tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30765841885126911152024-02-01T23:23:20.448-08:00Ry and SiUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger29125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3076584188512691115.post-83814677514506413062009-12-28T21:31:00.000-08:002009-12-28T21:37:14.769-08:00The most recent command performance (with newly figured-out annotation editor work!):<br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RpxpkzB5BWo"><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/RpxpkzB5BWo&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/RpxpkzB5BWo&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object></a></div><br />And a little family band song from August:<br /><br /><div align="center"><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/5VLKucChI6Y&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/5VLKucChI6Y&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3076584188512691115.post-48974466881184638142009-10-18T07:05:00.000-07:002009-10-18T07:41:41.569-07:00<strong>Montclair Metrathon!</strong><br /><br /><br /><div align="left"></div><div align="left">Crazy day of walking/running 7.5 hours to raise money for school programs - library, music, pe, computers, etc. Ryan was determined to be the top walker this year (as opposed to two years ago when he was the top money-earner). Last year's top walker hit 45 kilometres....so we knew it was a difficult task.</div><div align="left"><br /></div><br /><br /><div align="left"></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5393945919974935234" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5G0K-SlCtt63N_ZCpAWOgkmSAJqpjmkszXLYthIX8YpTso4D5Orhi5MU7cn6xR2p37p5Zn-M3wg8G3N7-jPO4y6WGT1QZ_XwW2v1DYgKZxnyHOMDkYFxj4w0C5DIXdp9p8Twdgr4a4UYW/s400/IMGP2375.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"><strong>The beginning....everyone trying to jostle into the front.</strong></span><br /><br /><br /><br /></p><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5393947136875241474" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 280px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggN4HeqnlB58emN1BXyXTSRAUQLipg89tfiIud0eaM_bv9rhpQf8hyphenhyphenpMqeNSoiWQD70Ki6dRu89FI6ElmnQLVF9fNaX8ShCANQSkQK6asE2vDrgT3mA4_NO0TvDh3U4rl6i_bI5ULlXOhK/s400/ryanstruggling.jpg" border="0" /> <div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"><strong>Ryan struggling. He says he was ready to give up at 40km, but people along the way encouraged him to keep going. There's a bit of hand holding for the last 4 km. A boy has never been the top walker in anyone's recent memory.</strong></span></div><br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5393945913418653106" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEh9r2wCqIQLGgqkt-QC0g5PfamqZjV5aQx0TEHtnUrkRXnZ-dMngmp7I6CX16DMH6rbuhjTW0UP79YFtB7j8ZUtSucC5B9lMzLJ0sUbJQXeXG4UOgKvQtOQNXR4ZecpCLhOnwxkIHyzXM/s400/ry-almostthere.jpg" border="0" /> <div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"><strong>Coming in for his last few yards.....the smile is starting to appear.</strong></span></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5393945901839039698" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0jVDIlOqw1mHelolmiPLKGYpcnpHTjZjCfFUzQFlf-BBbTUX2lM0hZ7UEjnBPCrW3aQLYE3piHq1s_hD-_BmyUBT4IpoMEmd-_vA76bTlVbrD1Lzh5_e181BFoRGeOvGycKIZOusyrHFf/s400/ryan-46km.jpg" border="0" /> <div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"><strong>Success! 46 kilometres! That's 28.6 miles...more than a full marathon. We can't be 100% sure that he is the top walker, but based on our big ears, we think we've sniffed out that he probably was. Won't find out for sure until the Metrathon assembly where they announce such things in the next couple of weeks.</strong></span></div><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5393945893369503458" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibwJkxwkdxF5eKiu4O3nEi-1w-fqBDm0MYTZdeQ-8QhcBNHfkKQ-juttZJZEkI-2zYepDLb8M67uswp2MadCBbbWB9IRY1etQ6fTf4Fz-AWCrV8yPlO7ImDrwpkrcKyX3JEEw2QPi6RBi2/s400/ry&snocone.jpg" border="0" /> <div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"><strong>Celebrating with an oddly-placed sno-cone. And no, his hair's not cut. He has a mom-imposed pony tail.</strong></span></div><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5393945881055126290" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVqXHYl5G5jSpAhk1Os_HaHSseOVhbLM75oSt1HD0wh2NtEcGUmhCj3XEi1AHkvPp_mh2v1hURhcXMNgVKBY8qt3malQCGlRn8l-AgvqpCq7uAo-G7KjnKl1n0uI6k8OmHE-rirhMmKda8/s400/ry&sionground.jpg" border="0" /> <div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"><strong>Sierra simpatico.....she also met her goal of 30 kilometres - 18.6 miles - to earn a spot at the ice cream sundae party for kids who "walk really far." I think she feels really good to know that in all my hikes I've never walked 18 miles - that would be crazy!</strong></span></div><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;"></span></strong> </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;"></span></strong></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:130%;">Congratulations to both of you - dad and I are really proud of how hard you worked!</span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3076584188512691115.post-36537316789449556662009-09-30T17:54:00.000-07:002009-09-30T20:49:59.453-07:00Some random happenings in September: <div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><br /><div></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5387431515475286882" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiub3j3Mrh5Qx_y9mXk8AKV8gAVnGNczDQs43RXL5gXr70KFbew-TDT-qC56SgXg8r_YHeLvngd-aC4wftcx81VnFJ8io7hejBtoWHCFz51r4iaaqV2uF_iXuCtW1M12XLcLaH9WYbC-TQT/s400/ryracesfolsom-bright.jpg" border="0" /> <div>Ryan races in his first mountain bike race. The field was 8 or 9 kids and the class was 14-under. Clearly Ryan was the youngest, and the only one whose first race it was. He did great - came in a 32-ish minutes....a cluster of around 3 guys came in around that time and the leaders (who had been racing on a team all summer) came in around 22-ish minutes.</div><br /><div>Here he's getting ready.</div><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5387432819066653026" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNd0gICgr4YGFIzgoPGKZ8spmgKZxhN2a3i8ubd3x63iAX8JtdTY_ZTm_dBzyJfDQD_R_97hiMI7LSpOBgw-xtMTus6cefwFgbom8mX9ZaJouTgvrR2dM929F-W9LCYuQdnCG3yACg3dk4/s400/Ryangetsready.jpg" border="0" />Mommy and Ryan.<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5387436265521281170" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 339px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCyLCTM0BdlIOTsLXQABCzNjfjZrC-kaOgxymAcfgPa2P25MNbvIcQg8KOrNOQQnXQ5XV_YnhAQecKyeOgonQnQA8qNL-3xT1nx8iGIvuVRgGNkWdMB-jZCiq72aB46ufoZb-TrpXMpepq/s400/ryan&momcrop.jpg" border="0" /> <div>The field of competitors.</div><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5387459084026919218" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFE_3BY6la3_8C5gZEef1OS_i0rk4BvH_7EvSlZ336nWwD2aN5j5AKoTT16vwO1kDK-Ruz9i2eywZxc0h42vyMfj9Y2u9IzeA31JyAOyQjkljjQO9OHmPhC7TG5BBXdKLRx2KJKb0vB8ZA/s400/folsomracefield.jpg" border="0" /> <div></div><div>The afterwards....playing around part. The sister thinks she's a monkey.</div><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5387436275197982114" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdjwgQudNWB3PGhaNeKBellX85KcgUYTWTwPKEqGMkg1zC4VJwQcJHZDYUPrubn-mGG676uxSJu5LYzQvvXeTwyfqy7kjLggbTLFr9XnMFOCrYhUaiFMlCHLz01rzFX3iCUOaxlx4hyphenhyphenpbG/s400/si&ryatbikerace.jpg" border="0" />She really does.<br /><br /><div></div><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5387436282836031106" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJVb_uDuF6BEAC2bWxibDTqSZA1pwzfrfHQK4HOugiEKDKMyKo8UkvJfMkyBeCioDkWxfhwmtZYaxE89_4xElt7CuY5Wm8A3rqyCJeW_9gCn7AcIgeTQy5MURpceuZ4u_SE_CfBYEgHMl9/s400/IMGP2079.JPG" border="0" /> <div>No really, she does.