Life With Ella

This has felt like a long week back from such a great break.  Ella has a little cold but has been a trooper about going to school, ballet, and swimming.  Just a little runny nose – nothing major.  Today in school, Ella told the class that she celebrates Chanukah and Christmas.  When I heard this I thought about it for a little while and realized that we do celebrate Christmas with Helen and Ron and the kids and they celebrate Chanukah with us.  At this point, Christmas is not about religion for Ella – it’s about the overall holiday experience and we are going to go with wherever she’s at.  Here are a few pictures of Ella over the last 2 days and then some great photos of Ella swimming today.  Enjoy. Ella at the elevator on Tuesday morning – all ready to go to school. In the car on the way home from school today looking as beautiful as ever. The walk from the train to the pool.Now for all the swimming shots… notice that Ella is swimming a little freestyle, she has on flippers, she is using a kickboad, and she is spending much more time alone.  I can’t wait to go swimming with her.

Today was really Ella’s birthday – we have been celebrating since Saturday and we have a lot more celebrating to go.  Ella had school today since it’s a private school and Sunny and I were off from work.  We spent the day cleaning the house while Ella was having a blast in school with her teachers and classmates.  At 1:45, Sunny and I went into Ella’s classroom, brought cupcakes and showed a slide show of our trip to Disney.  The kids seemed to like watching the video.  Ella’s classmates sang Happy Birthday to Ella in 3 languages…Spanish, English and Chinese.  I caught it all on tape and that will be at the end of this entry.  After school Ella had swimming and Sunny went and got some great footage…maybe I’ll make a movie tomorrow night.  After swimming we met a bunch of our friends at Los Jarritos.  It was a lot of fun.  Ella is one loved child who loves right back!  What a beautiful day for beautiful Ella.

Brickelle, Brooklyn and Ella hanging out after school.

Fun and love at Los Jarritos.

Now for the super cute singing

We just came back from an amazing weekend.  Sunny left for LA on Thursday to do some work and Ella and I met here there on Friday.  We stayed with Jesse and Heather who recently purchased a great house and were wonderful hosts.  This weekend, we celebrated Ella’s birthday a little early.  We started out on Friday night with dinner with our cousins Robbie, Aaron and Izze.  Izze’s sister India couldn’t make it – she was home sleeping.  Here are some shots from the dinner…

Super cool Ella on the airplane.

Ella and Izze really had fun together.

Ella with Izze and her dad Aaron.

Super sweet cousin hug.

The whole gang after dinner.

Ella dancing around the grove.

Here is Ella playing with Jesse and Heather’s newest addition, Snake who is such a sweet dog.

Ella exploring the Bird of Paradise plant in Jesse and Heather’s courtyard.

Walking towards the park

Ella getting a happy birthday call from Goofy.

OK – here’s the story…I am so tired that I can’t go on so I will continue this tomorrow night.  Goodnight.

Yay! Lauren/Mama is home!  and she as I knew she would fixed the problem I had with getting the pictures on here–so here goes Grandma and anyone else who visits this terrific site!

Today was fun and sweet yet again. We went to Fairyland with the Kim-Arena clan and the girls had a good time- naturally they went on the  junior Ferris wheel  several times, back to back, if we let them, they would be circling around and around till sunset!–and to think not too long ago, Ella and Juliet were crying to get off that ride! After Fairyland, we met Phyllis, Hannah, Charlie, Naomi and Michael at Aunt Mary’s cafe in Oakland. Hannah and Charlie work at the cafe — it’s a great and comfortable cafe–It was also terrific to have relaxed time together and after Ella got some good food in her–she was the bell of the ball–cracking  jokes and cracking everyone up– Charlie made Ella a hot coco and made a heart with the milk foam on top– Ella got a good kick out of that–I would post pictures of the cafe part but didn’t have my camera on me and still awaiting the pictures from phyllis camera–HINT HINT PHYLL!

When we got home–Ella was good and tired and just wanted me to read to her–so we did –it was so cozy and warm  after being out in the crisp weather all day–the night was completed with dinner at out friends next door and to watch the Yankees clinch the division series! Congrats Papa and Grandma and all the family back east!

Ella and I are so excited to pick Mama up at the airport tomorrow-as Ella said–“we will be all back together again soon”- we are also so excited that Grandpa and Papa, AJ and Uncle and Milo will be making their first trip West and that Uncle Jesse and Aunt Heather will be coming up to NorCal and staying with us also! We love this!

So this will probably be my last blog posting for a while, then again, I am getting a little more in the groove with this–so I may be checking in more from time to time–thanks for teaching me everything I know beautiful Lauren!

