Life With Ella

Last night was mommy’s last night in NJ – we love you – see you in a week!  It was wonderful being here with you.  We all went to the River Palm last night for a family dinner.  The dinner was great, Ella was fantastic, and Milo was terrific.  Here are some great shots from last night.

Before we all went out to dinner Ella helped grandma and papa water the flowers and clean off a little slide for Milo.

Mommy and Ella outside of the restaurant.  A beautiful embrace.

Cousins!

Our big girl…nothing spilled and nothing broke.

Ella loves her grandma and papa so much.

A serious shot.

Our beautiful family.

Milo and whipped cream – a beautiful combination.

Ella digging into her dessert.  I think she liked the ice cream as much as the chocolate lava cake!

Milo and AJ sporting the adorable stripes.

This is one of those self-portraits – thought this came out pretty well.

Sisters and cousins.  AJ – I think this is right before you fell asleep!  (Just kidding).

Ella took this one of Milo and AJ.

Ella standing on top of the old slide that she cleaned off  for Milo.

Visiting day.

Yesterday, it rained a lot during the day, but when the sun came out, we brought the kids to the park.  Ella tried everything and Milo pretty much stuck to the slide and the bouncy thing.  Ella brought her basketball and did some serious dribbling.

Milo and grandma own that slide.

Milo thinking about something good.

Ella showing off her basketball skills.

Fancy footwork on the balance beam.

On the bouncy bunny.

A big jump.

Ella and Milo hanging out.

Such a beautiful scene.

Mommy reading to the kids before we go into NY.

A “self portrait” of me and Normyn.

On Wednesday, grandma, mommy, Ella and I went into NY and saw a matinee of Mary Poppins on Broadway.  This was Ella’s first Broadway show.  We were sitting center orchestra, row J.  When the curtain went up, Ella began to shake and was overwhelmed.  She jumped onto mommy’s lap.  After about 10 minutes, she was in her own seat thoroughly loving the show.  It was so much fun to be with Ella to experience something so magical.  After the show, we waited at the stage door for the actors to come out.  The only actor who didn’t make it out was Mary Poppins, but Ella got autographs and photos with the other main characters.  Ella also got the Mary Poppins umbrella and purse and she said, “Why don’t we get an umbrella for Stella and Juliet?”  We asked her if this would be their present from NY, and she said, “yes” so we did.  In the evening, Emma and James came over and Ella had a blast with them.

Grandma, Ella and mommy outside of the theater.

About to go into the theater.  It’s getting exciting.

The show is about to start.

Ella and grandma during the intermission.

I snuck this shot during the show when Mary Poppins was flying away and the entire theater was filled with stars.

Ella with the actor who played Michael.

Ella with the actor who played Jane.

Ella with the actor who played Burt.

Ella with the actor who played Mr. Banks…Jane and Michael’s dad.

Walking back to the garage.

Ella with Emma and James – such sweet kids.  Ella really loves them.

Finding fireflies with Emma and James.

We have been swimming almost every day since we arrived and Ella is getting stronger every day.  On Monday and Tuesday, we mixed it up after swimming.  On Monday afternoon, we took a hike in a nature reserve right by grandma and papa’s house.  Ella loves to explore the great outdoors and we had a nice little hike.  The only thing that creeped me out was a deer tick warning.  We did tick checks after the hike.  On Tuesday, we went to papa’s club to swim and Ella took a swimming lesson.  The teacher worked on side and front breathing and Ella did a fantastic job.  After the club, we went into NY and met KK at the Plaza Hotel for an “Eloise Tea”.  Ella walked into the Plaza and she lit up like Annie at Daddy Warbucks’ house.  Her eyes got huge and she just took it all in.  We all had white napkins and they gave Ella a special pink napkin which she cherished.  Ella ordered the Eloise Tea (so did I) which had grilled cheese, cucumber, strawberry and cream cheese and peanut butter and jelly finger sandwiches.  Then there were 2 scones, and after that, chocolate dipped strawberries, brownies, chocolate chip cookies, mini cupcakes, and more stuff that I can’t even remember.  After the tea, we went to the Eloise store and we bought a DVD of the Disney Eloise movie.  After that, we went to FAO Schwarz where Ella ran back and forth on the giant piano.  Then we told her she could get one thing from the store and out of all of these amazing toys, she chose a fancy purple leotard.  We kissed KK goodbye and took one of those bike things down 59th street to meet Nikki B in the Time Warner Building.  We had a great dinner and finished it off with Ella having ice cream from Mr. Softee.  Wow!  What a day.  Today grandma, mommy, Ella and I are going to see Mary Poppins on Broadway.  Ella is just a little bit excited.

