Life With Ella

Yesterday, Ella, grandma and I went to the Liberty Science Museum in Jersey City.  It was a pretty cool place – I like the Exploratorium in San Francisco much better, but Ella had a lot of fun.  I am going to post lots of pictures and explain along the way when necessary.

Pretty self explanatory…LOVE.

Ella did a great job on this challenging rock climbing wall.

Exploring.

Ella was on this centrifugal force chair – the woman was spinning her around and gave her an assignment…to put all the red squares in a row while spinning pretty quickly…

As you can see, Ella did a fantastic job!  She can now be an astronaut.

Ella got to build her own rocket which she launched.

If you can believe it, these fish live in the Hudson River.

Ella was playing a game where she was making the balls go up on a pulley.

Water graffiti.

Playing on a stone xylophone.

Grandma and Ella saying hello to a friendly python.

“I want you to clean this dump ’til it shines like the top of the Chrylser Building!”

This is a mangled steel beam from the World Trade Center.

Ella loved operating the digger.

A really cool outdoor obstacle course where the kids were supposed to be different animals in their habitats.

The adventures continue…we have been going to the pool every day and Ella is doing so well with side and front breathing.  She is even spending about 15 – 20 minutes each day swimming without goggles.  Yesterday, we went swimming for about an hour and then Ella and I headed into New York to the Planetarium and The Museum of Natural History.  Ella has been wanting to go to the Planetarium because of the Eloise movie – the prince ends up at the Planetarium to see the stars.  We watched the Journey to the Stars movie in the special theater.  Ella LOVED it – she was blown away.  “Mama- it felt like the theater was moving and that we were in the sky”.  After the movie, we went around a small part of the museum – we saw the African mammals and North American mammals and then we went into the room where the big blue whale is.  Ella has been into angler fish lately – the ugly fish who live deep down in the sea.  There were quite a few angler fish at the museum and there was even a video.  Ella was completely riveted by all of this.  After the museum, we met AJ for some ice cream and then did a little shoe shopping at Harry’s.  Then we met Nikki B for dinner.  AJ and Michael met us and then we all headed back to NJ.  What a beautiful fun filled day and night.

What a big beautiful girl.

Fun at old and new parks.  Ella did a great job on the balance beam.

Running up the steps of the planetarium.

Half way there…

Ella wanted me to take this shot of the planets.  Pretty cool.

This is how much Ella weighs on the moon – 6.1 lbs…in order to find out your earth weight, you multiply your moon weight by 6.

I snuck this picture of Ella in the planetarium just before the movie started.

Check out how huge this dinosaur skeleton is!  Fantastic.

Ella loved this wall of insects and fish and other stuff.

Ella with the big blue whale in the background.

Uncle Jesse – I took this shot for you.  They took the glass away from this exhibit and it’s still dark, but with the flash, it’s less ominous.

Meeting AJ after the planetarium.  So much beautiful love.

One of Ella’s shots.

The gang walking to the car.

Ella and uncle Michael in the middle of Broadway.

Ella and her new red dressy shoes.

New sneakers for school – Ella’s wonderful photography.

Ella took this beautiful shot of grandma and papa.

Ella is such a lover of life.  She manages to throw herself into everything that she is doing and she really loves every individual thing.  On Saturday, Ella swam, took a ride in the golf cart, drove the golf cart (on papa’s lap), putted a little bit, ran through the sprinkler, found a leaf bug and took lots of pictures.  She loved each thing.  The only thing that is missing is mommy.  We love you and miss you so much.  Today (Sunday) we all went to the cemetery for the unveiling of my grandmother’s head stone.  Before Sunny left, we explained to Ella that the cemetery is a place to go to remember people who have died.  We told her that the stones represented the people.  We did not tell her that the bodies were buried in the ground.  This morning while we were having breakfast, I was explaining to Ella about the unveiling again, telling her that a rabbi was going to speak and that there would be some family members there and that they were going to take a veil or scarf off the stone.  Ella asked if she could bring a stone…I told her that was a beautiful idea and that she could put it on my grandma’s stone.  She went outside with my dad and found a little stone.  She then drew a heart on it.  She said that she would put it on my grandma’s head stone.  She did just that today and it was beautiful.  Obviously, I didn’t take pictures, but it was just so pure and “Ella”.

Milo and Iya loving each other at papa’s club.

Happy boy!

The beginning out our golf cart journey.

Ella checking out the water trap at papa’s club.  She was pointing at the bubbles where there were fish.

Sweet love.

Papa and Ella driving me around.

The golf course is really beautiful.

Ella’s first golf lesson…she’s not exactly a natural, but she can learn if the spirit moves her.

Ella frolicking through the sprinkler.  She couldn’t stop giggling.  Such a sweet scene.

Ella and I found this leaf bug outside of my parent’s house.  I took the first shot, Ella took the second.

Ella and Milo holding hands in the back seat on the way to dinner.

Ella took this of grandma and papa.

Beautiful grandparents and their grandchildren.

Another one of Ella’s masterpieces.

I took this one – Milo has a thing for the garbage can in the kitchen.  He can stand there talking to it for like 15 minutes!

