Ballet Recital - Good Ship Lollipop

It was surprising to see how much bigger this group of girls were compared to last summer. They have all become good dancers and the best of friends along the way. This year, they performed a tap dance to 'Good Ship Lollipop' for the Candyland-themed recital.



Abigail & Alexis at technical rehearsal

yes, I let her have the make-up!

she's the furthest on the right - I promise to get better seats next year

and in this picture, furthest on the left

Grandma and Daddy gave her the all-important bouquet

we'll miss our friends over the summer - see you for 2012/2013!

The Hunger Games

Haven't been here for a while - May was very busy for me. I will be back soon with some family updates, including the big birthday trip to Disneyland. In the meantime, I have a book update.

In May I finished The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. Not my usual type of genre but I read it because Grandma Sharon picked it up at Costco and we both agreed we'd give it a shot because the whole world seems to be talking about it! Surprisingly, I liked it. In fact, the beginning starts off with such suspense - I've never known a book to have me on the edge of my seat by page two. I thought that that alone definitely deserves some praise. There were a few times I felt like I was in the middle of a video-game but not too much, and I guess that's what made it the perfect novel for a movie. Overall, I liked this. I can see why the world is obsessed.

Abigail's Pre-K Graduation

In May, we attended a ceremony for Abigail's graduation from Pre-K. While she may be only five, this was quite an emotional event for me because she has been with many of these school friends since they were SIX WEEKS OLD!

The class had prepared an "Around The World" performance with songs and story-telling. Abigail was picked to represent England and I was asked to dress her as Queen Elizabeth. She also perfected the Queen's wave so she was more than prepared and wowed the crowd with her part!

Then, after the performance, the kids put on cap & gown and walked the stage one-by-one to receive their diploma. So proud of all of them, but especially my super-smart little Abigail:

I LOVE YOU ABIGAIL - you are one amazing five year old that is going to SHINE in Kindergarten!

Megan & Noel's wedding

Four days after Disneyland, Jake and I had a night away at our friends Megan & Noel's wedding. It was perfect timing - we were all 'kidded out' and thoroughly enjoyed a night away from the girls (thanks to nanna & grandad for the babysitting). I wanted to post a few pictures because the setting was gorgeous. This is Munds Park, Arizona - about three hours north of Phoenix.

Disneyland!

I'm here with 29 pictures so I won't waste too much time on words. I will just say that Abigail threw up 20mins into the drive, then again a couple of hours later. She was not really herself the whole first day (and you can see it in the photos) but she was a little trooper and was NOT going to leave that park come hell or high water. OR take the glitter Minnie Mouse ears off ;)



ready for the park - that plastic bag attached to the stroller is the throw-up clothes!

poor kid - she was on outfit number 3 by this point!

Bryony spent a lot of the trip anxious and climbing up me, little too young for rides

what she bought with Grandad's $15 souvenir money

Bryoy LOVED Minnie, except up-close :)



hotel rooms are just as exciting as rides to kids

Bryony got a Minnie Mouse with her $15 souvenir money and spent the whole day shouting "MIMI"with excitement every time she saw him/her. Her favourite part of the trip was this cardboard cut-out, ha. She is now very attached to her Mimi, and, along with Abigail being sick, this is my biggest memory of our trip. Bryony will forever love Mickey & Minnie Mouse!

Dancing

I really hope this video works:

Hand-Writing

Abigail's note to her sister:

I was so proud to tell her that I didn't need her to read it to me since I could read it myself!