</div><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5387436291437404194" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEuDExnczt8xWebkIhqtMwGwS0Ni0v1mo1-q1jK1DXeWGZ1mqX30EMije9vN1JVs41Ph_F2WSpriuX9y66M6xkZP5jTK6ncncESNVrauN7B38SeGD30MGCVUFRJFh1iELuuULeVPt_uQDn/s400/IMGP2081.JPG" border="0" /><br />Earlier in the month, some playground time. Do you ever get too old for see saws and burying each other in sand?<br /><div></div><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5387452225080880546" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgta5mp4zlf6buUHprlD1ofqIqlYPCkC5wKaraF9wABiUb8J8M3Y48zKJib2ptXfPI2tTVip3lhaEU0rRJe0UgCeixxwH_wj06wEHethWFNk7Itz0qghjTM75xd3JTba6BU47BmYjhc04DE/s400/IMGP1990.JPG" border="0" /></div><div></div><br /><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5387452233532906802" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgElY2zM5sAI8QeG-L7cG3zfXyi1qoOszaRyzDacjaD39yg4N1sftaRrIjR-3lom8WFr_mgUnYP1UFi-sQvt_cdJq3yBn8CTg95s1w0m6PnvfULJNWIm3FAkcJoDDjnjP_fmDFUxw97rEmK/s400/IMGP2088.JPG" border="0" /></div><br /><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5387452244616846578" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMj-lTorQGazNgcHS52CCVpKjK0KjedxzAcT89UKXOK4M8d_7T07tFTXmTcQvFpK0DIVEkYcGJnRj57eddmtrSVXLg1xehwOwteGTak0ozqNq9KN8HzFkxlk1ALTL3gBvfvK6nmZOu_UN_/s400/IMGP2087.JPG" border="0" /></div><br /><div>Ryan and his friend Ryan find new ways to hang out at the pool.</div><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5387459092165403010" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitjkMFFyhkPDKZBfOmgiozV5mipLe2LK8GqDQkSgv16Vyw0Yofi2exDyL5ek2TQUdamWDN7T0soU8Y1X9dDjHWKLkuHR1NRWZ9LrYEbE-gvYd9rj0Jc0wmW5dMDg7b0qb-BeYQvSrnHbWn/s400/IMGP1985.JPG" border="0" /><br /><div>And the <a href="http://sanjosemariachifestival.com/feria-del-mariachi.php">San Jose Mariachi Festival</a></li> last weekend:</div><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5387459119976911458" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9FBbMHG0yazQUAJdRsmUuwHRznQrB27uwVKVFtXofxUVslkL9IX2-fS4kkwcSHRnb9ein8RrcNJI0mFMne_haOX3rmYQhPg-7_e3QjVrkw49mfQbs54yp2VnB9IpegtvidGMnYbWvB5GD/s400/IMGP2111.JPG" border="0" /> <div></div><div>Sierra and friends</div><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5387452250872646354" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3qQapTYAJ-wPeoSWTRmEhaqc5LXP8X5_vx4bQawUuhLHL8yChxXb28BBpsyIuk2djAkgqlaie4L1nGkjzSZ2dpcfVF30_NgqfOtVw8EJums_gUhpTpbB4NkHTkP1tXpYZ1wupCSj600iI/s400/IMGP2091.JPG" border="0" /></div><div>As usual, Sierra wins the hula hooping contest. Those hula/tahitian hips are paying off. </div><div></div></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5387452262964599762" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV7wlqct_ZAXg5xIKfpx764ta677-vf0Ll53umVrBlLWZIkY62Xfm9eGbVTvoXp9Asm_apOHfDfEHwKl55Avt4t-4ceDwKGjbtYy0VHtt2A8DKT71bByUjjDRSew9oIIaESR76KnWxfBnm/s400/IMGP2097.JPG" border="0" />Awesome park downtown with water fountains specifically for kids to cool off and play around.<br /><br /><div></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5387459109870315986" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1nNw2vw53BfRuuKIJd0IpguRPSUapdl6bWPyOHA_NWhG6l2TLspV8l0OuWE8t7L8qBa8zmHA_xCANFZxWitYXjGqy2_OLEB5FvL7JuPYjZzRH4Ulg1ElgrV4loz510MpjpkFpaVy2FIyf/s400/IMGP2107.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5387459103793656786" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN0KP_-0rpYVgOWjGcUwhfp96-D4iu8IWnCc74GiDK4gZFdX1WHFdj3cDOrUVmktVJLMdbHBKuSa6sOgkeBGV6y02GiyDg2nDok3Ya7qvZ8GsmP6paipE28nos4g313ZhKKaz6sIdUAzWq/s400/IMGP2100.JPG" border="0" />And finally, even Comet was brought home a souvenir from the festival. He's thrilled.<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5387473130281880770" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIRNvKoVQvZqeoqdWbVH8nkaVlpJnTvYwJwXUPs_ymbqEW6Ss4q-AClOclNEjawLP4mxylQYbVU_qaJheALKrGx7CG1lgMuohvhKvaskdjQQWqAWrb-7NL-Ub8vNma7ORIbp6lf2lX6BZ1/s400/IMGP2122.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3076584188512691115.post-21771108278230021682009-08-01T11:27:00.000-07:002009-08-01T11:29:50.374-07:00<strong>SATURDAY MORNING A-TRAIN</strong><br /><strong></strong><br /><div align="center"><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/5ULl-_vJB2k&hl=en&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/5ULl-_vJB2k&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3076584188512691115.post-69205835622170928902009-05-17T11:20:00.001-07:002009-05-17T11:22:35.570-07:00Last night was the Montclair Elementary Variety Show.<br /><br /><strong>Sierra danced Te Pua Noa Noa:</strong><br /><br /><div align="center"><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/tNMw1zby1iE&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/tNMw1zby1iE&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object></div><div align="center"> </div><div align="left"><strong>Ryan played the piano and sang Photograph by Jamie Cullum:</strong></div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/dbGeEwPL65w&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/dbGeEwPL65w&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object></div><div align="center"> </div><div align="left"><strong>They were awesome!</strong></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3076584188512691115.post-9522992764454855712009-05-13T09:20:00.000-07:002009-05-13T09:51:14.912-07:00<div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9dFz-lhxy_kRxsGoPSfzRsk9qW4wfr4NYzqYPfvDq6TRos-DMyJIzhFb-04qOWLjboH_oxNByku5KnEB8rZfP1cNDLbdzgq1BXUswHFupUlZIycYbU0OFQMYGRjq-pkI7kaXoTYql3epp/s1600-h/ryanselling.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335346229035776722" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 392px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9dFz-lhxy_kRxsGoPSfzRsk9qW4wfr4NYzqYPfvDq6TRos-DMyJIzhFb-04qOWLjboH_oxNByku5KnEB8rZfP1cNDLbdzgq1BXUswHFupUlZIycYbU0OFQMYGRjq-pkI7kaXoTYql3epp/s400/ryanselling.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div></div><div>Ryan is the greatest salesman in the world. I think he has all the right elements. 1. <strong>He's cute</strong>. 2. <strong>He's cute</strong>. 3. <strong>He's cute and not afraid to ask ANYONE to buy a raffle ticket</strong>. Ryan's been all over Oakland, Berkeley and Walnut Creek. We've left San Francisco for the SF boys....but we may wander over there before this thing's done. He's got a great little table - there's music playing that the boys recorded of the Inauguration songs (unfortunately not yet available or for sale, but beautiful to listen to as you're walking by); and then printouts of photos of the chorus in DC and at the Inauguration. So even when people plan to walk by, the music or the photos catch their attention.</div><div><br /> </div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335347504869024194" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLK0pSzEHgGp1XYdsOcdLx2WVuBMvmK397rlf1TC1ug82WIkoEeGinWYOfXCpmZD9mwdJIDF5JMajCa9K3Apa68BbChtj0zWm9yifzd6j3Cg6pM9uGHwrMH_v5dtkZ_odIhpU426UHS8Lv/s400/HillsideClub.JPG" border="0" /></div></div></div><br /><p>At the above concert venue, we got there early enough to see one of the musicians arrive. He was the cellist - Lawrence Granger - and he was awesome. He had forgotten his checkbook that night and felt so bad that all he could give Ryan was $60 cash to buy raffle tickets. Ryan was unbelievably thrilled - that was his biggest sale ever! So we got a picture of them together.</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335348243940124946" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBPonlYBfgtAEYuxp43i4_nyVRn52UbUhA-VI5osnHhhXuVqDNvp29vqyHq5Ze2JW0m6kD0l7Kvqkhyphenhyphenpjo6CawKveMUn-e2NSwjbDgcuzSYWh3_EhxgnnRiNe3qYgEvjIoHNUftWM6FN_2/s400/pianest.JPG" border="0" /></p><br /><p>We also figured out that we have to be in a path where people have to pass by you. We tried Zellarbach on the Berkeley campus, but the space is way too wide open and people can avoid your table like the plague.