Life With Ella

Today was a gorgeous day in NY.  It was about 66º and really sunny.  Ella and I went to AJ’s apartment and picked up AJ and Milo.  Then we met Stella, Juliet, Helen and KJ.  We all walked to a restaurant and had a great lunch.  Jordin met us at the restaurant and then we all went to Tompkins Square Park.  The park was recently renovated and it was great.  The kids had so much fun.  We stayed at the park for a really long time.  We even took a break and went to get some Italian ices and then went back to the park.  Ella’s favorite part was the “tire swing”.  It was a fake tire and it was parallel to the ground.  Its the kind of thing that 3 people can be on at the same time.  Stella and Juliet were unsure about being on the swing at first.  Ella just couldn’t wait to get on it.  There were these 2 girls swinging on it and they invited Ella over to swing and she hopped on.  It was so cool to see her just going for it with kids she didn’t know.  Eventually Stella and Juliet joined Ella.  Juliet and Ella had a blast on the swing, swinging really high and crazy.  After the park, we all walked back to AJ’s place (Helen’s sister Julie lives about 300 feet away from Jamie’s building) and then we went our separate ways.  It was so wonderful to spend the day with the girls and AJ, Helen, Jordin and the 2 baby boys.  The girls had such a blast together.  It was great having NY playdates with them.  Ella and I came back to NJ at around 7:00 and had a great dinner with grandma and papa at Dante’s.  Tomorrow we are meeting KK for lunch.  Mommy/Sunny – we love you and miss you and Ella was very excited to tell you that she went on a tire swing.  I know you guys have been talking about tire swings lately.

Grandma and Ella putting together the Hungry Hungry Hippo game this morning. They played some pretty intense games.

Remember Ella’s flower from yesterday?  Well here it is in full bloom.

The girls (and the boy) walking across town on 9th Street.

Ella and Jordin at the restaurant.  Ella was really excited and shy to see Jordin.  Notice the cool glasses that Helen made for Ella out of those Wicky Stix.

Ella chillin’ on a stoop.

Having a lot of fun going down the slide.

Ella on the tire swing with the 2 girls from the park.

Stella, Juliet and KJ on the tire swing.

Mommys on the swing with their boys.

Ella flying!

AJ, Milo, Helen and KJ hanging at the park.

KJ’s first Italian Ice.

Rainbow Italian Ices for the girls.

Ella loved her Italian Ice.

Ella mastering the art of hanging.

Beautiful pregnant Jordin and her little buddy Ella.

Crossing the street can become a field trip.

Jordin, Ella, Juliet and Stella waiting in a stairwell to scare AJ who is walking up the block.

Gorgeous mother and child.

A very talented Ella balancing a menu on her head.

One of the problems with taking lots of pictures and documenting some great times for me is that I have to be able to record what I need to do the night of.  I am just finishing my last of 3 entries from tonight.  I am really tired but want to stay current.  Sunny had to leave super early this morning to go back to SF for work.  We love you and miss you mommy/Sunny.  Hope the week is great for you and that you have a lot of fun. We will see you on Sunday.  Today we woke up, drove into NY and met up with Stella, Juliet, KJ and Helen at Sweetie Pie.  It was so cool to watch the girls think about how cool it was to be together in NY.  The girls had a great lunch…grilled cheese, hamburgers,  french fries, tater tots, strawberries and creme, mini ice cream cones and cookies dipped in hot fudge.  Wow!  After the “healthy” lunch, we walked to Washington Square Park.  The big kid’s park was being renovated so we had to figure out another plan.  We went over to AJ and Michael’s place for a pit stop and KJ and Milo played together…very cute.  The girls went about their business playing their usual games…doctor, teacher, and who knows what else.  They left to go to the Met and then  my mom, Ella and I waited for Michael to come home so that we could go meet my dad back in NJ.  We went back at around 6:00, had leftovers and then my dad wanted to take Ella toy shopping.  He really wanted to take her to FAO Schwartz, but logistically it didn’t work out so they went to Toys R Us.  Ella has never been to a Toys R Us so I didn’t think it would have mattered to her.  She picked out a few really tacky toys but they made her so happy.  Now everyone is home sleeping except me.  I will be sleeping as soon as I finish this entry.Ella trying to help Milo learn how to crawl.The girls at Sweetie Pie.  I had a lot of fun with the mirrored ceiling.Everyone did a great job crossing the streets and sticking together.  They were so happy walking through NYC together! In front of One Fifth Avenue…the place in Annie where the orphans realized that they had a long way to go to find Annie!KJ and Milo had a really great time playing with each other. Milo looking very cute in black. We went to a little kid’s park with Milo and his friend Luna.  Ella had fun on the little kid stuff. Milo’s little buddy Luna on her very first swing!Looks like Milo is an expert swinger!  He didn’t stop smiling. Grandma and Ella – they were under the arch at Washington Square Park but the far away picture was kind of pointless because you couldn’t really see them.We were walking back from the park, and this woman was planting these amazing flowers around the trees.  Ella was watching with awe.  She gave Ella one of the flowers that broke off.  We put it in a bottle of water right away.  Wait and see what it looks like today! Grandma and Milo during Milo’s favorite time of the day…eating time!This whole thing just melts my heart…Ella jumping down the steps.  She loves this sport.

Tonight was another great night!  We spent the day relaxing and setting up for the Seder.  Milo and Ella got to spend the day together.  It’s been so great watching them get to know each other.  It’s been really great being here with the family.  Tonight my aunt Abigail, Uncle Ray, cousin David, his 2 kids Georgia and Bronwen and our cousin Ester came to the Seder.  The night was filled with deep conversation, a lot of laughter, music, and excitement from the kids.  It was so fun to watch the kids search for and find the afikomen.

