Life With Ella

Ella is loving life – thinking about things more – asking many questions.  Last night, Ella was going to the bathroom right before bed.  We started talking and she said, “Did you know that there are homeless people that sleep somewhere where there isn’t a bathroom?”  I asked her where she learned about that and she said, “Ms. Ngoc” (one of Ella’s teachers).  Ella then told me that there were a lot of homeless people in San Francisco and even more in NY.  We talked about homelessness for a little while – I told her that some people become homeless because they have problems and sometimes lose their jobs or just don’t have enough money to pay to live in a home.  We talked about people helping other people and then we started talking about shelters.  Ella said, “a shelter will keep you safe”.  I said that a shelter is a place that people can go temporarily in order to get back on their feet and get protection.  We started talking about the earthquake in Haiti and I was telling her that a lot of people lost their homes there because of the earthquake.  We talked about people living in tents as shelter and other buildings that were not destroyed.  We talked about donating money to help people get food or clothes and things that they need to live.  All of a sudden Ella looks at me and says, “I have an idea.  What if people were in Haiti living in tents and walking around on the street and an earthquake came and knocked big buildings over and they fell on the tents and the people.  I told her that I wasn’t sure what would happen but I was happy to hear that they did earthquake drills at school.  I had Ella tell me what they were taught to do at school during an earthquake drill and she said to curl up in a ball, protect their necks, and go under a table.  I told her that that sounded like a great thing to do.  It’s sad when innocence starts to fade away and reality enters the conscious.  Ella ended the conversation by changing the subject which was fine with me.  I hope Ella will keep on being curious and asking questions. Ella blowing bubbles for Towby. Ella decided to be Belle this afternoon. And the love fest continues.  Ella and Juliet had freshly painted nails and were heading upstairs to play.

On Sunday morning, Juliet and Ron came to the door and asked if Ella would like to join them at Pier 39 for some bungee jumping.  Stella and KJ were still not feeling well so they were hanging with Helen.  Ella couldn’t wait to get out of our front door.  Of course, Ella had an amazing day with Juliet and Ron.  Sunny and I took advantage of Ella being out with her buddy and had a wonderful early afternoon walking to the Ferry Building, having lunch and hanging out at the Java House.  Ron took some fantastic pictures of the girls and I am about to post them.  Ella had a great day at school today, lots of fun at Tree Frog Treks and she did really well in ballet. Ella and Juliet about to begin their wild adventure. All you need is love. Having a blast on the spinning thing in the carousel. Bungee jumping! Touching a turtle at the aquarium. Taking the train home. Walking down the Embarcadero. The spaceship. Warming up in ballet. Incredible flexibility. listening to the ballet story. Beautiful ballerina after class. Ella had a great piano lesson tonight.

I am still struggling with this cold thing and wish I felt better but I bet I’ll be all good by next week.  These past few days have been really beautiful.    Ella actually wore a sundress to school on Wednesday and was sprayed by the hose today at school!  Ella has been having a great week…nothing monumental to report.  She told us some great stuff about Cesar Chavez tonight – I’m going to have to do a video interview with Ella and hopefully she’ll be able to do a repeat performance. Ella going to school on Tuesday morning.  It was hat day at school. The sidewalk is like a huge hopscotch board. Kid’s table! Ella playing with Max the cat.  We were watching our neighbor’s cat for a few days. Ella today after school – we ran over to Bi-Rite before Ella went swimming.

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.