Life With Ella

It has been an incredible three weeks.  Grandma, papa, AJ, Milo – it has been so wonderful being able to see you almost every day.  We love you guys so much and can’t wait for our next adventure in Anguilla.  It has been so great to see friends and family and to be able to have an east coast summer.  Here is the last batch of pictures.  I will describe what’s happening while I put the pictures up.  It’s getting late here and I have to wake up early. Mommy – we can’t wait to see you tomorrow afternoon!  We love you! It was a very overcast day so I decided to let Ella drive us to the park. we took the kids to a park that was about 10 minutes away from grandma and papa’s house and they had so much fun.  Ella did some serious climbing and Milo did some serious exploring. Aj and I read Ella her night time books.  We took on all the different characters.  Ella said she liked it the most when I made mistakes with the words. Ella and Iya  – the floating starfish. Taking a little break from swimming after lunch. Grandma and Ella had such a blast together at the pool. Lookin’ good papa! Hanging with AJ and Milo in the kiddie pool.  Fun times! We went to the Liberty Science Center today.  Here are Ella and Milo using the digger. Sweetness! The kids playing with different kinds of diggers. Bubble fun. Ella did a great job rock climbing. Milo played with this rice for about 1/2 hour and he had the greatest time. Ella watching on from high up!Ella and grandma always have a great time together. Cousins – such a beautiful relationship. Love love love! Normyn the wonderdog. Ella took this beautiful shot of grandma tonight.  

Time is flying.  This means that we are having an incredible time and it also means that there are only a few days left.  This is sad.  It’s been such a wonderful trip.  It’s been amazing being with our family and friends.  On Monday, we went into NY to meet up with Brickelle and her family.  We spent a lot of time in Central Park at Victorian Gardens.  It’s a small amusement park and the kids had a blast.  On Tuesday, we went to Van Saun Park with grandma, AJ and Milo.  It’s such a wonder to watch kids see animals. it’s so innocent, so exciting.  It was also really hot!  The kids were great.  Ella rode 2 ponies and Milo & Ella checked out so many different animals.  It was mommy’s last night here so we had a delicious dinner at the River Palm.  It was so great having mommy here.  We have pretty much spent the rest of our days at the pool.  Ella is becoming so amazing at the diving board and slide. Ella even dove off the diving board at the Leonia Pool!  Hopefully the weather will be good this weekend and Ella will be able to hit some golf balls with papa. Fun was had by all at the Victorian Gardens.  The only ride that the kids were a little bit scared on was that giant slide.  We were also a little bit scared watching them try to work through their fear.  There was the kindest woman who was running the ride and she took Brooklyn on her lap and had the girls hold her hands. Fun in Central Park. Milo watering AJ at the Leonia pool. Strike a pose!   Ella riding the ponies at Van Saun Park.  Mommy made sure that she was close by because Ella was thrown from a horse at Van Saun Park a few years ago.  The first horse here was acting a little strange so they switched horses for the 3rd and 4th laps.  Ella had a great time. Grandma and her beautiful grandchildren waiting for the train. AJ and Milo with his water soaked head. Cousins in love. Exploring the park. We love you mommy! Ella chillin at the pool. Check out Ella’s park outfit.  I especially love the socks. Papa, Ella and grandma before our dinner at Dante’s.  Love you guys!

We had a long hot busy beautiful day on Tuesday.  First, we went into NY to meet Milo and AJ and Milo’s Music Together class.  Once again, Ella had a lot of fun doing music and chasing Milo around the room.  Twyla was fascinated by Ella during class.  It was really sweet.  After class, I took Ella to the Highline for her surprise.  Another one of Ella’s friends from San Francisco is in NY.  Ella had no idea that Emmi and her family were in town and Emmi’s mom and I surprised the girls.  Ella and Emmi were so happy to see each other.  They embraced and smiled and posed for pictures.  Emmi’s big sister Sadie was in on the secret.  We had lunch under the Highline and then walked the Highline for about 7 blocks.  We ended up at a park in Chelsea that had lots of water coming out of the ground and walls and the girls played in the hot sun for about 2 hours! After the park, Ella and I went back to meet AJ and Milo and then we went to Washington Square Park.  Ella played and played all day and then we had a great dinner together.  What a fun filled day.  Mommy comes tomorrow and we can’t wait to have fun adventures with you!  We love you and miss you. Fun at Music Together! Ella and Milo are great at driving things together. I think this was right after a somersault. Sadie, Ella and Emmi after the big surprise. Holding hands walking down the Highline.Swinging away at Washington Square Park.A little overheated and very beautiful. Milo was very busy shoveling sand onto the slide.  

