Griffin the only child for 3 weeks

Football Sunday and homemade pizza by Joy.

Qi'ra says she misses the other boys...

Playing Axis and Allies, Griffin performed some dominance as Japan took all of Asia, including Russia.

Griffin noticing Qi'ra is watching him.

Presenting with Jake on Ultimate Frisbee for PE class.

Griffin and Joy take to the driving range.

Brett trying to get some consistency in his golf swing.

Kickball:  Jonathan, Jake, Griffin, Eden, Joy, Hazel, and Chloe.

Jake and Griffin teach kickball rules.

Qi'ra sleeps in Garrett's bed, missing him.

Griffin has a buddy join in for MJC Spanish.

 

Hosting the Impact Team

We were honored to host the Impact Team as they gathered together before leaving for Southeast Asia.  We had Jonah, Micaiah, Alex, and Josiah staying at our house along with our two sons (Garrett and Bryce).  They played ping pong, Villainous, Poetry for Neanderthals, and some video games together in between all of their preparations for the joint presentations they would take with them to Southeast Asia.

Garrett enjoys the special lemonade.

Garrett enjoys the ice cream dessert.

Best Represented Family Award: Rachel, James, Haley, Wendy, Bryce, Brett, Joy Bob, Griffin, Marcy, Garrett, Grammy, Poppy

Bryce as the old man in the Giving Tree.

Dawson, Bryce, and Luke do a Let 'em Cook spoof.

Garrett and Kelsea talk to the gathering about their hard working interns.

Joy set out a nice plate of appetizers.

We hosted our family in the backyard prior to the Impact Team presentation that evening.

Brett smoked a beef brisket for 10 hours and then served the delicious meal.

Garrett and Kelsea talk to the Impact Team at the Eliason's house.

Villainous Game with the boys we hosted:  Alex, Bryce, Maciah, Garrett, and Jonah.

Joy and Joy, similar top too?!

Some fruits and vegetables from our garden to feed to the impact boys.

Chapter Affirm visits with the Impact team.

An, Garrett, Kelsea, and Brian at the reception.

Joy doing yoga in our backyard with Qi'ra.

Shall we enjoy a cantaloupe?

Poetry for Neanderthals challenge for the Impact boys.

 

Intern Team Updates

The team is forming under the effective guidance of Garrett and Kelsea.  They are getting ready for their Impact Trip, but first they visited Josh Bolden their speech coach and actor at the Sight and Sound Theatre in Branson, Missouri.

Intern team with Josh Bolden (far right).

Garrett interviews Luke.

Sit down with Peter.

Jonah pauses to discuss some topics with Garrett.

Brett's Roommate Gathering

Brian Mader was bringing his family to California to show them where he grew up and then to drive his daughter Sofia down to LA for college.  Steve Stratton had just been diagnosed with multiple myeloma and was undergoing chemotherapy.  Sounds like a good time to get the roommates together for the first time in almost 20 years.  So Tor drove down from Santa Rosa, Steve came over from San Leandro, and we drove in from Modesto to meet the Maders who flew in from Colorado.  We had a great evening at Fog Harbor in SF with a stroll around Pier 39 afterward.  Side note, Brett had to negotiate with work to get the day off AND was able to.

What a beautiful day in SF, a bit windy and cold compared to Modesto, but then again it was glorious.

Joy, Kyle, Tor, Sofia, Carolyn, Brian, Micah, Brett, Bryce, Griffin, Steve, Riley, Nicholas.

We found a K2 droid at one of the stores in Pier 39 and couldn't help but get a picture.

Steve, Tor, Brett, and Brian, roommates all since '94.

Dinner Party!

 

August Little Events

Bryce had a few final days to paint his Legion figures and vehicles before his trip.

Griffin joined him in painting figures--group project!

Silly picture on the couch...

Jonathan's Villainous Birthday party at our house.

...with a mild concussion suffered...

...not because of the beating he took in the game.

Celebrating with the co-op at our house too:  Rinnah, Chloe, Selah, Joy, Jake, Jonathan, Griffin, Bryce.

Bryce put together a slide show presentation with videos on how to play volleyball.

Then the class took it down to the new sand court at the park.

The final Legion game before the Impact Trip.

Some time outside doing his journal with a cat in his lap.

A lunch at Griff's BBQ in Copperopolis after our hike and swim.

Curious Qi'ra wonders why the new Pilot is being taken apart...to try to jump start it after the battery was drained.

Bluray relaxes in front yard.

The cave on the other side...wow was the water cold!  But that was good.

Date morning with an adventure.

Joy borrowed a floating toy and Brett hung on when he couldn't stand any longer which was pretty early on in the path to traverse the cave.

The boys play ping pong:  Griffin and Bryce.

Bryce equipped with his new magnifying goggles for painting things very finely.

A Star Wars hat present as the first present on the goodbye train at work.

Joy enjoys some time at work getting the staff on the same page of good patient care.

 

Goodbye party at Brett's work for Lee and Lyz Capili.  We were blessed with a return by Alma who worked on 3south for so many years--she looks great and still cooks great too.