This week.....

We had a fun busy week. Since it is 116 degrees and 60% humidity, we had to think of things to do indoors. The city of Chandler and Tempe Parks and Recreation has alot to do for kids. Swimming lessons, puppet shows, and craft classes. One Friday every month, Tempe has "Free Art Friday"... We did art with the theme of "Different Cultures" i.e Moroccan hand art, Chinese fortune cookies made of felt, Chinese take out containers, our own family, and hula dancing. Jasmine's fortune was "You will travel to many foreign countries". Jazzy wore the hula skirt but didn't dance with the other girls... which was kind of unusual. Of course she found the cookies and punch.

Quotes from Jazzy this week.

As she was playing with my hair when we were watching So You Think You Can Dance. "Mom, your hair has a jungle in it". :)
So true

When we couldn't find a parking spot at swimming lessons and had to walk a further distance in the heat. "Mom, you need to calm down. It's using up my energy"!!!

Hula girl at the art class.
Kayaking on Tempe Town Lake!
Ready for swim lessons

Craft Class

Today we went to Jazzy's craft class at the Tempe Community Center. Nothing else to do since it is still 112 degrees outside. We made crafts having to do with plants and flowers. $5.00 for four Saturdays.... not a bad price for something to do. Then we went to Jazzy's favorite restaurant Pho Van in Chandler - where they already know her name. We always have Pho, the common and typical Vietnamese dish eaten at breakfast, lunch and dinner. Jasmine met another little girl there her age who gave her a Vietnamese lollipop... probably no different than any other lollipop, but just had Vietnamese paper on it.


Having fun in craft class with very old clothes on so we could get really dirty.

Swimming Graduation

Last night, Jasmine graduated from beginner to intermediate at the USA Swim Kids Child Development Center in Mesa. At this center, they only focus on "safety", not so much on regular swimming. To graduate from beginner to intermediate, they have to be able to jump in the water and immediately turn onto their back and float for 10 seconds, then swim to the side of the pool and climb out completely on their own. When they graduate, the child gets to go ring a bell and an announcement is made. Then they have their picture taken while "olympic theme music" is being played.

At her other swim lessons, Jazzy can swim thru a hula hoop under water as well as swim with the overhand stroke for part of the width of the pool. She doesn't keep up with the other kids in her class since they are twice her size, but she is doing amazingly well. I was watching the Mommy and Me baby class, which is where we were last year at this time and thinking that she has made amazing progress. I am so proud of her. She has turned out to be a great swimmer.

Here she is ringing the bell.
Getting her picture taken while the music is playing. People clapping.

Swimming lessons at the Tempe Kiwanis Parks and Recreation

July 4th Celebration at the Zoo....

For the 4th of July, we went to the Phoenix Zoo party. They had a picnic dinner, bouncy house, face painting and games for the kids, as well as the regular Safari things to do. The event was limited to 450 people. It was so nice to have the entire place with only 450 people! Not crowded at all. They bussed us to the back of the zoo on a hill to see the Tempe Town Lake fireworks which are supposedly the best in the Southwest. They lasted over an hour. Every time I thought it was the big finale, they just went on and on. The fireworks were a little far away, across the lake, etc, and not very high in the sky.. but still very good. Jasmine was more interested in the laser light stick toys that I bought for extra needed entertainment at the Dollar Store. It was a really fun night until we tried to leave and got caught in the firework traffic from the Town Lake. Every street and highway was at a standstill. It took 15 minutes to drive from our house to the Zoo, and over an hour to get home. We didn't get home until 11:30. Still alot of fun though.

On the Safari ride
Enjoying the picnic
Dancing to the music
Looking a little apprehensive on the cheetah
Bouncy house

Ready for a night out on the town....

Soccer Camp almost over....

Tonight is the last night of soccer camp. Last night we had the game between kids and parents. Jazzy spent the entire time crying and holding onto my leg. One other little girl did also. It was a rather aggressive game with a bunch of the little bratty boys body slamming the other kids when the instructor was not watching. Of course, the parent(s) did nothing. Tonight, it's back to the regular fun stuff.

Here is a picture of Jazzy when she and I kicked the ball back and forth.