Swimming!?!

Yesterday marked the end of Gabriella's swim lessons.  She absolutely loved them, and we did too.  They were half an hour a day for 10 consecutive weekdays.  Unfortunately she was sick for 4 of them, but we still got our money's worth as they were only $50.  She was in the first level, of those who could not swim at all, but at the top end, because she totally loves the water, and has no problem going under, where as some of the other kids in the group were hesitant to go in the water, and still wouldn't go under even by the end.  She was so good at the lessons that we got her goggles and are continuing to teach her at home (Shelley was on the swim team).  She loves to try and swim, and here are the first videos of her doing so all by her self.  I don't know how much she moves due to the actual swimming, but it is a great start.

Haircut

Ella in her costume from the dance, and talking to her friends.  The new hair cut.

Shelley took Ella to get a haircut this saturday.  Ella had wanted one for a little while so we took her.  They cut it to a bit short, and then Shelley asked if she wanted it shorter, and she said yes, so they took it even shorter.  She loves it, and we really like it to.   She got to sit in a car and watch Cinderella while they cut her hair.  She also got to go back to swim class today, which she had to miss for the last few days because of an ear infection.  

I also started my class, Biology 106, last week.  It meets twice a week for 3 hours at a time, and we have lots of online stuff to do as well.  It's just an introductory class, but it's interesting, and it's a good first step.  

Lots of stuff

We've had a lot going on here recently, lets see...  Ella's has been going to friends house's lately, something she likes a lot.  And we have had a couple of her friends over as well.  We even took one of her friends, Olivia, with us for a hike.  We went to Vazquez Rocks county park, in Aqua Dulce, just a little bit outside of Santa Clarita.  It was really cool, with big rock formations.  It's been used in a lot of movies, like Blazing Saddles, and in TV shows too.  I even found out what the name of my new favorite plant is;  Yucca Whipple, there are some pictures of it on our picture site.  

Next we went to the zoo with Tom, Cici, Nick and Paul.  It was super fun.  We were there at the end of the day so it wasn't that crowded, but a lot of animals were also inside being fed.  We did get to see the seals being fed, which was great because they do this hilarious shuffley thing, called galumphing, up to the area where the trainers feed them.  Ella expanded her embossed penny collection as well, adding an Alligator and a Koala, it think.  Afterward we went to Prizzie's a really good pizza place by Nick and Paul's.  The have super delicious breadsticks that are covered in olive oil, parmesan cheese and garlic.  They were great.

Ella had here first dance recital last saturday, and she absolutely loved it.  She danced to 'Hot Hot Hot' and had on a cute black flapper dress with neon polka dots and fringe.  We video taped it, but we our software for our video camera only works on a PC, so I can't get the images on our mac to upload just yet, but I'm working on it.    There are lots of pictures from Vazquez rocks, some from the Zoo and from the Cubs game we went to as well.  We watched them beat the Dodgers, and Ella got a Los Angeles hat.  It's pink and white the the Dodgers LA logo on it, but she likes to say it's not a Dodgers hat.  

Anything else... I've got 2 new second cousins Olivia Hurubean and Julia Smith.  Julia looks adorable, and I'm still waiting to see pictures of Olivia, ahem ahem.

Oh yeah, Shelley it pregnant, which I think most of you know by now.  She had her second doctors appointment today and everything is looking good.  Ella is very excited and has thought up a bunch of names including Noodlehead, Vaughn, Rachel, and Nate.  I think Noodlehead is for if its a girl.   We are of course very excited.  The baby is due December 22, so we are going to be Californian's for a while longer.    Luckily Southern California has some cool apartment buildings, so we are looking to move into one in late July or early August.  

Well, I guess that's all for now.  I'll get the video up as soon as I can.