Life With Ella

Today was a big day for Ella.  She started the morning with her class doing the Friday morning assembly.  The class did a great job.  Ella had a few little parts and did them with lots of cuteness.  After school today, Ella had baseball practice and then she participated in a Korean Heritage event.  Ella’s Taekwondo teacher asked her if she would like to participate in a Taekwondo demonstration with some other students.  Ella was the youngest and the smallest and had the lowest belt and she did such an amazing job.  Videos of the assembly and of the Taekwondo are at the end of this entry.  After that, we came home, had movie night with the Kim/Arena kids and now Ella, Stella and Juliet are happily all sleeping in Ella’s room.  Pure heaven for Ella.

 A few shots from assembly today.  In the last one, it looks like Ella is choking her buddy Cam!

 What an amazing event for Ella and for us to able to watch.

 Panda is just one of the gang.

 

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I started writing this Sunday night and got super tired so I am continuing tonight (Monday).   First of all, happy mother’s day mom.  I love you so much.  You are the greatest mom.  Sunny and I woke up this morning and Ella was standing in our room.  She made a card for us out of a swimming certificate that she got last year.  She wrote, “Happy Mother’s Day mommy and mama.  I love you”.  Ella.  How sweet is that - she did it all by herself.  Nobody had to remind her or do it for her.  Ella is a terrific person.  On Saturday, we went to the zoo with the Kim/Arena clan.  All the kids (Except Isaac) had their faces painted.  Saturday afternoon, Ella went to Taekwondo (as a tiger) and then after we just hung around, had dinner, watched the baseball game and then Sunny and I finally watched Bridesmaids which really made us laugh,  Today, we went to Dolores park and had a picnic with Debby, Toby, Phyllis, Michael, Hannah, Naomi, Azana, Sog, Nicole, and then we bumped into Julie and Gilana and then our friends Candace and Courtney.  Ella played hard.  It was a lot of fun.  What a great day…nice and easy.

What a beautiful group of tigers and zebras.

 Friends forever.

 Sort of crouching tiger.

 Ella loves figuring out melodies.

 Schlepping the picnic basket down the hall.

 Trying to climb the wall at Dolores Park.

 Climbing up the web.

 Having a blast on the slide.

 Our little monkey.

 This is such a cool playground.

 Amazing view from the top of the slide.

 Best kid in the world!

 Ella took this beautiful shot of mommy.  You can see Ella in Sunny’s sunglasses.

 Picnic shots.

Things have been super hectic for us but wonderful for Ella.  Last week, Ella and her friend Tate’ had farm duty at school.  They got there a little early, went into the farm with Ms. Misty and found some eggs in the chicken coop.  They also did some clean up.  This week, it was Ella’s turn for the class share.  They usually have an assigned share, for example…bring in your favorite book or something that you do with your family or teaching the class how to do something.  For the last share, they can share anything they want except a toy.  Ella decided that she wanted to share Panda.  Ella’s teacher Luisa agreed to let Ella bring in Panda and on Wednesday, Sunny brought Panda to school and Ella presented him to the class.  Sunny reported that both Ella and Panda did an amazing job.

 Ella and Tate’ on farm duty.

Ella listening to Panda’s heart beat at the vet’s office the other day.

 Panda and Ella - they are quite a team!

This was a very busy weekend for us.  On Friday after school, Ella had baseball practice and then went to her friend Emmi’s birthday party.  Emmi’s party was a blast and Ella’s favorite girl band from school, Vons da Qua played at the party.  Ella was mesmerized and at the end of the party told me that she feels like she’s a member of the band.  She’s so cute.  When we came home, we celebrated Juliet’s birthday with Juliet and the Kim/Arena clan.  Good times and delicious ice cream cake had by all.  On Saturday, I took my big test.  I have no idea how I did but I feel so happy that it’s over.  Sunny and Ella went to the Country Fair at CDS and then I took Ella to her baseball game while Sunny went to a real Giants game and watched them take their first win in a while.  On Saturday night, I took 2 of my students to go see another one of my students in a musical and Sunny and Ella had dinner with Hannah, Naomi and Phyllis.  Today, Ella and Sunny took bike ride and took Panda to a dog run and I had a softball game.  This afternoon, we went to Juliet’s birthday party at Pump It Up.  The party was terrific, Ella had so much fun and then we came home and all spent the evening in the Zen garden eating left over birthday party food.  What a great weekend (except for the test).

 The little girls watching the big girls.  Quite amazing.

 This weekend was Emmi’s turn to get Trilby so Ella, Emmi and Trilby got another photo of with VDQ!

 Beautiful night with the Kim/Arena’s to celebrate Juliet.

 Ella at her baseball game after thir.  She had Panda “face painted” on her.

 Lots of bubbles in the garden.

Dancing with panda.

 CUPCAKES!

Today is a very special day because it’s the birthday of a VERY special woman, mom, grandma, wife, friend… We love you so much.  Wish we were there to give you a huge hug.  Hope you have a beautiful day.

 Ella getting ready to go to the game tonight.

 

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Before I forget, Happy Birthday Nikki B!  We love you.  We’re so happy you’re so happy.  Today, Sunny brought Panda to pick up Ella at school.  Ella was in heaven and all of her friends got to meet him.  Panda was super sweet with the kids.  Sunny took some great pictures.  We are going to have a busy weekend of sports…Ella has a game tomorrow morning, we are going to see the Giants on Saturday night and then I have a softball game on Sunday.  Test studying is going well…I really hope I pass the first time around!

