One year of gymnastics...

Today was our last day of Mommy and Me gymnastics. Kind of sad:), but starting in January, Jasmine will be in "Junior Gymnastics" from ages 3.5-5 yrs. I think they do pretty much the same thing, but without the Moms. Today we had a party at the end of class. Camera malfuntioned as usual, but got a few photos.

Jasmine getting ready to mount the balance beam:)
Certificate of completion.

Thanksgiving Day.....

Today is the one year anniversary of Jazzy being home for a full day. Last year, we arrived home on the busiest day of the year almost.... the evening of the 25th. Today we went on a Zoo Safari and looked at all of the animals.... played with the goats, and played on the kids Harmony Playground. There was a new kumodo dragon exhibit that they advertise on the radio every 10 minutes... so we got to see that. The dragons were humongous. Jazzy wore her brightly colored dress because we were supposed to see a Monarch butterfly exhibit, but they were closed. We then went to a restaurant called Green in Tempe. There was a dinner and event there sponsored by the Arizona Humane Society. We had prepaid and made reservations, and it was good that we did, because I would have just turned around and gone somewhere else if we hadn't. It was very crowded... I don't think they were expecting that many people. The line to get in was very long... and there were no tables. People were eating Thanksgiving dinner out on the curb and sitting on the asphalt in the parking lot. At least there was live music out there. Plus, it was over 80 degrees outside... so it was nice. We had a great dinner though... completely vegan, animal free, and all organic. I have never seen such large organic asparagus! and the "turkey" (made of wheat) was excellent. Jazzy ate ALOT. Then we stopped at Grandma and Grandpa's to visit and play with cousins. Great day... best of all with my little munchkin.


Sitting on the dragon
Viewing one of the dragons
Playing with the goats..... We smelled like goats when we got to the restaurant.
Eating our vegan dinner.... Got lots of left overs.
At Grandma and Grandpa's

National Adoption Day......

Today is National Adoption Day when hundreds of foster children will be legally adopted into their new families. We are also celebrating Jasmine's Adoption Day today. We went to Anise Vietnamese restaurant in Chandler. Jazzy had Pho- the traditional Vietnamese dish, and I had some type of vegetable wraps. She also received the first of her 16 gifts that I bought in Vietnam for her adoption anniversaries. It was just two little Vietnamese magnetic dolls- a little commemorative trinket.

Getting ready to go
Opening her present. She said "WOW" really loudly when she opened it and everyone in the restaurant looked at us and laughed:)

Adoption Day Anniversary....

One year ago today, we had the official adoption court hearing in Vietnam. We are going to celebrate this weekend by going to a nice Vietnamese restaurant. Also, when I was in Vietnam, I purchased 16 little gifts to give to Jazzy on Adoption Day until she turns 18. This year I am giving her little Vietnamese magnet dolls.

The second photo is of the Judge reading something to me. I had no idea what he was saying even though he was speaking in English.
The first photo is me, the orphanage director, Judge, and the nanny holding Jazzy.

Our anniversary weekend....

This weekend, we celebrated our one year anniversary by going to So You Think You Can Dance, a Tea Party put on by the City of Casa Grande on Saturday... and just doing our usual Sunday thing today... eating at Rubio's Mexican Grill- which is becoming a habit, shopping at Staples for office supplies, and as always... checking out the animals at Pet's Mart, especially since we are newly animal-less.
So You Think You Can Dance was somewhat of a bomb. We had "the best" tickets right up front and could see absolutely nothing, so it was very disappointing. Everything else was really fun and the best part was just being with my little munchkin.

Outside "So You Think You Can Dance"
At the Tea Party

One year ago today.....

Exactly one year ago today, I met my little baby girl. It was love at first sight... for me... not for her. The stupid nannies kept forcing me on her. She would cry and react, then they would grab her away. Anyway, we only had to endure 5 days of that. She has come such a long way both emotionally and physically since then... funny personality, a total performer, singing and dancing. It has really taken about a year for her to become "attached" to me... as was expected. Tonight we are going to "So You Think You Can Dance" live performance.... our favorite show. Here we are one year ago. Happy Birthday to Me!


The first photo is a few days after leaving the orphanage.
The other two are in the orphanage.

PIcnic...

Today, after swimming lessons, we went to a Arizona Adoptive/Foster Families Picnic. The ASU Business students host it every year. They had games, bouncy houses, pizza and oh no... more candy. Jazzy does a new thing now... Every time I go to take her picture, she either frowns or turns away, so all the photos I got of her today were either of the back of her head or her frowning. Right after the picture, she continues laughing or whatever she is doing.

Arizona Adoptive Famiilies
Painting a penguin
Eating pizza
Climbing a wall
Getting her face painted- with lots of cupcake already on it.