</p><p>And his tally so far? <strong>44 hours</strong> of selling. <strong>455 people</strong> purchased tickets. <strong>1,129 tickets</strong> sold. For a grand total of <strong>$2,005</strong>. We've guessed that for every sale he's probably said his pitch 10-20 times. So that would be somewhere between 4,000-10,000 utterings of "Excuse me, would you like to buy a raffle ticket to help the San Francisco Boys Chorus?" His goal is $3,000 and he only has until June 3. The money he raises helps pay for his trip to Eugene where they'll be participating this year in a children's choral festival called <a href="http://www.piccfest.org/piccfest/">PICCFest</a></li>. We talked last night about how much work it is and how we don't know if we're up for it next year. But as he said - "<em>well, you know mom, next year I'll be in the Concert level</em> (the highest group - he's being promoted in June)<em> and there's even more responsibility....and they tour a lot more</em>." Oh yeah.</p><p>He thinks he can make his goal...and I hope he can because he's worked his little heart out. </p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3076584188512691115.post-65573219389682209842008-09-28T10:49:00.000-07:002008-09-28T11:58:09.129-07:00<div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu34JiUARaUAx3j9j_cApoU9AQZceSGLcaDImJ7q5Q4uOe2HvADbh9IzABlY1tCCe4sqCl1M1xGR1Lo0RGDeF7U2swl628FZ5iC-hjuDo8a-59KNpiowjGvLK0E4ia_UzxqQmPkg1JOY3w/s1600-h/IMGA0084.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5251132584670402418" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu34JiUARaUAx3j9j_cApoU9AQZceSGLcaDImJ7q5Q4uOe2HvADbh9IzABlY1tCCe4sqCl1M1xGR1Lo0RGDeF7U2swl628FZ5iC-hjuDo8a-59KNpiowjGvLK0E4ia_UzxqQmPkg1JOY3w/s400/IMGA0084.JPG" border="0" /></a>Over the last few weekends we've begun to play Monopoly. The game begins on Saturday night, continues on Sunday after dinner, then gets put aside a week until we can come back to it. Ryan so far has been the tycoon with risky strategies of buying whole blocks of hotels and leaving himself very little money. It seems to pay off for him.<br /><div></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5251147718454003186" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI7l19wTA6YAlY_Hc0Nf7MtHJcgm9NoxRdfKatvk-SvSMjE8DR23g4BjnDan9525j1qvaD2N3Aje4Vyb02FV3SzzBr8MGbL_kd7Q-gN2aEYZ0eY33YIhpqf8c9zmWpRt3OnXFX4gD1FEhW/s400/IMGA0085.JPG" border="0" /> <div></div><div>Sierra does really well with transportation strategies, and just basically loves money. I play blocker and hold onto properties for negotiation purposes. It's all been good groundwork for explaining what's going on these days in the world....... </div><div></div><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5251148155153367970" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_zyxhIThpFOquKZ08cI6vJ25RVX-9ls3j8p3FBwNyH7LululgTD11Kq10PJZKB3Uvp47DvQVgAAEfDXxaaWh8ixR25YgFExiLeHMGKTZNavAS2a5b1bxL36YfGXTlo3MJ0xYhkMWzPD15/s400/IMGA0087.JPG" border="0" />And just a random picture of Scott's homemade pizza - Sierra's favorite being pesto, cheese and an egg.</div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3076584188512691115.post-73335676200592584482008-08-25T10:31:00.000-07:002008-08-25T10:34:05.674-07:00<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNVS8tepTtnj2LE6mgvVlShSMiqYQv991161vY_tITeVjxhwmFMX4qRmMdjPTZJ-c1GmD2wRAPBt7BiGRAAr1c4qIGjfezeDfVg_iQ_EKaKEgT9wde6CeRW3tm9w-yMecEaG49qTEUZTrj/s1600-h/First+day+of+3rd+%26+4th+grade.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238509851788135010" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNVS8tepTtnj2LE6mgvVlShSMiqYQv991161vY_tITeVjxhwmFMX4qRmMdjPTZJ-c1GmD2wRAPBt7BiGRAAr1c4qIGjfezeDfVg_iQ_EKaKEgT9wde6CeRW3tm9w-yMecEaG49qTEUZTrj/s400/First+day+of+3rd+%26+4th+grade.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">Happy First Day of 3rd and 4th Grade!</span></strong></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3076584188512691115.post-56447221706513653802008-08-23T14:50:00.000-07:002008-08-24T09:19:16.093-07:00<div>I am so proud of Ry and Si's sewing! In case you missed it on their own blogs (see link at right), they both did lots of sewing camps this summer and these are the results of the final camp:</div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238119332842752914" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioAQrtuvi_LITdt46px-18YIlFSX3I0KOIsMDzqmFe7WLjwLIEQzbMOv7mgZ3FVgSSvLY01ooF5APSFBlqFgsgt_8XMZDPbYx2F4n-dwu9jwh-saYjzgaZE7jn_pooeKLy0qJWy9aGu3e_/s400/IMGA0009.JPG" border="0" /> <div>I loved Si's fabric so much I made myself a matching skirt.</div><div></div><br /><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237842812819278882" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib3YF1SR0dIc7P0kirer3h_GwT2LdWMsSh7kju5SB9rqzLnkIvj64uetGk4C4_LQ4cAdugNLZM8gI-ZuqY3c4K2tjgW8gBkXsWoI4yqQZJtYP2smbu2UNJMQ23MlxfttAaAJHPYr0aoi9h/s400/IMGA0012.JPG" border="0" />Ry is the undisputed pocket expert around here now. He's also the tech guy. We bought a ruffler foot attachment for their machine which is extremely huge and weird looking and I went at it for about 15 minutes before giving up the other day....just didn't get how it went on. He had it figured out within 10 minutes this morning and sewed me up a ruffle asap. Rock on Ryan.<br /></div><br /><br /><div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3076584188512691115.post-13274102690512216482008-08-09T17:35:00.000-07:002008-08-09T17:50:06.705-07:00Yay! Somebody took video and posted the performance! Sierra is on the far left.....then almost at the very end she switches and as they walk off she's the 4th of 5 to walk off.<br /><br /><div align="center"><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/j_DU1HCIeKQ&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/j_DU1HCIeKQ&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object></div><br />This is great because the music is so beautiful. The song is called Kawika. Also, there will be a professional DVD so if you're willing to fork out $39.95, you can buy it <a href="http://store.dreamworldvideos.com/product_info.php?products_id=57&osCsid=dfd5c90c01cb5926ef941cfcce2f714a">here</a></li>. I don't think I'm quite ready to cough up that much cash.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3076584188512691115.post-59052825074377444492008-08-06T19:20:00.001-07:002008-08-06T23:26:57.624-07:00<div><div><strong>The road to winning Ka La Hula i Reno (also known as <a href="http://www.pacificexchangeprod.com/Events/F09D8621-42E8-46AF-8486-0D735BCFAFDC.html">Heiva i Reno</a></li>):</strong></div><br /><div><strong></strong></div><div>First, practice, practice, practice. And preferably find someplace fun to practice. Like <strong>Half Moon Bay</strong>. You know....on the <strong>beach</strong>....where hula was meant to be done.