Life With Ella

Tomorrow is Yom Kippur – the Day of Atonement.  After a great day at school and hanging around after school, we came home and got ready for our evening together.  Tonight, Hannah and Max came over for dinner and movie night while their parents were at temple.  Ella had a really fun time with them.  When Ella gets happy and excited, she talks really loud.  She was at full volume tonight.  The kids watched the Princess and the Frog and then we all watched the end of the Giants game.  Come on Giants!  Keep our first place position.  Not good to lose games right now.  We are just going to lay low tomorrow.  Happy New Year.  May we all be sealed in the book of life. Ella with her buddy Casi at the assembly this morning. Ella and Emmi watching their buddies in a short performance. Ella lighting the shabbat candles. Let’s eat! Hannah, Max and Ella watching the Princess and the Frog.  Fun night.

Ella woke up at 4:00 am calling for me.  I went in and she told me she wanted to come into our room.  I took her back with me because I was so tired.  She seemed fine – it didn’t seem like she had a nightmare or anything.  She has done this a few times in the past few weeks.  I wonder if this is how she is reacting to Bug’s death.  Who knows – I’m not pushing it with her or asking her any questions.  I’m not going to start making things up and put them in her mind.  Anyway – she was pretty tired this morning when I woke her up, but she was still excited to go to school.  That’s a beautiful thing.  Today Ella started her ballet classes up again.  Ms. Alicia made Ella a beautiful ballerina bun that Ella loved.  Sunny took Ella to the class because I had a meeting but I forgot to give Sunny the camera so the pictures will have to wait for next week.  Today Ella’s Hannah Montana costume arrived.  Ella has been begging for it ever since she saw it in a catalog.  It arrived today and Ella wore it after her shower, through dinner and all the way up until it was bed time.  She didn’t want to wear the wig for some reason, but she did put on quite a show for Sunny and me.  She is so cute it’s crazy.  I caught some of it on video but I can’t post it until my computer comes back from the shop on Thurs.  For now, here are some cute photos. Ella on the way to school this morning…looking a little sleepy! Ella at the end of the school day looking sassy in her ballerina bun.  Too bad you can’t see it! Our little Hannah Montana.   She loves this tacky costume!

Today we started our day at the Java House to meet with a candidate who is running for supervisor in our district.  A bunch of our friends and neighbors were there.  Ella wanted to ride her bike there and the weather was beautiful so we did just that.  After the event, we went over to the Barry Bonds baseball field to meet up with some of Ella’s buddies.  We came at the tail end of her friend Leo’s birthday party.  They were having a baseball game.  Ella, even though she had on one of her sundresses, wanted to play with the guys.  She did a great job and had a lot of fun.  After the game, we went to Sports Basement and bought some gear for Ella’s upcoming soccer season.  She is so excited to be on a soccer team.  The team is called the Black Widows.  I think the jerseys are going to be hot pink with a black spider.  Tonight as Ella was falling asleep she said, “I can’t believe that I am going to be on a soccer team.  I am so excited.  I have no idea how to play soccer.”  I told her that we had no idea how to play either but we needed to figure it out because Sunny is going to be one of the coaches. Mighty Ella and her bicycle. Ella playing ball! Ella and her buddy Eli decided that they were goin gto stand on third base together. “baking” cookies!

As I am writing this post I can’t stop thinking about Bug.  She died 2 weeks ago today.  The pain and sadness I feel is so deep right now.  I miss her so much – especially late at night – she used to stay up with me.  Sometimes it’s easy to just love her and remember her but sometimes it’s just so painful.  Right now is one of those times.  I wish Bug would just walk into the room and tell me that everything would be ok, but she won’t.  I just need to be with my tears and emotions and just let myself feel.  I had so much love for that dog.  Love is the best.          Today, we went to an all school picnic for Ella’s school.  It was actually on the campus of the school so it was so much fun.  The kids played with eachother, we got to connect with other parents, and we were able to watch Ella interact with all of her school buddies.  I think the picnic was great for the old and new families.  After the picnic, we came back here and Ella got ready for Taekwondo and I stayed back to deal with a Comcast issue.  When Ella and Sunny came back, Ella and I went to Stella and Juliet and KJ’s to play.  The girls all had a lot of fun.  We came home, cooked dinner and then we watched the sound of music.  I think Ella was pretty into it,  She loves music so much.  I didn’t take any pictures at the picnic.  Just believe me when I say that it was a lot of fun. Ella before taekwondo class. Playing around with friends in the class. Stella and Ella creating with dough. Ella was playing dress up over at the Kim/Krena household.

