Halloween ghost...

Every day we patch Jasmine's "good" eye, the right one, for about an hour so that the left eye has to focus without the help of the other one. She has to be doing something "close up" like beading, "reading", a craft, painting etc. Grandma sent us materials to make a ghost just like the one I made 40 years ago... which is moldy and smelly. It took less than 10 minutes to make the little ghost, but it is now hanging on the front door... while the other one is in the trash can out in the garage.

Sea Life Aquarium.....

Today we spent the day with Gadiel, Abby and their mom Jenny at the Sea Life Aquarium. The aquarium was built about a year ago in the Tempe Arizona Mills mall. To say that it was crowded was a total understatement, probably because it was the first day of the so-called "fall break".

I had never heard of "fall break" until just recently. I don't even know what the purpose would be.... other than to give the teachers more time off. So, I gave myself the day off to spend with Jazzy and our friends, but not too sure what Jazzy is going to do the rest of the week when I am working. She knows she is not allowed to talk to me or make any noise when I am on the phone... and that usually works out.

So, we saw lots of stingrays, sharks, big fish, little fish, star fish, you name it. Jasmine would only stick her hand in the water, but wouldn't touch the starfish. I remember dissecting those things in high school... yuk!

After the aquarium, we went to Rainforest Cafe.. where it was "raining" and "thundering", with lots of loud animal sounds. Conversation was not an option there. We then walked around the mall.... ugh... I am not a mall person, and we rode the carousel. The day was fun and exhausting:)


Jasmine
Gadiel, Jazzy and Abby
Jazzy and Gadiel
Jazzy and Gadiel holding hands in the mall... which they pretty much did the entire day:)

Just a funny day...

Today after pre-school, we had to go to the Mac store "Genius bar" to speak with a "genius" about how to make a movie on my MacBook. I have over a year of stored video on my camera, which Best Buy said was compatible with my Mac...and of course it wasn't. Now that I have a new program on my MacBook, I thought I would give it a try. I was very proud of myself that I was finally able to download to iMovie the 4 1/2 hours of video from my camera. I was not, however, able to burn it to a DVD.... Apparently, there are so many kinds of DVDs that some are compatible with computers, some are compatible with TVs,... etc ad nauseum. Two doctorates and I cannot figure out how to do this. They ended up saying that it has to do with "technical ability".... ha, ha , ha... so funny.... I have NONE. and that I must take a class to make the movie. Not going to happen!! (probably).
So... right at this moment, I am "making movie" according to my computer. We will see what happens.
Of course, when you go into a Mac store, you will never get out without buying some overpriced thing a ma gig. So, I eneded up buying an iSkin.... which is a thin, skin like cover for your keyboard. Very nice... cannot even tell it is there and now I don't have to worry about getting cookie crumbs and potatoe chips in my computer. Very overpriced though.

Jazzy and I were hungry after our MacStore ordeal, so we went to the Thai Cafe. Very funny that the Thai Cafe was really an Asian sports bar!!! It was pretty crowded with many Asian people - as well as some Caucasians... eating Thai food and watching FOOTBALL!!!- of all the things. Never seen anything like it.

A market not too far from Jasmine's orphanage in Hoi An
Jasmine and her best friend at the orphanage
Jasmine at home 8 weeks.

Disney Ballerinas and Hip Hop

Here are some Disney Ballerinas dancing around and resting. They dance to Disney songs, go thru obstacle courses, balance bean bags on their heads and other funny stuff.

Jasmine's hip hop teacher's name is Alex. I don't know how he puts up with a couple of the really bratty little girls in the class!
In the very dark photo, they are stretching after class.

Piano lessons....

Jazzy takes piano lessons now on Wednesday mornings. After only one lesson, our piano teachers house/studio with her two grande pianos inside, flooded due to a toilet that continuously ran for many hours. They have to remove everything from their house, replace carpet, etc, but luckily the pianos were not harmed! For a few weeks, we have to go to someone's house in Phoenix. It's not very close, but apparently the people are on vacation for a couple of weeks and are letting everyone use their piano. We are starting with the Suzuki method with Ms Karen Nalder who has been a piano teacher for 25 years, and has studied with students of Mr. Suzuki in Japan.

Sharing Day at Pre-School

Last Friday was Jasmine's day to bring a snack and have "sharing":) We were told to bring apples and cheese cubes... so that part was pretty easy. Jasmine chose to bring the little electronic bee for sharing that Grandma and Grandpa gave her.

Here is Jasmine with her "Sharing Bag" and her little bee. She was so proud!

We've been busy the past two weeks....

My computer gradually died after being smashed by Southwest Airlines and topped off by Enterprise Rent a Car, so I finally got a nice new MacBook. The new MacBook is not compatible with the old modem for wireless internet service, so I have a spider web of wires all over my office right now until I can get a new modem.

Last Saturday night, we went to the Tempe Center of the Arts free performance by Ballet Arizona called "Ballet Under the Stars". About 1000 people showed up and it was held on the lawn of the Center--- which they had just watered, so it was a muddy mess. Plus, we had to park two miles away and take a shuttle- which was a total of 4 little golf carts for around 1000 people. The ballet was very nice.... part of which was "A MidSummer Night's Dream" and other classical themes. Jazzy loves ballet, so it was nice to see it. We weren't allowed to take photos of the dancers or the stage. One of the most notable performances of the evening was when the Mayor of Tempe walked... or kind of skipped onto the stage, and fell and almost rolled right off the stage:) Most people were respectful and didn't laugh:)

We have also been continuing with Hip Hop class, piano, and Disney Ballet. The little girls in Disney Ballet wear their Disney princess dresses and learn ballet steps. We also found someone in Jazzy's swim class who wants to continue with semi-private lessons with us.... since the lessons are not given by the City of Tempe from October to April. We will only be going to swimming once a week, but there will only be two little girls in the class instead of five.

Getting ready to skate
Just got off the ice-- nose and hands are red
A cookie at craft class
At the ballet
Gymnastics class