Life With Ella

Ella woke up at around 5:30 this morning complaining that she was congested.  She was a little warm and she had about 100º fever.  We gave her some tylenol and we all went back to sleep.  We took it really easy today – Ella hung out in bed and watched a lot of Spongebob which made her really happy.   I bought the Biggest Loser Wii workout game yesterday so Sunny and I did our work outs at home today.    It’s actually a really good work out!  Ella made a card for Brickelle and was feeling much better.  We asked her if she felt well enough to go to the testing TaeKwonDo and she said that she really wanted to go.  Ella did a great job in class.  All of the kids advanced to the next level.  She was really happy to get her yellow belt with a white stripe.  The video at the end of this shows her instructor giving her the belt – he says that she paid attention better than some 9, 10, and 11 year olds.  She’s really into it and is so cute when she does her thing!  After class, we went over to Phyllis and Michaels to celebrate a late Chanukah with Michael’s grand daughter Zani.  She was supposed to come to our house on Monday night but communication was messed up and she never made it over.  We are officially calling the 11th night of Chanukah “Zanikah”.  Zani is 8 and she is really sweet with Ella.  Ella thinks she is the bomb.  It was a really fun night.  Ella was a trooper.  Tomorrow is Brickelle’s birthday party.  Ella is so excited. Ella and Casi at assembly on Friday. Getting ready to go over to our friend’s house on Friday night. Making a birthday card for Brickelle. The final product! Working on her kicks. Chillin’ at the end of class. Ella and Kyle – the two white belts ab out to move up to the first yellow belt. Getting her yellow belt. Showing respect. THe belt!  It’s very stiff right now – I have to wash it a few times to get it to stay down. Relaxing with Zani watching Toy Story 2. Zani reading a bllk to Ella. Hannah, Zani, Naomi and Ella.

We met the Kim/Arenas this morning for breakfast at the Crossroads Cafe.  We’ve all been so busy lately that we had to actually schedule a date.  It was great to hang out.  The kids loved being around the book section of Crossroads.  I think they all miss living across the street from a book store!  After breakfast, we came back home and Sunny and I got busy doing things around the house.  Ella got busy herself doing art projects and playing games on the iPad.  At around 2, the girls rang the doorbell and the Kim/Arena Chanukah fairy paid a visit.  The 3 girls opened their Chanukah presents at the same time.  Helen and Ron gave the girls fantastic gifts! Each of them now has a toy dog that they can walk and hang out with.  Check out the video.  It’s really funny.  After playing in the hallway for a while (Ella got really frustrated at one point and had a nervous breakdown because her puppy wouldn’t walk straight when she pushed the straight arrow – but she recovered quickly), Ella had to get ready for TaeKwonDo.  The class was pretty hard for Ella today.  They were learning all these moves because they are having testing next week.  When something doesn’t come easily to Ella, she gets frustrated really quickly – something she needs to work on.  Ella did a great job in the class but had her moments of fooling around and wanting to give up.  She’s really little compared to the other kids but keeps up so well.  After class we came home and Ella was super tired and super hyper.  We were going to try to go to a Chanukah party hosted by one of Ella’s classmates but we thought that it was better to stay at home – Ella was way too tired. Stella dn Ella at Crossroads. The girls opening up and getting to know their new pets.  The video really shows these little guys coming to life.  The girls named their “friends” the following names…Stella’s is “Harriet Rose Petal”, Juliet’s is “Bo” and Ella’s is “Izzie”. I’m getting pretty good at capturing the kicks. Ella haing fun with her classmates before class. Steven’s mom helped out with the class today. Ella has fun with everyone in the class – even the 11 year olds! More action shots. Happy Chanukah!

Ella had her first haircut today.  We took Ella to the same guy who cuts my hair.  Ella knows him and she was cool with him cutting her hair.  First he cut off the end of her braid (see video below).  After the initial cutting of the braid, she had her hair washed and then Ash gave her a hair cut.  Ella still has really long hair, but it’s shorter and healthier than it was before.  Ella really likes her haircut.Ella and her buddy Casi at the assembly this morning. The braid before the haircut. Ella seemed to like getting her hair washed.  She was sitting on 2 piles of  towels. Walking to the haircut.  Her hair was already a lot shorter because Ash cut off the end of her braid. Pretty exciting stuff! The haircut! The family after the haircut. Ella and Ash. Lighting the Chanukah candles. We gave Ella her first dictionary tonight. Ella and I took this together. Some of Ella’s latest and greatest dry erase board artwork.  Cool bugs, cactus, angler fish and bees.