Trick or Treating....

Tonight we invited ourselves over to Katie's house for trick or treating:)) The city of Tempe decided to work on the streets in our neighborhood over the next few days, and there are barricades everywhere. No one ever trick or treats or even turns their lights on in our neighborhood anyway. So, after dance class we went over to Katie's neighborhood. Everyone knows everyone there! Every single driveway had a party going on- food, drink, candy, music. Jacky, Katie's mom, said it is like that on every single holiday for the 10 years they have lived there. Jasmine has a very large bag of candy completely full- the size of a pillow case- the one that Grandma and Grandpa gave her. We walked around trick or treating for an hour or so, then Jim (Katie's dad) took Jasmine, Katie and another little girl Natalia to another street party a few streets over. Jacky and I went to another neighbors party. Just getting home very late. Jazzy hasn't even been home since 7 AM,- school all day, cooking class, dance class, then trick or treating! Jim (Katie's dad), Natalia, Katie and Jasmine.

Happy Halloween!

Today, everyone is supposed to dress up as their "favorite" book character- because I guess Halloween could offend someone. Whatever:( So, the only "book character" costume we have is the western costume which it seems that Jazzy wears for just about every occasion. A month or so ago, Rebecca Janni- the author of "Every Cowgirl Needs A Horse" and "Every Cowgirl Goes to School"- came to Jasmine's school and gave a talk about what it's like to be an author:) at the school assembly. She signed books for the kids, so we just went with that book as our "favorite book dress up" option. In the front yard by the same tree - as always! Jasmine with Miss Ferdowsian who is Harry Potter.

Second grade photo and Class photo....

Busy Weekend....

Our weekends are sometimes busier than our weekdays! Friday night skating and Halloween party, Saturday morning skating, Saturday afternoon Theater Class, Saturday night lots of homework, Sunday "Lunch with the Keeper" Zoo Class and then swimming! Yesterday, Jazzy tried out for the part of "Sally", Charlie Brown's little sister for their Charlie Brown Thanksgiving play. She got the part of Woodstock...who has much more speaking and singing to do than Sally:) Today we had lunch with the Reptile Keeper. She (Ms. Kelly) showed us different types of snakes, how they catch the snakes to administer medication, then we went over to the Galapagos tortoise area to feed them. We had a lot of fun. Jazzy had on her orange Halloween shirt and the tortoises like bright colors, so they followed her around:) Halloween party at Gold Medal Gymnastics. Ralph the big guy who is not allowed around small children because he runs them down if they have on bright colors:)))

Desert West Championships "action shots"...

Boo at the Zoo and swimming....

Today we spent the day at the Phoenix Zoo- "Boo at the Zoo" for kids 7 and under. Every time we turned around we saw someone we knew from either dancing or skating! Played games, rode the carousel (as usual), went to the Stomp and Chomp for the Andean Bears, and found a new path. That place is so big, we are constantly finding new paths and animals we've never seen before:) Every Halloween, they have a Stomp and Chomp for all of the animals that would eat a pumpkin. The elephants stomp it with their foot and eat it. Bears crush it with their jaws, play with it for awhile, then eat it. As far as Sunday swimming goes, we are getting a bit behind. We keep missing classes mostly due to ice skating competitions. They are very difficult to work with in making up classes because they don't have enough instructors:( Checking out the zebras! Watching the Andean Bears eat their pumpkins:) We had a little lunch at the zoo... or rather, Jasmine did. I still am in so much pain and nauseas that I cannot eat. Lost 10 # in 9 days. Not the best way to lose weight, but I'll take it!

Desert West Championships....

We drove over to Peoria Polar Ice today for the Desert West Ice Championships. Much traffic for a Sunday. Jazzy skated beautifully on both of her programs. She is really progressing with her skating. Then we went to our usual place for dinner "Humble Pie" right next door to the skating rink. Got home late and unpacking now! Jazzy and Katie warming up! Jasmine's glasses are getting a "lens change" and it always takes them two weeks!!! She is insisting on wearing my reading glasses which she says are really helping her a lot. I am letting her because the first day she didn't wear glasses, she had a very bad headache. So, they look goofy, but are just for another week or so! Plus, she thinks she is really cool wearing her mom's glasses! Jasmine and coach Rozaline. Roz was trying to study all day because she has a big test next week. Senior at ASU majoring in Finance! Katie and Jasmine wouldn't let her study, so she finally gave up. Katie and Jazz after their Artistic Programs. Katie skates to "Jail House Rock" and Jasmine to "Country Kid". I threw a little stuffed lizard on the ice for Katie because she just got a new Bearded Dragon- (a real one). Jasmine is "Marie" from "Everybody Wants to Be a Cat"..The Aristocats!Another photo of Rozaline and Jazzy:) Waiting to go on the ice with Rozaline!