Ella doing ballet while mommy and Milo tap the ball keeping rhythm.

Some shots from our nature hike.

Ella and her swimming teacher Sarah.  Ella is such an amazing listener in her one-on-one lessons.

Ella and KK in front of the original Eloise painting.

Mommy and Ella showing us the poster to the Eloise store.

Ella stirring two cubes of sugar into her chamomile tea.

The food has arrived!  Look at this happy beauty.

This is the Palm Court where we had the Eloise Tea.

Ella strolling into the Eloise store.

Getting very comfortable in the Eloise chill spot.  Of course there was a giant TV screen in front of her playing an Eloise cartoon.

Walking towards FAO Schwarz.

Arriving at FAO Schwarz.

Fun on the “Big” piano.

Ella’s new leotard.

Playing around in a fun mirrored room.

Posing in front of the man and woman statues in the Time Warner Building.

Ice cream with mommy and Nikki B.

We spent this past weekend at papa’s club.  Ella has continued to LOVE swimming and it’s hard to get her out of the pool.  The club has been a nice change of scenery and we get to see papa there too!  On Sunday, Ella and I took a ride in the golf cart with papa.  When the ride was over, Ella asked papa if she could do it again at least 2 more times.  Milo has been so much fun for all of us and I think he even said “El” the other day while looking at Ella. Ella loves him a lot and he really loves Ella.Grandma, AJ, Milo and papa hanging out pool side at the club.  AJ and Milo in the kiddie pool. Grandma watching Milo and AJ in the kiddie pool. Ella  has no problem making friends wherever she goes.  She had a lot of fun in the pool with Sophia and Nina.  Ella met Sophia last year and they picked up where they left off. Ella and her cousin Jack playing the Hungry Hungry Hippo game. AJ, Sunny and I went into NY and got to meet the beautiful Twyla, Jordin and Kevin’s new daughter. Ella and papa walking off onto the golf course. Papa showed Ella the beginning of one of the holes and then we drove all the way to the end – right here! Golf cart driving fun! Grandma and Milo dancing to the Howdy Doody song. Grandma love.Two beauties. Mommy and Ella feeding Milo. Beautiful Ella!  Ella and Milo have a game where Ella builds the blocks up high for him and he knocks them down. 

The fun continues!  Ella has been having such a great time.  She’s been such a great big cousin with Milo.  Mommy arrived yesterday and we are all so happy!  Ella took her around, showed her everything, told her everything…it was so great.  Here are some pictures from the past day or so.

Sweet happy Milo.

On Thursday night, I went into NY and had dinner with Nikki B, and Ella stayed home and had a lot of fun.  I forgot to bring her ballet slippers so grandma let her borrow her shoes.

On Friday morning, one of my parent’s friends, Doris brought her grand daughter Stella over for a little visit.  It was great watching Ella talk Miley Cyrus, Toy Story 3 and Despicable Me with a 9 year old.

At first, we were all trying to help Ella give Milo a bottle but when we all “let go”, Milo sat up, stared at Ella and then leaned back into her…this is love.

After a very rainy morning and afternoon, we decided to go to a park with the kids.

Grandma and papa sending us off.

We tested out a new park and as you can see, the kids loved it.  Ella did a lot of great climbing and Milo did a terrific job on the slide.

It’s hard to believe that all the computer needed was a good night sleep, but whatever it was, it’s working again this morning.  Yesterday morning, AJ and Michael went back to NY and Milo and Normyn stayed with us.  Milo is such a great kid with a great disposition, but if he doesn’t have one of his main “peeps” with him in sight, he’s not a happy guy.  When AJ and Michael are not around, grandma is his main woman.  He is so cute and fun with me when his “peeps” are around but when they are not in sight, he cries and screams.  Yesterday, grandma was just downstairs and Ella and I were upstairs with Milo and he cried and cried.  Ella is so beautiful when he cries – she tries to comfort him, she rubs his back, she smiles at him.  It’s great to see her want to help him.

Grandma and I took Milo and Ella to the Leonia pool yesterday.  Ella continues to swim like a fish.  She is actually getting better treading water and finding air.  Milo stayed in the kiddie pool practically the whole time.  After the pool, I was supposed to go into NY to see Twyla – Jordin and Kevin’s new baby, but there was an accident on the GWB and there was no way that I was getting into NY.  Ella and I were supposed to go in a little later to meet Nikki B for dinner but the same traffic issues were going on.  I am getting a little NJ stir crazy but that’s OK.  After dinner with grandma, papa, Ella and Milo, Ella and I went on a little adventure.  Papa went to get his haircut and Ella and I followed about 15 minutes later as spies and spied on papa getting his haircut.  Ella told me that we needed to wear sunglasses and black suits, but we just settled for sunglasses.  After spying, we got some ice cream and came back just in time to catch fireflies.

