24 left to go

iron-on t-shirts that is. Twenty-four gold stars that say "Hirsch 2010 1st grade stars". Luckily the stars are small and only take 45 seconds each to iron-on. The shirts are for our spring program on Tuesday where each grade level does a dance and the whole school sings some songs. Kind of like the May day program at Parkmont except parents put this on instead of teachers. There is even a maypole dance by the 6th graders. I am in charge of 1st grade and we will be dancing to "Liza Jane" (a country-esqe version) in cowboy hats and bandanas. Oh, and the t-shirts. Can't forget the t-shirts. It really hasn't been that bad but after already doing 38, I am starting to hit a wall. So, I decided that I should blog. Donna mentioned that it is time that I update the old blog and I was confused because I knew that I have posted pictures within the last 4 months. That was up to date for me. Apparently, it was not good enough. Kristy has been writing on her blog lately and I have been enjoying those posts. Yes, I am a lurker and generally don't make comments probably because I sneak a peak at blogs late at night or during the day when I am supposed to be watching my kids.

John uploaded some photos to our computer the other day so I will go look for some to put up. Tuesday is the last baseball game for both boys and Saturday is the closing ceremonies. We survived our first year of little league. I am surprised how much the boys liked it and how they never complained even after more than 4 months of practices and games. I thought we would do it one year to see how it went, but it looks like we may have to do it again. I may move Ryan up early so at least we are not on 2 different teams and at the ball field Tues-Sat.

Did I mention that I got a new computer? And printer? Yes, John and I bought our first computer of our marriage last month and now have updated our printer after 10 years. I guess it was time. Now, we just need to buy a new kitchen table and a bed for Alison's room and I think we will be good for the rest of the year. Wait, I forgot about new window coverings for the house. It just doesn't look great when your mini-blind slates start breaking and haning sideways off the window. Not too classy. I think that was going to be my birthday present last year, but I never got around to it. Possibly because we had to replace the garage window and door from the house to the garage. Anyway, we should be good after that purchase until it is time to get a desk for the boys room and update the 30 yr old couches in our living room.

To my siblings: you may be getting strange letters from me in the next few weeks. I was going through a box of my school stuff that mom saved and ran across some items that got filed in the wrong places. There are several pieces of John's second grade (?) art work, a report card of Danny's (I know you want that), as well as a journal entry Kristy wrote on the day she was baptized. Donna, I don't think I have anything of yours, but I might. I will try to get those mailed out soon. I found some awesome projects and papers in my pile and pulled them out to put on the blog and then forgot and put them back in the box and asked John to put the box up in the garage rafters. Then, I remembered the next day that I wanted to type some of them out. Ouch. Guess it will have to wait until we move or something because I don't think there is any chance of John getting up there again anytime soon. Anyway, one thing that I remember was a paper from 2nd grade where I wrote about what I wanted to be when I grow up. I believe that I wanted to be the wife of the President of the United States (feminism hadn't quite reached 2nd grade parkmont yet) or a movie star. I think I also wanted to drive a convertible. Ahh, the dreams of youth.

Well, the iron has been on and it getting quite hot waiting for me to type this so I had better get back. Enjoy the pictures. It was nice talking with y'all.

On a family hike at a windy Coyote Hills. Skin cancer inspires stupid hats.

Ryan (3rd from rt) in the A's dugout

Jacob in his Rays uniform

At Ryan's preschool graduation

The crowded car on our way camping for Memorial day. Front right is a pile of stuff (the car chair was taken out).
Guess it is time for a car-top carrier.

Ryan's 5th birthday

Ryan turned 5 on St. Patrick's day. Of course we had green pancakes for dinner and a bright green cake for his birthday. He got a bunch of hot wheel track items and last weekend went to see "how to train a dragon" with Grandma and Grandpa Young (a birthday wish). Ryan also had a pizza lunch with a group of his friends from his preschool. He has a nice group of friends at preschool and we have never had any of them over to play so it was nice to have them over for his birthday. John also had his birthday in March. If you missed his facebook post, he got a wii for his birthday. The boys get to play it sometimes. We had to stress that it was not their wii, but dad's.

Here is a recent family picture. Yes, those are bunny ears. Jacob is in the bunny ear phase. How long does that last?

Winter family visits

The beginning of the year is usually a cold, long, depressing time for me but this year, it went fast since we had a visit from Dakin and her children as well as Grandma. It was really fun to see them here and even have a sleep over! We hope to see them all sometime in the next few months.



We forgot to take pictures until early in the morning on the day everyone was leaving. They were good sports about it even though everyone had just woke up.

With Grandma, after church.

Alison and Elizabeth had some fun times. They both needed to have purses this day.

Whoops, legoland picture from the last post. Oh well.

San Diego Trip

I am finally getting around to post some pictures of 2010. I have given up ever getting our New Year's day trip to Santa Cruz posted (it was a beautiful day, by the way, for all you who were wondering) but I will try to get some of the other events like our family trip, visits from family, and some birtthday put up. I have also almost given up writing on the blog and just posting photos. You will notice the # of pictures have increased while the number of words is decreasing.

