Life With Ella

We have been talking about this for a while and were planning on sending Ella to a place that gives private lessons, but today was a beautiful day outside and we decided to take the training wheels off Ella’s bicycle and see what happened.  Ella was incredible.  We were hardly holding her in the beginning and after about 10 minutes, she was off to the races all by herself.  I think it was exciting and scary for Ella and she did such a great job.  The video shows Ella about 30 minutes into taking the plunge.  Now we’re going to get some great exercise running along side of Ella!

 Ella ready to take the challenge!

Ella has been totally into skating and heelying.  Below are some movie clips that grandma took and then one that I took of Ella on her Heelys and one from ballet today.  We miss you grandma!  We all got used to having you here.  So happy we’ll see you guys in April.  Ella has been doing great – she has a very easy transition back into school after 11 days being off.  Today Ella celebrated 100 days of school.  She was so happy to tell us about all the different things that she did in school to celebrate.  Ella’s favorite was making a necklace of 100 Cheerios.  She made it, wore it and then ate it.  Helen is having her baby today!  We can’t wait to meet the newest addition to the Kim/Arena clan.

 The Heely kid!

 A little taekwondo on a Saturday afternoon.

 Sweet Ella at ballet today.  She’s still having a blast in class.

Ella and grandma have been having a blast this week.  They have taken 2 ice skating lessons, gone to the Academy, out to lunch, taken a few trains and just have loved being with each other.  Grandma has documented the week for me and I am putting them up here.   Hopefully Ella will take a few pictures of grandma tomorrow.  The movie at the end is 2 days of ice skating, a magic trick and penguins being fed.

 Ella day 2 in the middle of the ice.

Our cousins were visiting this week and we got to see them for two dinners.  Here are Ella and Georgia at Scomas.  Ella and Georgia had so much fun together.

 Beautiful cousins – Bronwen, Georgia and Ella.

 Checking out the fish at the Academy.

 Eew…eels!

For the first time ever, butterflies landed on Ella at the Academy.  Grandma said that Ella was so gentle and patient.

 Hanging out after lunch.

 Serious and goofy.  Lots of love.

Once again I have fallen behind on the blog.  We all miss Towby so much!  The love and impact that Mr. Towby had on our lives is incredible.  Sunny and I got out of town on Friday and grandma and papa came to town to spend time with Ella.  Ella was so excited to be with them.  They had a fantastic weekend and Sunny and I had as good a weekend as expected.  Towby was in our hearts and on our minds.  We came back on on Sunday and got to spend some great time with papa before he went back on Monday.  Ella is off from school this week.  Grandma is here all week to be with Ella while Sunny and I are at work.  Ella is thrilled and I think grandma is too.  The photos I am putting in are from Ella’s field trip all the way through today when Ella and grandma took an ice skating lesson.  The video is from last Thursday when I took Ella to work with me.  The video is of Ella jamming with 2 of my 7th grade students.  Ella had a blast coming to work with me and the kids loved her.

 Ella on the morning of her field trip.  Ella was super lucky because mommy went on the field trip with her.

 Ella and her buddies Zach and Sakura.  Mommy drove the three of them up to Muir Woods.

 Ella and her Muir Woods journal.

Ella and her class listening to the ranger.

 Peace and beauty.

 Ella writing in her journal.

 Fun in the tree cave.

 Ella and some of her classmates.

 Writing down observations.

 Look at these majestic trees!

The Redwoods!

 Ella’s first swimming lesson in a long time.  Mommy said she was fantastic.

 Ella was rockin’ the drums at my work.

 Getting ready to hit the ice.

Ella and her ice skating lesson.  Grandma took the lesson too!  They are going back for another lesson tomorrow.  Hopefully Ella will grab the camera and take some shots of grandma.

 Love.

Another weekend has gone by and Ella had tons of fun.  On Friday night, Stella, Juliet and KJ came over for movie night and so Helen and Ron could go to a restaurant and watch the Knicks play.  On Saturday, Ella did a lot of Heelying – she’s getting pretty good, and then we went to south park.  Check out the video below.  Saturday night, Ella got to sleep next door while Sunny and I went to a kindergarten cocktail party.  We all had fun.  On Sunday, we had brunch with some CDS friends and then I went for an MRI.  Results should be in within the next day or two.  Fingers crossed everything is cool.  Debby and Toby came over while Sunny took me to the MRI.  We chilled at home on Sunday night.  Monday was back to work and school.  Ella is still very excited about reader’s workshop and is super excited to go on a field trip tomorrow to Muir Woods.  Sunny is driving and supervising Ella and a few friends.  They are going to have an amazing time.  Grandma and papa are coming on Friday.  This is totally exciting!  We can’t wait.  Sunny and I are supposed to go to Vegas for the weekend but we’re not sure what we’re going to to because Towby the dog is pretty sick.  We’ll see, one day at a time.  We really love the little guy.  I don’t think he’s ready to go, but it’s just so sad.  Tonight we had a valentine’s day ice cream party with the Kim/Arenas.  Always fun.

 Ella’s self-portrait.

 Friday might movie night!

Heelys!

 South Park!

 Valentines day at the kim/arenas.

Now for the movie…