute little girl... we are very proud of the big girl Melanie is becoming!  Thank goodness she still has the cute little girl voice... it will really make me sad when that is gone!