Life With Ella

As most of you have read, Ella’s class is studying bees this semester.  Today on the way home, I asked Ella if she learned anything wonderful today.  “Yes we did” said Ella.  “We learned that the drone bee gives the queen bee sperm and then she lays her eggs and then bees come out.  The queen bee can live for 7 years.  The drone just dies after he gives the sperm”.  Well there you have it.  The story of the drone and the queen bee told by a 5 year old.  It was beautiful out so when we came home, Ella went for a bike ride.  After the bike ride, Ella had her piano lesson.  Ella is doing so well.  She learned 2 songs today!  She has an amazing ear and she doesn’t really look up at her music which is beautiful in one way and not so great in another way.  I was like this too and my reading could be a lot better.  I’m thinking of teaching her how to read the notes on the staff and maybe that will get her interested in reading music.  Sunny and I went out tonight and Ella got to hang out next door.  We all had a great night. Checking out the water. Pure happiness. See ya later. Playing with the remote control helicopter.  Check out the video – mostly piano lesson and a little bit of helicopter flying.

Ella had a day off today because it was a teacher work day.  We ran some errands, got Ella new ballet slippers and a new leotard tutu combo.  After that we ran some more errands and then Brickelle came over at 3:00 for her piano lesson.  I asked Ella if she would cooperate during Brickelle’s lesson and just hang out downstairs with us and do her own thing or go upstairs and watch TV.  She chose to hang out downstairs with us and she did a great job.  Brickelle also did a great job focusing on her lesson.  After the lesson, the girls played for a little while and then I took Ella to ballet.  Ella was terrific in class.  The kid who growls was there again – I think Ella kind of gets a kick out of her.  Tonight after dinner, Ella took some batting practice with Sunny in the hallway.  We’re getting her ready for T-ball which starts next month. Ella and Brickelle in the stairwell after Brickelle’s piano lesson. Ballerina girl…you are so lovely. Using the force to hit the ball.  I don’t think Ella realizes that she closes her eyes when the ball comes.  These photos are a great learning tool!  Who knew? Getting into the zone. Game face.

Sometime in the middle of last week, Ella decided that on Sunday (today), we were going to go to the Aquarium by the Bay and then bungee jumping.  Today was an absolutely beautiful day and we had a great time.  Not much to say – the pictures and video pretty much say it all.  Actually, Ella got pretty mad at me today.  Ella loves jumping up and down on the bungee but she’s always a little afraid of flipping.  Today she decided that she wanted to flip, but she wanted to do it by herself…she didn’t want the guys to help her.  Ella was just too light to flip by herself so the guy wanted to help her.  I was encouraging  her to let the guy help her and he finally did.  Ella actually didn’t mind flipping but she was pissed that the guy did it.  She had a look on her face when she unhooked from the bungee thing and Sunny asked her what was going on.  Ella had a very mad look and Sunny asked her what she was mad about.  She looked straight at me and pointed to my face.  She was mad that I kept encouraging her to let the guy help her.  She said that she wanted to do it by herself.  I was happy that she could do that – that she could tell me that she was mad at me.  I told her that I was sorry.  She was cool with that. Bubble girl! Patiently waiting to touch the sharks and rays. Check out the wet arm and hand. Going for it – the shark hat kid next to Ella was annoying. Great form!  This was before the flip.  I didn’t catch the flip on video, but the video is really sweet.

Ella has a full Monday again.  First she goes to school and after school she does Tree Frog Treks and then I pick her up and take her to ballet.  The ballet class was very small today.  The teacher likes it that way because she then has time to really teach all of he kids.  One of the kids was totally new and the other one has been around but she has some issues.  For example, she growled during some of the class.  Ella did a great job and she loves her teacher Laura so much.  Here are some pictures and video. Before ballet!Everything is beautiful at the ballet.

Today was Ella’s ballet recital.  It was a small recital – just for parents/caregivers/friends/ family.  Ella was very excited about it.  She also had a fantastic day at school.  Alicia was out for the whole week last week and Gladys was out for 2 days.  Today Alicia and Gladys were back and all was good in Ella’s world.  She was wearing a Hannah Montana brand shirt that Aunt Heather had given to her, and Ella couldn’t wait to show it to Alicia.  Ella gets so goofy with Hannah Montana.  Maybe one day she’ll be able to really explain it.  After school, Ella started Tree Frog Treks again and met a bearded dragon named Pablo.  After the recital, we went to Pier 39 and had dinner at the Crab House.  It was delicious and Ella remained excited and happy throughout the meal.  We all need to hold onto the love and sweetness in life.  There are too many crazy things going on around us all.  Love and peace is where it’s at. Ella right before ballet class. Getting a pep talk from Laura the ballet teacher. Stretching… Getting excited. Listening to directions. Ella is leading the marching line. The scenic shots!  Heading over to the crab house. Gorgeous sunset.

