The Very Hungry Caterpillar Toy

Ella's favorite book to read is "The Very Hungry Caterpillar". Today while I was at Target, when am I NOT at Target, I found this toy in the baby section! Once I saw her BIG smile when I showed it to her, I was sold...in the red basket it went! The best $4.99 I ever spent! When we got home I gave it to her, and she played with him forever. He's also a teether, so it is entertaining and soothing :) Love it!

Disneyland Season Passes

We went to Disneyland this past Saturday with our friends the Johnson's. They let us know that we could use our 3-day passes that we got for our anniversary towards a year-long season pass! We were so excited to put that money towards more fun days at Disneyland...plus, it's a fun "somewhat freee" something to do on weeknights or weekends. Some of our other friends like the Heaths, Chesebro's and soon the Caston's have passes too! We had a fun day racing around the park and riding rides with the "switch" pass!

California Screamin' ~ we rode it twice!

Daddy and Ella with Minnie Mouse's mailbox in Toon Town
Happy Halloween time @ Disneyland
Feeding time for Emily & Ella
Look what California Adventure did with their sign...I love candy corn!
Brian, Jenn, Emily, Mike & Ella taking a break!

San Diego Zoo

Last Wednesday, Alison Dear invited Ella & I to go with her, Tallinn & Adelaide to the San Diego Zoo. Joanna, Elizabeth & Owen were able to meet us there...the day was a scorcher, but we had a blast. Ella's favorite animals were the fish inside the hippo tank (she couldn't care less about the hippo) and the mountain lion, who looked like he wanted to eat her for lunch! I think the BIG cat reminded her of our cats Rain & Felicity :) Thanks Ali & Jo for a fun day at the zoo.

Best Friends ~ Kylie & Ella

On Friday night, the Caston's and us got together for a night of dinner, the Presidential debate and games. Meygan made the yummiest dinner, I'm already planning to add it to one of my favorite recipes. We, even the girls, became more educated on the Presidential candidates...very interesting debate. Then we played "Sequence", a fun game that we definitely will have to add to our Christmas List. Mike & I lost terribly (my fault, didn't know what the Jacks were used for). Kylie and Ella enjoyed Baby Einstein and playing together on the carpet...not to mention the best "dance off" with their dad's help...look out Dancing with the Stars!

The Fransz Family !

Ella with Great ~ Oma Fransz
Ella jumping on mommy's lap & Mike talking to Uncle Gary
Ella & her second cousin Willow ~ super cute together!
Ella meets the famous "Aunt Loukie"...she's SO fun!
Willow with Aunt Hildie & Ella with Aunt Loukie...Ella trying to "share" Willow's toy

Finding Nemo & Fresh Seafood

We had so much fun taking Ella to the aquarium in Carolina Beach...she loved the fish! I think it reminded her of her "Baby Neptune" DVD. We completed the day with an awesome fresh seafood lunch, shrimp & crab cakes. We were delighted to be entertained by a thunder & lightning storm in the midst of the n.c. humidity! so amazing to be in a place with such rapid weather changes...

All I want is ice cream...happy bday mike!

All Mike wanted for his birthday was ice cream...so, we headed down to main street in wilmington, n.c. and got the most delicious homemade ice cream ever! Opa Renny was very good at keeping Ella calm over Mike's bday dinner :)

Wrightsville Beach, NC

We LOVED going to the beach for Mike's birthday! I was so excited to see just how different East Coast beaches are from the West Coast...the water is so warm & fun to play in. Ella had a blast putting her toes in the water...Mike had a blast throwing me in the water and letting the waves crash on us...although, the waves are much smaller. We ate at the Oceanic for Mike's birthday and had hush puppies & sweet tea for the first time.

Meeting Family & Friends

We spent the first couple nights at Mike's dad's apartment...we got to meet his girlfriend Cheryl for the first time and his cousin Hans and his wife Jenny. Ella made herself comfortable on Opa Renny's couch and became a professional and grabbing her toes on this trip!

We opted, rather than to have Ella cry at night in close proximity to family members, to have her sleep with us...ugh! she made herself all to comfortable right next to mommy!!! A habit that was quickly broken when we returned..still, isn't she sooo cute?

NORTH CAROLINA & BACK AGAIN - A Fransz-tale

After an early rise and shine, and a couple coffee's from the good old Mr. Starbucks - we were off and on our way to North Carolina. Heck, Ella even got in on the action by sipping one of her own. Luckily for Ma Ma and Da Da it was empty allowing her to fall asleep in peace.

Yup that's right ... she pretty much slept in peace the whole way there... 2 plane rides, one lay over, and 6 hours later we arrived in Raleigh, NC.

North Carolina...A southern state made up of The Tobacco Road, NCAA BASKETBALL LEGENDS, lush forest lined interstates, SWEET TEA, HUSH-PUPPIES, varying degrees of climate, kind people with Southern Charm, warm windy beaches, and mosquitos that are connoisseurs of Californian Blood.

Upon arrival The-Bella-Monkey, Jessica, and I were greeted at the airport by Opa and given big hugs a loving smile.
Opa then took us to the lovely "Red Store" (Target) where we picked up some essentials (diapers and a toothbrush) and headed home to Opa's house. It was great! Opa had lined up a great week for us - a pool day, some beach days, a ferry ride, and a few days hanging with the family and my Oma.

"TANK -U OOPPAA por ebry-ting!" - Bella-Monkey

BIG BEAR WEEKEND

We spent the entire weekend up in Big Bear at the Circle's cabin! We had so much fun with all our friends and their babies, Ella's first friends! Mike and I had a blast going on the sea doos and tubing. Mike is a much crazier driver than I am, although, I'm a little speedier :) It was so fun to be with everyone, make meals together, play games and just relax! Thank you Circle's for having us.

Surprise from Stacy

Stacy Burd suprised Mike, Ella & I with a visit to Orange County from her home in San Jose. She came over and made a delicious pollo asada "Taco Tuesday" dinner for us! She's quite savvy with Mike's BBQ...I don't even know how to turn it on :) She completed the night with reading Ella her bedtime story. Thanks Stace! Love you!

GO BRUINS!

The Chesebro's (Monique, Mead & Reese) invited us to celebrate Mead's b-day at the UCLA football game...the kickoff game to the season. And, according to Mike, the best game he's ever seen live! Mike got Ella ready for the BIG game by reading her a UCLA Bruins book about football ~ too cute! GO BRUINS! Undefeated so far :)