Cruisewear

Ellen models an adorable outfit for our upcoming Florida vacation and Disney cruise. We couldn't resist buying the pink straw hat.

One for the pizza, one for me...

Ellen likes making her own flatbread pizzas. Her current pizza of choice: bacon and kalamata olives. The kid definitely has her own tastes.

Order up!

April 24
Sometimes, to entice Ellen to come down to breakfast, I text Mommy a picture of her plate. Yes, this is how I'm harnessing the power of the 21st century ...

Fairy tale

I mentioned back in October that we bid on a "date night" package at the elementary school charity auction. It included, besides gift certificates for dinner and a movie, babysitting from an actual princess in this year's Rose Parade Court. Ellen was excited to have a "real" princess babysitting for her, though slightly disappointed that she wasn't wearing her sash and tiara.

Jonah's not a Disney story, is it?

But I guess Pinocchio is. That's the one with the whale, right?

Another visit (from my good friend Scott), another Disney trip! Ellen's tiny arm is trying to pull Scott down before the whale eats him.

Gutsy

Hanging out with cousins at the Pretend City children's museum in Irvine. I particularly like the "Brain" headband.

Home alone

Rachel is off to New York for her grandmother's funeral. Ellen and I went on a "date" to Johnny Rockets. I took a few pictures of us to text to mommy to let her know she was missed.

Batteries very definitely included

Another trip to Disneyland, this time with an old friend I hadn't seen in almost a decade. We both have five year old daughters now, and they hit it off famously.

Where Seuss shops

As usual, shopping at Target. We came across storytime, so Ellen grabbed a beanbag and took a literature break.

Bottomless pit

As Rachel likes to say, "Wow, your kid can sure put away breakfast." I'm surprised the bacon lasted as long as it did.

Old Abe Lincoln

One of Ellen's many construction paper costumes from kindergarten. She performed a rousing "Old Abe Lincoln" song for us. I don't remember this from elementary school. Somehow between the 70s and the 10s, Abe Lincoln earned the "old." I guess we just keep aging -- even after death.

Key to the world

For our upcoming cruise to the Bahamas, Ellen needed a passport. She was happy to pose for her photo and pestered us until the passport arrived in the mail.

Burgers al fresco

  

One advantage to living in LA is the practically year-round outdoor dining. At a local gourmet burger shop, we have a warm and sunny lunch in mid-January.

Sunday in the Park

Griffith Park, that is. We finally got out to one of LA's iconic recreation areas, a big hilly park in the middle of the city. We didn't go to the LA Zoo (I'm told it's almost impossible unless you get there first thing in the morning) or the Griffith Observatory, but we went to an historic carousel and Train Town, and had a nice picnic lunch. In this shot, Ellen and one of her friends are enjoying a miniature train ride.

Birth of a food blogger

She decided she wanted to take a picture of her meal. Is this the start of her career as one of those food-porn bloggers?

(For the record, the mass of unattractive beige is baked chicken schnitzel, spaetzel, and roasted Brussels sprouts. I get four stars out of five on Yelp -- please "like" this review, blah blah blah...)

She is the law

Heading home, we stopped for one more night in Phoenix to visit Rawhide Western Village. After mommy and Ellen squabbled, mommy got locked in jail, while Ellen had to swear to good behavior. Then she was deputized.

Big cats

On vacation at the Firesky Resort in Scottsdale. This funky hotel, with great pools and firepits, includes leopard-print robes in every room. They even have child-sized!

Is China Disney open yet?

Vacation week continues. Dim sum for lunch? Sure, Ellen. And you want to wear your bridal Mickey Mouse ears? Why not?

As Seen on TV

And let the games begin! For today's entertainment-during-winter-break, I was desperate enough to get out of the rain and go to Chuck E. Cheese. Yes, I did this by choice.

Teppanyucky

Ellen and I are both on winter break this week, so I have to keep her entertained! Today, I took her to the local mediocre teppanyaki joint, with the usual showmanship with knives and fire. Ellen was fascinated but afraid of the fire. Of course, later, she wanted to drag us here every chance she could.