Life With Ella

Grandma – to answer your question, helicopter is a game the kids play where they take a jump rope, spin around while dragging the jump rope on the ground, and the kids jump over the rope as it comes to them.  If the rope hits you, (I think a lot of the kids like to get hit) then you have to be the spinner.  Ella had ballet tonight.  This was her second week.  Ella did a fantastic job.  Here are the pics from today.

 Ella joking around with her friend Luke this morning.

 Ella, Luke and Emmi having so much fun in the morning.

 Ella  just loves this bar.

 Monkey bar madness!

 Our beautiful ballerina.

Ella had another great day today.  She said that she went to music, farm and garden and had Spanish.  Sounds like a super busy day!  Ella also had her first ballet class since June.  Mommy took her and said that Ella was so excited to be there and Ms. Laura was so happy to see Ella.  After ballet, mommy, Ella, Helen, Juliet and KJ had dinner at Nama.  I met them later at Blush.  Ella was just happy all day and night.

 Ella swinging the morning away!

 Lining up for school and giving Emmi some sweet love.

Ella had a terrific second day of school today.  Once we hit the school yard, she ran into her classroom, dropped off her backpack and sweatshirt, came running back out and started playing.  Mommy picked her up at 4:45 (Ella’s request because she wanted to stay and go to clay club).  Ella has been telling us things about her day in kindergarten.  Every morning, they do “focus study” which is a one minute meditation.  Ella says that she really likes it.  She also told us about something called “appreciation” where they go around the circle and say what they appreciate.  Ella told us that she said she appreciates her friends.  Another thing that she told us about was that her teacher, Ms. Luisa was telling the class that she used to live in NJ and that her family was there and she didn’t get to see them that much.  Ella said, “Ms. Luisa and I have a connection.  When you have a connection with someone, you do this hand sign”.  I asked Ella what the connection was.  She said, “I used to live in NJ too!”  I asked her when she lived there and she said, “When I was in your tummy”.  I told her that she actually lived in my tummy in SF but that she did have a connection with Luisa – that they both had family who lived in NJ.  Ella said that one of her other classmates also had the same connection.  This all sounds so wonderful.  Ella also told us yesterday that she had art (in the actual art room) and their assignment was to draw or paint something about them that was unique.  Ella told us that she drew a picture of Ella loosing a tooth and that’s what made her unique.  Great stuff!

 Hugs in the hallway from Stella and Juliet before school this morning!

 KJ started his first day of preschool today!  He’s going twice a week and Helen reported that he had a great day today!

 Ella and Emmi on the bar this morning.

 Lining up to go inside.  This is Ella’s teacher Ms. Luisa.

 One last shot before I leave the yard.

Another Strike Out Violence day has come and gone.  Another amazing event and everyone got some fun and meaning out of it.  Too bad the Giants couldn’t pull off a win!  Here are some photos from our day.  Here we are waiting to go onto the field.  Beautiful family shot.

 Me and Ella before the ceremony.  We were right there when the Diamondbacks were taking batting practice!

 Ella with mommy on the field.  It was a beautiful ceremony.

 Sweet kiss caught on the jumbotron.

 Lou Seal and some of the Giants during the National Anthem.

 Ella and her favorite Giant.

 Ella goofing around with Brickelle and Stella.

Today we all went to CDS and had our kindergarten orientation.  First, the kids went into the classroom and had their orientation and then an hour later, the parents went into the classroom and we had our own orientation.  It’s going to be an amazing year for Ella.  Ella was really happy to see her friends and sooo happy to see Ms. Alicia.  Ella saw her right before we were leaving and went in for 2 big hugs.  I think Ella will be so happy knowing that Ms. Alicia will be just across the yard from her this year.  Here are a few pictures Sunny took of Ella on the kindergarten line today.

 Sweet beautiful Ella.

 On the kindergarten line!  Ella and Emmi are very happy that they are in the same class.

 Here’s one that I took from the other side.  Ella is so sweet!

I know I haven’t been my usually blogging self…hopefully things will settle down and I’ll be able to keep it up.  These are Ella’s last few days before kindergarten starts.  She seems like she is ready to go.  Here are some pictures of the past few days.  I’ll write captions under the photos.

 On Tuesday night, we went to the Giants game.  Ella wore her Brian Wilson jersey that she got as a giveaway at a game a few weeks ago.  The Giants lost but we had a lot of fun.

On Wednesday, mommy stayed home with Ella and they had a very fun adventure.  Ella has been asking to go on this “Ride The Ducks” thing that goes on land and water.  Ella and mommy met the boat thing downtown and went on the duck ride!  Here is Ella in a taxi heading downtown. She loves riding in taxis.

 Ella and mommy stopped at an art gallery while waiting for the boat.  Ella decided that she wanted to quack at the art.

 Ella playing a good tourist.

 Here’s the Ride the Duck boat!

 Getting ready for the joruney.

 About to drive into the water.

 The captain.

 Beautiful city views from the Bay.

 Ella has been begging for roller skates.  Sunny found these skates that have 3 wheels on each skate.  Ella loves them but she is also so scared.  She doesn’t let go of us!

Ella is such a lover of life.  She finished soccer camp on Friday.  Ella had a great time.  I don’t know if I would have been able to handle being outside for 6 hours a day in the coldest part of San Francisco.  To quote one of Ella’s friends, “The only place you can get warm is in the bathroom!”  We had a great visit with Nikki B at the end of the week.  Today we went to a rally to support Chris Cunnie for Sheriff and then Ella and I went to the zoo.  We had a really fun day.

 Fun with friends on the crazy swing after soccer camp.

 Ella, mommy and Emmi.  Emmi and Ella had a sleepover here on Wednesday  night.

 Two beautiful princesses and a tag reader.

 Ella on her last day of soccer camp.

 One last swing…

 Ella loves all the big kids at camp and they love her right back!

Sweet Ella with her Chris Cunnie door sign.

 A few of the animals we saw at the zoo today.

 Ella loves the flamingos.  We saw a few of these guys eggs a few months back!

 One of the coolest parts about the SF Zoo is that there are peacocks wandering all over the place.

 Our beauty at the zoo today.  Sweet Ella is really growing up.