Holiday Ceramics Class

Tonight we went to the Tumbleweed Rec Center for the Holiday Ceramics Class for ages 3-6 yrs. Jazzy made a multicolored star, and together we made a smiley face Christmas tree. Something to do instead of watching TV!

Hanukkeh Celebration....

Today, Jazzy's school celebrated Hanukkeh by making the nine candle menorah to commemorate the present state of Israel. This week, they will also be celebrating German Christmas and Kwanza.

busy day....

Today we attended the Canine Carnival in Tempe. Jasmine was her usual social butterfly self, walking around to the various booths and talking to everyone all day long, while I and another vet, Dr. Beth Dutton, answered questions about homeopathy and acupuncture for people with their dogs. Santa was there and Jasmine was not afraid of him this year.
Later we went to the Santa's House event in Chandler, which was just alot of fair food, a Santa who had a very long line to see him, and *alot* of people. Later, they were lighting the Chandler Tumbleweed tree.... which we did not stay for.

Bobbing for hotdogs event
AJ Chandler park for the Santa party

First Cheerleading Class tonight:)

Tumbleweed Recreation Center
Warm up
Class taught by Miss Sissily.

DBG Finches

Today at Desert Botanical Garden Seedlings, we studied finches. We didn't really see any finches when we went birdwatching, but we saw cardinals and lots of other birds, especially the obese quail that follow everyone around for food. Since we had lots of bird seed out in the kids play area today, there were probably about 100 quail out there just having a hayday. In the "lab", we looked at various types of bird nests, did experiments with floating vs sinking, and matched the magnetic birds with their eggs. We had a bird snack and made a little bird craft, too.

The garden paths are lined with poinsettias and luminarias for the season, plus we saw a huge Christmas tree made of poinsettias. Perfect 75 degree weather.

Waiting for class
Getting ready for birdwatching
Circle time
looking at bird's nests
Bird craft

Thanksgiving/Arrival Day!

Two years ago today, first day in Jasmine's new home!

Today we went to the movie "Tangled" at the Chandler Metro Center Theaters. Thanksgiving morning, and it was crowded! Lots of kids! I thought I would avoid the crowds by going mid-morning.... but no chance. The movie was rated PG, and was a bit too violent for Jazzy. She cried during parts of it, and wanted to go home. She is really really sensitive to any kind of violence or even a crying cartoon character.

Now we are roasting our little Tofu Turkey with stuffing and vegetables for the two of us!


This morning at breakfast.
Two photos from Thanksgiving 2008 at Grandma and Grandpa Blakeman's house.
Playing with Uncle Jerry.

Flying home....

Two years ago tonight, Jasmine and I were flying home from Vietnam. She became an American citizen after going thru Immigration at LAX. She mostly slept the entire way home and woke up in her new home. Her first full day home was actually Thanksgiving Day! Here is Jasmine with her biological grandfather saying goodbye at the orphanage.

Today at school, Jasmine's class made "trail mix" for Thanksgiving. She ate the entire bag by herself... then put little chocolate chips in her ears. When I picked her up, she had brown chocolate goo dripping from both ears down the side of her face!! We went directly into the shower upon arriving home:)