Last night was mommy’s last night in NJ – we love you – see you in a week!  It was wonderful being here with you.  We all went to the River Palm last night for a family dinner.  The dinner was great, Ella was fantastic, and Milo was terrific.  Here are some great shots from last night.

Before we all went out to dinner Ella helped grandma and papa water the flowers and clean off a little slide for Milo.

Mommy and Ella outside of the restaurant.  A beautiful embrace.

Cousins!

Our big girl…nothing spilled and nothing broke.

Ella loves her grandma and papa so much.

A serious shot.

Our beautiful family.

Milo and whipped cream – a beautiful combination.

Ella digging into her dessert.  I think she liked the ice cream as much as the chocolate lava cake!

Milo and AJ sporting the adorable stripes.

This is one of those self-portraits – thought this came out pretty well.

Sisters and cousins.  AJ – I think this is right before you fell asleep!  (Just kidding).

Ella took this one of Milo and AJ.

Ella standing on top of the old slide that she cleaned off  for Milo.

Visiting day.

Yesterday, it rained a lot during the day, but when the sun came out, we brought the kids to the park.  Ella tried everything and Milo pretty much stuck to the slide and the bouncy thing.  Ella brought her basketball and did some serious dribbling.

Milo and grandma own that slide.

Milo thinking about something good.

Ella showing off her basketball skills.

Fancy footwork on the balance beam.

On the bouncy bunny.

A big jump.

Ella and Milo hanging out.

Such a beautiful scene.

Mommy reading to the kids before we go into NY.

A “self portrait” of me and Normyn.

On Wednesday, grandma, mommy, Ella and I went into NY and saw a matinee of Mary Poppins on Broadway.  This was Ella’s first Broadway show.  We were sitting center orchestra, row J.  When the curtain went up, Ella began to shake and was overwhelmed.  She jumped onto mommy’s lap.  After about 10 minutes, she was in her own seat thoroughly loving the show.  It was so much fun to be with Ella to experience something so magical.  After the show, we waited at the stage door for the actors to come out.  The only actor who didn’t make it out was Mary Poppins, but Ella got autographs and photos with the other main characters.  Ella also got the Mary Poppins umbrella and purse and she said, “Why don’t we get an umbrella for Stella and Juliet?”  We asked her if this would be their present from NY, and she said, “yes” so we did.  In the evening, Emma and James came over and Ella had a blast with them.

Grandma, Ella and mommy outside of the theater.

About to go into the theater.  It’s getting exciting.

The show is about to start.

Ella and grandma during the intermission.

I snuck this shot during the show when Mary Poppins was flying away and the entire theater was filled with stars.

Ella with the actor who played Michael.

Ella with the actor who played Jane.

Ella with the actor who played Burt.

Ella with the actor who played Mr. Banks…Jane and Michael’s dad.

Walking back to the garage.

Ella with Emma and James – such sweet kids.  Ella really loves them.

Finding fireflies with Emma and James.

We have been swimming almost every day since we arrived and Ella is getting stronger every day.  On Monday and Tuesday, we mixed it up after swimming.  On Monday afternoon, we took a hike in a nature reserve right by grandma and papa’s house.  Ella loves to explore the great outdoors and we had a nice little hike.  The only thing that creeped me out was a deer tick warning.  We did tick checks after the hike.  On Tuesday, we went to papa’s club to swim and Ella took a swimming lesson.  The teacher worked on side and front breathing and Ella did a fantastic job.  After the club, we went into NY and met KK at the Plaza Hotel for an “Eloise Tea”.  Ella walked into the Plaza and she lit up like Annie at Daddy Warbucks’ house.  Her eyes got huge and she just took it all in.  We all had white napkins and they gave Ella a special pink napkin which she cherished.  Ella ordered the Eloise Tea (so did I) which had grilled cheese, cucumber, strawberry and cream cheese and peanut butter and jelly finger sandwiches.  Then there were 2 scones, and after that, chocolate dipped strawberries, brownies, chocolate chip cookies, mini cupcakes, and more stuff that I can’t even remember.  After the tea, we went to the Eloise store and we bought a DVD of the Disney Eloise movie.  After that, we went to FAO Schwarz where Ella ran back and forth on the giant piano.  Then we told her she could get one thing from the store and out of all of these amazing toys, she chose a fancy purple leotard.  We kissed KK goodbye and took one of those bike things down 59th street to meet Nikki B in the Time Warner Building.  We had a great dinner and finished it off with Ella having ice cream from Mr. Softee.  Wow!  What a day.  Today grandma, mommy, Ella and I are going to see Mary Poppins on Broadway.  Ella is just a little bit excited.

Ella doing ballet while mommy and Milo tap the ball keeping rhythm.

Some shots from our nature hike.

Ella and her swimming teacher Sarah.  Ella is such an amazing listener in her one-on-one lessons.

Ella and KK in front of the original Eloise painting.

Mommy and Ella showing us the poster to the Eloise store.

Ella stirring two cubes of sugar into her chamomile tea.

The food has arrived!  Look at this happy beauty.

This is the Palm Court where we had the Eloise Tea.

Ella strolling into the Eloise store.

