Trip to Ohio....

We made it past all of the typical airport annoyances and arrived in Columbus, Ohio on Dec 20th. On the 21st, we made a trip to Whole Foods Market, then to a Vietnamese restaurant for lunch. Jazzy saw snow for really the first time. We did take a trip up to Flagstaff last January, but the snow was minimal....


Jazzy and Grandma
Eating at the Vietnamese restaurant with Grandma and Grandpa
Checking out the snow

Botanical Gardens....

This weekend we went to the Botanical Garden in Phoenix to see the Luminaria display. The weather was perfect... around 50 degrees and the scenery was almost surreal at night. They had eight different bands playing in different parts of the garden. We got hot chocolate and listened for awhile, then went to the ice skating show. The little ice rink was smaller than my living room and was made of "hybrid ice"-- whatever that is. There is also a Allan Houser bronze sculpture exhibit there right now. The last photo is of Jazzy in front of one of the statues... which was reflecting alot of light.

Jasmine drinking hot chocolate
Dancing
Standing in front of a cactus with lights
Ice skaters
Warrior statue and Jazzy

FCC/FCV party

A few weeks ago, FCC (Families with Children from China) and FCV (Families with Children from Vietnam) merged, mainly because there were one or two families that have kids from both countries... but also because FCV is not very active. Vietnam and China have most of the same holidays... but with slightly different names. The celebration is basically the same.

FCC actually is organized, has a president, Board members, and dues... as compared to FCV which is about 8 families.. 7 of which are single women.

So, today was a party celebrating any children from Vietnam or China who have come home in the past year. Eight children attended. Jazzy was the only Vietnamese child there, although I know there are two more Vietnamese children in Arizona... as well as many more Chinese kids who have just been adopted. It was held at the Golden Buddha restaurant in the Chinese Cultural Center in Phoenix. There was a huge amount of Chinese food plus a "Welcome Home" cake. We went to swimming lessons early just so we could attend.

We each received a bamboo plant symbolizing happiness, and the kids got little Chinese dragon purse filled with Chinese stickers, chop sticks, a cute little Chinese notepad and a bracelet. The next event is a holiday party/cookie exchange. We won't be going because it is way up in North Phoenix on the night prior to us leaving for Ohio. We wouldn't know what to do with all those cakes/cookies and candies right before we left town, plus it is way to far away when we have to get up really early the next morning.

The FCC group is just so much more active than FCV, so it is nice to be a part of it.


Jazzy at the party. She won't smile when I take her picture, and purposely frowns or looks away, but when she went up to the front of the room to get her certificate, she smiled and posed like a big ham.

Welcome home cake for the kids
Sitting with two other little Chinese girls
Figuring out how to unfold her lantern
Holding her certificate
Eating her soup and pot stickers appetizer

One year of gymnastics...

Today was our last day of Mommy and Me gymnastics. Kind of sad:), but starting in January, Jasmine will be in "Junior Gymnastics" from ages 3.5-5 yrs. I think they do pretty much the same thing, but without the Moms. Today we had a party at the end of class. Camera malfuntioned as usual, but got a few photos.

Jasmine getting ready to mount the balance beam:)
Certificate of completion.

Thanksgiving Day.....

Today is the one year anniversary of Jazzy being home for a full day. Last year, we arrived home on the busiest day of the year almost.... the evening of the 25th. Today we went on a Zoo Safari and looked at all of the animals.... played with the goats, and played on the kids Harmony Playground. There was a new kumodo dragon exhibit that they advertise on the radio every 10 minutes... so we got to see that. The dragons were humongous. Jazzy wore her brightly colored dress because we were supposed to see a Monarch butterfly exhibit, but they were closed. We then went to a restaurant called Green in Tempe. There was a dinner and event there sponsored by the Arizona Humane Society. We had prepaid and made reservations, and it was good that we did, because I would have just turned around and gone somewhere else if we hadn't. It was very crowded... I don't think they were expecting that many people. The line to get in was very long... and there were no tables. People were eating Thanksgiving dinner out on the curb and sitting on the asphalt in the parking lot. At least there was live music out there. Plus, it was over 80 degrees outside... so it was nice. We had a great dinner though... completely vegan, animal free, and all organic. I have never seen such large organic asparagus! and the "turkey" (made of wheat) was excellent. Jazzy ate ALOT. Then we stopped at Grandma and Grandpa's to visit and play with cousins. Great day... best of all with my little munchkin.


Sitting on the dragon
Viewing one of the dragons
Playing with the goats..... We smelled like goats when we got to the restaurant.
Eating our vegan dinner.... Got lots of left overs.
At Grandma and Grandpa's

National Adoption Day......

Today is National Adoption Day when hundreds of foster children will be legally adopted into their new families. We are also celebrating Jasmine's Adoption Day today. We went to Anise Vietnamese restaurant in Chandler. Jazzy had Pho- the traditional Vietnamese dish, and I had some type of vegetable wraps. She also received the first of her 16 gifts that I bought in Vietnam for her adoption anniversaries. It was just two little Vietnamese magnetic dolls- a little commemorative trinket.

Getting ready to go
Opening her present. She said "WOW" really loudly when she opened it and everyone in the restaurant looked at us and laughed:)

Adoption Day Anniversary....

One year ago today, we had the official adoption court hearing in Vietnam. We are going to celebrate this weekend by going to a nice Vietnamese restaurant. Also, when I was in Vietnam, I purchased 16 little gifts to give to Jazzy on Adoption Day until she turns 18. This year I am giving her little Vietnamese magnet dolls.

The second photo is of the Judge reading something to me. I had no idea what he was saying even though he was speaking in English.
The first photo is me, the orphanage director, Judge, and the nanny holding Jazzy.