</div><br /><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231621250357771746" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3o82LaL5Lim61Y7wc-w-KGO9Ohv9F43ygkaYwXdrzjHhT6_4j-Gnc3khwyl776eVqxqeidRER7z8OLrtVjAIWklloEjDJNYpw2xmRKBqsukCDzTzL3erlj_V9uT7_x2xPp1UO5UvxUVbH/s400/moe&girls.JPG" border="0" /> </div><br /><div>Always listen to your Aunty Moe - she knows what she's doing:</div><div></div><div></div><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231595915737319874" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibssYHmADMSWTizSBd2_UCl2yY8VkqwodC9XzQNc_0bEBDSWQZCW4C_GKCKmU2nW8Fn7RTUiCKVOhd0LWkiEslMk3YTumRRe9JrmBeEqdQWnYK_kc4UYy6XYEIlAoLYLZ75epegyBSjPt3/s400/Aunty+Moe.JPG" border="0" />Now follow her lead:</div><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231612331164745954" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjan_TxnbIbU00yl3M1KHvXIqKUm3VEHpOhO0Otu3PK4LigcWGGbuhPK9AO1T3oc-yjkAW5dmWKPoDUTDIip0Le8UpN8K3y24yXsOLohyphenhyphenOowfeZgwtpQfZuYfzcsUgkR0giSUfdSK5md3w1/s400/hula+at+beach.jpg" border="0" /><br />Next, find a group of people at the beach who are celebrating a birthday, then perform for them to get experience in front of an audience (sorry you can't hear the song):</div><div align="center"><br /><object height="350" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/xSXMH7oydro"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> <embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/xSXMH7oydro" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="350"></embed> </object></div><br /><div>Arrive in Reno and hang with your hula sisters to wait for results from the tahitian competition (and be ecstatic for them when your sisters Chelsea, Katelyn and Kalene take 1st, 2nd and 3rd place in their age category - and don't forget Francisco in the back row with the lei who took first place in his age category for Kane [men]!)<br /><div></div><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231597186902588658" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBU9gwKUD6MT2T6K3y_17DvbmE2hkIkPQWxGHBET0iKoIWTnLVvWkDMPtJ9fYXwckxgARe581LWhnitO7CNx7KbsPlDgpkLbxCq73gFEwTrJieSwv0lR1y1rnRzGRaf0z71w2KvD2yMwAj/s400/big+girls.jpg" border="0" />Next, run over to a conference room at the hotel and watch the big girls rehearse for the next day:</div><br /><div></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231634039037383570" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsaJi7EjuZIJ3jgzN9wRCq-NqvMtP5LbZBexF37zo2RRj8XgUoKzqxaPE2KlCMeEl-IHvyquTAUh0u2syGIjnobSoaVFRdxIgF8b8nrt2tUCsrjgyluKEad5vyfbnzC_sv2uCI4FU22fY8/s400/IMGA0833.JPG" border="0" /> <div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div>Then you rehearse with your crew for the next day:</div><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231634718849371330" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBUUjm9yiMVklbBG4u0oserfRkqZp2RGBPE2u0cgLXyBi20GJu_NHdbF7JMJ_fXjJF5BJHeBcU8c8yG-jVxHTstLsjwtBQPjT220eMcLkCZcfDt88NdQHBFafiCBJRKvie6Y8-A2k-GTIv/s400/IMGA0854.JPG" border="0" /> <div></div>And sneak in a solo rehearsal or two:<br /><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231623925994392402" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivsVF8nhCP3uqyTB2AUS_XWIIw3tTixdDAV5NU3nzFUMVQ6FEnw7KIpalQ9NlhVDZ5_ThrvRPxBhdKvHe_P0CL3nWWJND47RVd18PYIkTBXhRNkq-Vtje6h4zGD1mPSJmIkS81LvUNW36p/s400/sierra+rehearses.JPG" border="0" /> </div><div>Wake up the morning of the competition and go over to the ballroom to watch the big girls block and rehearse their dance:</div><div><br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231619289243634978" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUOOnI3_ze5ZTBffstitMSJqxPtPbyNEc4gWCAZ4IU1Bmxe3QzbE786iCToX9UruIc31wdmEOV-TURWKTJNabX9uJCDnLMSNl_pVg4YsV-wK3Jd3HBb7sGbr7bs_42gfCN7cMTf-cRfMfU/s400/little+girls+watch+big+girls+1.JPG" border="0" /><br />Then block and rehearse your dance:<br /><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231613260254196866" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9hrPVipQAj6EIba_8i_YZ5uNJ48mg0Ep8ckQ0PYYiu9ktsOtQ-3WbwKMKHAWHTT6xl2lPxDBRBHF9YB3V_2mOvQsNUyEshIIYrukARiyhdZ_vFY5bWHbV2stN0q2d09LG8UiXESHJsVrn/s400/kaikamahine+practice.JPG" border="0" />Now you can take out the braids mom spent two hours putting in two days ago. Get big girls to do your hair while telling you all their horror stories of how much it hurt to brush out their hula hair when they were little (try to listen and take comfort through tears....then get mom to take over brushout so that it's not quite so painful....or at least you can yell at her and somehow that makes you feel better):</div><div></div><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231597707253877506" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyeXsqN2wcBjNDecUp5qyA4kn5IPi_gtuftk2VnZTAj2eX0OGl26kUc8y_SloxMsLy5OJ3KXwl6-HuDPYz8nAGJPnXsEWP6q_vpjQze0oz8ld_K5mOt3hxysNVJ0QfWJWP1J0JRZK3aKp5/s400/chelsea,+sierra+%26+hair.JPG" border="0" />Now go to another parent for be-flowering (hey - no fair - how did YOUR mom get the sucky job of hair brushout?) Notice big smile to get be-flowered:</div><div></div><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231596323504340130" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-9a2vphoua_R_MdmRJX9hLNnGvQKv2rJVqLIpN1ghzhS71910ZHuVDwKqNOEoSq4EgYTWn5Th_xP3zsSpcEL7HaQGQFmrPfL3m2xWs1kQb767KOLVm1P-F4GaihyFhiS0kf1fEFBa9swN/s400/before+flowers.JPG" border="0" /><br />Some final touches with the flowers:</div><div></div><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231610715789152434" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYv91W5TJqTahOigCx7J0-d9x3xfwC2LlkKvjUTaiw9d4yGsgKGHiEooLwrkJmD_uVkM4yqqgUqReuqQpDrjjsof450iVz3EHPnjoOD3J6H7SqJAVXal5rShvVI_fBdRHFE6SeRnu2CWNS/s400/getting+flowers.JPG" border="0" /><br />Such a pretty smile. And look at that great hula hair!</div><div></div><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231624622072726290" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgix8VETI36kvowNqj49pNAn_i56io2tAiWNe9huYRhCZBuSxMD-H0vbcZZfx4SZHbeZTJq1_joqsMibQIESJjmcGvweyNj431tCXAbsVf9HSwLzoeEqwfHfssesSKKjWEOyhH7mN1z2U3l/s400/sierra+with+flowers.jpg" border="0" /> Awwwwww<br /><br /></div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6OWfoqqoe8dZEhMlzaUf8i-kxQcoHfawtWBfQJ4UO5FQ-XjJvAL16qA5wmsxEMjZxG3FppJoNAawz6NOtK8HjdL0L9vanePV1KrTbPSFm6bzxBDW-IGtGFM1a5J11lX9dIE8y2wTupn2r/s1600-h/sierra+in+costume.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231622832038112930" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6OWfoqqoe8dZEhMlzaUf8i-kxQcoHfawtWBfQJ4UO5FQ-XjJvAL16qA5wmsxEMjZxG3FppJoNAawz6NOtK8HjdL0L9vanePV1KrTbPSFm6bzxBDW-IGtGFM1a5J11lX9dIE8y2wTupn2r/s400/sierra+in+costume.jpg" border="0" /></a> Now, be sure to let off a little steam in the hotel room, overlooking beautiful downtown Reno:<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4mb1-MMDYaz15ftnZiwVEIKxO0wHdYY0o41r0WqJ8EJmWHdVhkkvTDTuRvJ4OuoOCVMCf3swNOv9uYMX0ArPhUuDIrIeTwPT3_-i_unA7n65npDidLiESJeO1RBZ5gXie5Xdo5Z8rG2DZ/s1600-h/nice+photo+sierra.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231622230695523506" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4mb1-MMDYaz15ftnZiwVEIKxO0wHdYY0o41r0WqJ8EJmWHdVhkkvTDTuRvJ4OuoOCVMCf3swNOv9uYMX0ArPhUuDIrIeTwPT3_-i_unA7n65npDidLiESJeO1RBZ5gXie5Xdo5Z8rG2DZ/s400/nice+photo+sierra.JPG" border="0" /></a> And be sure to blow us some kisses backstage right before you perform:</div><div></div><br /><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231607145631515938" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfBVey4L_NW3zQDl2BrBLjzoLa9Za1eEJ8Wc3cueL4xjBVuUNxr4WAm_CC8q_apjSTEiESQi7E9MkfO3g7TWnrGr_o4hS4Ro1evUrSOJHb0bNyzWZZCJVXk2iPtvWmxyHMeOzUHp995Kxn/s400/four+kaikamahine.jpg" border="0" />Okay....here it is - the big moment! Si is on the far left. Three judges - not too scary, right? Although the one on the far left (in purple) <em><strong>is</strong></em> a <a href="http://www.merriemonarchfestival.org/about_merrie_monarch_festival.html">Merrie Monarch</a></li> judge - the superbowl of hula competitions:</div><div></div><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231598116412820834" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOrtNlGMyFvSsLuNwA6-lc9m2ReR709UG3TUOjMDo1SzyUhb0yROZ2z2MppsJhFSQ3KVcukEF_XDDpdZiMCdxhikS9QYW4tJfDOvhpdKpeGB9lv5pfBAitGvxbXeEPD9l0MrzoDgVC4v_y/s400/dancing+in+front+of+judges.JPG" border="0" />Waiting with hula sisters for the results to be announced:</div><div></div><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231625496644216754" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC__QM-dHqCLYGzh0p9Qp2-h_lXsZGb-O5bo0BGQZ5XE8PNXBLC6zY0H0ythwu5sCllWTgNPTreakkEbo6roqOJEJpyhvjyBhhxN5yBEpPiViv2RNWJdsv-TlT_Rd6Fne-kP2pA_iR4ABF/s400/waiting+for+results.JPG" border="0" /> </div><br /><div>Oh my gosh! Is that right? We won? Let's go get our award!!!!