Arizona Foster/Adoptive Families Campout

Every year, AzFAP has a "campout" at Camp Friendly Pines in Prescott for adoptive/foster families and any friends that want to come along. This year, the theme was "The Jungle". We had the car/tires checked out, bought our snacks at Trader Joe's, packed all our "gear", and left on Friday after school. We were really supposed to be there around 2PM, but I didn't want Jazzy to miss her school Halloween party. Prescott is about 150 miles north of Phoenix, so when we got there, it was dark. Not a light to be seen. Luckily, they assigned us to the same cabin as last year, so I had a slight inkling where it was.

All weekend, we made lots of jungle crafts, ate lots of kind of junky food... pancakes, syrup, sausage, hamburgers, french toast,.... sort of "camping" food... as well as lots of Halloween candy. We played all kinds of games with the other kids and slept pretty soundly in our little cabin. It was definitely colder this year and windy, so it was in the 50's during the day. We met a few new people and lots of old friends from last year who had added even more on to their family.


Eating
Miss Einstein in the morning before combing her hair
crafts made by Jasmine
Eating again

Halloween Party/Parade at Dayspring....

On Friday, Jasmine's class had a Halloween party and parade. We almost missed it because of our campout, but we decided to attend anyway. Jazzy is a ladybug..... same as last year. I figured that since it still fits,... might as well wear it. The only problem was it was 92 degrees, and that costume is thick and furry! Too much candy already to start off the weekend.

Jasmine's class in their costumes
Pounding pegs into a pumpkin?!

Desert Botanical Garden Seedlings....

About 1 1/2 years ago, we applied for the Desert Botanical Garden Seedlings program. It is such a popular program, that there is a long waiting list. They finally called us, and we signed up for November -April. Today was the first day of the fall program, and the topic was "seeds". We weighed seeds, looked at seeds under a magnifying glass, went on a hike in the garden and looked at seeds, planted chives in the garden, practiced watering them, and pretended we were a seedling while we sang a song:) We made bracelets made of seeds and colored sticky tape. We even had a snack and located the seeds in the shishkabob made of strawberries, cucumbers, snap peas, tomatoes, and popcorn. Also, we were surprised to see Adam Elliot and his mom Christine. Adam is a classmate of Jasmine's at Dayspring Preschool. We also saw Brandon who was in our Soccer Camp last spring. Next week, we study butterflies, so I bet we get to see the Monarch Exhibit!

looking at a seed pod with a magnifying glass
Jasmine showing her bracelet made of seeds, pink tape, and plastic wrap
Watering the plants in the garden
Comparing the weight of a pine cone and a seed pod

Pumpkin patch.....

Today we had planned to go to the zoo for their Pumpkin Party.... but it was so crowded that we couldn't even get in. Instead we met Jenny, Gadiel and Abby at their favorite Japanese restaurant, HabaracHi (or something like that?) Jasmine was a little scared when the chef prepared the food right at the table and the flames were going up to the ceiling..... Then we went to a "pumpkin patch" and Jenny bought us a little pumpkin. Cheapskates that we are, we already bought a much larger medium sized pumpkin at the Dollar Store... yes, for only $1.00. The same sized pumpkins at the pumpkin patch were $12.00, so I was feeling pretty proud of myself:)


Jazzy and Gadiel at the Japanese restaurant
Jazzy and Gadiel at the Pumpkin Patch

Bring Your Guy To School Day....

Today was "bring your guy to school day". Grandpa Blakeman, our previous next door neighbor, drove all the way from Arizona City to go to school with Jazzy. I felt sorry for him because he had to sit on the floor and one of those little kids chairs. He could hardly walk when I picked them up from school:(

They made a book called "Me and My Guy". Questions and Answers about your Guy: "Hold old is your special guy?" 4 yrs old- Hmmm, I thought Grandpa was more like 78. "What is his special food?" apples.... I didn't know that about him. "What kind of work does he do?" Drives a truck.... Well, he does drive a truck, but he was actually a miner his entire life. He retired in 1985. "What is your Special Guy's favorite thing to do when he is not working?" Go to work..... I don't think so. He likes to work in his yard and watch the news. His favorite TV show is "Golden Girls":))) "What makes your Special Guy special?" He gives me balloons. That one is actually true.

They also made a Halloween centerpiece out of wood, syrofoam, cupcake papers, confetti, and other items.


Here is Jazzy with her guy
and another photo with her book and centerpiece.

Busy days....

Piano lessons with Ms Karen Nalder. We are back in her regular studio which was damaged by a flood. The walls and ceilings are bare, carpet had to be removed, but the pianos are ok.

Ballet class at Chandler Parks and Recreation

Swimming lessons at Tempe Kiwanis pool.

Tonight we went to our Hip Hop class. I didn't bring the camera, but it is hilarious to see the little 4 yr olds doing hip hop.

Disney Ballerinas

This is Jasmine in her Cinderella dress for Disney ballerina class. Last week, they were all sitting in a circle talking about colors of fish. Each little girl was supposed to say what color their fish was. When it was Jasmine's turn she said "I don't know because I ate it all up!!" :)