Elle is 5 !!!

 Well, Our Favourite little 4 year old had a big celebration....or should I say celebrations to welcome in birthday #5 .It all started 1 week before the big day. A local indoor entertainment centre Crystal Palace, has a freebee morning once a year, the Friday before March break. They open at 6:00 am, and are open till 9:00am. Every ride is free, and there is a free breakfast there as well, for everyone to enjoy. Needless to say we have been there every year since we found out about it!! AND because it is so close to Elle's birthday , we invite the cousins, and a friend to come along for the fun!!

    The night before the big day, Terry ,Jenny and girls came to have a special birthday supper with us..the menu of which Elle got to choose by her very own self....so of course we had ..wait for it....what else....but every 4 year old-turning 5 year old's dream dinner.....pork in cream of mushroom soup, over rice!!!The poor cousin's were not sure about the party fare,but Elle enjoyed her favourite meal quite thoroughly

                                       Here are the happy diners

                            Now for the cake..Elle had requested a ballerina cake, so I had improvised and decided to make her a Barbie cake. She was thrilled by the thought of being able to keep the doll!

                                              Tasting the dress!!

                                   While she ate her birthday cake, she asked Aunt Jenny if she could sit on her lap to eat..Aunt Jenny said she would be honoured !!

           Now came the presents...the cousins' home made presents that is.. We as a family were saving ours for her real birthday ,and Aunt Jenny hadn't gotten hers done for Elle yet either. Well, no matter, the cousins did themselves proud!! Everyone had a gift to give made from tiny hands and big hearts..

                                   There was the paper kite from Cassie..

                                  Penelope got especially excited and while Elle was having a private moment in the bathroom, burst in and placed the priceless gift in Elle's hands....Elle not bothered in the least promptly opened it, and everyone was happy!

                                      Which was by the way a paper hat complete with long paper hair attached....just what every girl needs!!

                                        Charley sewed her an adorable little snuggle animal

                            Now the following morning dawned bright and early.....5:15 a.m. early!! and we were on the road by 6 . When we got to Crystal Palace , girls were very excited!! We were on ride after ride until closing time!

                           Em and Charley are the best of friends and were glued together all morning

 Here they are before attempting the scariest ride in the palace...THE SWINGS!!!

  
 And there they are flying away...Jenny's and my hearts were in our throats the whole time watching them, but they did glorious, and those big toothed grins were all you could see when it was over, and they were asking to go again!!

                    Then Emmy asked to try the climbing wall...

                            Sadly this is the only picture I have of the birthday girl herself...my battery in my camera died, and so I didn't get to take all the shots I wanted...

                                   Well,  here we are mid morning on our way home, and as you can see...everyone was tuckered right out!!

                               Eva, Emily and Adrianna ..Elle's best friend

                                            It was a quiet ride home, (for a change!!)   And Elle had had quite the times celebrating her big day....however..the celebrations were far from over.....to be continued!!