Life With Ella

It’s been a few days – seems like there have been so many things going on.  Friday was Ella’s last day of school until the new year.  On Friday morning, all to the parents were invited into the classroom to see “All About Me” a culminating project.  The kids sang some songs and then presented their portfolios to us.  I am going to take some pictures of Ella’s work and put it on the blog, but for now, I’ll just say that it was a great morning.  Ella was really proud to show us her work and she did a great job showing it to us.  I can’t believe how much Ella has grown up.  A little later on in the morning, the whole school had their Winter Performance.  This is always a sweet event where most of the parents cry because the kids are so cute.  The entire pre school performed “Free To Be You And Me” with a 7th grade soloist.  It was really cute – you’ll see it at the end of the blog.  Ella loved singing the song around the house and she was really excited for the performance but as you will see, she wasn’t so into it during the performance.  She said she loved it but I couldn’t tell!  She looked squished up and unfocused, but as long as she had a good time that’s cool.  On Friday night, Sunny and I helped work a faculty appreciation party at one of the parent’s house.  It was truly a beautiful evening and the teachers and administrators loved it.  Sunny and I did coat check and it was a big job!  Ella slept over at the Kim/Arenas.  Ella had a great time of course and then in the morning, we took the girls to our place.  They played really well all morning and into the afternoon.  They are really wonderful together.  At 1:00 I took Ella to a birthday party, Helen too Juliet to get a hamburger and Sunny hung out with Stella.  After the party, we picked up Sunny and then we went to TaeKnowdo.  Ella is getting it little by little ind it’s so great to watch.  With a little more time, Ella is going to be good!  After all of the activities, we came home.  Sunny and I went out to a holiday/birthday party which was great.  Got to spend some time with people we really love.  Now we’re home and getting some rest for Sunday.  First thing in the morning, we will be taking the kids from next door to our place and entertaining them until their place is ready for Stella’s 6th birthday party!!!  How exciting.  After Stella’s party, Ella’s friend Emmi is going to come over and we’re going to take then to see Yogi Bear and then Emmi will sleep over.  On Tuesday,  I am getting my tooth pulled so Ella is going to go to camp on Tues and Wed.  I’m gonna probably need some rest. Ella presenting her portfolio to us. Here are the 3 of us checking out Ella’s work.  Thanks for the pic Alicia.After lunch having ice cream and chocolate sauce. The morning after the sleepover.  Now back over at our place. Ella and her TaeKwonDo class.  What a great experience for Ella.Now for the Free ToBe You And Me movie.

Ella woke up at around 5:30 this morning complaining that she was congested.  She was a little warm and she had about 100º fever.  We gave her some tylenol and we all went back to sleep.  We took it really easy today – Ella hung out in bed and watched a lot of Spongebob which made her really happy.   I bought the Biggest Loser Wii workout game yesterday so Sunny and I did our work outs at home today.    It’s actually a really good work out!  Ella made a card for Brickelle and was feeling much better.  We asked her if she felt well enough to go to the testing TaeKwonDo and she said that she really wanted to go.  Ella did a great job in class.  All of the kids advanced to the next level.  She was really happy to get her yellow belt with a white stripe.  The video at the end of this shows her instructor giving her the belt – he says that she paid attention better than some 9, 10, and 11 year olds.  She’s really into it and is so cute when she does her thing!  After class, we went over to Phyllis and Michaels to celebrate a late Chanukah with Michael’s grand daughter Zani.  She was supposed to come to our house on Monday night but communication was messed up and she never made it over.  We are officially calling the 11th night of Chanukah “Zanikah”.  Zani is 8 and she is really sweet with Ella.  Ella thinks she is the bomb.  It was a really fun night.  Ella was a trooper.  Tomorrow is Brickelle’s birthday party.  Ella is so excited. Ella and Casi at assembly on Friday. Getting ready to go over to our friend’s house on Friday night. Making a birthday card for Brickelle. The final product! Working on her kicks. Chillin’ at the end of class. Ella and Kyle – the two white belts ab out to move up to the first yellow belt. Getting her yellow belt. Showing respect. THe belt!  It’s very stiff right now – I have to wash it a few times to get it to stay down. Relaxing with Zani watching Toy Story 2. Zani reading a bllk to Ella. Hannah, Zani, Naomi and Ella.

We met the Kim/Arenas this morning for breakfast at the Crossroads Cafe.  We’ve all been so busy lately that we had to actually schedule a date.  It was great to hang out.  The kids loved being around the book section of Crossroads.  I think they all miss living across the street from a book store!  After breakfast, we came back home and Sunny and I got busy doing things around the house.  Ella got busy herself doing art projects and playing games on the iPad.  At around 2, the girls rang the doorbell and the Kim/Arena Chanukah fairy paid a visit.  The 3 girls opened their Chanukah presents at the same time.  Helen and Ron gave the girls fantastic gifts! Each of them now has a toy dog that they can walk and hang out with.  Check out the video.  It’s really funny.  After playing in the hallway for a while (Ella got really frustrated at one point and had a nervous breakdown because her puppy wouldn’t walk straight when she pushed the straight arrow – but she recovered quickly), Ella had to get ready for TaeKwonDo.  The class was pretty hard for Ella today.  They were learning all these moves because they are having testing next week.  When something doesn’t come easily to Ella, she gets frustrated really quickly – something she needs to work on.  Ella did a great job in the class but had her moments of fooling around and wanting to give up.  She’s really little compared to the other kids but keeps up so well.  After class we came home and Ella was super tired and super hyper.  We were going to try to go to a Chanukah party hosted by one of Ella’s classmates but we thought that it was better to stay at home – Ella was way too tired. Stella dn Ella at Crossroads. The girls opening up and getting to know their new pets.  The video really shows these little guys coming to life.  The girls named their “friends” the following names…Stella’s is “Harriet Rose Petal”, Juliet’s is “Bo” and Ella’s is “Izzie”. I’m getting pretty good at capturing the kicks. Ella haing fun with her classmates before class. Steven’s mom helped out with the class today. Ella has fun with everyone in the class – even the 11 year olds! More action shots. Happy Chanukah!

Ella had her first haircut today.  We took Ella to the same guy who cuts my hair.  Ella knows him and she was cool with him cutting her hair.  First he cut off the end of her braid (see video below).  After the initial cutting of the braid, she had her hair washed and then Ash gave her a hair cut.  Ella still has really long hair, but it’s shorter and healthier than it was before.  Ella really likes her haircut.Ella and her buddy Casi at the assembly this morning. The braid before the haircut. Ella seemed to like getting her hair washed.  She was sitting on 2 piles of  towels. Walking to the haircut.  Her hair was already a lot shorter because Ash cut off the end of her braid. Pretty exciting stuff! The haircut! The family after the haircut. Ella and Ash. Lighting the Chanukah candles. We gave Ella her first dictionary tonight. Ella and I took this together. Some of Ella’s latest and greatest dry erase board artwork.  Cool bugs, cactus, angler fish and bees.