Giants vs Pirates

Brett found a great deal on Giants tickets, finding five tickets for under $40 total behind home plate, so he couldn't pass it up.  However, things seem to find a way into our schedule when we have tickets...Garrett was asked to be on a panel interview for youth group and Griffin had his first playoff game for baseball that night too!  So we committed to leaving the game by 3pm to make it back AND we really only missed about 3 outs in the game.  After the game the Giants began their longest winning streak of the year to date.

We kept moving down to stay in the sun to stay warm.

Sporting our Giants shirts and hats.

Griffin and Bryce take pictures with the Lego Madison Bumgarner delivering to Buster Posey.

 

NITOC Debate Tournament at Concordia

Garrett and Daniel qualified for NITOC by obtaining checkmarks in two tournaments this year.  When we made plans to go, we knew that Joy's parents would be with us as well.  So we were going to find a great place to stay and a beach house at Newport Beach fit the bill.  Only 20 minutes from Concordia University in Irvine.   It had a great common area and kitchen downstairs with four bedrooms upstairs:  one for Brett and Joy, one for Grandma and Gramps, one for the boys (which included bunk beds).  There was an additional room and additional bed in the boys room, so it was a perfect chance to share a place with Daniel and his mother, Rachel.  Garrett and Daniel went 3-3 and narrowly missed the outrounds.  Garrett enjoyed going to the Student Congress the final day, while Daniel was in the finals for persuasive speech.  We had taken two cars, so Brett, Bryce, and Griffin left earlier on Friday (Memorial Day weekend) and encountered some heavy traffic that took them up an alternate route into the Grapevine.  Garrett and Joy left later and had slightly smoother sailing but got home quite late.

Daniel and Garrett--debate partners and friends.

Garrett at the podium giving his speech.

Picture with their grandparents.

Playing yahtzee!

The boys teach Daniel how to play Clone Wars Pandemic.

I think Grandma may have won?

Meeting up on campus to support Garrett--Brett and Joy ended up judging a number of rounds each day.

Garrett being cross examined after his speech.

Sharing stories.

The major gathering area between rounds.

Griffin got glasses, did we mention that?

Standing in front of our beach house.

A short five minute walk to the beach.

Grandma decides how far she is really going to walk on the beach?

Bryce sharing a story with Grandma and Gramps.

The boys playing video games together.

Roll up your pants boys...we're going in!

Daniel and Garrett holding steady as the waves crash, while the Flash Griffin takes off.

Daniel as a part of the family.

Playing catch to pass some time.

Less formal attire today?

Joy and Rachel, mothers of partners.

What a great present in so many ways from Daniel to Garrett!

 

Open House Graduation Party

We wanted to have an open house party for friends to come and enjoy celebrating with Garrett.  We didn't think almost everyone would say yes, but we were pleasantly surprised.  We apparently were a little slow in booking food at a month out, but we found a great option through Joy's friend Morgan.  We will call her Taco Lady and the food turned out amazing.  We had family here who helped with the set up of all the chairs and tables (many of which we borrowed from friends and neighbors).  The backyard project was originally hoped to be done in time for the party but that was not to be, so we made it work as Brett spent a lot of time cleaning up the yard in preparation.  Brother-in-law, Matt has a lot of experience with camps setting up things for large numbers of people put on his thinking cap and came up with a great set up that worked out really well.  It was an amazing afternoon/evening of connecting with numerous people and remembering great times with them all.  Garrett put together a Kahoot game trivia about his life and there were three rounds with winners getting prizes.  Then there were the leftovers from the party, which we would package up in coolers and bring with us on our adventure down to LA the next day.

Sadly the 3 deflated rapidly and couldn't be repaired...

Thanks to Matt for the design layout for the party.

Seats inside with air conditioning if needed...

Kim and Hannah shared many memories with us from CC to Backyard Science to Debate.

Playing catch with Will and Neo.

Teacher Sandra (piano).

Garrett runs the Kahoot trivia of his life.

Coach Ben and baseball teammate Derek.

Some of the kids enjoying activities like Can Jam and Spike Ball.

Grandma and Gramps relaxing and observing.

Brett and Garrett enjoy talking to Darren, Jen, Maddie, and Scott.

Mark is dancing at the excitement of the good food as the line forms in the back.

Eddie and Jenny with their two talk it up with Cheryl.

Garrett and his soccer teammate and fellow senior, Christian.

Caitlyn and Christian getting food with the taco set up--great service.

Pretty packed out tables.

Our long term friends:  Scott, Lauryn, Jill.

The county represents:  Niku, Domarina, Raleigh, Kash, Sunita.

Garrett and Jake, small group buds from church.

Joy, Kash, Garrett, Sunita, Alisha, and Sachin.

Lisa, who kept Joy sane during residency.

Matt H and Brett sharing memories.

Foosball getting more popular...

Long time friends and home group members:  Sopy, Daren, Avonlea, Ira.

Carrie, our friend from church whose sons and daughter watched our boys at some point in time.

Hanging with his former baseball coach:  Andre, Rebecca, and Andre Jr.

Some time with the Haslim clan.

Small Group Guys:  Jake, Dillon, Eric.

Dillon and Garrett, soccer, baseball, small group.

Eric and Garrett, small group.

So many parallels with the Dieps:  Madeline, Hannah, Linda, Daniel, Isabella.

Cheryl and Peter came out to celebrate.

The final Kahoot of the night!

Danielle was the other fellow resident who kept Joy going during rough times.

Fellow graduating senior Grace.

Sharon and Joy finally have a picture together.

The younger boy clan:  Caleb and Luke with Bryce and Griffin.

Brett and Eric recreate the ?infamous? pose.