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!

Recital Wrap-up

It was hard to believe the year had gone so fast & recital time was upon us already... and the girls were excited!

The "Boogie Fever" Girls loved their fringe dresses... with fun boot covers for their tap shoes!

Back in the "Black Box", they can watch the show in the monitors or color/play with friends... 

 ... it is just like a party!

Melanie had a great group of girls in her class... Lily, Elaina, Maddie & Teagan

 The girls did a great job & were quite a hit with their fun little number!  We were so proud of Melanie (center) as she really knew her dance!

Follow this link to see a clip of Melanie's dance
(it may take a second to load... Melanie is 2nd from right as they are short one dancer in this clip)

Our neighbor Anna also dances & Melanie loved seeing her backstage.  Anna is a beautiful dancer!

 Melanie & her teacher, Ms Tiffany...

 ... & the girls with Ms. Tiff!

We were so proud of our little dancer!  She LOVED being on stage!!

Time Warp... continued

Mike enjoyed getting a little extra fishing in this year, now that we live in his prime trout fishing area... & he always had an eager sidekick to tag along. 

At the end of April, our friend's Dave & Diane came down for the weekend for some turkey hunting.  The kids had fun trying to track down the "walking tree" (aka Dave in his camo suit) back in the valley from our living room window!

 Mother's Day weekend is usually spent at our annual Mother's Day camping weekend at our friend Dooley's land (aka a good excuse to camp & trout fish).  But this year we had too many commitments that weekend, so we only went down for Friday afternoon/evening to hang out & socialize. 

Melanie & Erin Kelly had a ball playing!

 While Brandon was eager to hit the "honey hole" they had fished last fall... & it didn't disappoint!

Part of the reason we couldn't camp that weekend was it that it was picture weekend for dance.  The girls are getting excited for the recital!

Then following the pictures, Melanie had a birthday tea party to attend followed by the Mother's Day Tea with Gram & Aunt Mary at the Watkins Manor. 

 We had a nice time at the tea... and Melanie's hat was a huge it.  She had made it at the birthday party she was at & was the perfect addition to our Mother's Day tea!

On Mother's Day, we headed to Trempealeau, Wisconsin (just across the river from us) to do a little biking & then had an early dinner at the Trempealeau Hotel.  It was a fun day & I am one lucky Mommy to have 2 such wonderful kids!!

Recital weekend finally came & the "Boogie Fever" girls were decked out & ready to shake their fringe!

 Our neighbor Anna also dances & is a lovely dancer.  Melanie was excited to see her backstage.

The girls did a fabulous job... the audience loved them! 

The girls started out in a class of 18 kids but thankfully they were able to find a backup time for any who could move to the new class... so these 5 girls became that class, taught by the fabulous Ms. Tiffany!

We were so proud of our little dancer!  She loves to be on stage & loves to dance!