Ella and Milo hanging out and letting us take more pictures.

You have to start them early with music.

Oy those cheeks!

The cousins have arrived.  If you look closely, you’ll see Sunny’s famous Charlie Brown head and Ella trying to do the same thing.  Ella is getting good!Papa, Milo and Michael studying the Hagadah.

Ella watching AJ sing the four questions.

Bronwen, Ella and Georgia after they found the afikomen.

The girls and “doodie head” one of my parent’s sculptures.  This has become a Passover tradition…one of the girls was scared of the statue a few years back, so they decided to put underwear on his head and turn him to the wall and then they weren’t scared.  The tradition goes on…

Ella and Georgia were playing the “Wizard of Oz”.  Ella borrowed my peacock socks last night.

Another Passover tradition.  Bronwen and I have been improvising together on the piano during passover since before Ella was born.  This year’s music was pretty beautiful.

Beautiful mother daughter love.

Today was a really sweet day and night.  Ella woke up so excited to be here.  She spent a good part of the day helping grandma get ready for Passover.  Ella set the table and helped grandma set up the Seder plate.  AJ, Michael, Milo and Normyn came over early and it was so great to see them.  Milo is getting cuter by the minute.  Ella really takes her role as older cousin seriously.  Michael’s parents, brother in law and nephew were with us tonight.  It was really nice to be together.

Ella and grandma getting the table ready for Passover.

Setting up the seder plate.

Cousins reunited.  Too sweet.

Grandma and Ella dancing.

Milo and his daddy Michael sharing a Passover moment together.

Ella loving the soup.

Ella and I trying on the yamulkes from Jamie and Michael’s wedding.

Sunny and Vaughaun hanging out.

The red twins!

Pure happiness.

We arrived here safe and sound tonight.  We immediately went to the local Italian restaurant here and had a great dinner.  Ella was amazing on the plane.  She watched 2 movies (laughed out loud while watching Alvin and the Chipmunks) and also watched Bedtime Stories.  She’s an amazing traveler.  Ella ran to into grandma and papa’s arms as soon as she saw them at the airport.  Such a beautiful scene.  As soon as we got back to the house, Ella began taking everything out and exploring all of her fun stuff.  This is a ritual of hers.  She could play all night but we are all really tired so Sunny finally got her to sleep.  We have a sedar tomorrow night and one on Tuesday.  Can’t wait to see family and friends.

Ella playing with some of her “stuff”.  My parent’s house turns into a crazy house when Ella is here!  I know they love it.  We love being here.

Today was Ella’s first t-ball game.  She did a great job.  You could tell that she incorporated some of the stuff that she learned yesterday into her game today.  I am really tired – actually already took my Ambien so I will not try to make sense.  Just enjoy the pictures.  We are heading back east in the morning and can’t wait to hang out with the family. Ella and Towby before the game. Happy happy Ella the t-ball player.Ella made it to first base. Ella running to 2nd. Out on the field – playing second base and looking for flowers to pick. Look like a real t-ball player who needs a rest.Action shot – running to first base. Ella checking out her mitt while Fiona and Kaliko play ball. Ella loved making it on  base.  (Every kid makes it home actually) but Ella hasn’t figured it out  so making it on base is exciting.Getting some heart to heart coaching form Rich. A lot of the members of the CDS Rockets.Ella the close talker. Ella running home.Little ball player taking a water break.The game is almost over…Lining up to greet the other team.

Seems like we’ve all been running around, busy working, playing…who knows.  Ella has her first T-Ball practice tomorrow.  I’ll make sure to take a lot of pictures.  Her first game is on Saturday.  We missed last week’s practice and game.  Ella is very excited about the team.   Ella picked out a new pair of sneakers and they arrived today.  Check them out. Can you believe this?  I did everything I could to talk her out of hot pink, but she had her mind set on this color so we did it. It was a great night for some Blush.

Tonight, after her bath, Ella put on her full Cinderella gear.  We were hanging out downstairs about to have dinner and the doorbell rang.   It was the Kim/Arena family coming by to say hi.  Ella was so excited to see her buddies and we were happy to see everyone too.  The girls were all dressed up also – not planned with Ella so they all looked fancy and crazy.  KJ has hit a milestone!  He can crawl.  What a cute, sweet boy. Ella and Stella discussing some serious princess stuff. Ella and Juliet in a beautiful embrace. Hey Stella…what are you drawing? KJ is crawling!

Well at least I think it’s funny…tonight we were having dinner at home and we were talking about St. Patrick’s Day.  One of the families from Ella’s class came in and spoke about St. Patrick’s Day.  They read a story and made their own cool little books.  Then Sunny and I were talking about St. Patrick’s day and we were commenting that everyone we came across had on green.  I started telling Sunny about this woman who I work with.  She was all decked out in green and white and had a green glitter top hat on that was tilted to the side.  I said, “She looked more like a P-i-m-p (I spelled the word) than an leprechaun.  All of a sudden Ella said, “What is a p-m-i-p?  Mama…what is a p-m-i-p???”  She wouldn’t let up.  Sunny and I were crying from laughter.  Finally I told her that I spelled the word wrong and meant to say pip.  She asked what a pip was and we gave some lame description.  It was a funny moment.  Ella had her first swimming lesson with the new teacher and it was really great.  I didn’t take any pictures because I didn’t want to freak him out.  After dinner tonight, we met up with the Kim/Arena’s for yogurt.  It was really fun.Here are the girls excited to get dessert.We are off to spring training in Arizona for the weekend.  Can’t wait to sit back, relax, go swimming and watch some baseball.