After dinner, we were all playing with Ella’s Dora Lego playground and after we put it away, it was about 7:45. We told Ella that it was almost time to get ready to go to bed and she said, “I want to dance”. We put on some dance music and she danced like crazy – she did her special little butt dance and just jumped all around. Then she said, “I want to hear Mozart” and when we put it on, she said, “now I need my ballet shoes”. Pretty cute.
Ballerina in the dog bed.
Today we took Ella to Golden Gate Park to see Becca and Tucker at the Pet Pride event. Ella wanted to wear her Mickey Mouse costume. It was all too cute.
Mommy is becoming quite the make-up artist. Nice whiskers and nose!
This picture is so cute I can’t stand it!
Our little jumper!
This weather has been incredible. Each day is more and more beautiful. It’s supposed to get a little cooler, but we have been so fortunate to have such a beautiful fall so far. Early this afternoon, the 3 of us took a walk and had lunch at the Java House. After the Java House, we went to the little park behind the ballpark. Ella jumped off high walls, climbed the red structure up and down all by herself and just seemed like such a big kid in a little kid’s playground. After that, we came home and Ella got ready for a Halloween party at Borders. Getting ready meant having mommy painting beautiful fire on Ella’s face so that Ella could be a fire breathing dragon. Ella put on her dragon costume (or postume as Ella says) and off to Borders we went. Borders had some activities for the kids, some trick or treating, a Halloween story, a game of duck duck goose, a Halloween parade and then a costume contest. Ella had so much fun, Stella and Juliet were there, and so were Hannah and Max from upstairs. We could really see a difference in how Ella participated in the games and socialized with other kids. Preschool is a great thing for Ella. Ella won the costume contest along with a big kid who was a skeleton. Ella really loved meeting him. She was kind of mezmerized by him. After Borders, we went to Stella and Juliet’s house and played for a long time. Finally, we ended our night at the Fog City Diner with Helen, Ron, Stella and Juliet, where Ella ate 2 bowls of buttery noodles and some of my spaghetti. Wow – what a day.
Mommy and Ella on the way to the Java House.
Looks like Ella is about to dive into the sandbox.
There was a time, not so long ago, that Ella could not reach up to this red thing.
I think this is my best picture of the week.
About to climb.
Right after mommy painted the fire on Ella’s face.
Dragon wings.
Here is the whole costume – dragon feet and all.
On the way to Borders. Mommy was in the Halloween spirit too!
Stella, Helen and Juliet listening to a Halloween story.
The whole gang listening to the Halloween story.
Waiting to see if she is going to be called “goose” during an intense game of “duck duck goose”.
Playing with the 3 headed dragon puppet.
Meeting a big boy skeleton. This kid was so sweet to Ella.
Ella hitting some sticks together during the Halloween parade.
A skeleton hug.
Best costume winner!
The 2 costume winners representing the youngest and the oldest kids.
The 3 of us. Thank you Ron for taking this picture!
Back at the Kim/Arena household, here are Stella and Ella doing a little ballet.
After school, we took Ella swimming. Before we left the house, Ella had an urge to put on lip gloss. She applied it for about 3 minutes. Here is Ella with lip gloss.
After swimming, Kate came over for dinner. We had a really sweet night. Ella sang a few songs for Kate who was completely entertained by Ella.
Running around at the gym.
Making a muscle.
Today, Alicia told me that Ella made up a story instead of admitting that she had an accident. Basically, Ella was inside with the other teacher and some kids and Alicia was outside. When Alicia came inside, Ella was wearing a completely different outfit than the one she came to school in. Alicia asked her what happened and Ella told her that she got all wet from the water table. Alicia told Ella that she didn’t see her outside and she said something like, “Well I got wet from playing in the water”. Finally, Alicia asked Ella if she had an accident and Ella said, “Yes” and walked away. Good imagination kid!
A little blurry, but here is Ella running to the elevator.
Jumping…Ella is getting really good at jumping. I missed the middle picture, but today, Ella jumped off of this wall all by herself!
We feel like Ella is changing minute by minute. She will be 3 in a few weeks and she’s just such a little kid. I don’t really know how to explain it.
Ella taking her cat buddy Gigi to school.
Can you find the person who’s not the pre-schooler?
On the way to dinner at Nama.
Pure happiness.
Ella told us that the lollipop was made of nectar.
Ella had a great day at school…however, she had 2 accidents. We’re not sure what’s going on, but we’re going to have a family meeting tomorrow night to talk about it. After school, Ella had her special play date with Stella and Juliet. She came back from their house in this adorable Tinkerbell costume. Mommy gave Ella bath and then we were getting ready to meet Amy at Acme. Ella told mommy that she wanted to wear Mickey Mouse to dinner and she did! We had a fun dinner – by the end, Ella was getting really tired – until the ice cream came!
On the way to school.
A new job again!
This is a “family” that Ella made before school started.
Our little Mickey Mouse.
A kid enjoying her ice cream.
Hey Becca – hope you’re having a great time in Mexico.
On Sunday, I went to IKEA and picked up 2 dressers for Ella’s room. I also got her this little red night table which she loves. She told me that she wanted to eat snacks on it. The big girl bed is going pretty well. I’m happy that we have those ottomans because I think she would flip right out of the bed.
Here I am putting the dresser together while Ella passes out in a drawer with her new elephant.
Ella and her elephant in the drawer.
Ella loves rinsing and spitting.
The new dresser.
Our sleeping angel. She insisted on having all of her “friends” in bed with her. She also flips around all night – she fell asleep with her head on the other side of the bed!
On the way to school this morning.
Some more of Ella’s artwork on the Leaping Lizard wall.
Ella learned this hanging trick from her buddy Brickelle.
Cheers – grape juice in her new “fancy glasses” from IKEA.
Playing around in the old dresser.
Today, we took Ella to the Jelly Belly factory. We had a lot of fun there. Ella was really patient and paid attention during the tour. She wanted to eat a lot of jellybeans and she had plenty. On the way home in the car she announced that she wanted to sleep in a big girl bed like Stella and Juliet. We told her that she could have her big girl bed whenever she wanted. She then said, “I want it tonight – I want my big girl bed to sleep in tonight”. We came home and set up her bed (we left the crib in the room just in case it didn’t work out). Then all of a sudden, Ella said, “No more binkies. I am a big girl in a big girl bed, no binkies”. We told her that she could do whatever she wanted, that if she needed her binkie, she could have it until she was 3. She didn’t really respond. At bed time Ella said, “No more binkies for me” and went to sleep without her binkie! I found the binkies in the bottom of her crib. I guess Ella put them there. Ella is now sleeping soundly in her bed.
Ella loves jumping off the steps in our lobby.
Welcome to the Jelly Belly factory!
Picking up a few things in the gift shop.
We had to wear hats on our tour.
Barefoot in the grass.
Our happy little girl.
Aloha.
Ella had to change into her “ballet” when we got home.
Here is Ella in her big girl bed. WE pushed the ottomans close to her bed so she wouldn’t fall out.
Ella had a great day at school today. Every day when she comes home, she wants to “put on ballet”. Then Ella names her articles of clothing. “I want a leotard and a tutu and tights”. Today she was doing some very special spins in her outfit. We are thinking that maybe we’ll have her take a ballet class. She loves it so much.
Ella after school.
When we got home, there was a surprise in the mail from Uncle Jesse. He sent us a DVD of the original Peter Pan. Juliet and Stella came over for a little while and the 3 of them sat down and watched it on the little DVD player. They were concentrating and focusing so hard!
Ella helping mommy by pushing the cart down the hall.
Playing with the “rainbow” on the wall.
What a jump!