Coaches party....

Early this morning, Katy's mom, Jacky, called me.."Can Jasmine come over to play for a playdate before the big party today". Me.."oh heck yes.. that can be immediately arranged". Hang up the phone..."Jasmine, get out of bed!!" "You're going to Katy's house this morning, then they are taking you to the party"... Halleluya!!! So, I went to yoga class, then to Whole Foods to get something to bring for the party since it was a pot-luck, then dropped Jazzy off at Katy, Jacky, and Jim's house. Jaime, Danette and Rozlyn - 3 ice skating coaches- had a big party at Danette's house. Huge house, big swimming pool. A house made for parties. Then I went to Pet's Mart to get a new Guinea cage, more toys, food and bedding for their stay at Tina's house when we go to Big Bear Lake in a week or so. They needed a larger more permanent indoor cage- along with their outdoor transportable cage. Let's see...big decision... go to a big party with around 100 people in 115 degree weather... or stay home and build a GP cage. No contest there!!! I didn't get the GP cage completely built because I took a nap!! I did go a little early to pick Jasmine up at the party, so as not to appear to be too anti-social. Jasmine had been in the pool for 3 hours straight, and hadn't eaten anything even though there was food galore everywhere in every room of the house. She had some pasta salad after getting out of the pool, then came home and said she was hungry!!! I had some salad and some type of very powerful rum drink of some sort. Oh my goodness- was it ever potent! I forgot the camera:(, but should have some photos soon. They said they took lots and lots of photos.. and even had a little "photo booth" set up there. It was fun being there for just an hour instead of the entire day. Thanks Jacky and Jim - for giving me a day off! Oh forgot... this time we are only missing one pair of underwear. We have had several discussions about the loss of the swimsuit, jewelry, and multiple items of clothing. She didn't lose her 3.00 swimsuit from Goodwill, the raggedy towel I sent with her, or her clothes..just the underwear. I am sure Danette is going to wonder whose those belong to:))

Sleepover...

Jazzy had a sleepover with Hope. I got most of the weekend to myself to "catch up" on some work. Last night, they went to Emma Arbogast's 7th birthday party, swam for hours, and had a BBQ, I am told. Today, they went to work with Hope's mom, Cathy. She works as a babysitter at a church on Sundays, so they did all kinds of arts and crafts and who knows what there. When Jasmine and I were driving home she said.."I really missed Jessie and the pigs". I told her I missed her and then asked her if she missed me too. She said kind of as a second thought "Oh sure":))) No photos since I wasn't there. The swim suit from last week never showed up. On this trip, she forgot her bed sheets/sleeping bag and a shirt!!!!, even after we had a long talk about taking care of your stuff:(!

Pestology Camp

One day Pestology Camp at Arizona Science Center. I only know what I was told... but apparently they dissected an earthworm, then they each got to touch a dead scorpion (with gloves on), then they "chopped it in half" and looked at it's "brain" and heart. I don't know if I would recognize a scorpion's brain if I saw it. They also visited the new "My Body" exhibit with Elmo. I haven't seen it, but last time Jazzy and I went to the Science Center together, there was a stomach that you can walk into that makes all kinds of noises, then you walk thru the intestines. As you exit, there is a "passing gas" sound. I know that exhibit was a huge hit with kids. They just kept going thru it over and over:) Jasmine in class when I came to pick her up. They were talking about bees and dragonflies- and how their wings work. The "jitterbug" made by Jasmine. Each child made one. Hers is pink, of course! Making something or another... not sure what:) Glad this was only a one day "camp". Driving into downtown Phoenix twice in one day is just too much!

July 4th...

