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Archive for December, 2012

It’s been WAAAAYYYY too long

Saturday, December 29th, 2012

OK – getting back on track here. All I have to say is that we’ve been having a wonderful break from school/work. Mommy still has to work but we love it when she comes home. Grandma and papa have been here for a week and it has been so wonderful having them here. AJ, Milo and Michael arrived today. It’s going to be so much fun having everyone here. Here are pics from the past 2 weeks.

I took Ella and her friend Isabel ice skating at Union Square the week before the break. We all had so much fun. Ella was zipping around the rink!

Here are some shots of Ella during her Winter Performance. She was so sweet and adorable. I can’t believe that this is her 5th CDS Winter Performance!

We had a wonderful Dim Sum meal on Christmas Day.

Grandma and Ella had some great Jenga games going.

An archetectural masterpiece by Ella.

Ella and papa worked so hard on one of Ella’s Lego projects. They make a great team.

On Thursday, grandma and papa took Ella to see the Nutcracker. They all had a wonderful time.

Mr. Panda.

Beautiful cousins catching up!

Sunny entertaining everyone with her hula hoop skills.

More family hula hooping. Ella was the most coordinated by far.

Ella and AJ dancing the night away.

Grandma dipping Milo.

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Happy birthday papa, more Chanukah, Ella’s first musical theatre performance and Ella’s second published book!

Wednesday, December 12th, 2012

There is a lot to say/show in this entry! First of all…Happy Birthday Papa/Dad. We love you very much. There is a short video message from Ella at the end of this entry. Hope you have a great day and we can’t wait to see you. We had a very busy Chanukah weekend. After Becca’s party on Saturday night, we went to Julie and Gilana’s party on Sunday afternoon and then we went over to the Levinson’s house for another celebration on Sunday night. We all had so much fun at all the parties. Ella is a little hustler when it comes to playing dreidel. Ella published her second book at school – it was another small moment story and this time it was about going on the Radiator Springs ride at Disney. She’s doing a great job at her story writing and her illustrations have become very detailed and really cool. Tonight, Ella had her performance of Aladdin. It was terrific! Stella and Juliet came with us and they were such wonderful supportive friends. I am posting the video on this entry. It’s 14 minutes long, but I have to say, it’s really cute. Ella sang a few lines by herself and of course Sunny and I cried. Ella was sweet and poised and so wonderful to watch.

Ella was a hustler during the dreidel game. Check out all her gelt.

Lighting the menorah at party #1.

Lighting the menorah at party #2.

Hanging out with the guys.

Night 3!

Stella and Juliet having fun before the performance. Ella was cracking up watching them.

One happy child.

Ella was being a refrigerator in one of the drama exercises.

Ella and Jaspre – one of her musical theatre friends.

Ella and her teachers Sofia and Michelle.

After the show with Stella and Juliet.

It was my birthday! I was in Disneyland and the new cars ride was opened. I was racing.

Then we went to Luigi. He said “you have to get your tires changed before you race”. He said this thing lifts us up. I felt happy.

Finally the car started to go faster and faster and I won the race. I thought to myself this is fun.

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A Light in the Attic, The Night Before Chanukah, Green Belt and Chanukah!

Sunday, December 9th, 2012

It has been super busy around here since Friday! On Friday afternoon, Ella performed in her very first play. The afterschool program at CDS put on “A Light In the Attic” and other poems. Ella was adorable and really liked being in the play. She thought Monday and Wednesday rehearsal was too much and probably won’t be doing another play in the spring but she had a great time. On Friday evening, we celebrated the night before Chanukah with the Kim/Arena clan. We had latkes, blintzes, chicken, broccoli and had chocolate gelt for dessert. Helen and Ron got all the kids Beyblades and they had some great tournaments. On Saturday morning, Ella took a long scooter ride as I walked quickly along side. It was a beautiful day. Late in the afternoon, Sunny and I watched as Ella got her green belt in TaeKwonDo. Ella has been working hard but now needs to start working harder. She has forms to memorize. It was pretty fantastic to see Ella up there with some pretty big kids earning her green belt. Tonight, we went to a fantastic Chanukah party at Becca’s house. It was really a wonderful night with the most delicious latkes.

Some shots from before and after the play. I have some on a movie but I have to do a little editing.

Twas the night before Chanukah.

The Schwartz moms and the Kim/Arena boys!

Green Belt!Happy Chanukah!

Ella’s latest Powerpuff art.

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Catching up from last week!

Tuesday, December 4th, 2012

I have had so much work to do that I have neglected the blog once again. Here are some pictures from the weekend that grandma and papa were here and some from the past few days. We miss grandma and papa very much but are so excited that we will all be together at the end of the month. Life has been good and busy. Ella is in a play at the end of the week and then has a music theater performance on Tuesday evening. I have my big winter concert on December 13th and then things should mellow out a little.

Ella leaping her way to the Ferry Building.

Great shot of the three musketeers after eating a delicious Dim Sum meal.

We all had a great time bowling. Looking forward to a rematch.

On Saturday night, we took Ella and Emmi ice skating on the Embarcadero. It was super crowded, but Ella did a fantastic job skating around the crazies!