 Sweet Ella at ballet this past week.

 Ella and Panda this morning before school.

 This morning there was a sustainability fair at Ella’s school.  Her class and the other kindergarten class were on a mission to save the parks.  They had us write postcards to Governor Brown saying, “Please save the parks.  Keep them clean and green”.  Ella was super proud of the work they did.  We were proud too.

 Ella and her friend Macy hard at work.

 Ella getting mommy a pen.

 Panda picking up Ella from school.  All of her friends rushed to say hi to him.  He was terrific.  Stayed right on Ella’s lap!

 Warming up before baseball.

Ella and Panda are quite the pair.  Ella is being so responsible with him.  Every day when we get home from school/work, she takes him for a walk.  Of course either Sunny or I am with them, but Ella is the one who does the walking with Panda.  Every morning, Sunny takes Panda for a walk, they come back at around 6:30 and he races up the stairs and jumps into Ella’s bed.  It’s so much easier for me having Panda wake up Ella.  He puts her in the best mood!  She does need to catch up on her sleep though.  Life continues to be busy and crazy.  I think both Sunny and I will feel less stress by the end of May.  Not too much longer to go.  Here are 2 pictures of Ella and Panda from today’s walk.

 They bumped into the Quacker boat mascot.  Panda was not freaked out at all!

 2 beauties strolling down King Street.

Today was Ella’s first baseball game.  If you call it T-ball, Ella will correct you because nobody on the team hits off a T.  The whole team is hitting off the coach and today, the coach was me.  Ella did a great job!  She got hits, played first base and also was the catcher during one inning.  She is totally into it and we love it.  We decided to keep Gabe who Ella has re-named Panda.  He is such a sweet little guy and Ella is totally in love with him.  He has a great personality and is really mellow.  On Friday night, we had all the kids over for movie night and Panda was wonderful.

 A little tree pose before the game.

 Sweet Mr. Panda.

 Ella is totally into walking and taking care of Panda.

The next two weeks are going to be a little stressful for me.  I have a big test to get my Music Teacher credential on May 5.  After that, I’ll be good.  I will do my best to pass the test.  Ella has been in camp at CDS all week - her school is on Spring Break.  So far, they went on a mural tour, went to AT&T Park and got a tour of the ballpark. went to the Bi-Rite store (the creamery was closed when she was there so she didn’t get any ice cream), and today they went to the SPCA and met a lot of animals.  Speaking of animals, we may be adopting a new dog.  He is a 5 year old chihuahua named Gabe.  He was found wandering the streets.  He is sweet and gentle and kind and needs love.  He jumped into Ella’s lap the first time he saw her.  We’re going to to take him for the weekend and see how it goes.  Ella totally loves him.  Tomorrow Ella goes to a tea house to have some tea and stuff.  Here are some pictures from this week and last weekend.  We went to opening night at the ballpark - the Giants won and we saw some great fireworks afterwards.  Ella’s bike riding is amazing and all she wants to do is go ice skating!  Oy vey.

 Ella going up the VIrgin AMerica tunnel at the ballpark.

 Beautiful Ella at the game with cool light up gloves.

 This was after ballet on Tuesday.  Hannah’s mom Meghan and I could not stop laughing and didn’t have the heart to tell Hannah about her little situation.  I don’t even think Ella noticed!

 Ella made this cool hula hoop house today before camp started.

Beautiful Ella after camp.

 Ella and Gabe.  Let’s see how this weekend goes…

We went to NJ for Passover and had a wonderful 4 days with family and friends.    It was a really sweet visit.  We loved being with the family.  Ella and Milo continued their love fest from the week before.  I have a lot of pictures to post.  Thank you for a great Passover grandma and papa.  We love you guys.

 The “kid’s table” on the first night of Passover.

 Ella was thoroughly entertained by Milo and his Cat In the Hat antics.

 Ella studying the haggadah.  Every year she gets  more and more into it.

 Bronwen found the afikomen this year.  Here are the beautiful cousins after the afikomen was found.

Sweet conversation after dinner with Wendy, Vicky, mommy and David.

 On Saturday morning, we had a great visit from Jordin, Twyla and KK.  Loved listening to these 3 beauties on the piano.

 Everyone on their way up to Fireman’s park.  Ella was way ahead of the gang.  I remember the days when it took Ella 20 minutes to walk 2 blocks!

 The kids had a blast at the park.

 Walking back to the house.  Look how tall Ella is getting!

 Second night of the seder.  Lots of love at the seder table.

 Ella and Sam looking for the afikomen…Ella found it!

 Nikki B had a lot of fun doing some are with Ella and Jack.

 Ellal drawing a picture for Jack.

Grandma and papa love at the end of the night.

 Ella reading a good night book to Milo.

 Trip into NY to go to the Museum of Natural History.

Ella and grandma ready for an adventure.

 Ella groovin on the dinosaur bones.

 Mommy, Ella and grandma having fun with the dinosaur exhibit.

 A huge mind blowing whale and an even bigger sequoia trunk!

 Fun times coming home from Gobo.

 We bumped into my old friend Gred and his family at Wood Park.  His son Loden looks exactly like Greg did when he was a sweet young boy.

Grandma and Milo strolling through the park.

Just one more goodnight story!