Tonight we visited the Phoenix Zoo for fun, dinner, and fireworks. Jasmine rode the Merry Go Round, played in the bounce houses, and water fountains, then we had dinner. The zoo admissions are limited to 400 people on July 4th, which is really nice because on a normal day, there are typically thousands of people there at one time. It was ridiculously hot, but did cool off with a slight breeze after sunset. It never gets below 100 degrees at night this time of year. The "not so fun" part of the evening- it is usually a 12-15 minute drive to the zoo from our house, which was the case on the way there. On the way back, the freeway was closed! I guess they were thinking that because the fireworks are set off right over Tempe Towne Lake and the Salt River, which is where the freeway runs,.. that people are going to be gawking at the fireworks instead of paying attention to driving. That may be the case, but they cause a *huge* inconvenience for people trying to get home. It took us 90 minutes to get home with all of the traffic, and we even left early. So... never again...From now on, we will do something indoors and watch the fireworks on TV. It was fun when we were there, just not fun getting home. Now we are on our way to the Arizona Science Center for "Pestology Camp" sponsored by Orkin:))) When I told Jasmine she was going to be studying mosquitoes, cockroaches, flies, fleas, and ants today, she had a very pained look on her face:)) I think she will enjoy it though. Waiting to get into the zoo:) Stingray Bay was open. For a couple of years, I have been trying to get Jasmine to pet a stingray. They are so friendly and used to being petted, that all you have to do is put your hand in the water and they all come swimming over and present their backs for "petting". They feel like velvet. So, this is the first time I was able to get her to stick her hand in the water. When they came up to her, she would always remove her hand. At least we're making a little progress:) Of course, the Merry Go Round is the big attraction. All of the photos I took of her in the little "water park" came out blurry, but that was great fun also!

Happy 7th birthday, Hope!

Hope Gonzales 7th birthday swim party! I didn't really attend until the very end, but I am told that they spent the whole time swimming, then eating BBQ, then of course the ice cream cake. Hope's mom made the most amazing ice cream cake... chocolate and vanilla ice cream layers with something in between- carmel/pecan ?, then icing on the top with bananas, strawberries and blueberries in the shape of an American flag. Jasmine managed to lose one brand new earring, spill a large amount of catsup on a brand new shirt, then lose her swim suit!!! How do you lose a swim suit? I don't know. We looked everywhere for it. So...since we have swim lessons tonight, I just went to Goodwill and bought her a "new" swimsuit for 3.00 since she doesn't take care of her stuff!!

Fun day.....

I didn't take many photos because they are all online at www.MyNAMissPhotoVideo.com. Princess Division, Contestant #71. I think they will be adding many others in the next few days. We didn't win, but we had fun and learned a lot. Jazzy did win 3rd place in "Casual Modeling", and 1st place in "Best Resume"- which was kind of silly since I quickly typed it up the night before. Unfortunately, the "talent" photos didn't turn out because the photographers camera didn't flash:( He did take some others of her sitting at the piano, but not in the same dress. Jazzy and friends in the dressing room before the Finale Production Number dance. Dancing onstage for the Finale. Being introduced onstage for the final Pageant Lineup. Best Resume trophy. Finalist trophy. 3rd place Casual Wear Modeling Medal. It was fun. We'll probably go back next year!

Long day....

I have never run around like a chicken with my head cut off as I have today. Lots of wardrobe changes for all the categories. It was crazy- shoes, clothes and accessories flying everywhere all day long. Somehow we ended up with everything intact. The key is extreme organization and thinking one step ahead. We started out with an orientation and group photo of all of the princesses (age 4-6). I will have that photo by tomorrow. Next, quickly change into our business suit for the 30 second speech and personal/job interview. Jasmine did her speech flawlessly- "loud and proud". The parents were not witness to the mock "job interview", but I was mortified when Jazzy came out of the interview with the turtle pin that was her great grandmothers... almost up around her neck with the collar pinned together. It must have come off and someone re-pinned it but in a hideous way. Maybe one of the other kids did it. Oh well. Here she is getting ready, then giving the speech. Next we had a nice lunch and went to the talent competition. I really was sweating on this one because of her performance at the rehearsal yesterday. She nailed it! She sang really loud and didn't make any mistakes on the piano. Phew!!! Next, the casual wear modeling. Here she is with her friends in the dressing room, waiting to go onstage. Then off to a formal wear rehearsal. One of the other dads- John- volunteered to be Jasmine's escort. Here they are getting ready, then Jasmine in front of the judges in the Formal Wear Competition. Tomorrow is another long day.... but not quite as long as today:)