impromptu wild New Year's Eve party......

Yesterday, we decided to have a New Year's party. We invited our neighbors.... Grandma and Grandpa Blakeman, Aunt Dorene, and cousins Jade, Justin, Dylan and Damion. We went to a local dive restaurant that was open and got alot of appetizers: chicken quesedellas, mozeralla sticks, zucchini sticks, potato skins, as well as lots of junk food from the grocery store and Whole Foods. We topped it off with a big chocolate cake. Everyone colored, played with Jazzy's new kitchen, ran around like crazy people in the tent, and had alot of fun.

Damion, Jade, Dylan and Jazzy
Jade and Jasmine
Grandma and Grandpa Blakeman

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