San Diego trip summary: Left Thursday before President's day. Returned home the Tuesday after. Went to Legoland, San Diego zoo, and the San Diego Wild Animal park. Vacationed with John's brother and his family (who got us great hotel deals). Overall rating: SUPER AWESOME!

The kids and their cousins.

Baby elephant that was born the day before. Seriously.

Let's just say after this picture was taken, there was a bit of gorilla chase and smack-down. The boys could not believe that John had captured the pinch on camera.

At a park in downtown San Diego.

Studying the map at the San Diego zoo.

Mama and baby panda. We rushed to see this since the baby is only out in the morning.

After a full day at the zoo and spending all their hard-earned money at the gift shop. Jacob and Ryan did jobs for the 6 weeks before the zoo to earn money to spend. They were so excited. We came home with a zoo of stuffed animals.

Alison at Legoland. She was too small to go on a lot of the attractions but luckily she was too young to care. She is having fun at a musical fountain.

Ryan at Legoland.

And after 7 years...

I am finally released from primary (3 years as chorister, 4 years as president - mind you there was a month release in there when we combined wards and our ward was dissolved but then I was recalled the next month). Anyway, it is funny that the Sunday before Alison goes into nursery I am released having never had to sit in the hall outside of Sunday school or relief society with an antsy toddler praying for 18 months to come. John and other ward members had that responsibility for all of our children. Thank you. I started thinking that I missed something but then I realized...I had it every other day besides Sunday!

Seriously, I am not sure I am going to be able to take SITTING for Sunday School and Relief Society. I picture myself jumping up, screaming, and running out of the relief society room due to claustrophobia or other phobias (the room is so small... and we can't wear perfume because of fragrance allergies = problem).

Anyway, I am back to my old calling of RS enrichment leader only it has changed names since the last time I had it (and it had changed names that time from the previous time I had the calling) so anyone out there that loves something their RS does for weekly meetings, please let me know. I think my mom just got the same calling so I'll pass the info on to her as well. Thanks in advance. Part of success in callings is just knowing the right people who have great ideas and borrowing them.

Ryan is here and wants to say something: Monday. I went to school today and I could not believe that everything was changed up. My teachers changed everything up. There was an earthquake when I was at my school. We had one the day before that also. Two in two days. (mom note: they were centered in Milpitas so we felt them pretty good even though they were small). I wanted to see what was up with everybody but not my friends. The school is fun but I had to go. (mom note: I am making him stop now)

Rudolph song

Here are a few other pictures from Christmas-time. Don't miss the video at the end.

Ryan's Christmas preschool party.


Another of Alison at the kitchen table, drawing. It is her new favorite thing, unfortunately.


Friends in our ward dropped by snowmen donuts and hats the other evening for a Christmas treat.

The shepherds were a bit wild at the family nativity. They did a great job of being "sore afraid".


Some of the craziness on Christmas eve.


Jacob and Ryan before bed on Christmas eve.


The video is of Ryan's school singing Rudolph at a preschool Christmas party with other classes. Yes, that is Ryan doing the solos. He and Jacob just learned those parts the other week. I did not start recording at the beginning of the song because I was behind a wall of eager parents and couldn't really see. When I realized what Ryan was doing, I ran over with the camera but still had to shoot between two parents faces.

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas everyone! As Christmas miracle, I am actually going to post some pictures from our family from the last few months. It has been busy here but the hardest part in posting is that the computer resides in Alison's room so I can't work on the blog late at night because she is sleeping. She is taking in a nap in my room now so while everyone else is in the Christmas haze, I will post.
Halloween: We borrowed costumes from a friend and she had enough that each boy had several costumes. On Halloween night, Ryan was a lion but he had also been an alien. Jacob was a baseball player but he had been a skunk. Alison is a ballerina bee. She loved Halloween and ate candy through the wrappers as we trick or treated.

Ryan at the slide near his preschool. He loves preschool but is so excited for kindergarten.


At a goodbye party for mom and dad in front of the ol' homestead.


Here we are a ColdStone, one of the last nights for Grandpa in Fremont.

At the zoo with Grandma during the time she stayed with us before moving. It was cold but fun.

Apple pie from Thanksgiving. John loved this pie and made me take a picture of it. Can't you just taste the flaky crust and the juicy apples. This was the favorite part of our meal. Arnold and Denise came over and it was a nice afternoon.


It is the time of year for Dungeness crab here in the Bay Area and during a sale at Safeway, we picked some up and had a crab feast. John and the boys watched a youtube video on how to eat whole crabs and then we cracked them open and ate! I was surprised that Jacob and Ryan were so willing to eat the crab. They did great. Maybe we have a new family tradition. Now they want to try lobster...I told them when we visit where Luke and Zachary live, we can try lobster.