Life With Ella

Ella performed in her third MTW musical last night.  They did songs and a small dialogue from Mary Poppins.  As always – Ella was wonderful.  She was a little less shy and self conscious this time.  Ella had a terrific surprise tonight.  Her wonderful teacher Colette came to the show to give Ella some love.  Ella was so happy that Colette was there.  Things are winding down over here.  I have my big concert tomorrow and Ella has her assembly and book publishing celebration on Friday.  We can’t wait for that!

`Sweet Ella did a great job singing her heart out and doing her part as Mary Poppins.

 Ella and Colette – sweetness!

We’ve all been so busy, but I wanted to put up 2 videos from the past week.  Ella was in the play Peter Pan and she learned how to do the trampoline a lot better at Juliet’s party.  First, here is an amazing shot of Ella that Ron took.

 Incredible shot!  Thanks Ron.

The Peter Pan video is about 12 minutes or so.  I just did the songs and the scene that Ella was in.  It’s very cute.  The jumping video is fun and Ron is a special guest star.  Enjoy!

From baseball to soccer to monkey bars to the Exploratorium to trampoline birthday parties…Ella is just loving life!  Here are some shots of great times with Ella.

 Ella and her buddy Rosie going in for the chest bump.

 Ella is really enjoying soccer this year and she’s getting pretty good!

 Best friends.

 Ella and Marlowe had a great time at the Exploratorium.  The new place is great!

 Ella really likes my sunglasses.

 Cutest catcher in the world.

 Climbing all the way to the top!

 I took this shot at around 7:45 on Sunday morning while taking Panda for a walk.  It was something really special to see.

 Ella and Emmi – the birthday girl.

 Ella and her sweet friends Emmi and Marlowe.

Here are 2 videos of Ella in action.  The first is monkey bars backwards and the second is at the House Of Air.

This is a record for Ella.  Ella has had a fever since Monday morning.  She has been an amazing sick kid.  Sunny took her to the doctor today and he said it was probably the flu.  She seems to be on the mend.  I get to stay home with her tomorrow.  Here are some shots from the weekend and a video of Ella bowling a spare on Saturday night at Yerba Buena Disco Bowling.

Ella and Marlowe at the disco bowl!

 Ella and Jayden playing air hockey on Sunday night – the kids played hard while we watched the Super Bowl.

 Panda resting on Ella while she relaxed and had some soup.

Brushing teeth and keeping the chills away.

There is a lot to say/show in this entry!  First of all…Happy Birthday Papa/Dad.  We love you very much.  There is a short video message from Ella at the end of this entry.  Hope you have a great day and we can’t wait to see you.  We had a very busy Chanukah weekend.  After Becca’s party on Saturday night, we went to Julie and Gilana’s party on Sunday afternoon and then we went over to the Levinson’s house for another celebration on Sunday night.  We all had so much fun at all the parties.  Ella is a little hustler when it comes to playing dreidel.  Ella published her second book at school – it was another small moment story and this time it was about going on the Radiator Springs ride at Disney.  She’s doing a great job at her story writing and her illustrations have become very detailed and really cool.  Tonight, Ella had her performance of Aladdin.  It was terrific!  Stella and Juliet came with us and they were such wonderful supportive friends.  I am posting the video on this entry.  It’s 14 minutes long, but I have to say, it’s really cute.  Ella sang a few lines by herself and of course Sunny and I cried.  Ella was sweet and poised and so wonderful to watch.

 Ella was a hustler during the dreidel game.  Check out all her gelt.

 Lighting the menorah at party #1.

 Lighting the menorah at party #2.

 Hanging out with the guys.

 Night 3!

 Stella and Juliet having fun before the performance.  Ella was cracking up watching them.

 One happy child.

 Ella was being a refrigerator in one of the drama exercises.

 Ella and Jaspre – one of her musical theatre friends.

 Ella and her teachers Sofia and Michelle.

 After the show with Stella and Juliet.

 It was my birthday!  I was in Disneyland and the new cars ride was opened.  I was racing.

 Then we went to Luigi.  He said “you have to get your tires changed before you race”.  He said this thing lifts us up.  I felt happy.

Finally the car started to go faster and faster and I won the race.  I thought to myself this is fun.

Tonight is erev Yom Kippur.  Sunny and I went to temple while Ella hung out at the Kim/Arena’s.  We feel so lucky for our beautiful friends/neighbors/family!  You guys are the best.  The news this week is that Ella had her first sparring TaeKwonDo class on Saturday.  I got it on film and it’s pretty funny.  Ella and her sparring partner were not interested in hurting each other.  At the end, they were doing a very funny kick dance.  Watch until the end!

Ella and Emmi at assembly last week.  We were sneaking them donuts.

 Ella with her hair down after school.  this is a rare occasion these days.  Lice is living well at Ella’s school.  So far, we have escaped the little critters.

 Some cool sparring shots.

 Ella and Marlowe at Gilroy Gardens.  We had a fun Sunday.

Ella went back to ballet class this week.  She threw herself into it and really loves it.  On Tuesdays, Ella is taking a musical theatre class.  She had it tonight and said that she really loves the class.  Parents are not allowed into the theatre, so you’ll have to wait for the video in December after the class does their final performance.  Not sure if any of you remember, but Ella was a pretty hysterical hula hooper up until pretty recently.  The video here is of Ella hula hooping on Friday before the school assembly.  Now she is one amazing hula hooper!

 Our beautiful ballerina back in action.