End of School Party

Earlier this week Ellie's preschool held a party for the end of the year as well as to say farewell to all the kids who are going to kindergarten next year. I wasn't able to attend, but Nick made it. Nick reported that the program (singing and performances by the kids) was entertaining.

The show got (kick) started with a performance by some of the kids who participated in the school's Kung Fu extracurricular offering showing off their skills. 

Then.. the kids who were "graduating" onto Kindergarten doing a group performance.. followed by some of them doing solo acts. Some of Ellie's good friends showed a ton of guts by getting up there to sing songs on their own. Some sang and one even played the piano. Ellie showed a lot of patience by sitting nicely in the audience and clapping when they finished and took their bow.

Of course, Ellie's friends on stage weren't the only ones singing.  Almost all their friends from class seated in the chairs just below the stage sang along.. including Ellie -- loudly.

Then it was time for the kids who were staying for another year or more to do their performances.  Ellie really enjoyed dancing, but didn't feel much like singing.  (This is despite her having no problem at all belting out "Doe, Ray, Me" at home.)  The kids have been practicing for about two weeks. Ellie would come home and tell us all about going to the "stage" and how we should bow. She would sing and dance and even taught us the twist.

She really got into a song that included portions of the dance where the kids are called to FREEZE by the singer. Ellie hit those parts right on.. not missing a beat.. and striking a pose each time the song told her to freeze.

Ironically, though.. as much fun as she's had doing it at home.. Ellie did not feel like doing "The Twist" for the next song.  Wonder why.  She told me afterward she was shy.. but I didn't buy that after having watched the prevoius dance/song.

After the show we ate lunch.. chowing down on chicken nuggets, pizza, spaghetti & bowtie pasta, as well as the fruit salad we brought as part of the pot luck.  Ellie's favorite part of lunch, however, were the mini cupcakes.

Now that the kids had plenty of energy (and a sugar rush to burn off), Ellie and her friends spent the next half an hour or so splitting time between the school's playground and hitting bunches of balloons (that had been decorating the stage) into the air like volleyballs.  They also spent some time dancing and spinning on an impromptu dance floor.

It was a pretty fun party.. and Ellie wishes her friends who are moving on good luck in "their big, big kid school.  I'm a big kid and I'm in a big kid school, but they are going to a big, big kid school."