Life With Ella

On Sunday we marched in the Pride Parade with Becca and the Animal Care & Control people.  We had a great day and Ella marched for most of the parade.  When she wasn’t marching, she was on Mommy’s shoulders.  Ella was fantastic and loved watching the crowds as we marched by.  Sunny painted her face to look like a cat and she loved it.  At night, we met Helen, Ron and the girls at Los Jarritos for a see ya next month dinner.  It was a really fun night.

Mommy is getting to be a really talented face painter.

We bumped into Brickelle and her mom and dad and brother on the way to meeting Becca.  Ella was really happy and surprised.

Becca brought her dogs Tucker and Digby to the parade.

The three of us getting ready to make the turn onto Market street.

Three of Becca’s staff members did an incredible job looking cute in the extreme heat!

Riding on the train with the doggies on the way home.

Meeting up with Stella and Juliet in front of Los Jarritos.

At the jukebox with Juliet.

In our lobby with Juliet.  They look like such big girls.

3 buddies making shrinky dinks.

Papa came in on Friday night for the weekend.  He had a meeting and dinner on Saturday and we were lucky enough to have him stay with us.  On Friday, papa and I picked Ella up from her last day of camp.  I didn’t tell Ella that papa was coming with me to get her and when she saw us, she kind of ignored us and kept doing the dancing activity with a big smile on her face (which was face painted).  A few minutes later, Ella was in papa’s arms.  Sunny, papa, Ella and I had dinner at Nama and then we watched Cinderella for movie night.  This morning, we hung around the house, papa went to his meeting, I went to an appointment and Sunny and Ella went out for lunch in this beautiful weather we are having.  This afternoon, papa and Ella did Shrinky Dinks and then Debby, Toby and Rachel came over for a visit.  Tonight we had dinner with Becca and Melissa while my dad had his business dinner.  At night, we played around, sang songs, and papa read a lot of books to Ella.  Ella fell asleep on papa tonight as he read to her.  It was beautiful.  WE hope she sleeps through the night because last night was brutal.

Ella and papa outside of the school.

The kitty cat with clown make-up.

Big hug for papa.

Walking down the street.

Having fun at Nama.

Our litte champion in her adorable robe.

Papa and Ella doing Shrinky Dinks.

Mommy and Ella meeing me at Paragon.

The night is winding down.

Goodnight.

Ella finished her first week of camp.  She’s been having a lot of fun.  On Friday afternoon, we both picked Ella up from school and went over to Delia’s house for a baby shower.  When we were at the ballgame with Delia and Erik the other night, Delia and Ella discussed Ella coming over and helping her feed her tarantula some crickets.  Well…Ella did exactly that on Friday afternoon.  Jamie – if you are reading this, don’t look at the video at the end of this entry…this warning goes for anyone who is afraid of spiders.  Ella didn’t touch the tarantulas or anything, but I have to say, Sunny and I were doing everything we could to not put our fear on Ella.  I was really squirming on the inside – even looking at the crickets, but Ella was a true champion.  She really loved it.  On Friday night, Stella and Juliet came over for movie night while Helen and Ron had dinner and ran some errands.  Ella had a blast with her buddies.  I haven’t gotten today’s pictures together, but Sunny, Ella and I went to the SFMOMA.  Ella loved the outdoor garden.  It’s been a really fun weekend.

Ella on her way to camp the other day.

Ella busy doing a puzzle.

This is Ellen’s neice Melissa.  We had a sweet dinner with them the other night.

Blowing bubbles at camp.

When we went to pick up Ella the other day, we were able to spend some time in the classroom.  The kids made cookies after lunch and they were hot out of the oven when we got there.  They were delicious.

Put your hands on your head if you’re ready for a cookie.

Mommy wants to go to camp too.

Ella getting in there all ready to touch the crickets.

Best buddies.

Here is the movie of Ella putting crickets in the tarantula tanks and “watering” the tarantulas.

Sunny had a Giant’s board meeting and then got us all into the luxury suite at AT&T Park.  Delia and Erik came with us and Ella had a lot of fun with them.  Ella also bumped into Lou Seal and had another great photo op.

Ella and Delia entering the stadium.  Ella is super excited!

First Lou Seal saw Ella and gave her a huge hug and then they posed together for this photo.

Having a blast with mommy in the luxury suite.

Ella and Delia at the end of the night still having so much fun together.  Delia promised Ella that she could help Delia feed her pet tarantula.  Ella asked what the tarantula ate and Delia told her that it ate crickets.  Ella then asked, “They don’t chirp do they?”  Delia’s answer…”not after the tarantula eats them”.

