First day of Kindergarten......

Dobson Academy K-8 Charter School. Chandler, Arizona. First day of school. Jasmine's new teacher is Melissa Wachtel from New Jersey. She seems nice, young, and fairly progressive...At least Jasmine doesn't have the grumpy old hag teacher like I had in pretty much every grade level! There are three kindergarten classes with 21 kids in each class. Yikes.

Only one or two kids were crying, but lots of parents were standing around crying:)

Jasmine in our front yard with her new bookbag. For some reason, they are not allowed to have wheels, so I had to buy yet another bookbag/backpack. Alot of rules at this school!

Playing on the playground, waiting for school to start.

Miss Wachtel- Jasmine's teacher.

Skating Camp....

This week was all about skating. Jazzy made alot of progress .... skating alot faster, stopping, making turns. Each day, in addition to skating for about 3 hours, they also had karate and crafts. Today they set up a little "water park" behind Polar Ice. I wasn't there because I had to go to work, but I heard it was alot of splashing around in a water hose and going down the water slide and little swimming pool. It was funny to see Jazzy at the Ice Rink with her swim suit on.

Tonight was also the last night of summer lessons. Each group had a little exhibition. Jasmine got to do a little routine on the ice all by herself... with her teacher -16 yr old Amanda... who taught her the routine. I have it all on video:)) Jazzy was promoted up to Snowplow Sam 3 since she did so well at camp this week... with the stipulation that she would have to go back down to Snowplow Sam 2 if she didn't pay attention .... which has been an issue lately.


Jasmine eating pizza at the rink tonight after her last summer lesson. (We start the "fall" lessons next week!). Normally, we don't eat at the Ice Rink because the food is extra greasy cheese ball kind of stuff, but this was a "special occasion". Acting silly as usual.

Jasmine and Kimberly. Kimberly is about my age, mother of Amanda... Jasmine's teacher....and is the coordinator for the classes and camps at the rink. Kimberly is the instructor for the "Parent and Me" classes and acted as Jasmine's parent last year in the class... because I really didn't want/need any more broken bones in my life. She offered to do it, and I took her up on it:)

Practicing her routine with Amanda... Kimberly's daughter.

Quotes from this week....

JASMINE: "Mommy, you say 'Jasmine come here please'. I say 'coming'. Then you say....'Jasmine come here please', and I say 'coming'... then you say 'JASMINE, COME HERE PLEASE'... and I say 'COMING'. That really makes me mad!! (Laughed hysterically for 10 minutes today when she said this).

DR. VINCE STENSON: "Judy, I always thought I was organized, but you take organization and promptness to a whole new level" :))) I guess I'm a bit neurotic about that type of thing:)

More photos from Sat July 23rd....

Doing the butterfly dance onstage

Introducing herself and telling where she is from.

Jasmine and Emily Morgan-Tracy

Jasmine and her counselor

Jasmine and Kai (from NY) who was always trying to hold her hand and hug her.

Saturday Gala....

Today Jazzy had several workshops including martial arts, Vietnamese dance, art, Vietnamese Market and Language. The kids were taught a couple of Vietnamese phrases and then had to use those phrases to "buy" items with fake Vietnamese money in the Market. Jazzy purchased a couple of coin purses, necklaces, and rings.

Vince and I were at the adult workshops with adult adoptees from Operation Babylift, therapists who spoke about various adoption issues, as well as successful professional "boat people" telling their horrendous stories of coming over on a boat in the 1980's.

Later, we attended the "gala" where the kids performed martial arts and dance. They also had face painting, a silent auction, and a carnival.


Pointing out the location of the village (Dai Lac) where she was born.

Practicing the Kindergarten "butterfly dance"

Jazzy and Dr. Vince

Jasmine and her counselors

Duy Nguyen and Jazz- her favorite counselor from last year. Jasmine was sad when she found out he was assigned to the 5th graders this year.

1st Day of VHC.....

Swimming in the morning.

Jazzy's kindergarten class. Today they were in the Vietnamese Village part of the day learning which state they live in right now and where Vietnam is. They each made a globe with stickers on it as well as other crafts.

Next they went to the Heart Talks. They each "adopted" a little Koala bear, made a home for him, and discussed what it must be like for the little koala to be adopted.

Ice cream social.

Rocky Mountains....

Yesterday, we drove from Denver to Estes Park, where the Vietnamese Heritage Camp will be held. We drove around Rocky Mountain Park, took a little hike, went to the Lake Estes Marina and rode our little bike/cart around the lake, ate a nice lunch in downtown Estes Park, went swimming at the hotel, and then went to a VHC BBQ. Whew... long day!

Jazzy and me at the playground.

Jazzy and Vince at the playground.

Jazzy and Vince getting ready to go on a bike ride around the lake.

Jasmine is actually a good photographer. She took several photos of us that were perfectly centered. Here we are at Lake Estes.

Vince and Jazzy on the trail.