<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231625794602864178" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ8ENHklvjld2lKXm1D6Px8oNEavpF_kPXGwhGHUvkG5be93mAKQKjnZtq4Eu4e5rfeO-jSgJ7JzVuJovMKlLlxvV9iM_RabmGkinPEYHFL70_9F33tP6VHfOyeMLn2Lm3VrgvmgYiDEKN/s400/walking+onto+stage.jpg" border="0" />Pose with sisters - Sarah, Jessica, Jordan, Jasmine (hidden from view) and Sierra - and with judge and Aunty Moe and Uncle Kalen:<br /><br /><br /><div><div><div><div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231616695164943298" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4ST-fFmIkTJJqZeLI2mwYcVuQbjn6jZNmcDD9jKs3psV-ZrjEaHVt0A_Z7iPDsTZHEAFWDc9R_MXjQSBz1iTcwzcie_2qxH-pRbARtWTfKIb7IjHq_bQbfaxA2hd2iUYoa3ccnuj2G9Xf/s400/IMG_0141.JPG" border="0" />Now, go up and hang onto the premiere award - The Adjucator's Pick - the Best Hapa Haole Hula Award:<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh8_nKBBBon_w2h7bQvJOeVIwf7udJ-S_gcQuunXzhytYsJDQ-6Mm4ppmfTj0mvhyf9J3aU3sP-X-o7d0E8Nxyqvo5o_ReL7GcQ0pOhXQBVfVw9-cewp2DGSKJV_e8TSW9VGiu4l5giKSW/s1600-h/keikis+hold+big+one.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231617356225178306" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh8_nKBBBon_w2h7bQvJOeVIwf7udJ-S_gcQuunXzhytYsJDQ-6Mm4ppmfTj0mvhyf9J3aU3sP-X-o7d0E8Nxyqvo5o_ReL7GcQ0pOhXQBVfVw9-cewp2DGSKJV_e8TSW9VGiu4l5giKSW/s400/keikis+hold+big+one.JPG" border="0" /></a>By winning this award they now automatically become finalists in the <a href="http://www.hapahaolefest.org/">Hapa Haole Festival</a></li> competition being held in Hawaii in October.</div><div></div><div></div><br /><div>In all, Ke Ola Loa (Te Ora Roa O'tea) won the following:<br /><div><br /><div></div><br /><div><strong>1st place Keiki Hula Auana</strong> (that's Sierra!)<br /><br /><strong>2nd place Wahine Hula Auana</strong><br /><br /><strong>1st place Wahine Hula Medley</strong><br /><br /><strong>1st place Music</strong><br /><br /><strong>1st place Costume</strong> (older girls)<br /><br /><strong>Best Hapa Haole presentation</strong></div><br /><div></div><br /><div>And don't forget the tahitian competition from the day before - 1st, 2nd and 3rd place PLUS a 1st place for Francisco</div><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Now pose with everyone associated with the halau (except mom who is taking the photo):<br /></div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha7hYqqYCzQHnMT636ICPngo9_PLURGovTq4umx1uK6Ifc5tGztiANuZz3HYrV2sbCPSzYG1SB5nms3-3rIcMPbxcB7OSgwdxHNIGJ8Lppp0G4QUrMt_4cepAQTE8CtUTk6sv-r-aTSZFH/s1600-h/Ke+Ola+Loa+halau.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231613831111840050" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha7hYqqYCzQHnMT636ICPngo9_PLURGovTq4umx1uK6Ifc5tGztiANuZz3HYrV2sbCPSzYG1SB5nms3-3rIcMPbxcB7OSgwdxHNIGJ8Lppp0G4QUrMt_4cepAQTE8CtUTk6sv-r-aTSZFH/s400/Ke+Ola+Loa+halau.JPG" border="0" /></a>And that's the road to winning a competition. Phew. Take a rest, spend a couple of days in Tahoe, then go see grandma. Life is good. </div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3076584188512691115.post-81618511440964873522008-05-23T23:30:00.000-07:002008-05-24T01:05:10.905-07:00What a fun way to end your birthday:<br /><br /><div align="center"><object height="350" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Xthfi95VZMY"><br /> <embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Xthfi95VZMY" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="350"></embed> </object></div><br /><br />It's pretty cool when an orchestral conductor actually conducts the singers for your very own version of Happy Birthday.<br /><br />Alas, when I say end....I mean for this actual day. It just keeps going with the party on Monday. Oh well, all the more to post. <strong>Happy 8th Birthday, Si.</strong>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3076584188512691115.post-2697895107010470492008-05-05T10:06:00.000-07:002008-05-05T10:07:48.776-07:00Yesterday in Foster City Si performed with her halau. She's the one in the front, in the middle.<br /><br /><object width="425" height="350"> <param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/wTtc_BVazuI"> </param> <embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/wTtc_BVazuI" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="350"></embed> </object><br /><br />Windy as usual, but a beautiful backdrop of the bay.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3076584188512691115.post-56693085119561717862008-04-30T17:00:00.001-07:002008-04-30T21:27:39.808-07:00Finally.....a chance to see Ry sing at the <em><strong>Giants </strong></em>game!<br /><br /><object height="350" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/an4qcYdCRjU"><br /><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/an4qcYdCRjU" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="350"></embed> </object><br /><div><br /><div><div><div><div><div>On the BART platform going to the game:<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5195193017528380098" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn-cBZWsPgwi_UGFn-kdquSJJcZXyFDBQkaW19dmlKRF-iPhEdtXM39-77GZDxRu6maUTRXPU9jQqZu0FTo9udRJQKg-_fsx2QMVJSGz228mIuyQlWqjfydMnZt2mev_4vRHFYKkMit3jR/s400/IMGA0105.JPG" border="0" />In front of the ballpark:</div><div></div><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5195194507882031826" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS7c-MmiRzfIKSr7Ndsi-8m61DiM8oIfCzFz_TAFWtp71zidnWjMdXQd7NAuRD2LafjL6OoOZ3Wc-dVztU0CZoII-GX9riaN51qPHvblQJ5ioacOVVBzB1L2pE43AXoSFQ4qydExGlIocs/s400/IMGA0107.JPG" border="0" /></div></div></div></div></div><div>All the boys waiting out at the PortWalk entrance:</div><br /><div></div><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5195194847184448226" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSIVui87Barbsgn-ZfWTr6S0lBTZ2pZo4qha20dqjjgypl5sohYCa-l7cU5u2hW8YnQGL0oeZU7c194VB1mv6EeSrXvgdO6tdm3gw9PCyOUwe5qoxLC7FqxNvRp_brW3rU3few0untaikt/s400/IMGA0108.JPG" border="0" /></div></div><p>Goofy people:</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5195195345400654594" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNB-vvZfFZcNKb-ngPKqplX-WYAp4pFv0-9qyzYdijGUUvIxG6qQB1DGk4bMqlCxlBf5dRAWgVXOZfovuNogyNS4nwt6gojfzFssJDBAprZOuAiT6SbeurtoLZ3FeXTb5dFvJaEMU3Hr5x/s400/IMGA0123.JPG" border="0" /></p><p>Sweeeet seats!</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5195195087702616818" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2SPw2VUsL1g58N6KJ3JsaCzzx8XMzAhmIeVAQkofAQrznj-24KObDXYazJLTC42GgkhhM_NEsnKdtGU9rGWMnOkAkTSJhXhuoSyrYND0Ho8a-iVLoj9L6HvHgWrehuxvdZHUtmpxzn4Re/s400/IMGA0115.JPG" border="0" /></p><p>The dugout protected me from the cold, Si's ski jacket protected her:<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5195195633163463442" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguDcwJw27e2kQzX9NXXtthW4dMp0PfqbGwOJMvp-5lv0MlUH5kpzBnhXjiyqld_RffBHivYlQw6SOSt_KxqZnpQCRecitGW0yiWI_EokSt1WU6qj8sHMffEJsIegq3K05BJmQrBm6baTAl/s400/IMGA0132.JPG" border="0" /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3076584188512691115.post-71814745461073899702008-03-26T07:58:00.000-07:002008-03-26T08:16:58.687-07:00<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQFjq5BtvrQ3sGgiBVAw87flyIiPnJlpXMhfMlPVpOrKmb-FEgHFvgrCNXaOxDlF0osnBmM17o-ZqzwDG-1bn8gk73XtrIBLS_AWKIFrhh49mGVVj0tfVC9Mj9eAeLCv3L6tPWmPCplv5y/s1600-h/ryanatfirst.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5182065395839063378" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQFjq5BtvrQ3sGgiBVAw87flyIiPnJlpXMhfMlPVpOrKmb-FEgHFvgrCNXaOxDlF0osnBmM17o-ZqzwDG-1bn8gk73XtrIBLS_AWKIFrhh49mGVVj0tfVC9Mj9eAeLCv3L6tPWmPCplv5y/s320/ryanatfirst.JPG" border="0" /></a> Summer sports have begun. Ry is on the Brewers and Si is on the Tigers. Ry has had two <div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOhz2gqgn-4gKunyH6YZyZ-5b00QSjb6UK6qmGadIXucmRCLnJe_3tnUDqgi3m90M9b8z2MTYmPc4se6bvrrQX9xYx4GrSAHen7M5y08O9HR-Utg0NW__hC4ZmtVU9Datqd_uyTmbLgHu3/s1600-h/Sierra.