Official Adoption Day....

Picked Jazzy up at Hope's house where I found them both riding bikes around the cul de sac. They both cried when Jazzy had to leave... especially Hope:( Then to an extra long skating lesson in the morning, preparing for the Christmas Exhibition. Jazzy is skating to "Where is Christmas"?. Then to our favorite Vietnamese restaurant Pho Van for some pho. Then off to my class (finally) where I just found out that it got moved to Tuesday nights:((, so, don't have to worry about it any more because there is no way we can go on Tuesday nights. Here is Jazzy at Pho Van. I gave her a little hanging doll that I purchased in Vietnam- which I thought was a necklace, but it is on a very short cord. Just a little reminder for adoption day anyway.

First Sleepover....

This is the first time in four years I have had the house all to myself!!!! Jasmine has never stayed overnight at anyone's house by herself except one night at Grandma and Grandpa Blakeman's. Hope, one of Jazzzy's friends from Dobson Academy, invited her for a sleepover:)). When we got there, Hope was standing in the front yard waiting for Jazzy:))) So cute! Then they started screaming, hugging each other. I'm sure they are going to have alot of fun tonight. Hope and Jazzy.

Wild Science Academy

Jazzy is in two programs at the zoo: Zookeepers and Wild Science Academy. They have weekend classes periodically thru the year. I am trying to get in as much zoo learning and experience as possible without having to go there in the summer. Today was the Wild Science Academy "Hide and Seek" for 5-7 yr olds. It was really in depth for that age group- I thought. First they did some classroom discussion with a huge video screen. They talked about mimicry, autotomy (where the animal loses an appendage to escape from a predator), warning colors, patterns, bioluminescence, freeze defense, counter-shading like a penguin or stingray has- two different colors/shades to hide when depending on which direction the predator sees. On and on... many others. Then they walked around the zoo... drawing in their journal and talking about the terms. Of course, parents aren't allowed to go because it is "too disruptive to the animals".... What a bunch of crap! .. especially when we have a zoo membership and have to pay extra for all the classes. I sent them an email last week telling them so... and they responded with the usual robotic answer "It's just our policy"... blah, blah, blah.... Anyway, Jazzy had a good time despite my disdain for the Phoenix Zoo. Of course we had to ride the Merry Go Round, and go down the big Ice Slide which the zoo has set up in the winter. Had to leave early to go to Jazzy's first sleep over ever....

Learning about bioluminescence.

Adoption Day....

Today we celebrated Jasmine's Adoption Day, even though Sunday November 18th is really the date. She took cookies to school, and was *extremely* excited about it! Then, after we went ice skating, we attended Imagine Tempe School Thanksgiving Party. I really didn't want to go, but Jasmine wanted to, so we did for awhile. Hundreds of people, turkey, fixin's, and games afterwards. I had no desire to play bingo, so we didn't stay. Jasmine has a new boyfriend, Matthew:)) I met him at AutoCrafters on the first or second day that Jasmine started at the new school. He was there with his dad, who is the owner of the shop, and I just happened to have my car in that day. I saw his shirt that said "Imagine Tempe", and I said something like..."My little girl just started school there".... Then, later that day when I went to pick Jasmine up from school, I saw that he is in her class:) His mom told me that he talks about Jasmine non-stop , and now Jasmine wants to invite him to her ice skating exhibition in a couple of weeks:)) At school this morning- with cookies! Apparently, every once in awhile, the students are allowed to wear whatever they want on the designated day if they pay 1.00 to the student council. So... we did that today. No uniform.

Thanksgiving Party in the cafeteria:) Place mats made by the kindergartners, and little Native American tent decorations made by another grade.

Oh yes, when I picked Jasmine up today, Matt handed me a piece of paper and said "Here's my mom's phone number. Jasmine can call me anytime she wants":)))

My Birthday Card from Jazzy.....

A birthday rose with 53 hearts:)) Drawn in her Let's Play Music book!

Imagine School at Tempe...

We have now been at Jasmine's school for 1 1/2 weeks. Jazzy with Adrianne. The photo didn't come out too well with the sun. We haven't given her the eensy weensy miniature chocolate purse yet:)

Botanical Gardens Chiles and Chocolate...

Today, since Jasmine was off school and I cannot effectively work with her around, we went to the Botanical Gardens where they were having the annual "Chiles and Chocolate Festival". Zillions of other people had the same idea... many of whom had never seen a cactus before:))- Taking endless photos of the cacti:)) I had never been there during the festival and didn't know it was so "sophisticated". Chocolatiers from all over the country were there! Of course, Jasmine was in heaven because each booth had small samples. There were amazing chocolate towers, delicately decorated, very pretty. The chocolates were inside in the AC and outside were all the gourmet chilis and chili products of every kind. We ended up buying only one little chocolate which was a 1" cube intricately decorated like a little purse, and placed in a little purse shaped box. 8.00!!!:) My only concern was getting it home before it liquified in the heat. We bought it for Miss Adrianna who is the office manager at Jazzy's new school- Imagine Tempe. She is a total fashionista, always wearing very hip funky clothes, boots and designer purses. She is incredibly friendly and helpful, has a strong "Joisy" accent, and has really helped Jazzy (and me) adjust to her new school. We also visited the Monarch exhibit which holds 800 Monarch butterflies, and walked around for a short time, had lunch and watched some Brazilian martial artists/dancers. Our visit was cut short because Jasmine was misbehaving so badly. Perfect beautiful day outside. 70 degrees. The Botanical Garden always has all kinds of new artwork/sculptures every few months. This time they had huge sculptures representing each season. Here is the Summer statue.

Looking at the monarchs with her magnifying glass!

Miss Grumpy ready to go home and take a nap before going to ballet class:)