Grandma and Gramps visit

We were blessed to host Joy's parents, Grandma and Gramps, for a week starting on Christmas Eve night.  We picked them up at San Francisco airport after leaving Brett's sister's house.  They arrived ahead of schedule and were ready for the adventure of fitting their luggage in our car along with our Christmas presents from Wendy's house and all 7 of us.  This was a tight success, but our boys didn't mind holding some of their gifts on the way home.  The next day we celebrated Christmas with some presents and good food.  Then we relaxed the next day in the morning and made our way to Sacramento for the Expo of Lights Global Wonderland.  On the 27th we journeyed first to Hayward to Bronco Billy's Pizza Palace, a trip down memory lane for Brett, and then on to the Warriors vs Portland Trailblazers game at Oracle Arena.  We witnessed one of the worst free throw shooting performances in Warriors history:  they shot 40% from the free throw line with Klay, Durant, and Steph combining to miss 7 free throws.  The Warrior lost by 1 in overtime.  We also spent time playing tennis, ping pong, board games, watching movies, and going shopping.  On New Year's Eve, we went bowling and made up great names and competed for top scores.  Finally, it was time to drive them to San Jose where they were flying out of to get to their next stop in Idaho.  

How much fun Christmas will be with Grandma and Gramps.

Cuddling up next to Gramps.

Playing basketball in the driveway with Gramps.

Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve started early with a drive to Eric and Sharon's place to hang out for a couple of hours with some gifts exchanged and soccer played.  Then it was on to Wendy and James' house to celebrate with Brett's family.  The cousins put together another dramatic reading with acting for the adults to watch and we gave presents and ate well while talking.

The whole crew:  Wendy, James, Brett, Joy, Caitlyn
Bruce, Jeanne, Marilyn, Grammy, Poppy
Rachel, Haley, Avery, Griffin, Garrett, Bryce

Joy made a delicious birthday cake for Jesus.

Garrett and Rachel give dramatic readings while Haley acts on the right.

Why do the shepherds look like they are drinking beer before the angel arrives?

Haley, Griffin, Avery, Caitlyn, Marilyn, Poppy, and Grammy watch the production.

Garrett and Haley

Rachel and Bryce (ho-ho-ho).

The whole set up with Griffin providing props from on high.

Upside down pineapple cupcakes made by Bryce--yummy but with a little too much salt?

Goalie stick to begin his goalie equipment.

Baseball America shirt--perfect for Brett.

Looking forward to reading the new Thrawn book.

Grammy and Poppy got a new TV...continuing to upgrade their technology.

Birthday cake for Jesus.

Soccer with Eric, Caleb, Luke, and Anna.

Our visit with Eric, Sharon, Grace, Caleb, Luke, and Anna.

Great artwork by Caleb.

Christmas Cookies

We didn't make as many Christmas cookies as in past years, but there was one good day of baking that occurred under the guidance of Joy.

Ninja bread cookies.

If you make them, we must decorate them...Star Wars cookies.

Science Olympiad

We have had a number of gatherings with Danny, Linda, Hannah, Isabella, and Madeline to go over Science Olympiad.  Our oldest kids got Anatomy and Physiology, so Danny and Brett have been splitting up the teaching on cardiology, vascular system, lymphatics, and nephrology.  We have celebrated our times of studying with good food and fellowship.  We might even slip a few games in to make it even more fun.

Give Brett a Mountain Dew and an audience and he can keep talking for a while about anatomy and physiology.

Studying rocks and science pictionary skills together are our younger kids.

Danny and Brett have been able to work well together to compliment each other's knowledge and hopefully pass that on to our kids with enthusiasm.

Cousin Get Together

Realizing that it had been a number of years since all the cousins on Brett's mother's side got together, we organized a luncheon get together which worked out for everyone's schedule amazingly (except Jeremiah who was flying home from Asia).  We enjoyed playing, eating, and talking.  The kids ran around outside and worked a pretty good sweat as a group.

The nice picture:  Devraj, Tristy, Lori, Shylee, Wendy, James, Joy, Brett
Garrett, Bryce, Judah, Griffin, Laticia, Rahcel, Bethany, Haley, Isaiah

The crazy picture.

The kids' table for lunch.

Laticia and Shylee enjoy our play structure.

Brett and Devraj talk while getting ready to get food.

Tristy presents some food presents from the Philippines.

Enjoying the space our remodel provided to host the cousin event.

The boys congregated to Star Wars.

Christmas Piano Recitals

The boys had two piano recitals this month.  The first one was at the McHenry Museum in front of a paying audience.  The second was at a local church which was free to attend.  The highlight was all three boys playing "O Come All Ye Faithful" as a trio on the piano.

All three play together at once.

Garrett played "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen."

Griffin played "Deck the Halls"

Bryce played "We Wish You a Merry Christmas"

Proudly playing together.

Kings Game with Friends

We were invited by our friends:  Daren, Jen, and Luke to join them for the Kings vs Thunder game.  It was all of our first experience of sitting in a box with lounge seats and food brought to us.  The game was close, to begin with, but then Russell Westbrook and Paul George took over and outshot Buddy Hield and De'Aaron Fox for the Kings.  The boys got foam fingers, thunder sticks, and buttons for the first Kings game.  We will be hard pressed to duplicate this experience at future games. 

It was throwback night, which was appropriate for us busting out Webber and Bibby jerseys.

Taking a picture with #20 Harry Giles for the Kings.

Enjoying our first game certificates with Luke our friend.

Battling with thunder sticks.

The introduction of De'Aaron Fox.

The parents relax at the bar table:  Joy, Jen, Daren, Brett.

Tip-off:  Steven Adams vs Willie Cauley-Stein

Luke and Griffin point the finger at each other.