Tet Party at CEE 2nd Grade Class...

Tet Party #1 of several....

Katy Englehorn and her daughter Eva hosted a Tet Party at their house this year. Katy adopted Eva, who is the same age as Jasmine, several months before I adopted Jasmine. They live in a really cute house in the middle of downtown Phoenix. Katy did a really nice job of decorating her house- inside and out- with all kinds of Vietnamese ornaments and "craft stations". It was a potluck, so the spread of Vietnamese food was massive. We were inspired to go to the Asian market close to our house today to purchase some little red coin envelopes and put rice paper money and coconut candy in them for Jasmine's second grade class:) Making a little dragon out of a red cup along with Eva and Ellie in the background. Ellie is 10 yrs old and is the daughter of our friend Robyn Ratcliff. Lots of food. Going after the cupcakes of course- with Eva's grandmother. (Katy's mom) Just got done trying to break the pinata. Most of the kids had on their aoi dai's... the traditional Vietnamese dress, but it was 65 degrees and breezy, so had to wear a coat. I only have one aoi dai left from Vietnam since she has grown out of several of them. They are really easy to find though, but all of the ones I have were purchased in Vietnam. Waiting in line at the pinata. Scrambling for candy !! Just what we need- more candy:) The party was held on the 3rd day of Tet- which is the Day of Friendship!

Weekend update....

We've been very busy the last week or so. All of the Tet Parties start this weekend and continue on for a couple of weeks. Lots of fun! Then..more skating of course. The ice rink has changed "ownership"- which is actually very beneficial. It had been "bank owned" for a couple of years, and literally physically falling apart. The people who bought it also own Ice Den Scottsdale, so now we are Ice Den Chandler. Roof is getting fixed, toilets will work, probably a new restaurant, maybe even another rink being built with the extra land in back. The only issue that will be rather short lived is lots of schedule changes- very difficult to do in the middle of the school year. Next week, Ben Agosto is coming to give a workshop to Freeskate 4 and above- two levels more advanced than Jazzy:(. We are hoping they will have more "famous skaters" coming to teach the less experienced kids also. To top off the month, more teeth problems. The titanium rods did not integrate well into my mandible. Just had an x-ray today that showed signs of osteomyelitis. Anything that could possibly happen will my teeth, will happen. Two weeks of antibiotics, then start over with opening up the area, scrape out all the necrotic/dead bone, put in another bone graft...and try more antibiotics:((( Happy Valentine's Day to me... Then, eventually place the abutments, which should have been done by now. Pain in the rear- and in the jaw. Will get more updates out on all of the parties, new "pageant coach" who lives just down the street from us- who knew!!!, teeth woes, and Science Project on making various types of stethoscopes to see which ones work best.

100 days of school....

Jasmine told me as we were walking out the door to go to school, "Oh, we are supposed to dress up as an "old lady" today for the 100th day of school." Thanks for the big notice Jazzy!! We threw on a hair net and bobby pins and a coat that is too big. It was hilarious. Then when about half of her class dressed up as elderly people, they found out that the "dress up" was only for K-1 grades. Oh well:)

Brownie Meeting....

Brownie meeting at Emily Trammel's house. We're working on the "Art Badge". They talked about Impressionism, Cubism, and Pop Art, then made their own Pop Art and have a big "take home" project to do!!! OMG - another "project". We're already working on our mandatory "Science Project" at school... now this!!!

British Bread...

So now we have to buy British toasting bread thanks to Peppa Pig:) I asked Jasmine if she could talk in her British accent at the Brownie meeting the other day. She wouldn't do it:)

The puppy fairy who is now taking care of Jessie:)