Getting very comfortable in the Eloise chill spot.  Of course there was a giant TV screen in front of her playing an Eloise cartoon.

Walking towards FAO Schwarz.

Arriving at FAO Schwarz.

Fun on the “Big” piano.

Ella’s new leotard.

Playing around in a fun mirrored room.

Posing in front of the man and woman statues in the Time Warner Building.

Ice cream with mommy and Nikki B.

We spent this past weekend at papa’s club.  Ella has continued to LOVE swimming and it’s hard to get her out of the pool.  The club has been a nice change of scenery and we get to see papa there too!  On Sunday, Ella and I took a ride in the golf cart with papa.  When the ride was over, Ella asked papa if she could do it again at least 2 more times.  Milo has been so much fun for all of us and I think he even said “El” the other day while looking at Ella. Ella loves him a lot and he really loves Ella.Grandma, AJ, Milo and papa hanging out pool side at the club.  AJ and Milo in the kiddie pool. Grandma watching Milo and AJ in the kiddie pool. Ella  has no problem making friends wherever she goes.  She had a lot of fun in the pool with Sophia and Nina.  Ella met Sophia last year and they picked up where they left off. Ella and her cousin Jack playing the Hungry Hungry Hippo game. AJ, Sunny and I went into NY and got to meet the beautiful Twyla, Jordin and Kevin’s new daughter. Ella and papa walking off onto the golf course. Papa showed Ella the beginning of one of the holes and then we drove all the way to the end – right here! Golf cart driving fun! Grandma and Milo dancing to the Howdy Doody song. Grandma love.Two beauties. Mommy and Ella feeding Milo. Beautiful Ella!  Ella and Milo have a game where Ella builds the blocks up high for him and he knocks them down. 

The fun continues!  Ella has been having such a great time.  She’s been such a great big cousin with Milo.  Mommy arrived yesterday and we are all so happy!  Ella took her around, showed her everything, told her everything…it was so great.  Here are some pictures from the past day or so.

Sweet happy Milo.

On Thursday night, I went into NY and had dinner with Nikki B, and Ella stayed home and had a lot of fun.  I forgot to bring her ballet slippers so grandma let her borrow her shoes.

On Friday morning, one of my parent’s friends, Doris brought her grand daughter Stella over for a little visit.  It was great watching Ella talk Miley Cyrus, Toy Story 3 and Despicable Me with a 9 year old.

At first, we were all trying to help Ella give Milo a bottle but when we all “let go”, Milo sat up, stared at Ella and then leaned back into her…this is love.

After a very rainy morning and afternoon, we decided to go to a park with the kids.

Grandma and papa sending us off.

We tested out a new park and as you can see, the kids loved it.  Ella did a lot of great climbing and Milo did a terrific job on the slide.

It’s hard to believe that all the computer needed was a good night sleep, but whatever it was, it’s working again this morning.  Yesterday morning, AJ and Michael went back to NY and Milo and Normyn stayed with us.  Milo is such a great kid with a great disposition, but if he doesn’t have one of his main “peeps” with him in sight, he’s not a happy guy.  When AJ and Michael are not around, grandma is his main woman.  He is so cute and fun with me when his “peeps” are around but when they are not in sight, he cries and screams.  Yesterday, grandma was just downstairs and Ella and I were upstairs with Milo and he cried and cried.  Ella is so beautiful when he cries – she tries to comfort him, she rubs his back, she smiles at him.  It’s great to see her want to help him.

Grandma and I took Milo and Ella to the Leonia pool yesterday.  Ella continues to swim like a fish.  She is actually getting better treading water and finding air.  Milo stayed in the kiddie pool practically the whole time.  After the pool, I was supposed to go into NY to see Twyla – Jordin and Kevin’s new baby, but there was an accident on the GWB and there was no way that I was getting into NY.  Ella and I were supposed to go in a little later to meet Nikki B for dinner but the same traffic issues were going on.  I am getting a little NJ stir crazy but that’s OK.  After dinner with grandma, papa, Ella and Milo, Ella and I went on a little adventure.  Papa went to get his haircut and Ella and I followed about 15 minutes later as spies and spied on papa getting his haircut.  Ella told me that we needed to wear sunglasses and black suits, but we just settled for sunglasses.  After spying, we got some ice cream and came back just in time to catch fireflies.

Ella “reading” one of her old board books.

“Hey Milo – take a look at this book.”

“Really – it’s a good book…I think you’ll like it.”

“Put Me In the Zoo…it’s very colorful.”

Milo and grandma at the kiddie pool.  Milo pretty much walked around the edge of the pool.

Ella and I were playing a game where I poured water on her and she grew like a flower.  Here is Ella the beautiful flower.

Milo very happy that he’s about to eat dinner.

Ella and Milo were playing a game that Ella calls, “Drop it and pick it up”.  Milo drops and Ella picks up.

Here we are about to go spy on papa.

Searching for fireflies.

They are very serious firefly searchers.

Ella about to catch a firefly.  Notice the little spot right by her arm…that’s a firefly!

Papa sharing a firefly with Ella.

Here we are hanging out, being patient, and waiting for fireflies.

I shared my firefly with Ella.