Good night all-

Sunny/Mommy

P.S. I SPOKE TOO SOON–I AM SO SORRY–FOR SOME REASON–I CAN’T UPLOAD THE PICTURES FROM TODAY–WAIT TILL THE REAL PRO GETS HOME TO TROUBLE SHOOT AND INSERT PICTURES LATER–PHEW!

sunday morning with dora, pasta and the NYtimes

Amazing picture, Ella said she wanted to write the music to Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, she drew numerous lines and then asked me to draw a note, I drew one musical note and she ran with the rest!  Incredible!

Chubby Bear met us at the entrance of Fairyland

Excitement

KJ dreaming about joining the girls one of these days!

the yearly tunnel crawl! Ella now needs something more challenging!

The 3 Amigas swing on!

Sweet Juliet waiting for the happy train

Adorable girls still waiting for the happy train

what a beauty–at the end of a full, fun and wonderful day!

Mama took a red-eye last night to New York to visit with the family and to spend more time with Jamie and Milo. So this is my first blog attempt and let me tell you I am in awe of you Lauren on so many levels!-not only are you an amazing blogger, but doing this almost nightly even after long days at work and energetic nights at home and to do this with passion and creatively and gusto–is amazing! You’re amazing!

So on to today-It’s the first trip Lauren has taken without Ella and the first time Ella and I have spent days together alone. While Ella and I miss Mama so much, the time with Ella has been so beautiful and fun and loving. Today started out terrific, we got to school and the LL buddy’s where already in the classroom waiting for their little friends to take to the school’s assembly. It was so wonderful as Ella loves Cassi and so does Brickelle–the three of them are so sweet together.

When I picked Ella up at the end of the day–she was outside at the playground –she saw me coming and and came running and jumped up  to hug and said “I knew you were coming to get me today, because Mama is in New Jersey.” Ella has been saying incredible things and clearly talking about this new experience not having Mama here 24/7–a few statement: “Mommy, can you believe it’s just the 2 of us” and Mommy, I miss Mama and love you too.” and “Mommy let’s go on the airplane and go to New Jersey”–and then right after that, “will you go swimming with me so I can show you how good I swim”–So this beautiful Ella continues to astound me with her emotional honesty and pure joy for life.

After school, We went to Becca’s work at Animal Care and Control. Becca was great,  showing her usual patience and care by taking a lot of time showing Ella around. Ella wanted to see ‘ALL the Animals”– especially pet all the bunny rabbits! After spending a good hour at ACC, we went home to bathe, make brownies and rice pilaf together to take over to Stella and Juliet where we had a great dinner prepared by Helen, topped off  by watching Kiki for the Friday Movie Night feature. By the way, the Yankees won game 2 in a walk off Home-run by Mark Teixeira–Happy for our New York family!

Ella and I send love and kisses to you and Papa and Grandma, Milo, AJ, Uncle Michael and all the beautiful family and friends in NY/NJ

So Mama we miss you so much and so happy you are having time to  yourself and we love you so much–Good night or Good morning!

P.S. So Sorry–I have tried for over an hour to upload the pictures –not sure how this is going to show but tried– 

This morning Ella woke up in a great mood.  She told me that she wanted two braids in her hair so I attempted to make 2 braid pig tails.  It was a pretty good first attempt…Ella was happy.

Before I get into the braids, I just wanted to show this picture that I took last night when Ella was sleeping.  The flash didn’t bother her and she didn’t wake up.  When Ella saw this she said, “Oh, so I do close my eyes when I fall asleep.”

Here are the braids.  Ella does a great job washing her hands at school in the morning.

Ella on the trampoline while friends Bella, Brickelle and Remy patiently wait.

Buddies!

The girls were really having a great time.

Have you ever had so much fun at 8:15?

Really sweet kids.

While Ella was having a fun day at school, Sunny and I were at home fasting and getting hungrier by the minute.  We both picked Ella up from school and she greeted us with big hugs and another wonderful ballerina hairstyle by Ms. Alicia.  Thank you for taking such great care of Ella.  She really looks forward to your time together where you help her transform into a ballerina.  Here are a few pictures and of course a video that is way too long but if you love Ella, you’ll love the  video.  Sunny and I both went to the class and we were so impressed at who Ella is turning into.  Ella is not a follower and not really a leader either.  She is a happy, confident independent spirit who loves and is present with what’s right in front of her.  The ultimate buddha.

This was taken at the end of class.

Ms. Alicia’s latest and greatest.

Here’s the movie.

Here is a video of Ella cheering at the ballgame today.

Here are some pictures I took over the weekend.  Ella said something about wanting to wear shorts so we put this outfit on her.  She really loved it.  Ella pretty much looks adorable in anything.