Ella and Milo are quite a duo.  Ella is so patient with Milo and Milo watches every move Ella makes.  They have been having so much fun together and it’s been so great to hang out with them and join the fun.  So far we have been to the Leonia Pool and to papa’s golf club although I didn’t get any pictures from papa’s club.  Here are some shots from the past 2 days of Ella and Milo. Cousins! Playuing together at the Leonia pool. Making fish faces at Dante’s. Hanging out with Dante himself! Love all around! Crazy cousins!One firefly for each hand.   Ella and AJ hunting for fireflies. Early morning fingerpainting. Beautiful Normyn…she’s really been through it this year.  She was attacked by a dog, had a cancerous tumor removed and was recently stung by a bee.  She’s all better now. Sweeping water on the terrace. Milo was eating the bubbles that Ella was shooting at him. Ella has officially aced the monkey bars at Fireman’s Park.Grandma and Milo taking a stroll through the park.   Papa is the best swing pusher in the world.  Milo kept screaming, “Weeeeeeeeeeee!” Two beautiful firefighters driving to put out a 4 alarm fire!    

We arrived on Monday at around 6:30, went out to dinner and then back to grandma and papa’s house.  We got back to the house at prime firefly catching time…around 8:30.  Ella was not only so happy to be here, but she was really excited to see fireflies.  Today, we went into NY, met AJ and Milo at Milo’s Music Together class and also got to see Twyla, Jordin and Kevin.  Ella was so excited to see Milo and AJ.  We can’t wait for them to sleep over at grandma and papa’s house.  We went out to lunch at PQ and got to see Iya.  After lunch, Ella read Green Eggs and Ham to Milo and then he took a little nap.  Grandma, AJ and Milo rested and Ella and I went to Washington Square Park to meet Brickelle, Akilah, Brooke and Brooklyn who are spending the month of July in NY.  It was so much fun to see our SF peeps in NYC!  Ella and Brickelle ran off and played in the water and at the park.  After the park, we came back to NJ and had Chinese food with grandma and papa.  Once again, Ella ran around chasing fireflies tonight.  It’s so great to be here.  We miss mommy a lot but we have been doing facetime with her and it’s been terrific.  We love you and miss you Sunny/mommy.Catching fireflies our first night here.  Ella has become an amazing firefly catcher.  Here, she’s teaching grandma her special technique. Here’s Milo entertaining all of us at Music Together.Twyla and Jordin in class today.  We hear that rhythm eggs are Twyla’s favorite instrument. Sweet Twyla.  She celebrated her 1st birthday on July 4.  Happy Birthday Twyla. Jordin dipping Ella. Milo, the ultimate charmer.  Milo is turning 2 today!  (July 13).  Happy Birthday beautiful Milo! Ella doing some hard core drumming on her little red drum. I love this picture of Ella and grandma. I took this picture of Kevin while Twyla and I were looking through the camera viewer.  I’d say that this great shot was taken through Twyla’s eyes.  Back out on the hot streets of New York City! Milo and Ella love each other so much. It was wonderful to see Normyn on the mend.Milo, Ella Brickelle and AJ in Washington Square Park. Brickelle sliding down the fire pole as Ella waits her turn. A very hot Milo on top of the little slide. Ella and Brickelle were so happy to see each other and hang out. Beautiful Brooklyn had so much fun at the park too!  He was so sweet.  He walked up to me and said, “Lauren, I like NY.” Catching fireflies tonight.  That’s a firefly on Ella’s sleeve.  I had her change into a long sleeve shirt and leggings to reduce the chance of getting mosquito bites.