Hard to believe that this week is over.  It’s been quite full and I’m not even working right now.  This morning when we got to school, Alicia gave Ella a part in the assembly.  Ella and another kid were supposed to hand over the keys to the school to our new head of school, Molly.  They were actually these huge keys that each pre school class made. Ella did a great job – she was really cute.  After school Ella and I went to Bi-rite and had delicious salted caramel ice cream.  After ice cream, Ella and I visited Becca at work.  Remember- she is the head of Animal Care and Control here in SF.  She thought they had a dog that we might like.  We got there and met a really sweet whippet/italian greyhound/chiuaua.  He was really sweet but really hyper and immediately lifted his leg and peed on a garbage can (inside).  He loved Ella, but I don’t think he’s the dog for us.  We need one who is completely housebroken.  After that, we had dinner with Stella and Juliet and watch a Madeline movie for Friday night movie night.  We had lots of fun. Big girl walking out to the assembly. Just simply beautiful. Ice cream at Bi-rite. Ella doing some learning at home.  She loves these books! Friday night movie night!  I guess this was a serious part of the movie!         Here’s the video…

First, I need to write about Ella’s day at school.  We both picked her up and she was in such a great mood.  Sunny asked Ella how her day was and she said, “It was the most awesomest day”.  Then Sunny asked her to name 3 things that made her day so awesome.  “First, Ms. Alicia sent me to the big building all by myself to go pick up some words for the assembly.  I felt like such a big girl.  I knew that I could do it and I did it.”  This was so huge for Ella.  It was like her whole world changed today from that walk to the main building.  The other two things that made her day so awesome were “playing with Emmi and that I love coming to school.”  How beautiful is that?!  We got home and the Annie wig arrived.  It is a very cheap wig and looks crazy, but Ella was so excited to put her whole ensemble together.  After staying like Annie for a few hours, Naomi and her friend Marin came over for another Rosh Hashana dinner.  It was a really sweet night.  After dinner, they all danced a little to Miley Cyrus/Hannah Montana and then we broke out some instruments.  Ella played the ukulele and then took out her trumpet and made some pretty cool sounds. Here she is…Little Annie  Tweety wanted to try on the wig. Lighting the candles all by herself. Pretty good family shot. Dancing with Marin and Naomi. Our little trumpet player.

Happy New Year to all who celebrate.  I can really use a new year about now.  Maybe we will welcome a new puppy and maybe I will get a new job or start a new career…who knows!  Ella continues to be so happy at school.  It’s a beautiful thing.  I still remember her first day back in 2008 – wow – we have all come a long way!  After school, Ella helped us get ready for Rosh Hashana dinner.  Sunny cooked a delicious dinner – brisket, rice pilaf, broccoli, carrots, Debby brought a wonderful kugel and Becca brought a delicious dessert.  Ella and Jaeden had a pretty good time with each other.  They have very sweet moments and then they have their moments where Jaeden does things to try to push Ella’s buttons and he does exactly that.  The evening was filled with high energy and it ended with Debby and Toby reading Ella the Eloise book.  Ella went to bed pretty late tonight – sorry if she’s exhausted tomorrow Alicia! Ella at school this morning.  That’s Ms. Gladys in the background. Ella and one of her buddies Emmi working on a puzzle this morning. Sweet Ella before her shower. About to light the candles to bring in the New Year. Very serious about lighting the candles. Part of the ritual. Ella drawing and Jaeden right behind her threatening to erase her work. Working on cooperating. Good idea Deb – split the dry erase board in half. Debby, Toby and Becca after a great meal. Love you – happy new year…now it’s time to do the dishes! Ella’s artwork from tonight.  Check out the butterfly.  Ella told us that Alicia found a butterfly (dead) yesterday and the kids got to observe it under the magnifying glass.  I guess it made a pretty cool impression because this is the first time that Ella has drawn a butterfly in such detail.