Ms. Karen's piano party....

Every 4-5 weeks, Ms. Karen has a party/recital for her "little students" only, No parents allowed... hence no photos. Jasmine got to play one line of "Twinkle A" with Ms. Karen's help.

There is usually a theme to these piano parties... for example, the kids got little Easter baskets last month... little bags of Christmas toys in December, etc. This party was two hours, so I was trying to think of things to do. I went grocery shopping... which takes all of 15 minutes, but I stretched it out to 30 minutes by looking at every single item at Trader Joe's. Still 1 1/2 hours left... so I went to Kohl's right next door to Trader Joe's and bought a couple of work out shirts.... and still got back to the party a bit early. It's way to hot to just sit in the car and read which is what most of the parents do when it is cooler.

So, this month was a big pizza party for 15 little kids. There was a stack of 8 extra large pizzas sitting on the counter!!!! When I walked in to pick Jazzy up, there was a mass of little boy bodies wrestling on the floor- lots of screaming and yelling. Jasmine was sitting at a table with some other little girls with a piece of pizza on her plate. However,.... in the kitchen was a large chocolate fountain with a huge table of strawberries, bananas, marshmallows and cookies. Jasmine's face was covered with liquid chocolate, and it was dripping from her chin. Her plate was full of marshmallows. I said, "Jazzy, what did you have for dinner?".... She replied "Chocolate covered marshmallows"!:))) We are really going downhill on our diet here! Wish I would have had the camera....:)

Last day of pre-school.....

Yesterday was our last day of preschool:( We had a big "ice cream social" party, and had a "graduation" where each child received a big file of art work they had done during the year, including handwriting comparisons for each month of the year. Mrs. Slama made a collage of photos of each child. It's on to summer camps and then kindergarten in the fall!

Coloring

Focusing on a magnet.

At the sensory table.

The entire class ready to sing a song for the parents.

A plate made by Jasmine earlier in the year, as well as a few of the items in the folder. When Jazzy was asked what her truck would carry if it could carry anything.... she drew a rainbow:)

Just found some photos on the Kianh Foundation site..

Kianh Foundation is a volunteer organization who provides volunteers for the Hoi An Orphanage. Due to the corruption and change of Orphanage Director, they are no longer there however.
These photos are of Jasmine when she had only been in the orphange for a couple of days.

Field trip to Dairy Queen.....

The parents of one of the pre-school students from last year own a Dairy Queen. All of the kids got to "tour" the Dairy Queen. The most fascinating part was to get to walk thru the big freezer:)! Then each kid got to go behind the counter, choose their ice cream and topping, and "make" it themselves.

Kinley, Jasmine and Addis enjoying their ice cream
Making ice cream drawings with Mrs. Slama and Margo's mom.
At the "sensory table" with Kinley, Josephine, Jasmine, Kiera, Margo and Madelyn

Spring Dance Recital...

Today was the Spring tap/ballet class recital. One tap dance, one ballet and one jazz.

Waiting with friends to go onstage.

On stage with teacher... Ms. Jana.

Dancing.... sort of:)

Water Day at School...

It was supposed to have been "water day" at school yesterday... since it has typically been around 100 degrees and we only have a couple more days of school left. The temperature dropped a little- so it was decided that it was "too cold" to have a sprinkler on. The kids played in some sand and pretended it was water! We really have to use our imaginations out here in the desert when it comes to water. At least they got to wear their swim suits and eat their snacks on beach towels.

Jazzy making pancakes with Jaxon and Georgie. She is covered with sand... head to toe.

last Hip Hop/ Piano Graduation

This weekend was the Arizona Suzuki Association Graduation Recital for kids who "graduated" from one Suzuki level to the next. The little Suzuki's got to get up onstage and bow:) Saturday was our last Hip Hop with Stacey J and first Zumba.

On stage
Everyone at attention (not!)
Hip Hop Dance
Passing around a 4# ball for arm strength