First of all, Ella is still lice free.  Alicia did not find anything in her head this morning.  Ella greeted a very clean Ann this morning.  Thanks for taking such great care of Ella and Ann, Alicia!  You’re the best.  Today after school, I gave Ella her second piano lesson.  It’s been really great teaching Ella and Juliet.  Since I am very serious about teaching Juliet and am trying to figure out the best ways to really get her ready to play and enjoy it, I have the same amount of commitment to teaching Ella.  Both Juliet and Ella are doing a great job and they are both succeeding in working with me as their “teacher” and not Juliet’s buddy or Ella’s mama.  So far, it’s working out really well. I can’t wait to take them to the next level.  Ella did a great job today in her lesson.  She can play Mary Had A Little Lamb by reading the finger numbers that I wrote in her book, and she can identify the keys on the piano.  I am also having both of them go up and down from C – G and back several times in a row hands separate and hands together.  I filmed Ella’s lesson a little bit and I am putting it at the end of this post.  She has amazing focus.  After the lesson, Ella took a shower and headed over to the Kim/Arena’s house.  She was so happy to spend the night over there, watching movies, eating popcorn etc.  Sunny and I went out to dinner with Donna and Nikki B. It was great to see them.  Helen and Ron overheard the girls talking and plotting to get Ella to sleep over…”what if your parents forget about you?  then you can sleep here”.  We came home at around 9:20 and Ella and Juliet were curled up next to each other sleeping on a mattress on the floor.  They looked so sweet.  I picked up Ella and took her home.  We have to have the girls sleep here one night.  Thanks Helen and Ron for taking such great care of Ella. The beginning of another head check.  Ella loves Alicia so much that she doesn’t make a peep when Alicia is going through her hair.  She also doesn’t care about how tight her ponytail/bun thing is!  If I did it, I would be screamed at.  When you got it, you got it. Our little piano player.

Today was Ella’s first ballet class in 3 weeks.  She was so happy to be back and she had a fantastic time.  They are having a little performance in 2 weeks and the kids were learning little parts.  Ella is the leader in the skipping part.  The video is really cute.  Ella is super focused. Our beautiful little ballerina.

Ella got up right away when I woke her up this morning.  She was super sleepy but very excited to go back.  Her nose looks so much better but it still looks pretty raw.  Ella went into the classroom and gave Alicia a huge hug.  Next she yelled for her buddy Emmi and then her fun day began.  Ella got to see Brickelle outside at around 10:00 and that totally made her day.  It’s so wonderful to see Ella in a place where she loves so many people and so many people love her.  On the car ride home, she was talking about one of her friends and she said that sometimes she didn’t like to hang out with her.  I asked her why and she said it was because the kid said that Hannah Montana was gross.  “The thing is,” Ella said, “she doesn’t even know about Hannah Montana and I don’t appreciate that”.  I told Ella that everyone is entitled to have their feelings about things and that hopefully she’ll be able to talk to her friend about this the next time it comes up.  Ella was pretty tired after school.  Ella’s new favorite book arrived yesterday.  At the end of this entry, she is giving a little synopsis of the book.  It’s very cute.Ella putting our project from yesterday up on the window.Very happy kid. Oh no – Ella is a little hooked on Angry Birds.

This morning we were on our way out to Dim Sum and we bumped into the Kim/Arena clan in the garage.  Justin and Julie gave Juliet an Escalade for Christmas!  The car drives 5 mph and Juliet is an amazing little driver.  When we walked into the garage, Juliet was backing the car up.  She saw Ella, got out of the car, opened the passenger door and said, “Come on, hop in Ella”.  Ella got in and off they went (the garage door was closed so they didn’t have too far to go).  The video at the end is a short clip of their joy ride.  Of course Ella wants to drive it and maybe she will be able to in the next week or so, but for now, Juliet is in the driver’s seat – literally.  The 5 of us went to Yank Sing for brunch and it was wonderful.  Later on in the afternoon, we went to the movies to see Gulliver’s Travels.  It was pretty stupid but Ella did laugh out loud a few times.  I’m just happy that we decided to see the regular version and saved some money on an unnecessary 3-D movie.  Tonight we had a delicious dinner at home and just relaxed and enjoyed each other.  At around 8, we went over to Stella and Juliet’s house to exchange Christmas gifts.  The girls were so beautiful together…they were self sufficient, no fighting, and the adults were actually able to have meaningful conversations.  The day and night were fantastic.  Tomorrow we go to see the Nutcracker.  Hope everyone had a great Christmas or some great Chinese food and saw some good movies. Juliet taking Ella for a spin. Ella and mommy having fun while grandma is just happy. Grandma and Ella in front of the Christmas tree at Yank Sing.Grandma, Ella and papa at the movies.Helen and KJ, who really wanted to use his screwdriver on something. The girls on their cool ride.