Life With Ella

Ella had a great day today.  At assembly today, the 8th grade buddies for Ella’s class performed.  They usually sit with their buddies during assembly.  I looked over at Ella’s class to find her and there she was, sitting between Ms. Gladys and Ms. Alicia.  She had such a huge smile on her face.  I was wondering why she was sitting there, but she told me she wanted to.  I think that she may have been talking a lot because she was so hyper and happy in the morning.  After school, Ella and I went to Bi-Rite with Brickelle and her family. The girls had so much fun together.  Tonight, we had Friday night movie night over here.  Yesterday Stella requested that we watch Pinocchio.  We all watched Pinocchio while Helen and Ron went out and did some grocery shopping.  Maybe next time they will actually get to go out and have dinner or something!  Of course Friday night movie night was a blast and KJ hung in there and had so much fun with all of us. Gladys, Ella and Alicia singing happy birthday at assembly today. I love these two together! Ella and Brickelle after school.  That stuffed animal thing is part of Brickelle’s class.  Each kid gets the chance to take it home for the weekend.  Akilah said that the first thing she was going to do with that thing was put it in the washing machine! Sharing ice cream with the thing.  By the way – Ella decided that she was going to wear a tank top to school on Thursday night.  She wore a tank top and a sweater but Alicia said that once assembly was over, she took off the sweater and just wore her tank top all day.  I guess Ella can’t wait for the summer. The upside down hug. Friday night movie night!

On Tuesday, Ella yelled out, “Oh no – I just saw my shadow.  That means 6 more weeks of winter!”  I told her that I thought that applied to a groundhog, not Ella!  Then we asked her where she heard about groundhog day.  She said that Alicia taught the class about it.  This morning (Wednesday) Ella woke up at 6:30 on her own (I usually have to wake her up at 7:00) and she said that she was very excited to find out if the groundhog saw his shadow or not.   Tonight Ella told us that when Alicia told the class that he didn’t see his shadow, she got very excited and jumped up and down on her knees.  I don’t know how much of this is true, but I think it’s great that she’s paying attention and is retaining so much information.  Ella also told me about a part of a movie about bees that she saw today.  She said, “Did you know that bees only live for 1 month?  That’s sad.  A month is very short.”  I told her that she had every right to be sad and then I told her that maybe in the bee world, a month felt like 100 years for us.   Ella hung out with Stella today while I gave Juliet her piano lesson and then Juliet joined them.  Ella loves Wednesday afternoons. Today before I went over to Juliet’s, Ella came running into my room, curtsied and said, “Your majesty”.  She is one funny kid! Buddies watching Madeline. Ella loves practicing!

Ella’s swimming lesson was cancelled today so Ella and Brickelle had a playdate after school.  Needless to say, they had a blast! Ella and Brickelle exploring all the different instruments that we have. These guys crack each other up! Ella was teaching Brickelle how to maneuver those little squirmie things.  They were practicing in front of the big mirror upstairs.

The Leaping Lizards did a great job on Friday.  They were all adorable, they looked so sweet, they worked really hard and it paid off.  Alicia – you picked the perfect thing to do.  It was short and adorable.  As a few parents who are not in our class commented…it was almost TOO much cuteness.  The video is of Ella and the job that she had.  Her friend Emmi hogged the mic, but instead of Ella pouting or crying, she hung in there and just let it all happen.  When her friend Clark came up to the mic late and tried to talk to Ella, notice Ella’s hand gestures.  Priceless.  So much more to report from the weekend but I’m so tired so I’ll just leave it at the assembly.  Hope you are all having a beautiful weekend. Ella walking out with her buddy Cassi.Ella probably finding mommy in the audience.Ella and Emmi causing trouble. Ella seems to think that something is funny.Here’s a video of the announcement and song.

Today was another gorgeous day here.  Ella and I went over to the ballpark to go on the slide and play in the little ballpark.  Ella hit the ball so well!  Time really makes a difference.  I did some pitching to her and she was able to really hit the ball!  Sunny met us over there and then we had lunch at the Crossroads Cafe.  All day, Ella kept saying, “I need to go to Stella’s knitting club”.  I guess Stella told Ella that she was having a knitting club today.  We checked it out with Helen and she said that they were having company today so there was no “knitting club” but Stella has been trying to do finger knitting lately so it wasn’t so far fetched that she would have told Ella that there was a knitting club at her place – it sounds like she wants one.  Ella kept wanting to see Stella and Juliet this evening but they were out.  Ella left a note on their door but I guess they got home too late to come over.  I hope they have their knitting club sometime this week. Walking over to the slide. They are slowly turning the field back to a baseball field.  There was a football game there a few weeks ago.  We’re ready for baseball. Totally tall enough for this slide and about 1/2 inch to go for the big slide. Miss Thing at the Crossroads Cafe. The face of a child who just had some delicious hot fudge on her ice cream. More practicing on her own.

I haven’t written in a few days.  Ella has been great.  Nothing new to report.  There is a big MLK assembly tomorrow at school and Ella’s class is participating with their 8th grade buddies.  Stay tuned tomorrow for a video and some pics.  We did a video chat with grandma tonight and she is making a remarkable recovery!  Grandma drove for the first time today.  Ella loved hearing that news. A little sleepy – Ella and Ann heading to the elevator to go to school.  Check out the cool sweatshirt. Ella drawing in her new cool book that AJ sent today.

So Ella’s fantastic weekend started at the Kim/Arena’s house on Friday night… on Saturday, Ella went to Taekwondo and then went to Brickelle’s for a sleep over.  Ella was so excited about sleeping at Brickelle’s house.  She even told her Taekwondo teacher about it!  Ella and Brickelle had a blast and thanks to Akilah, I have lots of photos to post.  The report from the Bixler house was that the kids were great –  they went to sleep at around 10:00 and woke up at 5:15!  That’s way too early!  Ella kind of struggled through the day today because she was so tired but we had a really nice brunch with Julie and Gilana and then had some serious hallway playing with KJ, Stella and Juliet.  Tomorrow we are going to the zoo with the Kim/Arena clan.  Ella is excited to hang with her buddies and to see the wandering peacocks. Before Taekwondo, Ella was packing her Hannah Montana backpack. Beautiful little toughie. Ella is not as aggressive throwing punches as she is with her kicks.  She had a blast in class. Pure happiness.  Somehow, Ella got lip gloss on her eye lids and her cheeks. Ella loves Brickelle so much that she actually let her take her braids out! Costume change! Ella and Brickelle very early this morning.  They both look so happy. Skateboarding Tiana. Teeth brushing in the morning. Bak at home with incredible focus on 7 hours of sleep.At Crossroads with sweet Gilana.