Ella “reading” one of her old board books.

“Hey Milo – take a look at this book.”

“Really – it’s a good book…I think you’ll like it.”

“Put Me In the Zoo…it’s very colorful.”

Milo and grandma at the kiddie pool.  Milo pretty much walked around the edge of the pool.

Ella and I were playing a game where I poured water on her and she grew like a flower.  Here is Ella the beautiful flower.

Milo very happy that he’s about to eat dinner.

Ella and Milo were playing a game that Ella calls, “Drop it and pick it up”.  Milo drops and Ella picks up.

Here we are about to go spy on papa.

Searching for fireflies.

They are very serious firefly searchers.

Ella about to catch a firefly.  Notice the little spot right by her arm…that’s a firefly!

Papa sharing a firefly with Ella.

Here we are hanging out, being patient, and waiting for fireflies.

I shared my firefly with Ella.

Today was another really fun day.  We spent most of it at the pool.  Vaughn, Donna and Jay joined us today to help celebrate Milo’s birthday.  All day Ella was talking about the “pool party” that we were having.  We just all had a lot of fun at the pool.  Ella’s swimming is getting better by the minute.  She is fearless – and can hold her breath for a really long time.  I’m still working on the breathing thing.  It gets really frustrating for Ella.  After the pool, papa came home and all of us had dinner outside on the terrace.  Ella and Vaughn played together in her room and Jay said that Ella was really sweet with him and that played really well together.  Vaughn just turned 2 – Ella is really sweet with the little ones.  Unfortunately, I don’t have any pictures of Donna and Jay, but they were there and we all had a good time.

Ella made a lantern today during arts and crafts at the pool.

Beautiful grandma and Ella.

Ella and the Leonhart clan.  It’s incredible how much Ella looks like AJ.

Smiley boy.

Ella took all of these shots including the self-portrait.

Ella has mastered sliding down the pole.

Ella, Michael and Milo getting ready for the party.

Ella and grandma with their party hats on.

Ella and Vaughn having a conversation.

Happy Birthday Milo!

Ella and I kept our party hats on.

Sweet shot of Milo and AJ.

Ella and papa are getting ready to go out and look for fireflies.

They found some tonight and Ella caught a few (and of course set them free).

Ending a beautiful day and night talking on the phone to beautiful mommy.  We love you Sunny/mommy see ya in a few days!

Ella and I arrived on Sunday evening.  We love you and miss you mommy.  Can’t wait to see you on  Friday. It was a full house on Sunday night with Milo, AJ, Michael, grandma and papa.  Lots of stimulation and lots of fun.  Ella pretty much remains on California time which means that she falls asleep pretty late like 11:30.  Ella had grandma up pretty late playing the ladybug game.  Ella and Milo have a very sweet love for each other.  Ella just wants to love him and nurture him and take care of him and Milo follows Ella everywhere and doesn’t take his eyes off of her.  This morning we all woke up, played lots of games (Go Fish, Zingo, Hungry Hungry Hippo), I went and got a car and my mom and Ella went to the park.  At around 1:00, we all went to the Leonia pool.  Ella could not wait to go swimming.  She played around a little in the kiddie pool but spent most of the day in the big pool where she couldn’t stand but did a fantastic job floating and swimming.  She feels confident floating on her back, but her breathing for freestyle and breast stroke is pretty weak.  That is what I am going to work with Ella on this week…side breathing and breast stroke breathing.  After a long day at the pool, Ella came home and took a nap, Milo took a nap and I did some errands.  We had a great dinner and then loads of fun after dinner playing games, making up different characters and just laughing a lot.  It is great to be here with the family.  Hurry up Sunny – get here already!  LOVE YOU.

Ella and Milo doing some drawing.

Such sweet beautiful kids.

Ella and AJ playing Zingo.

Hey – what are you guys doing?  I want to play Zingo too!

Ella doing her backstroke.

Ella took this shot.

Ella doing arts and craft sat the pool.

Michael, Milo and AJ getting comfy in the kiddie pool.

Big cousin.

Ella getting ready to go into the big pool.

Me chatting with my childhood PE teacher while Ella shows us how well she can hold her breath.

Ella totally knocked out after a long day of swimming and playing.

Sweet Milo helped me gently wake up Ella.