Jazzy's first piano recital....

Tonight was our first recital at Ms. Karen Nalder's studio/home. It was really only for the kids to get to know one another. There weren't even any parents there for kids over the age of 5 yrs. The older kids each walked up in front of the audience, did the Suzuki bow, adjusted their own seat and blocks under their feet, played their piece, then bowed again. All were very talented.

The younger kids were just supposed to walk up in front and bow. Jasmine apparently didn't know that because she went up to the piano and began adding blocks and adjusting the seat. She climbed up onto the seat and began to play... not a song, of course.. but just some nice relaxing notes. She played for a *long* time and took her bow again. Everyone clapped.... which she thrives on! Most of the other little kids went up and did their bow, but didn't want to play. The teacher was amazed. I wasn't surprised because Jasmine is a performer and likes to be on stage dancing or doing something. During dance recitals... she always says to me "When is it *my* turn"? .... every minute or so. Unfortunately, the lights were dimmed and the photos of her playing turned out dark.


waiting for the recital to begin
playing at the piano
sugar overload after the recital with her new friend
taking a bow after her performance. You can't see it very well, but she is right next to the piano.
Jazzy and her friend (Salika?) - velcroed together for the entire evening.

Celebration at pre-school....

National Adoption Day was celebrated today at Dayspring Preschool in Tempe!:) Initially, the teacher.. Mrs. Slama... suggested I explain what adoption is to the school! Ha ha... That is very difficult if not impossible with a group of 4 year olds. We talked about it very briefly, then read the book "A Mother for Choco" which is a book for preschoolers that explains adoption. It is about a little bird Choco who has lost his mother. He looks and looks, and finally spots Mrs. Bear. She takes him home to be her child along with Hippy, Ally, and Piggy.. the hippo, alligator and pig. It is a cute story that shows how mothers don't have to look the same as their children and can even come from different environments.

We talked for awhile about Vietnam- how it is very far away- and what an orphanage is. I showed alot of photos of Vietnam in some impressive picture books I have, as well as some photos that I took in Vietnam of men driving cyclos and motorcycles, Vietnamese houses and buildings, and a market close to Jasmine's orphanage. We even showed where Jasmine was born on the map of Vietnam. I brought some brightly colored conical Vietnamese hats which the kids decorated with glitter glue and all kinds of little stick on things.

Later, we had a snack of Vietnamese egg rolls- otherwise known as "rollers" by Jasmine. They were catered by Pho Van restaurant and catering- close to our house. We also had some coconut cookies made by Donna's Asian Bakery in Tempe.

It was a fun day and a nice way to at least introduce the word "adoption" to the other kids.


Ready to go to school with her Vietnamese doll - which was her adoption day gift

decorating hats

eating eggrolls and cookies

making a turkey decoration for next week