I Never Saw It Comin'

So, life really is full of surprises or maybe it's just that Ella is full of them (or it)...however you slice it...I would have never guessed that after the first week of school Ella's teacher would be waiting in the hall to talk to me...

That's right y'all, my kid is getting in trouble at school...(as a side note, for some reason having a kid that is getting in trouble at school feels a lot like YOU are getting in trouble at school).

But seriously, look at her. So cute, So happy....

So crazy...

I never saw it comin'.

I will never forget that day her teacher was waiting to tell me that Ella was having a hard time following directions. She said in particular that when it was time to go outside Ella refused saying such things as "No, I won't go!!" "You can't make me!!" and my personal favorite. "Don't tell me!!" Her teacher of course made her and she was very unhappy the rest of the day.

Well, after my little talk with the teacher I assumed things were better. Her teacher kept saying, "Today was a pretty good day" so that is what I thought until we went to the school's open house. At this event all the parents played toys and looked at the pretty pictures their kids had made. All but us that is because we were too busy being talked to by Ella's teacher, the teacher's aid, and the speech pathologist. They each took a little time to come talk to us about Ella. They shared things with us like how Ella never wants to do what they tell her to and how she is too loud during circle time for the other students to hear and often has to be taken away from the group and it went on..Chris and I just kept looking at each other thinking "We had no idea it was this bad." Her teachers kept reassuring us but we realized..we are the parents of a trouble-maker...where did we go wrong?

I can say all this now because things at school really are better. She finally likes going to school and her teachers are now saying "Today was a really good day"(fingers crossed for the next open house).

But man ohh man does this little girl keep me guessing and really, I love it because I would be a bored mommy without her.

Fall Outings

One great part about living in Rochester is the Fall. It is beautiful..and thankfully our good friends, James and Sarah, planned some fun activities that got us out to enjoy it.

James is Chris's business partner or as I like to say "work wife". Sarah is James' girlfriend and also went to school with Chris. Ella is really shy around them (I actually think she is scared of James) but she does love to tell me how pretty Sarah is and gets very excited when he are going to all hang out.

So now that they have been introduced..our first fall outing was to go apple picking. And since a picture can tell a story..I will let the pictures do just that...

Do I look like I am miserable? This kid weighs almost 16 pounds!!!

Some people are such overachievers ;)
PS...notice the red tape...

Carrying the spoils!!

Our second outing was to a corn maze. Ella complained the whole time we were walking through it about how she wanted to get out (3 year olds are always fun). She did however like the duck racing and she loved riding the cow train. Sorry there are no pictures of these things because my camera stopped working. I am praying for it :)
Here are some fun pictures though of James and Chris acting like 3 year olds...

The chase..

I see this kind of thing all the time at Whipple Park.

Corn Husk Gun...poor Will cried after every shot.

New York, New York

We finally made the big trip to NYC. It is sad that we have lived in New York for over a year and just made it to that happening place..but alas..it has been accomplished.

The trip had all the essential stops. We went to Philly...saw some old buildings where important things happened, we saw the Liberty Bell behind a glass window, and even ate a philly cheesesteak. Then onto NYC where we rode a ferry past The Statue of Liberty, saw Battery Park, saw Wall Street and took the subway to Central Park (by the way, subway travel is not great if you have a fear of being touched). We also went to The Met and of course Time Square. Ella's favorite stop was the Giant Toy "R" Us. Mine was getting cheesecake. I think Chris's was the nap we took on the floor of The Met.

We then rushed back to the ferry...missing our stop on the subway and making it on the last ride over to get the cars. We arrived back on Staten Island after the garage where our cars were parked had closed so the soccer player and marathon runner of the group ran to the garage, hoping to make it in time (I know you might all be shocked to find out that neither Chris or I were the runners)..and luckily they were able to get the cars.

So, just like this post..the trip went by in a flash. Fun? Yes. Exhausting? Yes. Wanna go again? Yes (without the kids).


And last but not least...here is my favorite story from the trip:

On the car ride there we decided to stop around noon to eat. We had all packed lunches but it was seriously cold so we decided to see if Subway would be kind enough to let us eat inside.

Chris walked up to the counter and said "Hey, I know it is kind of white trash but we are just passing threw and need a warm place to sit. Would you mind if we ate in here? We promise to clean-up before we leave." They said that would be fine and we sat down to eat. After a few minutes Chris asked me if he could have another sandwich and I told him "No, I only packed one for each day." He then asked for some water and I said "Sorry, I forgot it". Ella started begging for cheese and I told her "Sorry dear but I don't have anymore." I am sure sometime during lunch I said my usual joke about how Chris will never get a real job and we will be living in a shack. And needless to say..before we left, one of the ladies that works there walked up, grabbed my hand and gave me a twenty. I was shocked...but then I looked at Ella in her handmade sweater and thought about all the things I had said and realized that we did sound like we were that poor.

So, Chris and I are thinking we are gonna try this bit everywhere we go and see if we can start making a little cash on the side.....