Saturday, January 18, 2014

Long day.....

Skate lesson with Rozaline, Elite Skating, hair cut with our new friend Beth Oliver, extra piano lesson with Ms. Janalee, then Abby Dalsin's birthday party at "Pump It Up". Abby goes to Jasmine's school but is in the other Grade 2 class across the hall. Jasmine and Abby also skate together. Now we are supposed to be doing homework, but it's not happening. Tomorrow- Brownie meeting and swimming. Then gymnastics camp on MLK day since there's no school. Maybe I can at least get started on tax preparation on that day. Here's Jasmine getting her hair cut at Beth's salon. I think I may have actually found someone I like who cuts my hair and is simultaneously friendly and people oriented. Amazing. Anyway, Jasmine has never had her hair cut at a "big girl" salon, and she was was surprised to find out that they wash your hair in the sink first. I guess I neglected to tell her that:) Then Jazzy received a complimentary manicure with little handpainted flowers on her nails!!! Abby's party. Abby is the girl with blonde hair and hearts on her pants:)

Monday, January 13, 2014

Saying goodbye to Jessie......

Rest in peace little Jessie. Jasmine saying goodbye to Jessie as her spirit was leaving her body. She had a very happy life- at least with us. We don't know where she came from or who had her prior to us finding her in a parking lot four years ago. Unfortunately, Jasmine has some kind of "state testing" of some sort today and tomorrow. Bad timing. We'll miss you Jessie:( She will be cremated today.

Sunday, January 12, 2014

Funny...

This past week, Jasmine's class studied the digestive system. For homework over the weekend, they were supposed to draw/trace the digestive system. I gave Jazzy a human digestive tract to trace and label, but I also gave her a dog diagram. She traced it, labeled it, ... then put a bow on the dogs head and named her "Princess":)) Speaking of dogs, we almost said goodbye to Jessie today. She has been declining for about a week, and really went downhill last night. We said a tearful morning thinking she was going to pass away today on her own. We went shopping for a birthday party gift for Abby Dalsin's party next week, just took our time, went out to lunch. When we got back, Jessie had moved! We're going to give it a couple more days or so on some different medications and see if she rallies like she has in the past, but I don't really have my hopes up. We figure she was 10 or 11 yrs old when we found her on January 20, 2010, so in 8 days we will have had her for 4 years. She is probably 14 or 15 now and has been a great dog for Jazzy,... and Jazzy has given Jessie a really nice extra few years. Another "funny"- I told Jasmine that the Back Handspring Clinic and the next level of Lego Engineering were on the exact day at the exact same time, then I asked her which she preferred to go to. "Well, I want to learn more about Legos, and probably I will 'break my neck' at a Back Handspring Clinic!!! Just the way she said it was hilarious!! ___________________ We just got back from swimming and stopped at ZoYo. Who did we see? Kathy and AnnaLi- so we hung out with them for awhile:)

Saturday, January 11, 2014

Engineering Class....

Today after skating, Jazzy went to a City of Tempe Engineering Class involving legos. I wasn't sure if she would like it, but I think she did. I was shocked to see that there were 25 boys and only 2 girls in the class. They made trucks, tractors and buildings. She wants to do the "next level" in a couple of weeks. It was held in a tiny little classroom with the doors closed. When the parents walked in, it felt like a steam room. Need to open the doors and windows a bit...:) She made this tractor all by herself... she says. It has a battery attached and will move on its own.

Monday, January 6, 2014

The Farm at South Mountain...

We spent the day at The Farm yesterday with Abby, Gadiel and Jenny. The Farm is an actual farm in the middle of central Phoenix at the base of South Mountain. They are open to the public from November thru March. It's a really fun place with two restaurants, lots of picnic tables and space to run around. The more informal restaurant-"The Farm Kitchen" is the one we visited. You just go in, pick up a picnic basket and fill it with anything you want- salads, soups, sandwiches, decadent desserts, etc. Then you can eat on the patio- which is what we did, or you can take the basket out to one of the picnic tables. They used to have chickens and goats roaming around the property, but for some reason, they no longer have them. On the patio- I don't know why no one is smiling:) Goofing around! Having a conversation at one of the outdoor "sitting areas":) Collecting rocks:)

Friday, January 3, 2014

Last day of Zoo Camp....

Apparently, today was Luka the Andean Bear's first birthday. The entire zoo had a birthday party for him! His cake was made of "butter, blueberries, and other things" according to Jasmine. The 1st and 2nd graders made cards for him and some of the other kids wrapped presents. I guess there was some type of meat or food in the boxes. His (Luka's) mother had to help him open the presents because he was too slow:). They also learned something (?) about turkeys today. The turkeys "pecked at everyone but me", said Jasmine- probably because she coerced someone into carrying her:) Perfect weather for camp. In the 70's and blue skies all week. Never again will we go to zoo camp or even visit the zoo in the summer- blah:). Too bad, because the July 4th fireworks are nice there, but just unbearable heat. Making the usual goofball face! Papago Buttes in the background. Not a week goes by we that don't hear about someone climbing to the top and having to be rescued. It's constant, especially on holidays and in nice weather. On New Year's Day, I was picking Jasmine up from the zoo- and sure enough, a helicopter was hovering over the mountain lifting some yahoo who had climbed up there and couldn't get back down:)) It happens much more often in the winter months with the "winter visitors" coming from all over the country, but it definitely happens all year around with the locals, too. When I took that Emergency Rescue Class a couple of years ago, someone asked one of the firemen how often they have to climb Camelback Mountain/Papago Buttes or any of the other peaks around the city. His reply was "every single day"!!! It takes major athleticism to climb those mountains, then get back down on foot. Guess that's why they use the helicopter when they can, but the person is not always accessible with the helicopter.