Life With Ella

We left this morning for a 10 day trip back east. We’re here for Passover and for a visit. Ron took us to the airport at 5:30 this morning! Thank you so much Ron! Ella once again was a champion flyer. She sat in her own seat for most of the flight and just chilled out watching DVDs, coloring, eating and just being her amazing self. When we landed, we had to say goodbye to mommy for 2 days because she is doing some work about an hour away from here. WE LOVE YOU AND MISS YOU MOMMY! See ya Friday. Ella was so happy to see grandma and papa. In the car, she said to grandma, “I ran to you grandma.” When we got back to the house in NJ, papa was home from work and Ella ran to papa also. We had a great dinner and then Ella played around with grandma and papa. They read books, took a bath, tried on high heeled shoes (not papa) and just continued their love affair.

Here is Ella schlepping her Tinkerbell suitcase in the airport at 6:00 am.

Ella and mommy fooling around on the plane

Grandma and Ella playing with grandma’s shoes (tomorrow I will try to get the full effect)

Papa, Ella and grandma having a love fest after Ella’s bath

The Kim/Arena clan was out of town for 4 days. We all really missed them, but Ella especially missed Stella and Juliet. They left on Wednesday and when Ella asked us if she could go and play with Stella and Juliet, we told her that they were on a vacation in Arizona. Later that night, we were out to dinner and we bumped into one of our neighbors. They are moving out next month and they told us that they are moving to Arizona. At that point, Ella chimed in and said, “Oh, Arizona – Stella and Juliet are there”. It’s so great to see Ella comprehending everything! Here are a few pictures from the reunion.

Ella giving Juliet a big kiss

Ella giving Stella a big kiss

Ella getting a big sister hug from Stella

The three musketeers

Today I went on a little shopping trip for Ella – Old Navy and H&M. We are going to Anguilla in May and I wanted to start gathering summery stuff. We really don’t have much of a summer here, so there is really no need for bathing suits, cover ups, sun dresses and other light weight stuff. When I got to H&M, I saw the cutest sun dresses. I bought 2 of them ($10.00 each) and when I brought the bags home, Ella reached into the H&M bag and pulled out the pink sun dress. Immediately she said, “I want to put this on”. I put the dress on her and she began to dance out of pure happiness. She looks so cute as you will see in a moment. Tonight, we went swimming. Ella can touch the bottom and then realized if she held onto the wall, she didn’t have to put as much effort into her tippy toe dance. She did not want me to touch her while she was walking along the wall. All of a sudden, she began to walk around without holding the wall and started venturing out into the pool. She had no fear and got irritated with me when I tried to hold her up. She swallowed some water, got some water up her nose and sneezed right into the water and just laughed. It was terrific.

I love this nose crinkle

Ella is so excited about her dress that she can’t keep her fingers still

Well hello there!

Look at those eye lashes

Ella looks like such a big girl

Here is Ella doing Stella’s famous donkey kick

Ella is cracking us up and amazing us every day. She has a great sense of humor and such a love of life. Tonight, we went to Nama sushi down the block for dinner. Ella told us that she was hungry and that she wanted miso soup, tofu and rice. We ordered her exactly what she asked for, and she ate a little and then just wanted to play around. At one point, a waiter walked by the table and I caught Ella pointing to her rice and saying, “Can you take this away for me?” She said it really softly and he didn’t hear her, but when he walked away, I busted her. I looked at her and said, “Were you being sneaky trying to get him to take your rice?” She just looked at me and smiled. I told mommy what she said and she started laughing. For the rest of the meal we kept saying, “Can you take this away for me?” and we all cracked up.

Here are some pictures I took today.

This is Ella saying “HI!”

Here’s Ella in the garden with her buddy Tasha

Here’s Towby in his best downward dog pose

Here’s Bug looking sweet and geriatric

Ella running laps in the garden

Here is Ella going down a slide at My Gym. She is gaining so much confidence – leaping off of platforms, climbing wooden slats, finding ways to get up on top of tall objects. It’s great to watch. She hasn’t mastered jumping yet.

Here we are at Nama. Ella is ordering a large hot sake

On Monday, Sunny, Becca and Ella went to opening day for the Giants. The Giants lost but the girls had a fun time. Ella caught up with some friends that we met 2 seasons ago and ate 2 hot dogs. Really – she actually ate 2 hot dogs. When I came home from work, Mommy and Ella were waiting for me and Ella said, “Mama – the Giants stink”. Here are some pictures from Monday.

Here is Ella getting ready for the game

Catching up with Dave and Bob

It was a hot day – Ella was very thirsty

Sleeping soundly on Mommy

Tonight, we went to opening night with Ellen and Joyce. It was a cold night, but it felt so great to be at the ball park. The Giants pulled it out in the 11th inning to get a win on opening night. We made it to the 9th inning but left because Ella really wanted to go home. Not only did we get home in time to watch the end of a very exciting game, but we were also able to see the fireworks from our window upstairs. It was beautiful.

Anybody want some cotton candy?

Posing with her buddy Charlie Brown

Snoopy is new this year. What a treat!

Today, we started the day going to a birthday party for Bruno and Natasha (AKA Mei and Kai). It was a sweet get together with delicious dim sum. Stella and Juliet were also at the party so all of the kids played really well together.

Sweet Ella at the birthday party

Bruno, Stella and Ella fighting over the Swiffer. How come Ella never asked to use it in OUR house!?

After the morning party, Ella came home and took a nap. Then we got ready to go to another party in the late afternoon. This one was for Kate – a sweet child who we know from music class. The party was an animal themed jungle themed party. The kids were really cute and we had a fun time.

Here we are at the party – me as an elephant and Ella as a lion

Here are mommy and Ella in a lion/giraffe combination

Last party of the night…HAPPY BIRTHDAY EMO !

Delicious thin mint ice cream cake and beautiful company