Here are a bunch of photos from last weekend.  We had a great trip back east – celebrated waiting for Milo to come into the world and also celebrated Sunny’s birthday.  We are back in SF now – had a dinner with the Kim/Arenas last night…Ella was dying to see her buddies!  They were beautifully reunited.  Ella started CDS camp this week.  She seems to be having a great time.

Sweet Ella holding her new lip gloss.

Me, Ella and Jordin hanging out at Sweetie Pie in NYC.

Ella thought it was cool to see herself in the ceiling mirror.

AJ and Ella – look at those faces!

Mommy and Ella seriously focused.

Sisters!  I have a picture somewhere of the two of us when I was pregnant.

Ella helping AJ with some baby gifts.

Putting lip gloss on KK.

Ella jumped into mommy’s arms and got so excited when we sang “Happy Birthday” to her.

Celebrating mommy’s birthday with Dunkin Donuts.

“Cat nap” with a beautiful doggie.

Kisses with grandma.

Papa, Ella and grandma right before we left for the airport.

This has been a great trip.  Last night we went to a cocktail party given in Sunny’s honor by Sunny’s agent and our friend Priscilla.  It was a great party – got to catch up with a bunch of friends and meet new people.

We have spent a lot of time with AJ which has been great.  Ella is really into the pregnancy and asking a lot of questions about her cousin to be Milo.  Here is a great series of pictures of Ella and AJ (and Milo in the belly)…

AJ and Ella dancing around and taking a bow.

Ella trying to find the different parts of Milo in AJ’s belly.

Today, we went into NY and went to the Park Ave. Armory to see this really cool exhibit. It was Ernesto Neto’s interactive sculpture, Anthropodino.  I don’t really know how to explain it, so I’ll just post a bunch of cool pictures.

Ella running into the exhibit.

Grandma chasing Ella.

Another view of the exhibit.

All of these photos were of Ella inside of the different tents.  The one with the red thing hanging down was filled with buckwheat.  Ella loved the way it smelled and wanted grandma to smell it too.

This was a huge ballpit.  They were smart and only let in 6 kids at a time and they timed each group to play for 3 minutes.

Grandma, Ella and AJ walking the streets after the exhibit.

Ella in front of the house with flowers that have bloomed since we arrived.

Playing catch with papa before dinner.

Grandma, papa and Ella at dinner.

A picture of the 3 of us. Jamie told me that I looked mean, but at least the 3 of us are together in a picture.  Tonight we celebrated grandma and papa’s anniversary and mommy’s birthday.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SUNNY/MOMMY.  We love you so much!

Sunny and I have been really busy running around – Sunny had a radio interview yesterday which was great and I got to go to AJ’s 4-D sonogram and see the beautiful Milo as up close and personal as you can get.  Last night, Sunny and I went to see West Side Story on Broadway.  It was fantastic – and great to have a date night.  I haven’t taken a lot of pictures of Ella because grandma and papa have been hanging out with her.  All three of them have been having a blast.  Last night Ella went out with grandma and papa to celebrate their anniversary.  They said that Ella was having so much fun.  Here are 2 pictures from yesterday.

Ella, grandma and mommy playing Zingo.  Ella won!

Sweet Ella.

We arrived yesterday.  I am very tired right now but I have some pictures to post.  So far we’re having a great time.  Ella has spent a lot of time finding new fun things around the house to play with.  Today I took Sunny to Penn Station and spent the day with AJ in NY.  Ella and grandma went to the park and then to the town pool.  Late afternoon, we hung out with grandma, papa and AJ outside.  During my time in NY, AJ and I went to see KK who is doing so well after her knee surgery.  KK sent me home with a black leotard/tutu combo for Ella and a coral necklace.   When I came and gave it to Ella, she put it all on immediately.  Thank you KK…another perfect gift.  Sunny is in Annapolis doing a key note at a conference.  We love you and miss you!  See you tonight.

Ella in her new crazy outfit that grandma got her playing with her new “treasure chest”.

Ella in her new ballet outfit and necklace.

Ella got to spend some great time with AJ and Normyn.

Ella made it through her first year of pre-school!  It has been an amazing experience for all of us and we are looking forward to the next school year.  For now…we will all enjoy the summer.  We will be back east for a week and we can’t wait.

Ella’s last day of school.  She has really grown up!

Ella on her first day of school!  Where has the time gone?