Life With Ella

The zoo was a lot of fun.  Each child had a sketch book and they were drawing the animals that they saw.  All the kids were really focused.  We all had a great time together.  After the zoo, I took Ella to ballet where she continued to do a fantastic job.  I still can’t believe how many activities Ella can stand!  I am super tired so enjoy the pictures and the ballet video. THe girls and their sketchbooks. Lion love. Best buddies. I love this shot of the girls and the meerkat. Ella really wanted to sit on this turtle. Buddies at the petting zoo. Our prima ballerina.

We decided to keep Ella home from school on Monday – just waiting to hear from the doctor and make sure that she’s no longer contagious.  Ella had impetigo which sounds like a disease from the 1800’s and kind of looks like one too.  She’s been amazing and has really stopped picking her nose.  We think she’s good to go back to school but we don’t want to be that obnoxious family that sends their contagious child to school when taking an extra day could make a world of a difference as far as infecting other kids.  Today we met up with Debby, Toby and Rachel, had lunch at Nordstrom and then we finally made it to the Jewish museum.  It’s such a beautiful museum but really has limited art.  The Curious George exhibit was really interesting…the people who wrote the book escaped Nazi Germany, but I don’t think Ella was especially interested in that.  After the museum be had some delicious cream puffs at Beard Papa and then headed home.  After dinner tonight, Ella took a shower.  When she was finished, I took out a magnifying mirror and got her to take some of the stuff out of her nose.  It’s pretty gross, but it was all dried up and ready to go.  She got a lot out but when she saw that her nose was bleeding a little bit, she freaked out and started crying and wouldn’t get the rest of the stuff out.  I distracted her by showing her a Miley Cyrus video on my iTouch.  She said that her nose was hurting her a lot.  I think it probably did because it was raw, but the blood scared her.  Ella said that she really wanted to go to school and that she missed Ms. Alicia.  I don’t blame her.  She also said that she didn’t want to miss any learning.  I assured her that she would hopefully be back on Tuesday and that she had a lot of learning ahead of her.  ELla also told me that she really missed grandma and papa.  I told her that I spoke to them today and they really miss her too.  We’ll all see each other again in 7 weeks.  The photos today are unedited – it’s not so bad. Ella on the train headed downtown. This is a drawing of a baby hippo with glasses. Ella and Rachel on the water steps. Finally!  At the Curious George exhibit. Ella got this toy at the museum.  She was making “contraptions”. Ella took this picture of her contraption.  Look at her cute feet!

Today I got a call at around 12:00 that Ella had a fever (between 101 and 102) and that I needed to come and get her.  When I got her, she was warm, her eyes were glassy and she just wanted to get home to bed.  Ella was very sleepy but cooperated and took some tylenol.  Her fever came back at around 7:00 so we gave her more tylenol.  She is sleeping soundly right now and I just checked on her and she has no fever.  When Ella woke up this morning she said, “Only 2 days ’til grandma and papa!  She is so excited to see you guys.  We can’t wait to see you guys and hang out.  We love you.  More on Ella’s health tomorrow.  My tooth is doing alright.  A few more days of meds and I’ll be great.  Goodnight.

It seems like Ella is going through a huge growth spurt both emotionally and physically.  Ella is much better at listening and having a conversation.  She’s very curious and asks appropriate questions.  When she is interested in something, she wants as much information as you can give her.  Physically, she has been eating a lot which is great, she is much more confident in sports and she loves jumping around.  Here are 6 pictures of Ella, all taken on December 14 starting from 2005.  What a difference. December 14, 2005 December 14, 2006 December 14, 2007 December 14, 2008 December 14, 2008 And here we are today, December 14, 2010.  Ella is trying out her new Hannah Montana Rock Band guitar.  It’s gonna take her a little while to master it, but she is being patient and learning how to do it.  I love you beautiful Ella.

It was almost impossible to wake Ella up this morning.  I had to go through every character that I have in order to get her out of bed.  I also bribed her with her new gumball machine.  Anyway, once we were in the car and listening to Hannah Montana,  Ella was full of energy.  Once we got into the classroom, she was off to the races.  We walked through the gates with Brickelle this morning and I think this made her so excited that she couldn’t contain herself.  We also told Brickelle about Ella’s new guitar and it turns out that she has one too!  Ella was also excited to see Alicia.  She feels like Alicia understands her Hannah Montana obsession and she has fun with her about it.  I was worried that Ella was going to be a wreck today because of her cold and everything but it sounded like she was hyper and wide awake all day.  By the time I picked her up to go to ballet, Ella was full of life and fun and was very spunky.  You have to watch the ballet video to truly understand Ella’ s goofiness.  She had a great time.  The kids weren’t even irritated with her.  They just all played along.Here are some pictures from the class.  My ambien is working so I have no idea what I’m really writing.  Hope it makes sense. Really paying attention huh?  Why is everyone else sitting up?So here the teacher was telling them that they were swimming angels and that they were supposed to swim through the bubbles. All of a sudden, Ella was like, “I am an alligarot fairy and I am going to eat all the bubbles…chomp, chomp, chomp! Trying to focus.Ella learning to spin without getting dizzy. ONe happy goofy dancer.

