Life With Ella

This is going to be a short one…Ella loved being back at school.  After school she did a great job at Tree Frog Treks and then a beautiful job at ballet.  Here are some pics…movie will come soon. Before ballet class.  Ella is sporting another stunning French braid done by Ms. Alicia.

We were in San Diego for the weekend to go see grandma and papa who were there for an ophthalmology conference.  Uncle Jesse and aunt Heather also drove up on Friday and stayed until Saturday.  We had a great time – it was wonderful to get to spend time with the family and to get away from the San Francisco rain.  I came down with some kind of sinus/fever thing and had to miss dinner on Friday night, but other than that, I was able to do everything else.  On Friday, we took Ella to the New Children’s Museum where she had a lot of fun and on Saturday we went to Sea World with Jesse, Heather and grandma.  We only were able to see papa at night since he was busy at meetings but Ella slept over in grandma and papa’s room on Friday and Saturday so she got some great quality time with them.  Here are a bunch of pictures from our great weekend.  Love you guys!  It was great seeing you. Ella showing grandma and her friends Vicky and Nancy how to play Cut the Rope on the iPad. Two flamingos out on a walk. Heading to the museum.Ella is so sweet  – she tolerates my requests for pictures. Riding around on the chariots at the children’s museum. Ella has had a lot of energy for physical activity lately.  At the museum she was able to do a little wall climbing and some rope climbing/swinging. OUr wonder woman. At Sea World.  I think I had a fever. Ella is a terrific map reader. Ella got in a great hug before posing with the Sea World otter. Jesse and Heather getting some work done while waiting for grandma and Ella to go on the tea cups.I love this oil painting feature on the new camera! Ella was so excited to go on some rides with grandma.  She was so excited for the tea cups.  Stand by for the tea cup movie in the next few days. I think Burt and Ernie are just like us!  What makes a family?  LOVE makes a family. This walrus was so tuned into Ella.  It was really intense. Right before Heather and Jesse hit to road back to LA.  Ella loves these guys a lot. Another love affair.  This is at the Shamu show. The 3 of us had a lot of fun climbing on this thing. Mommy was very brave and went on the oscar the grouch eel ride with Ella. This picture is from Saturday night at dinner.  It’s the only picture that I have of Ella and papa!  I missed Friday night’s dinner. Here we are with our pedi-cab driver.  Ella was exhausted on Saturday night. Our little traveler. ANother incredible grocery list.  Translation:  Pomelo, American Cheese, cucumber, Izze, chocolate chips, apples.

Today, Ella’s class went to the Randall Museum on a field trip.  I was one of the parent drivers and it was a really fun trip for the kids.  Ella’s class is studying bees and the Randall Museum has a bee exhibit with an active bee hive.  The bees actually leave the hive, go collect pollen and nectar and bring it back to the hive.  The kids were able to see the queen bee which was really cool.  It was great to see the kids so enthusiastic about being up close and personal with the bee hive.  Ella loved it and tonight as she was going to sleep, she was telling 2 of her stuffed animals about the “observational drawing” that she did of the worker bees.  Ella is really paying attention this year.  It’s so great to see her learning so much and to see her totally into it. Ella this morning before school.  It’s raining here AGAIN. Another cool oil painting/photo. Ella and Clark teaching Ms. Alicia all about bees. Ella and Clark in front of a very large bee. Clark and Ella busy doing their observational drawing. Looks like it’s been a long day already! Ella looking at Clark through the eyes of a bee.

We went out of town this weekend to Scottsdale to watch the Giants in 2 spring training games.  We left on Thursday.  On Wednesday night, before we left, Ella had another sleepover at Emmi’s house.  This time their other friend Emily slept over too.  Ella had a great time!  While we were away this weekend, someone asked Ella if she likes sleeping over friend’s houses.  Ella said that she loves it.  Then they asked her if she missed her moms when she was sleeping away from home and she said no.  I think it’s so great that Ella feels secure enough to really enjoy herself when she’s away from us and then be happy when she’s with us again.  We had a great weekend.  So much fun to be at 2 games.  The Giants lost on Friday and won on Saturday.  Ella hung out with her friend Jesse who’s mom is also on the Giants Community Fund board.  They hung out at spring training last year too.  Ella spent a lot of time in the pool this weekend.  It was a little cool for us, but Ella had a blast.  Videos to follow tomorrow… Here are 2 pictures that Emmi’s mom sent us during the play date/sleepover. Ella right before we entered the Scottsdale Stadium. At the game! This must have been around the 5th inning…that’s usually when Ella asks us for the iTouch.  Notice auntie Pie and Michael in the row!  They came down for spring training with us this year. Ella and Jesse after the game.  We were heading to an event to raise money for the Junior Giants. Face painting! Check out the SF that Ella wrote on her hand.  So cute. This wowan was doing silhouettes at the event.  She was amazing.  Did this all with only a scissor.  I have a film of it that I will post tomorrow. Jesse and Ella sharing the iTouch while we were waiting for dinner. Whack a shark! On the way back from dinner, Ella saw this tree and really wanted to climb a little. Mommy and Ella with the big boot.  Mommy bought a pair of cowboy boots right after I took this picture. Hanging out in a very large bell. Ella being adorable. In the hot tub with Jesse. I think Ella is ready to do some diving.  We need to get her to a pool where it is safe to dive. Heading back to our hotel to get ready for dinner.  Like us, Ella loves this weather.

Ella and Sunny spent the day together while I was busy taking some tests to try to get into grad school.  In the morning, Sunny and Ella met up with Becca, Ruthann, Jayden and Jayden’s grandparents for a bowling party to celebrate Jayden’s 4th birthday.  Ella and Sunny told me that they both had a great time bowling, had lunch at Mo’s and then played hard at Yerba Buena park. After the park, Sunny and Ella headed over to our gym for Ella’s Taekwondo class.  From the pictures and reports, it looked like Ella did an amazing job in class.  Sunny and I went out with 2 other moms from Ella’s school.  Today was a beautiful day for Sunny and Ella.  I am really happy that my exams are finished.  Tomorrow we are going over to have a jam session with another CDS family.  Love playing music with other people. Ella is getting more comfortable with bowling.  We just found out that there is going to be a bowling alley built right across the street from our house!  Can’t wait to get team bowling shirts. Ella  in action at Taekwondo.  Here kicks look incredible! Our sweet and peaceful little meditator.

Here are a few pictures from tonight.  Ella just loves playing the piano.  She has been trying to figure some songs out that I have not taught her yet.  Stella taught Ella how to play “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” and Ella has really been trying to figure it out.  She has a great ear.  Ella doesn’t have school tomorrow so she asked if we could do her piano lesson early – tomorrow afternoon is Ella’s first T-Ball practice.  Sunny and I are both coaches.   Ella added a few things to her dry erase picture.  The purple guy is a bear and the thing next to him is a honeycomb.  The thing next to the honeycomb is a bee hive. Ella playing away! The gang was playing super hard in the hallway tonight…notice KJ’s sweet sweaty little head!