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5182067161070622050" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOhz2gqgn-4gKunyH6YZyZ-5b00QSjb6UK6qmGadIXucmRCLnJe_3tnUDqgi3m90M9b8z2MTYmPc4se6bvrrQX9xYx4GrSAHen7M5y08O9HR-Utg0NW__hC4ZmtVU9Datqd_uyTmbLgHu3/s320/Sierra.JPG" border="0" /></a></div>games so far and Si has had one. Hmmm.... not much more to say about it!<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOhz2gqgn-4gKunyH6YZyZ-5b00QSjb6UK6qmGadIXucmRCLnJe_3tnUDqgi3m90M9b8z2MTYmPc4se6bvrrQX9xYx4GrSAHen7M5y08O9HR-Utg0NW__hC4ZmtVU9Datqd_uyTmbLgHu3/s1600-h/Sierra.JPG"></a> </div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3076584188512691115.post-78018522742283013512008-03-15T13:59:00.000-07:002008-03-15T14:10:11.586-07:00<p align="center"><object height="350" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/11rjnfUER-0"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/11rjnfUER-0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="350"></embed></object><br /><br /><strong><span style="font-size:130%;color:#993399;">HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO GRANDMA LLANA</span></strong><br /><br />Okay, so we're 3 days late, but we wanted to have time to produce the high quality that you see before you! </p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3076584188512691115.post-71303105978589905652008-02-11T13:02:00.000-08:002008-02-11T13:03:21.480-08:00Another video! What Child is This piano duet from December.<br /><br /><div align="center"><object width="425" height="350"> <param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/fy2Vp0h8Q_I"> </param> <embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/fy2Vp0h8Q_I" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="350"></embed> </object></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3076584188512691115.post-23076034994778085752008-01-28T13:33:00.000-08:002008-01-28T13:44:01.136-08:00<div align="center"><object height="350" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/gy87eoPPRSI"><br /> <embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/gy87eoPPRSI" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="350"></embed> </object></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center">Another video from the SF Boys Chorus Holiday Concert - it's called "<strong>Holiday Lights</strong>" Enjoy!</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3076584188512691115.post-77664876590828705152008-01-23T14:04:00.000-08:002008-01-23T14:09:30.653-08:00<div align="center"><object width="425" height="350"> <param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/GjHTRmX43UY"> </param> <embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/GjHTRmX43UY" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="350"></embed> </object></div><br />Here are Ry and Si performing at the <strong>Martin Luther King, Jr. Oratorical</strong> competition at school. They compiled various letters that children have written to Dr. King, put them in an order they liked, and recited them. They achieved <strong>2nd place</strong> in their category, but more importantly, learned about how special Dr. King was and how <strong>relevant</strong> his learnings and teachings continue to be.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3076584188512691115.post-79040541395602691422008-01-15T18:50:00.000-08:002008-01-15T19:17:43.190-08:00<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEOfqEgC_2ICfjnTKi1QD25tmd4zfg7PNE6puv3X6q-aa09Kj5kH9c_BGe1k4GqLdfjYj5HzAGa8mTPvFKlEQt2W3pHmNCJoetrx307wcuTDetaRLkFPw1AWG2Y64qvaXj9S9cSNiwBWzN/s1600-h/Laurie+%26+Ryan.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5155901830738900306" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEOfqEgC_2ICfjnTKi1QD25tmd4zfg7PNE6puv3X6q-aa09Kj5kH9c_BGe1k4GqLdfjYj5HzAGa8mTPvFKlEQt2W3pHmNCJoetrx307wcuTDetaRLkFPw1AWG2Y64qvaXj9S9cSNiwBWzN/s320/Laurie+%26+Ryan.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Ryan's birthday seems to never quite be a day....always more like 3 or 7 days. But I think that's probably how it should be. So here are some photos for your enjoyment of his 9th birthday week.</div><div align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5155902380494714210" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghqG9pqd5qVIf5wymOUGsiSmL86BRpL1n7YI0lUsjTazCunmpzTgqKCVRh2dr1N3JsQJnVIY9O549P6cnxRo0qjOXqJczWsIVQKITCiK5yImQNZv2XF06EGvUmbW0TBVtnkDz8oYw7lBe5/s320/Scott.JPG" border="0" />Everyone wears a party hat!</div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5155902633897784690" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3wbrz-zeeEeafP5oTCCwBF7PSn3KkOX5AWBrIUzxP82COj_tsaudyiSTzRM8T12pg478_3HBv8jwrYOKj8-cZhk2-ttC8BUEj3YB1c57lWK0EosvAk3G7QXjdMGJVNdUE6UR537Z0IQcW/s320/Laurie+%26+Sierra.JPG" border="0" /> Hey....anyone notice there's more pictures of mom this year? It's our New Year's Resolution.<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5155905197993260482" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFNw8jUjrvvYHSvASxXS7Ap8lF-gwkYOsi00RsYRM9WiHKrDp30e0H1hdJNYKLouvAq5orOvJYiBR4ctfRSl60ct4D_H7bQ-JZ3up97TTUOmbCZ1MIDltQE2lv5b-x9b9-90K7baI7xax2/s320/ry&favoritedinner.JPG" border="0" />Birthday boy favorite dinner: Cherry Soup, Seared Ahi, Orzo, Asparagus and 1% Milk (and don't even try to feed him 2% because he CAN tell the difference!).<br /><br /><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5155903046214645122" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6kTUXgGMkjjktyEZg2RGliC_UzUr7PZ3QkItVUUj0fK84-l_jIvBRcHDgkHDH_FKkUrkNKKFVfYWMfIHAfZv6Aj-4FE9VlQLyCPrJD4FVH2KdoN1bPNEyZx47KO9ROW4S6UVXfUAMxaMJ/s320/ry+opens+card.JPG" border="0" />Little sister sure likes to watch Ryan open cards.....oh, hey wait....is that a camera right there? Oh, I had no idea!<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5155903355452290450" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsCwzrmkY23Ojw8Bkj1cioPb0ARUF7YF2TQ-5XCM_40-ssCbVAhR1GUJnR2Q7lXC7fDVpSCjEzY9-c1kcQdCqtYZcur7jXlh7z3l7MRRuLky9D1Ksi6XzEWbqww-UQV6mgz-E6hpiWb4mY/s320/ilovemybrother.JPG" border="0" />I just love my brother.....<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5155903561610720674" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil1hhw3mwtEEAPBJNM6AVWkqrDiPoVQvGgsNtLv1ApJjXp1nY7ZCdTWf8VpxBIRUW5yaKYqJmY6BX0FkFQ8i-au6iM7cYW6O6LBgdd1oP8pm7eP3jNkYhLD3PDtbz8YufcAfGWFX8EoabU/s320/huggy+huggy.JPG" border="0" /> No, really....I just really, really love him!<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5155904141431305650" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjih4U6m4vvJPVnZP5dp67a-wUtS3KSSI73nxY2xHlIKfJs4EZtp3Svh1RsKgt-Q7invNl8lbXgou-j5qbSHlEmiGI6-QqLgRDpuXFh9t8nrxGa-pFuy2rfbsRjunz04yT7_SOea7-vwyEc/s320/ryan's+weather+station.JPG" border="0" /><br />Hey...a weather station! Now I can track all the stormfronts for the whole family! (And tell mom how to dress for the weather each day).</p>Okay....presents all opened, dinner eaten, cake eaten, time to head to Tahoe!<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5155906417763972562" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi78NpYCJMYSnMbhRBl9_86UZBBSa0P0I-X27QN1AeURgpy-kvaTmKqHTnPdCrrSc78-1qvXLi7IyoSVMNZsd-SF_-mTaUbIGJOHgQtf4ZTsHsDZ7AKT6XV5FOHtPHg_A7Z3NtB2o6S4S6v/s320/ry&siskisquaw.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center">Skiing at Squaw Valley - Ry in the front, Si behind in the blue jacket.