On Sunday took a ride to Santa Cruz to meet up with our friend Rebecca and her daughter Ella who were visiting from NY. When Ella saw the Boardwalk in Santa Cruz she said, “Oh – I am so excited, I love Santa Cruz. I can’t wait to go to the carnival!” Ella’s enthusiasm is so fantastic and sweet. We had a really fun day and Ella wants to go back. We were supposed to go to Hawaii today but we postponed the trip for next summer. There were tropical storms heading towards Kauai and we decided that we didn’t want to risk being stuck in our hotel room because of thunder storms. The whole reason we wanted to go to Hawaii was to relax on the beach and it didn’t really seem like we were going to be guaranteed to do that. Instead, we are going to Guerneville for a few days. I should have pictures up by Friday evening.
Just another instrument that Ella is into! I wonder which one she will choose.
Ella was really into the arcade games.
Ella and Ella on a virtual game. Our Ella loved it and was giggling for most of it.
The two Ellas looking out onto the beach.
Here we all are outside of the restaurant.
Ella having a blast on the “carnival” rides.
Cindy, Ella and Sunny on their way into the Acme Chophouse.
Jumping off the Willie Mays statue.
Another crazy outfit.
At the aquarium.
I think this relationship has the potential to be a great children’s book.
Our little princess. How did this happen?
Best buddies no matter what kind of mood they are in.
Ella and Juliet singing to KJ…
Ella learning how to use a screwdriver.
The loveliness of Ella.
Ella in the hallway before our road trip.
Mommy and Ella climbing a tree.
Beautiful Ella perched in a tree.
Looking up at the tall trees.
Our little beauty.
Ella took this picture of me…I think it’s pretty good.
Climbing up a little trail with aunt Cindy and mommy.
The three of us!
A sweet ride on mommy’s shoulders.
Playing around on the Redwood bears.
Practicing for our trip to Hawaii.
Ella fooling around and enjoying her noodles at Nama.
Reading “Angelina Ballerina” and then acting it out with aunt Cindy.
Ella giving KJ a kiss.
Having a deep conversation with Helen.
Over night, Ella’s artwork and letter writing has really improved. She did this all by herself except we told her how to spell Stella and Juliet.
So happy to be going into Fairyland.
Ella and Juliet playing with their shadows.
Fun on the ferris wheel.
Lots of fun on the carousel.
Ella and Juliet have a pretty intense dynamic. Most of the time it’s love love love but sometimes they torture each other.
Having fun in the little house by the picnic area.
The girls were pretending to be pirates and this was their pirate ship.
Playing on the big swirly slide. The girls must have done this at least 20 times each.
Ella in jail.
The Kim/Arenas…all FIVE of them!
Ella loves dancing to the jukebox at Los Jarritos. She even got me to dance!
Ella loves the iTouch.
Perfect KJ during dinner.