New Year's Eve

On the rainy night that it was on New Years Eve, it took Joy and the boys 60 minutes to get to Ripon where we joined the Heatwoles for a night of games and food.  No Rook Rook with a variety of different goals in each game and different trump or none at all, made for an interesting evening of accumulating points.  Brett left 20 minutes after the rest of the family and beat them there as he received a tip not to get on 99 where we normally would due to flooding.  The family stayed until about 1:30am, while Brett had called it an earlier night at 10pm since he had to work the next morning.

 

Christmas Letter 2022

 

Castro Valley Gathering

With the prospects of Gusto coming to town, Eric opened his home and church gym to us and we invited James and Monique along with their daughters Vivienne and Violetta to join us for a great afternoon of eating together, catching up, and then playing kickball, soccer, basketball, and hockey.  We tolerated each others sweatiness as we had accomplished some great exercise.  Unfortunately Gusto and his boys were unable to overcome the flight cancellations to get out here.  In the evening, the Willson family had prior commitments.  So Eric and Sharon double dated with Brett and Joy for an evening out while the kids watched themselves and played games.

Griffin, Caleb, Bryce, and Luke play Villainous.

Garrett plays guitar, while Grace plays piano and Anna sings along.

Bryce and Caleb enjoy some in-person hang out time.

Group photo op:  back row--Vivienne, Monique, James, Anna, Sharon, Grace, Eric, Joy, Brett
front row--Violetta, Luke, Bryce, Caleb, Griffin, Garrett

Jungle James, live and in person, great to connect!

 

Ice Skating

Our cover school had their annual ice skating in Stockton and we were available to invite Scott and Jill and Lauryn to join us for a morning skate followed by lunch at Chick-fil-A.  The boys showed they still had skills they learned from Joy, getting around the rink with speed and staying upright, unless they chose to slide on purpose to make it interesting.  They even helped up some younger friends by holding their hands to keep them upright.  Joy showed off her skills that she maintains with impeccable balance.  Brett just tried not to get hurt...not always the best strategy...

Bryce wears a jacket for motoring around the ice, but has to keep it open for ventilation.

Joy smiles and encourages her husband to come out on the ice to join her.

We are all out on the ice together!

Griffin with Jude and Jake.

Garrett, Griffin, Bryce, and Jake pause for a picture in the goalie crease.

Garrett, Joy, and Bryce cruising around.

Form a line, we are going to do this together!  Lauryn joined the line on the right.

Good friends:  Jake and Griffin.

He did come out and join me!

Garrett and Bryce keep Jude upright and moving fast.

 

Joy shows off her skills!

Speedskating?  Together?

Christmas Day

Christmas Day was special this year.  We started the day by joining our church body for a one service unified celebration followed by some time conversing with friends and connecting before heading home for a low-key day of calling Joy's family, playing games, and giving gifts to each other.  Bryce got to reveal all that he had been working so hard to create for the last month plus with some handmade gifts that he was super excited to share.

Qi'ra enjoys one of her favorite parts of the season, laying under the tree.

Bryce felt Dad needed an upgrade from his USPS box that held his baseball game and so he made this playing board and box out of perler beads!

He drew Boba Fett and Fennic Shand for Brett and Joy.

He drew Bo-Katan, Obi-Wan, Darth Maul, Ashoka, Anakin, and Rex from Clone Wars for Garrett.

Qi'ra says cheers to another year!

Dinner on fine china as a family!

Boys on the couch together.

Bryce made a paint brush holder out of perler beads for Joy to replace her sorry looking plastic cup.

Playing our new game Ten-zi as a family in between gift giving.

Watching Griffin open a present!

Wrecker lounges on the table by the tree.

A Pokemon card holder box, custom made with Griffin's favorite Pokemon character (Umbreon) on the cover by Bryce!

Talk about raising the bar!

Jaxson, Benjamin, Dawson, Pastor Travis, Kaela, Dillon, Garrett

Family photo op at church.

Small Group:  Ira, Avonlee, Daren, Sophy, Gabe, Tish, Lucas, Liam, Bryce, Griffin, Joy, Brett, Garrett (missing the Smith family)

Upperclass photo welcoming home some college freshmen back:
Maci, Lily, Kaela, Jake, Jaxson, Dawson, Dillon, Benjamin,  Braden, Garrett, Tyler w Ethan in front

 

Garrett with his old small group Jaxson, Dillon, Paul C, Jake.

Utilizing the new Armada ships from Christmas, the boys play and teach Brett a thing or two.

Brett assembles his Mando starfighter Lego present--yes the kid in him comes out!

Brett enjoyed his new Superstar Baseball box and play set up.

Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve started with Joy making two amazing cakes.  We were cleaning up from the baking, when we welcomed the Jungingers for a celebration together.  Then we headed to Tracy to celebrate with Brett's family.  

Poppy and Grammy with their grandkids

Admiring the cake creations and getting ready to dig in for dessert.

Getting crazy as a family...

Back row:  Wendy, Haley, James, Rachel, Garrett, Griffin, Bryce, Joy, Brett, Caitlyn
Front Row:  Poppy, Grammy, Jeanne, Bruce, Avery

Very Star Wars themed Christmas sweater wearing family.

Joy explains the dessert presentation...

The Wise men cake...

The baby Jesus cake...

The spider tradition continues...

Catopoly gets its first play by the boys with Haley, Rachel, and Avery.

Pausing to take a picture with a beautiful sunset.

The cousins with Kona.

Family photo op.

The boys acting like monkeys...

Which present should I choose to give, asks Griffin?

Strike a pose, cousins!

Celebrating with the Jungingers.

Bryce made a Helocarrier from Avengers for Caleb  out of perler beads.

Luke drew a Pokemon scene for Griffin.