Columbus Zoo....

Last night, we went to the Columbus Zoo to see the lights. Right when we arrived, it started pouring down snow, plus it was way too cold. We didn't stay very long, but did get a good look at some of the amazing lights. Later, Jasmine learned to play the piano:)

Christmas Day.....

Jazzy had a great time opening her presents on Christmas day. Santa got her so many toys.... dishes for a tea party, Dora backpack and doll, Abby Cadabee game and doll, lots of educational toys, books and puzzles... plus, when we get home, Santa will have left a kitchen set and some bigger items that we didn't send to Grandma's. We also ;picked up Uncle Dan so he could spend the day with us.

Getting ready to bake cookies on Christmas Eve
Eating the fruits of her labor
Jazzy having a tea party
Jazzy with Grandma and Grandpa
Jazzy, Grandpa, Uncle Dan, and Grandma

Nutcracker Ballet...

Yesterday, we went to a Nutcracker Performance by Ballet Met at the Ohio Theater in downtown Columbus. The theater was built in the 1920's and is very ornate.... old red velvet seats and lots of gold carvings. Jasmine was pretty well behaved... but got a little restless at times. She particularly liked the Chinese dragon and the fighting mice. We didn't get photos since we were not allowed to take photos in the theater... and we did get reprimanded for the ones we took:)


Jazzy with a little Nutcracker. She is holding her little ballet shoes ornament which we will attach to her ballet bag when we get home.
Jazzy and Grandma waiting to see the show.

Christmas tea party.....

Grandma Ann had a Christmas Teddy Bear Tea Party with Jasmine as the guest of honor. Everyone brought their Bears. Jazzy received a stuffed Micky Mouse, tree ornament, and another cute little bear as gifts. We had a nice lunch, then Jazz fell asleep on the couch exhausted.
Later, we went to the Alum Creek Festival of Lights where she sat on Santa's lap (photo later). We drove around and saw 2 miles of all kinds of Christmas lights... then we stayed up until 12:30 in the morning and played games!


Out in the snow at Grandma's house
Jazzy with all of the guests. From left: Barb, Joan, Mona, Mary Jo, Shirley and Grandma Ann.
Jazzy passed out on the couch.
Jazzy with Grandma and Grandpa. Grandpa insists on putting his finger in Jazzy's ear all the time.

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