ICC Presentation to Ripon Co-op

A dual-purpose ICC event was held in Ripon to showcase what is possible through joining ICC to have more YSG1 students to teach and to serve as another in-person opportunity to present in the public.

Frozen yogurt reward after the day of presentations and for debriefing purposes.

 

Garrett performs his CAA (computer-assisted advocacy).

Griffin educates during his CAA.

Bryce, Garrett, and Danika served as MCs.

Bryce packs a punch with his CAA.

Jake and Griffin perform their Cultural Storytelling.

Joy's Birthday Adventure

For Joy's birthday, she wanted a challenging bike ride and a fun time with food afterward.  Brett thought he found the perfect fit with a bike ride on the west side of Lake Del Valle in Livermore.  Well, things may have turned out a little more ideally had he remembered to lock down Griffin's front tire, which was lost somewhere on the road between home and the freeway.  So we spent an hour and a half and $250 later and we had a new front tire with disc brake set up for Griffin's bike.  Then we arrived later than expected and the wind had begun to whip up and the temperature had dropped 15 degrees!  Fortunately, most of our crew had some emergency sleeves, etc stashed in the car.  Then we began the bike ride, which started going down which was a bad sign since it sure looked like it was going up...and up...and up.  Huh, I guess that is what is meant by 1200-foot elevation gain on a semi-gravel path!  I was assuming a more gradual incline?  We gave our bikes a good walk to the top of the hill and had a beautiful view of the lake.  The path down to the lake on the other side was similar in its straight down look.  Pass!  Then we had to find a better way down than steep gravel, so we found a really narrow, winding path that only led to a few issues on the way down which we all survived.  Then we packed up the bikes for DeBoccery, where we rented a Foot Pool court and ate dinner before heading home.

 

Lake Del Valle, the view from the top.

Desserts to share!

Taking a break during our Foot Pool match to eat some of our finger foods.

And this is foot pool:  billiards with soccer balls, the white one has to be kicked first to knock one of your color balls in while leaving the black ball to the end.

Joy set to break.

Our bike path selection...

First casualty...

Smiles to the challenge.

Keep going up, and up, and up!

HomeGroup birthday celebration!

Sophy, Jill, and Joy at HomeGroup.

Celebrating at work with Domarina.

Star Wars Big Figure Set Ups

Setting up for a battle with the boys can lead to details and still shots of figures in a variety of different interactions with many different eras enlisted.  The boys and Brett collect 3.75" action figures that are from 1977 to present.

Outside the Razorcrest ship a meeting of Mandalorians.

Boba Fett's Firespray docked next to the Razorcrest.

A makeshift cantina featuring part of the original Mos Eisley Cantina Set, the Max Reebo Band Set, and the Navarro Cantina to create the ultimate blending place.

Along the corridor of the Tantive IV--Rebel Blockade Runner.

 

March-April Happenings

Bryce celebrates qualifying for Round Table, Interview, and CAA at the latest online ICC tournament.  He rocked at that tournament!

Literature class moved inside for more comfort and some cold weather.

This is not the trio Griffin and Bryce were expecting.

Bryce tests out the wet and dry bulbs on the thermometers.

 

Sweet treat with some punch to it?

Home group convenes at the Ice Cream Co.

Griffin and Jake teach the YCC class.

Garrett competed in another Debate tournament, without his partner Hannah.  He took it as a learning experience and coaching opportunity with Evelyn.

Bryce, Griffin, Jake, Jude, and Joy took a break from the debate tournament to get some mini-golf in.

Joy completed this vineyard piece for our bedroom.

In Person ICC Tournament

For the first time in two years, we were able to attend and be the host chapter for an in-person tournament that drew teams from as far away as Idaho.  Joy was the community evaluator orientation speaker.  Brett served in the tabulation room (receives the results, enters them into the computer, makes copies of evaluations for the kids, and keeps all of that stuff organized while coordinating with central command on the East Coast).  We were excited to have our friends, the Jungingers, join us at the tournament as Grace and Caleb competed in their first tournament.  Garrett and Hannah (no not the same one as Debate) hosted the awards ceremony as co-MCs.  What an amazing job they did together after a day of giving speeches.

Jake and Griffin gave their Cultural Storytelling as a part of the Showcase.

Hannah, Garrett, and Bryce were Finalists for the YSG Award.

Eric, Grace, and Sharon at the Showcase after the long day.

Garrett leads his team in round table.

Bryce was with his team in round table.

Garrett and Hannah host the Showcase.

Jake and Griffin perform live in front of the audience at the Showcase.

Bryce presents a Goffism.

 

Sunday Morning Worship Band

After a few months in the Youth Band for Wednesday night, Garrett was asked to fill in on lead guitar in the main worship on Sunday morning.  His guitar mentor, Andy, was leading worship that week and knew that Garrett was set up for success as most of the songs were ones that we had been working on over the last 6 months on Friday mornings at home.  Brett was working that day and tried to watch live online while taking a break to do charting, but had tech issues and wasn't able to watch the service until later that evening.  Pretty cool to hear the lines in the music coming off a guitar played by your own son.

Debbie on piano, Garrett on lead electric guitar, Lael on vocals, Andrew on bass, Suzi on violin, Andy on rhythm guitar, Kevin on drums, Elizabeth on synth, Alison on vocals (in picture below)

 

Garrett's Bel Passi Season Begins

Garrett was extended the opportunity to continue to play at the U18 level at Bel Passi when they extended the age from U16 to U18 this year.  He has enjoyed the opportunity to play for Coach Ben whom he had played for last year.  He is joined on his team by long-time friends, Will and Jeremiah.  Garrett is batting in the middle of the order and playing primarily first base and pitching.  He may not make every game this year with his schedule being quite full, but we are considering each game he does make to be a bonus.  

Garrett at-bat.

 

Garrett playing defensively at 1B.

Garrett launched this ball deep to right just foul.

Garrett in his alternate jersey.