Santa's workshop and dinner afterwards....

At Mrs. Claus's bakery having hot chocolate and cookies.

Elf University

Santa

Buffet dinner at Little America Hotel.

Weekend trip to Flagstaff....

Took Jessie to Tina's house this morning, then went over to Genna's house to pick her up on our way to Flagstaff/North Pole Experience. Genna Cook is Jazzy's friend from kindergarten:) and Dobson Academy. When I made reservations in September, I told Jazz that she could pick one person to go with us... and of course, she picked Genna. Drove to Flagstaff where it is 65-70 degrees. The original plan was to go a bit early and play in the snow! Oh well, fine with me. I don't like snow anyway. We went to Lowell Observatory where they supposedly had kids things to do. Walked around for awhile with 3 -D glasses looking at "craters", then took a planetary hike where there are signs placed appropriately to represent the spacing between the planets. Then, off to- believe it or not- Burger King!!! Uuggghh... Then... after waiting in line forever, checked into our hotel, Little America, which is the "portal" to the North Pole. We rode the shuttle bus, entered Santa's old workshop, saw his decked out sleigh, had cookies and hot chocolate at Mrs. Claus's bakery, helped the elves make toys, wrote a letter to Santa, then saw Santa himself. We couldn't get Genna to get close to Santa:) She whispered to Jazzy what she wanted for Christmas, and Jasmine had to go tell Santa:) Went to a very nice buffet dinner that was supposed to be with Santa (?)... Now we're back at the hotel playing Chutes and Ladders, video games of course, and watching Sponge Bob Square Pants Christmas!!:) Looking at "craters" thru 3-D glasses.

Burger King:(

Alabaster Star, Santa's right hand elf:)

Making toys with the elves.....

Thanksgiving Day!

Just goofing around today. Didn't even brush our hair:) Packing up for the big weekend in Flagstaff!

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":)))