</p><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5155907006174492130" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBL6ayAMjnZccYoidAhkAyoIxxBzHYNK_ewS9dNT-PJTxxN3bZaDiL6pwBu3rq1J69_cx7QnYP2pj9NEbL98q2IWkJ9ze6s_cdLKBROtn88KjLV07USQ0I7g4zuZGmAL23h_SLhGqmSDs3/s320/iceskating-laketahoe.JPG" border="0" />You can't see them, but we really are on ice skates at High Camp with Lake Tahoe in the background. <div align="center"><br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5155907324002072050" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO-GN4iW-RaIe-tfCMBNAtliDvShKhQplqfz3P6PEBpsB-wdxVdRmWCmwJxejoGFdzDQW085vO4WeuINmvhI4Fl5zhiu4MNlyLeFMZq0N1d6aqcuawQY0-cfLi2g0H0Cb5TLCf34_JdHkC/s320/DSC00013.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center">Ahhh....a lovely ending to a lovely birthday snow trip.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3076584188512691115.post-22767937490812924972008-01-07T10:52:00.000-08:002008-01-07T12:51:39.700-08:00<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlajc5liAS597AtU0OjUhbib2C4HtY1rQ-HmyHPop3saAtiZq0n9Br8ALB9mTg9SJPp3uT0wD0hnpMcy-eS14XSKOnUw-Dg7KLkMmGyLn_AbrCkf0NfZuda515VwIBvjOWt3x90fnKSxJn/s1600-h/alienpizza3.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5152811137912960274" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlajc5liAS597AtU0OjUhbib2C4HtY1rQ-HmyHPop3saAtiZq0n9Br8ALB9mTg9SJPp3uT0wD0hnpMcy-eS14XSKOnUw-Dg7KLkMmGyLn_AbrCkf0NfZuda515VwIBvjOWt3x90fnKSxJn/s320/alienpizza3.JPG" border="0" /></a>Si received an "<strong>Alien Pizza</strong>" making kit for Christmas. <strong>Green dough, blue sauce</strong>. While they had great fun making it, the flavor was what you would expect from green dough and blue sauce. I believe they each took two bites of their individual pizzas and reverted to the fideo Scott had made for the grownups. Lesson learned? <strong>Never</strong> eat food with color that didn't naturally occur. <strong>Ever</strong>.</div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5152813461490267426" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNas44JMHg0cCXMZZuFVvIuHGPpcgLCAP45JbSBZ5McjLqKsq_HdWgUKJrMbebc0IFbwmC67txyQXGnT-2mCzDld4ucl4JwlJ2oeIp36Z4_hkT1zrIIUMV64KhiFo5FmG0qHLjFCKgCbr4/s320/rymakesalienpizza.JPG" border="0" /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3076584188512691115.post-85784703306920267152007-12-25T20:52:00.000-08:002007-12-28T11:55:22.415-08:00<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbeOHl40NL9icsbrItclP5rYB7KXmKenwJnnRTJCLsToeIF3Manb7iNEeAWjUIdooi9RoGQe7Vt5AB-F2fiUnr73vFSi0qSXWEYltu-PE8X5H_RxJE0oTZGgDTPHJUsl0Rwjor_nOAPCeI/s1600-h/A+OK.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5148141847037244482" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbeOHl40NL9icsbrItclP5rYB7KXmKenwJnnRTJCLsToeIF3Manb7iNEeAWjUIdooi9RoGQe7Vt5AB-F2fiUnr73vFSi0qSXWEYltu-PE8X5H_RxJE0oTZGgDTPHJUsl0Rwjor_nOAPCeI/s320/A+OK.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div>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 <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5149110486716544178" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUOabwtuQvTdwS1GidvsjL-wbG-fRHi_BYQCZGIaKGB-SvgMWzX0voNIq0U5ngb9KVkfs_xrnI_bdd-SaMslUhR3RYsL9MSMU1zgY_RZbuh7AXc5Qy5HMLVkWvcummlN_szRQ8JSMYiEJ6/s320/ry+car+designer.jpg" border="0" />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.<br /><div align="left"><br /></div><div align="right"><br /></div><div align="center"></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5148146983818130530" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiywe6gL1xEIyZ_RJXGDv6s3FqQTSC3HBtKoD20H173hFZRF7Wp-Aa0GPTdUyvS3EEy0k7h7Yd3FXKgYq17VidJ_ycbPZIB-45If5fT8GW0PFK2Sg7oAhUKR2jLnGYBkhyphenhyphendnicKh96TeC3d/s320/ry+%26+si+by+tree+crop.jpg" border="0" /> <div align="center">We love each other......today.....right now....in this moment.....</div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5148150329597654130" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-WqoF9pOOEZ0qrexLXyZ9oGXqwQm7qi6r1zsE3SQSCauHzr3nRXGDpgr6fC2zeGSBUEila3h_kTK_DmKuPl-gAPCP6Q1iC_vSQ576n-hnwPwakbhsAKQ7s61XW7ic6oW9Ry8o6QYkeys_/s320/si+paint+umbrella.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center">There's nothing better than being able to paint your own umbrella<br /></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5149110834608895170" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSHY5W9CPOcsle4aK9yB8_i2lApY_0eT7y0xni1v5_QU1QnOSGlyxDOuDYqg9v7jzHO2uRtp1rZqwvW88qwELgz8VmA_h0M6eZl0ZTsA10BZ77_2smdpHjtCPeGmVO8Us1JrrmKb2A0e2-/s320/ry+%26+si+floating+balls.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center">Unless it's blowing a ball up in the air<br /><br /></p><p align="center"></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5149111826746340562" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoLQavy7twhEv6WHEi8-53HaoX_1FudaqE9Zwf8L2eASRR5_m1NXDcyShonRX6Y5jmaAGzJWrSJq-1Gs2EiIHXUUjkWPKRPaNJR62hOHG-qPAmUqLm9MxbXMBdnNBqCTppIUGqDX3Pi6fF/s320/scott+floating+ball.JPG" border="0" /><br /><p align="center">which is fun even for dad!<br /></p><p></p><p></p><p>By the way, Ry and Si have opened several businesses for the purpose of raising dimes. Ry received a <a href="https://educationalinsights.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=EISchoolProducts&Product_Code=4033">CoinStruction bridge</a>. 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 <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxb7HTPWbyXhlIRm-zuiNR5qOe79jpn8e2sedwImXVr7qM-NK0SfFtzc98I_MRgov1Ir7IPl7C-yNv3AH9bcLlAB1Wi_7F5onUwz8Vsy9dzpmQ3XzypgL5vuOyUdGOCsXqIVEhgLz1TV4p/s1600-h/coinstruction.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5148145038197945426" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxb7HTPWbyXhlIRm-zuiNR5qOe79jpn8e2sedwImXVr7qM-NK0SfFtzc98I_MRgov1Ir7IPl7C-yNv3AH9bcLlAB1Wi_7F5onUwz8Vsy9dzpmQ3XzypgL5vuOyUdGOCsXqIVEhgLz1TV4p/s320/coinstruction.JPG" border="0" /></a>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!</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3076584188512691115.post-17310667944046122652007-12-16T18:31:00.000-08:002007-12-16T20:33:05.352-08:00<div><div align="left"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizybnpvWSA6Q6QkU70ZiLjG_Q4hGnPK7oTux5LGqgllvTRlTix_r4pwDhkggFrE0iDDOR9EJDtyf0o3XEYvZzBg7FuHFS73mgraFPd7NVJB3WGvGYJSrwfNhAoO9L7PN2QcdFoZJT-I2y5/s1600-h/Full+SFBC+crop.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5144784840469148642" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizybnpvWSA6Q6QkU70ZiLjG_Q4hGnPK7oTux5LGqgllvTRlTix_r4pwDhkggFrE0iDDOR9EJDtyf0o3XEYvZzBg7FuHFS73mgraFPd7NVJB3WGvGYJSrwfNhAoO9L7PN2QcdFoZJT-I2y5/s400/Full+SFBC+crop.jpg" border="0" /></a>It feels like Ry's playing in the big leagues now. Not baseball, but <strong>singing</strong>. His <a href="http://www.sfbc.org/">San Francisco Boys Chorus</a></li> <strong>winter concert</strong> was yesterday at a gorgeous church in Pacific Heights. At times there were upwards of <strong>200 boys singing</strong>. Quite beautiful. And some playful songs and choreography too....which was <strong>unexpected</strong> and quite fun.<br /><br /><div>I must give credit to <strong>Jutka</strong>, 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.</div><br /><div></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5144789448969057266" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwbHxbwJZeOiuZkjDbEWTez0mdMpPF4c1yH0CiWxBaQmrzAAmzxlfknwGwZIqwGLY_xFHXJ8GA7X_QRsbHjmkovP46U8ilZlsUC31zws04K-Sx4TntVn70ng2oGjvjbYm63ti3MuYpN6Zt/s320/intermediates.JPG" border="0" /> <span style="font-size:78%;color:#000099;"><em>Ry's in the front row, 4th from left or right-hair pulled back</em></span></div><em><span style="font-size:78%;color:#000099;"></span></em><div><br /></div><div></div><div>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 <strong>TRS program</strong> from whence Ry came.....let me just confirm for you what <strong>amazing training</strong> 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 <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigVb6-eKUqPkr5GulQJIMV7nu0i44_R2iJY6_UUwpefL6Ys7ebReWk7vFN_PDCjkFQp3-z2dB04sS9WqQMu6xWtR9Po8p31NOCqvLOV7kLohLdcmP7kzzMfhzm3Uvy3JTQ2F6vtVkHkmw6/s1600-h/ryaninmiddle.