Summer fun with the hose

Elena and her elephant help Grandpa water the tomatoes. The elephant got dirty. Elena washes it off.
Zachy is dirty too. Elena washes him off too.

Elena made some mud cakes for everyone!

That dress looks like a mud cake... As do Elena's feet...

Soundbridge

Elena's favorite thing at Soundbridge was trying all the different instruments.


Auntie's friend Susan was really nice about bringing out different instruments than what were on display, like this drum and the french horn.
This was Mommy's favorite, the timpani drum. There is a gong, wood block, and triangle on the wall right next to this drum - it was an entire percussion ensemble!
This piano was a hit because you could dance on it. It's sound was a little off though... It was like stepping on puppy squeaky toys rather than a piano...

This organ had buttons to change the sounds. Instead of just making piano sounds, it could sound like jazz, guitar, or string instruments. Elena had fun experimenting.

Elena said this was her favorite.

The french horn was heavy! Susan helped hold it and gave a little lesson on how to get sound to come out - purse those lips Elena!

Don't worry, Susan was cleaning the instrument mouthpieces like a maniac!

An oboe.

The trombone. Elena was able to make sounds with all the instruments - go E!

Elena and her little friend

Elena's friend Amelia came over to play outside in the sunshine. To fit everyone in the car, Zachy had to move to the middle, and to make the move easier, he got to sit facing forward! He just loved that! Plus he's surrounded by two doting girls who like to make him giggle. Elena and Amelia were busy busy outside. They crunched snails that were on the apple trees and house. They helped some of the poppy flowers open up. They swung on the swings. They played in the garden with the treasures. They colored the front walkway with sidewalk chalk. And they had a tea party. For their tea party they made snail salad with real snail, flowers, and grass.

Dentist visit

Elena had her first x-rays taken at the dentist. It was surprising that she did so well with the large apparatus in her mouth. She wasn't so good with the rest of the exam... Elena did get a lesson on brushing her teeth, and got all her teeth counted twice - she already has 3 of her 6-year molars!!! Because she wouldn't let the hygenist clean her teeth, they couldn't take her picture and put it on the "cavity free" wall.
Zachy had a good time and let the hygenist put the tooth polisher on his tooth. He even got a pinwheel as a prize for being a good patient.

Last public swim lesson

Elena had her last swim lesson with Molly. She passed level P3 despite doing the crawl stroke backwards... Yes, she was going forward, perfectly side-breathing, but her windmill-arms were going backwards! Oh well, teacher Patty will straighten her out. Elena came to love the lockers at the pool. She would nicely hang her clothes inside before going to her lesson, shoes included. After swimming and a shower, she'd pull the clothes back out and sit inside to put her shoes on.
How many years until her bum outgrows the doorway?

Remember this game?

It's Twister! Grandma still has the 1980's version at the River House and Elena got her first taste of "the game that ties you in knots." She had fun trying to stretch from red to green and watching Mommy and Grandma fall on the floor.
The Twister mat is also a great dance/gymnastics stage.

Time to pick mushrooms!

Gosh you're tall Elena! Do you really need to stand on tip-toe? At the River House Elena and Grandma put some flowers in the flower press (a birthday present). She pressed a daffodil, a dandelion, and a purple flower.
The best kinds of guns shoot bubbles and water ;-)

The mushroom picking intermission consists of snacks and climbing on big rocks.

Elena's new fascination is super huge morels. She likes to see if they are larger than her fist, and then will weigh them.

Here's the biggest from today's hunt - 1.9oz and 1.6oz. Next time we'll probably find even bigger ones!

Size doesn't matter when it comes to eating them... All are yummy!

Little Miss E turns 5 on 4/25!

Supposedly turning 5 means 5 birthday celebrations. Elena had her 5th birthday party at Jump Planet. She invited all her classmates, friends from gymnastics, and of course Aubrie.

It was a strawberry theme party with cupcakes in the shape of and decorated like strawberries - yum! Everyone had a great time and Elena loved all her fabulous gifts which included a flower press, Barbie, and pony figures.

On her actual birthday, cousins Ruby, Nattie, and Tate came to celebrate. We had a weekend of fun which included a sleepover on Elena's floor, trip to the children's museum, chicken and french fry dinner with Auntie, Auntie Terry, and Walt, and a trip to Chuck E. Cheese.

At school, Elena had her celebration of life. A candle is lit to represent the sun and Elena holds the Earth ball and walks around the sun for every year since she was born. Pictures and interesting facts are shared from each year of her life.

Everyone sings and they share a special treat. Elena brought in strawberries and kitty Warrick!

Elena also celebrated being 5 with Grandma and Grandpa and her own personal pizza! Alfy's Pizza honors birthday girls and boys with a free pizza on their birthday. Elena got plain cheese and we added the candles and sang Happy Birthday.
Elena got a Nintendo DSi for her birthday from Mommy and Daddy. She loves that it is blue and can play it in the car on trips. Her favorite game is Gardening Mama which Auntie gave her as a birthday gift.
Happy 5th Birthday Elena! Wishing you many more wonderful celebrations!