Ryan expresses all of our thoughts for this Christmas. It seemed a little simpler, somehow. I'm not sure if it's because we only put out very few decorations....no lights on the tree - just some simple ornaments and beads. I'd like to say it was a design, aesthetic, and lifestyle choice...but realistically it had to do more with time, or lack thereof, than anything else. For those who aren't aware, between December 5 and 23, we needed to be in San Francisco 14 days.....that's 14 out 18 days. Between rehearsals for chorus concerts, Ry and Si's actual concerts, and holiday activities we had planned for the family, this was what we did. It was fine because we love to be there, however, it leaves little time for much else. And I truly did want to simplify this year. My big idea was to do all the decorations in one color....we would negotiate as to the color (I was thinking white....Si was thinking red or gold.....the boys couldn't care less), but we just never got that far. Next year, perhaps. In the meantime, enjoy the Christmas photos.

We love each other......today.....right now....in this moment.....

There's nothing better than being able to paint your own umbrella

Unless it's blowing a ball up in the air

which is fun even for dad!

By the way, Ry and Si have opened several businesses for the purpose of raising dimes. Ry received a CoinStruction bridge. He needs 470 dimes to build the bridge and I believe he's up to 88 right now. Si is pitching in to help and they've opened the R&S Salon - massages are a dime per minute, however, I caught a sale the other day and got a 30-minute massage for 23 dimes. They also offer art lessons, math lessons, cooking or baking lessons, spelling lessons and anything else they can think of. Frankly, if you have any dimes, this would be the time to think up a job and have it done by two very motivated and enthusiastic children. Just give them a call. Happy holidays!

It feels like Ry's playing in the big leagues now. Not baseball, but singing. His San Francisco Boys Chorus winter concert was yesterday at a gorgeous church in Pacific Heights. At times there were upwards of 200 boys singing. Quite beautiful. And some playful songs and choreography too....which was unexpected and quite fun.

I must give credit to Jutka, Ry's former music teacher, for how well-prepared he was to go into this program. In fact, at 8, he entered at the level just below the touring level....and I have no doubt he'll advance sooner than we're actually ready for him to.

Ry's in the front row, 4th from left or right-hair pulled back

It's funny because we just received the DVD for the June (!) 2007 TRS performance, so we came home from the SFBC performance and watched my SFBC videotape, then the TRS DVD. For those who are in the TRS program from whence Ry came.....let me just confirm for you what amazing training they are truly receiving. Getting children to sing who want to sing is one thing, but getting them to all sing together so beautifully when there are several who really DON'T want to sing (as shared with us by Ry & Si), well, Jutka's simply a miracle-worker. The only downside is that you never get to see more than around 60 kids singing together....if the elementary children sing with the primary chorus. But they are so well-trained that if they were 200-strong, they would sound every bit as amazing. Oh, and by the way, Jutka has taught for most years around 120 students by herself. At SFBC, there are 5 chorus directors (plus theory and bell ringing teachers) to teach 200ish. Next up, Si at Davies Symphony Hall. Stay tuned.

If you've meandered over here I'm guessing you're a big Ry and Si fan. So in that light, I feel I can be unabashadly proud and tout how great they are. You've been warned.

On Saturday, we watched Si sing in a preview concert in San Francisco for her girl's chorus. Afterwards, we went to the Parol festival at Yerba Buena, which is a traditional Filipino celebration of the Christmas season, and saw many beautiful lanterns. Finally, we ended up at XYZ - the restaurant at the W hotel. It's a lovely dining room.....very warm, comfortable and grown up. I always like to watch how the kids are going to be perceived when we go to these places. In fact, a couple of weeks ago we went somewhere very nice and the waitress said "oh, are we practicing going out to dinner?" and I thought, hmmm.....really? Does she not see other 7- and 8-year olds? And to be fair, I think they normally think that the check total is going to be significantly lower because the children will want a bowl of pasta or cheese pizza. Clearly they've never met Ry and Si. As we began to order at XYZ, Si (who was sitting up very properly perusing her menu), said "I would like the oysters, the seared tuna, and the butternut squash." "A very grownup order!" commented the waiter. Ry ordered lobster and seared tuna (what have we created here?) and we had a wonderful meal and a very good time. At the end of the meal, the waiter said "we have NEVER had such well-behaved children in here." The scary part is when they grow up and go off to college, and the reality of where they can afford to eat hits them. However, in that light, they have been learning to cook since they were 2, and are quite good at it. So they'll whip things up Jamie Oliver style....simple, satisfying, REAL foods. And they'll be a big hit at their house/dorm/dive they live in with 7 other starving students.

Unabashed proud moment #2: Before we got our tree yesterday, Ry and Si wanted to go to the main library in downtown Oakland. We have a friend who works there so it's their second favorite library after the Berkeley main library. We didn't have much time, so Scott said no, and as they protested, Scott said, no, but we can go to Boomers! [horrible, awful video game/mini race cars/overall screamy kid pit of running around crazy]. Ignoring her father's addiction to sarcasm, Si said - no - I'd rather go to the library.

Instead, we went for a family hike in Redwood Park....Si was hike leader because she had hiked the trail with me before, and Ry was yoga leader - in charge of a few breaks where we breathe and stretch properly. We hiked almost three miles with 700 vertical feet of climbing, came home, and Scott and Si cooked up a homemade lasagna and coconut rice pudding. All in all, a pretty perfect day.