Life With Ella

Ella was very excited to go to school today and super excited for ballet after school.  She decided to wear a headband today so that Alicia could make a special hairstyle.  Well…as you will see in the video, it certainly was a special hairstyle.  Ella looked beautiful and I think she felt really beautiful too.  She did a great job in class today.  Sunny came and surprised Ella and Ella got so excited that she kept dancing over to us and kissing us.  Of course it’s all on the movie.

Ella before ballet.  Notice the special side bun.

The class listening to a ballet story.

Ella coloring a picture of the ballet that they read.

Here’s the movie…

Everyone left on Wednesday morning.  It was a wonderful visit and we can’t wait for them to come back!  Ella’s teacher, Megan has been really excited about Ella’s progress.  Today Ella swam all by herself in the deep end (4 feet).  Here is the video from Ella’s ballet class on Monday.

Ella was wonderful at her ballet class today.  She was participating so beautifully.  Mommy surprised her by coming and Ella was so happy.  At points during the class, Ella would look over at Sunny and wave or blow a kiss.  So sweet.  I am so tired right now.This is my art shot of the week.

Here is the movie…

I am very tired but want to post Ella’s 5th ballet class movie.  Ella didn’t have school today so Alicia couldn’t do her hair…Ella had to settle for me doing it.  She told me that I did a good job, but probably not as good as Alicia.  Ella was once again enchanting in the class and she just has such a good time.

Look at the sweet little ballerinas.

Saying goodnight in cozy pajamas.

Here’s the movie…

Every week I say to myself that I am just going to drop Ella off at ballet school and go take a walk or have some coffee, and every week I find myself amazed by Ella’s love of the class.  Her enthusiasm and attempts at being graceful just grab my heart.  I can’t help but smile from ear to ear during the entire class.  I made another movie – pretty much the same as the last 3 weeks but different because I think Ella’s moves are getting a little better.  Of course Ms. Alicia made a beautiful bun for Ella and when Ella greeted me on the school yard this afternoon, she looked so proud and excited and just loved her hairstyle.  I think she also loves her special time with Ms. Alicia on Monday afternoons.  Things are great – enjoy the movie.

Ms. Alicia’s fancy work.

Ella wanted to wear her gold skirt today.

Ella showing off her ballerina strength.

Presenting Tutu School week 4

We went to the game today and had a great time.  The Giants didn’t have as much fun as we did.  They are going down hard.  Looks like we’re not going to get the wildcard.  The greatest part of today for us was that Ella got to give Lou Seal a great big hug.  Ella was so happy after she hugged Lou Seal.

Heading over to the game.

Happiness is…cotton candy, a cherry snow cone and a ball game.

Ella fooling around with her vampire lollipop.  Nothing like a lot of sugar on a fine Saturday afternoon.

Ella and Lou.

Here is another song that Ella did the other night…

Ella is doing so well in everything that she does.  She’s growing up right in front of our eyes.  Ella had a great week at school this week.  She is making new friends and loving her old friends from last year.  Its amazing to watch how her school life has evolved.  Tonight we had movie night with Stella and Juliet.  Before we watched the Bee Movie, Helen and Ron had dinner with all of us.  Sunny made delicious steamed clams and the ate almost all of them.  After the movie, the girls took turns singing into the microphone.  At the end of this entry is a movie of Ella singing 3 Little Birds with me playing a pretty sad ukulele and Sunny singing along with Ella.  It’s really cute.

Here’s a sweet picture of KJ with a little smile from the other night.

Ella and her friend Bella playing before school.

The Leaping Lizards coming out to the assembly this morning.

Ella saying hi to her friends from last year who are now in kindergarten.  It was like she was an old lady greeting people at a Bar Mitzvah.

Ella and Stella dancing tonight before dinner.  I guess they were at a royal ball.

The girls at dinner.

Empty clam shells from mommy’s delicious dinner.

Stella and Towby chillin’ during the Bee Movie.

What’s a movie without popcorn?

Juliet singing into the mic.

Ella singing into the mic.

Tonight we had dinner at Acme with the Kim/Arenas.  All the girls were wearing the same Cinderella dress.  We were sitting in a section at the restaurant that had a lot of empty space and our girls did the Cinderella ballet.  Below is also a video of Ella’s ballet class from Monday.

And now for the video…she’s becoming more graceful!

Ella had her first “ballet” class after school today.  During the school day, Ms. Alicia gave Ella a beautiful ballerina hair style so by the end of school, Ella was ready to dance.  The class was cute to watch but you could tell for Ella that it was very intense and exciting.  There were only 4 girls in the group and it seemed like they all had fun.  You can tell that Ms. Alicia and the CDS staff has Ella well trained because every time the teacher, Miss Alice asked a question, the other girls yelled out the answer and Ella raised her hand and didn’t say anything until she was called on.  Here are a few pictures and of course a video of class highlights.

Ella doing a little warm-up.

Dancing around the room.

Our little ballerina.  Check out the fancy hairstyle.

Today, Helen gave Ella a very beautiful twirly dress for a back to school present.  Ella LOVES her dress.  It also looks beautiful on her.  Tomorrow we have a school orientation – 10:00 for Ella 11:00 for Sunny and me.  Tonight at dinner we asked Ella how she felt on the first day of school last year and she said, “sad”.  We asked her how she was feeling about going back to school on Wednesday and she said, “happy”.  We asked her what she could do or say to the new kids who may be having a hard time.  She said, “I could hug them…”  We asked her if there was anything that she thought she could say to them and she said, “I love you”.  What a sweet kid.

Ella enjoying her new twirly dress.