Not too much to report from the day – I have a job interview on Monday and if it goes well and if everything is cool, I’ll talk about it.  Ella seemed to have a great day at school, Sunny had a good day at work so life is beautiful.  Ella and Sunny had dinner and stuff together and I got my Brazilian Blowout.  I just edited Ella’s swimming lesson.  It’s kind of long, but grandma – since you have some time on your hands. You can critique her style.  Sunny and I went downtown to see an art installation tonight.  One of the artists is the father of one of Ella’s old classmates.  It was cool work.  Sunny took this cool shot of the top of City Hall…Now here is Ella’s swim lesson video.  Good night.

Today was our last Chanukah family share day as a Leaping Lizard family.  This is sad for us because we love Alicia so much and never want to leave her class, but we must just be in the here and now, one day at a time and enjoy each day that Ella has in preschool.  The family share was a lot of fun.  We shared about Chanukah.  Sunny told the Chanukah story, I read a book that I worked so the kids could say the same line at the end of each page.  The interactive reading got them excited about the dreidels.  After the story, Ella went to the front of the class to explain the Hebrew letters on the dreidels.  The class was then each given their own dreidel.   Ella did a great job teaching – check out the video.  And the class did a great job listening and playing dreidel together in 3 groups.  We all had a lot of fun.  Tonight, Sunny had to go to a board meeting and I had to volunteer at Ella’s school so we didn’t have our first night of Chanukah together.  Instead, I lit the candles with Ella and then Sunny and Ella opened their gifts together.  Mom – it was great talking to you today – you sound great.  Hang in there.  Relax as much as you can.  Love you. The dry erase board. Ella at circle time. Ella and me lighting the candles.

Last year, right after Ella’s birthday, Stella, Juliet and Ella got dressed up in their princess dresses and went bowling.  Ella told us that she wanted to do that again this year and to also invite Brickelle.  Instead of wearing her princess dress, Ella decided to wear her Hannah Montana costume.  Brickelle wore a Tiana dress and Stella and Juliet looked beautiful dressed like normal kids.  It was great because KJ and Brooklyn also came so we had a whole clan at the bowling alley and then at Mo’s afterwards.  This was the first time that Ella had a private playdate with Stella, Juliet and Brickelle – three of her favorite people.  They were all really sweet together and it was great.  When we were driving home, Ella said, “This was the best day ever!”  So happy it worked out and that everyone had fun. ELla on her way down to the car.  Her red cowboy boots finally fit her! Ella, Juliet and Brickelle getting ready to bowl! High fiving Stella. I think Ella’s ball weighed one pound more than mine.  ELla also almost beat me!  It wasn’t my best bowling game but I had so much fun! ELla put the ball on the ground and rolled it down the alley at first. Stella had a pretty good throwing technique. Brickelle was more of a gentle roller. Concentrating on the roll. Two cute kids in their crazy costumes. Pretty great shots consicering that we’re working with 6 kids who are pretty hungry! An early dinner. THe girls having fun with their Hannah Montana disco balls. KJ!!!!! TIme to say goodnight. More saying goodnight. Checking out the emply skating rink. THe perfect Hannah Montana outfit including the sneakers that Ella got from the Kim/Arenas.  She LOVES her new sneakers.

Incredible!  The Giants won the World Series.  I was in LA when they won game 5 and I was on the phone with Ella and Sunny.  Ella was so excited and to quote Ella, “Mommy was screaming her head off!!”  I wish that I could have been with my girls, but being on the phone was a beautiful thing too.  Ella had a great Halloween.  After going through the neighborhood and collecting lots of candy, we went to the neighborhood Halloween party.  Ella had fun with some old friends and then we headed over to Noe Valley to spend Halloween with the Kim/Arena clan.  Ella loved trick or treating with her buddies.  We bumped into a lot of CDS families on 24th Street and that was a lot of fun too.  On Monday, Sunny and Ella dressed in their Giants jerseys for work/school.  I saw a picture (so will you) and they really looked so cute.  I got home tonight, and we are going to go to the Giant’s parade tomorrow.  Ella is skipping school (with Ms. Alicia’s blessing) – thank you Alicia!  I am super tired, so now I will post my pictures. Ella and her neighborhood buddies Jack and Ava last year and this year. Dorothy, the Cowardly Lion, Annie and Madeline. Ella showing her buddies the locket that finished off her Annie costume. Sunny getting a huge hug from KJ. Serious trick or treating. KJ thought his lion head was annoying but look at how cute he is! The Cowardly Lion and the Scarecrow. These guys are just so cute!  What a fun Halloween. Helen and Ron crossing the street with the clan. Another glow stick dance party! Our doggie Towby Ross. Ella getting ready for school of Monday. Ella on a new “chair” in her classroom holding a picture of Bug that she place on the Dias de los Muertos alter in her classroom. Ella and a bearded dragon from Tree From Trecks. Ella s haring the dragon with mommy.  I think Ella is a little more brave than mommy.

Just wanted to post these early afternoon Halloween pics before we leave for a party, trick or treating with Stella and Juliet and the airport.  Happy Halloween everyone!  Watch the video – it’s a killer.Annie with her freckles and then Ella and Ron in the hallway. Towby decided that he would play the role of Sandy. We bumped into Stella and Juliet while we were waling through the neighborhood getting candy from the stores. Family halloween lunch at the Burger Joint. Ella made this sign for the trick or treaters in the building.