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5144792330892112898" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigVb6-eKUqPkr5GulQJIMV7nu0i44_R2iJY6_UUwpefL6Ys7ebReWk7vFN_PDCjkFQp3-z2dB04sS9WqQMu6xWtR9Po8p31NOCqvLOV7kLohLdcmP7kzzMfhzm3Uvy3JTQ2F6vtVkHkmw6/s320/ryaninmiddle.JPG" border="0" /></a>really DON'T want to sing (as shared with us by Ry & Si), well, Jutka's simply a <strong>miracle-worker</strong>. The only downside is that you never get to see more than around 60 kids singing together....<em>if </em>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 <strong>120 students by herself</strong>. At SFBC, there are <strong>5 chorus directors </strong>(plus theory and bell ringing teachers) to teach 200<em>ish</em>. Next up, Si at Davies Symphony Hall. Stay tuned.</div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3076584188512691115.post-59705797822299374442007-12-10T08:51:00.000-08:002007-12-10T09:33:06.064-08:00<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglICfcpenVoXrxWe4gcU6MFSLM8vtbyiem-pLefthUHXdPiPkXiUOz9mDbJBYyu3vsPE6CeMMz0rjMdJR3Y1Q2aatu-cmWhl5uI8SoqhKXgvNNAZ_MXmnKDO8j6uYxEho_IZ7rYwjXUx9H/s1600-h/Santa+Photo-crop.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5142389656581525506" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglICfcpenVoXrxWe4gcU6MFSLM8vtbyiem-pLefthUHXdPiPkXiUOz9mDbJBYyu3vsPE6CeMMz0rjMdJR3Y1Q2aatu-cmWhl5uI8SoqhKXgvNNAZ_MXmnKDO8j6uYxEho_IZ7rYwjXUx9H/s400/Santa+Photo-crop.jpg" border="0" /></a> If you've meandered over here I'm guessing you're a big <strong>Ry and Si fan</strong>. So in that light, I feel I can be unabashadly proud and tout how great they are. <strong>You've been warned</strong>.<br /><br /><div></div><div></div><div>On Saturday, we watched Si sing in a preview concert in San Francisco for her girl's chorus. Afterwards, we went to the <a href="http://www.ybgf.org/cgi-local/Calendar/calendar.pl?view=Event&event_id=307">Parol festival</a></li> at Yerba Buena, which is a traditional <strong>Filipino celebration</strong> of the Christmas season, and saw many beautiful lanterns. Finally, we ended up at <a href="http://www.xyz-sf.com/#lobbyview">XYZ</a></li> - 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 <strong>well-behaved children</strong> 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 <a href="http://www.jamieoliver.com/">Jamie Oliver</a></li> 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.</div><div></div><br /><div><strong>Unabashed proud moment #2</strong>: 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 - <strong>I'd rather go to the library</strong>.</div><div></div><br /><div>Instead, we went for a family hike in <a href="http://www.ebparks.org/parks/redwood">Redwood Park</a></li>....<strong>Si was hike leader</strong> because she had hiked the trail with me before, and <strong>Ry was yoga leader</strong> - 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 <strong>homemade lasagna and coconut rice pudding</strong>. All in all, a pretty perfect day.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3076584188512691115.post-64160771881764397702007-11-24T19:50:00.000-08:002007-11-24T22:06:05.406-08:00<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj66wxXzLapHutO-UwoeifM-1CXKHAA1Jn1s2ftmCi6zPMtTYz3od5sHTsTryPA7vKJqZYLZBgSnbF8Bc_JX5VTrfL7dg33QKiMFsw8hYjKwyPT_VnhlM16yzrQBh2ddOKCc14yGMp1QOoX/s1600-h/1jerseyboy&sfbc.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5136625818926241458" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj66wxXzLapHutO-UwoeifM-1CXKHAA1Jn1s2ftmCi6zPMtTYz3od5sHTsTryPA7vKJqZYLZBgSnbF8Bc_JX5VTrfL7dg33QKiMFsw8hYjKwyPT_VnhlM16yzrQBh2ddOKCc14yGMp1QOoX/s320/1jerseyboy&sfbc.JPG" border="0" /></a>So here's what I came up with:<br /><br /></div><div>Japanese class (4x)<br />Spanish class (4x)<br />Capoeira class<br />Capoeira music lessons<br />Chorus (2x) (once in San Francisco)<br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div></div><div></div><div><span style="font-size:85%;color:#000099;"><em>(Ry is in the front row, furthest left, sitting up on knees & hair pulled completely back)</em></span><br /></div><div></div><br /><div>Piano lessons<br /></div><div>Homework</div><div>Practiced piano<br /></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz2SrJ4jKGkxmv60xv3Z7Ddx-frGyCaK-JugXcFrCqTtcIuXwz28VkehebxZkECG1yhHIvFJUOqscotB51AkV8BvyijiL149evFA1wD_ZIVd7hcrPA-aJ6XylyHNbVrGp6vZWQEyMCAYt4/s1600-h/santa&sfbc.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5136653998206670562" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz2SrJ4jKGkxmv60xv3Z7Ddx-frGyCaK-JugXcFrCqTtcIuXwz28VkehebxZkECG1yhHIvFJUOqscotB51AkV8BvyijiL149evFA1wD_ZIVd7hcrPA-aJ6XylyHNbVrGp6vZWQEyMCAYt4/s320/santa&sfbc.JPG" border="0" /></a>Went to the Berkeley library and got a book on Orangutans for a book report, as well as a book called "<strong>Magnets and Electric Currents</strong>" </div><div><br /></div><div>Used information and material lists from "Magnets and Electric Currents" to build a "<strong>transporter</strong>" out of his <strong>old tractor and lawn chairs</strong> (this is a third incarnation....it's also been a racecar)</div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIhHQQueHqarSCL6Ubf2mGYXy1Dvvf-EeXcWd2cKLPQZNVzIvzyJIQKVu6M058tfEjZfrLr6sV1I-raBcm966_bAO3Gvh1V5Dw4OGC2HIdsxLsZmD24JJpxUKunRNbVrBud5XEV8SQ_QP3/s1600-h/ry&siwithtower.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5136628099553875650" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIhHQQueHqarSCL6Ubf2mGYXy1Dvvf-EeXcWd2cKLPQZNVzIvzyJIQKVu6M058tfEjZfrLr6sV1I-raBcm966_bAO3Gvh1V5Dw4OGC2HIdsxLsZmD24JJpxUKunRNbVrBud5XEV8SQ_QP3/s320/ry&siwithtower.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /></div><div>Read a book on the building of the <strong>Golden Gate bridge</strong>, taught the whole family about it, then continued to enlighten us on Thanksgiving day as we walked across the bridge and back<br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Performed with his chorus at the <strong>lighting</strong> of the <strong>Christmas tree in Union Square</strong> (so did the <strong>Jersey Boys and Santa</strong> - see photos)</div><div><br /></div><div>Went to dinner in the City with friends</div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbMyvnqb4bpeJC_UL87whj9udbYvmXGorS-I2di4xBxr_cQwbOKjqdJ5xYbI9VV4GnreNsCwSocAd9TsNboBpcMjlPR1B0nI6O6SeHMVbK41XBXedOpn8TyPwPu3bSGkTSChDXIpS_DxiJ/s1600-h/ry&siatjosephstrausstatue.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5136644063947314898" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbMyvnqb4bpeJC_UL87whj9udbYvmXGorS-I2di4xBxr_cQwbOKjqdJ5xYbI9VV4GnreNsCwSocAd9TsNboBpcMjlPR1B0nI6O6SeHMVbK41XBXedOpn8TyPwPu3bSGkTSChDXIpS_DxiJ/s320/ry&siatjosephstrausstatue.JPG" border="0" /></a>Quizzed us all on 2005 Guiness Book of World Records facts </div><div><br /></div><div><strong>12-mile bike ride</strong> in the <strong>Marin Headlands</strong> with dad<br /></div><div><strong>Put on a play</strong> with Si with newly received "Snowbabies" and other figurines (that was only part 1 of the show....then there was a piano interlude, acrobatics, and poems) </div><div><br />Helped <strong>cook dinner</strong> (caesar salad is his specialty)</div><div></div><div><br /></div><div><strong>Rode his scooter</strong> (including <strong>in the garden</strong>.....have you seen our garden? How does one do this?)</div><div><br /></div><div>I know he's <strong>not unique</strong> in his schedule, but what I really should ask is how do other children <em><strong>find the time</strong></em> to play video games? According to the mom who began this conversation, they have to negotiate for when her son gets to play it. Do I really want to negotiate with my children? Here's my negotiation tactic......<strong>NO</strong>.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0