Soccer Season Ends

Griffin's soccer team ended their season losing their final game in the year end tournament to the eventual champions, 3-2.  Griffin had missed the previous two games due to the first debate tournament of the year, but he came out strong and played solid defense and midfield, making crisp passes and shutting down the other team's offensive star (who didn't score when Griffin was on the field).  We were proud of his team and his coach who did a great job having the boys play good, clean, hard soccer.

Coach Alvaro thanks Griffin for his contributions to the team.

Griffin listens to his coach talk about the season at Mtn Mike's Pizza.

 

30th HS Reunion

Brett's 30 year high school reunion was held in downtown Pleasanton and featured quite a collection of folks from his class.  We found out about the reunion through Gusto who was tracking it on facebook and told Brett he needed to come.  We arrived an hour early because our event right before this, the kid's debate tournament ended ahead of time (and we might have misread the invitation time, or we fell back a little early for daylight saving...).  There weren't a whole lot of spouses present.  Brett enjoyed talking to Gusto Wright, Eddie Maier, Chris Puppione, and Aaron Baca all of whom he had ties with before high school.  He also got to talk to Travis Calabio and Mike Knott, who he played baseball with.  Other guys he enjoyed connecting with were Tom Chermack, Stuart Kriege, Frankie Bentonio, Cayce Howe, and JP Quinazon.  Also fun to talk to were former locker neighbor Monica Faria (now in Goodyear, AZ), Denise Noleroth (who ended up at UCD in the same major as Brett), and Kim Manifesto (who survived working as a nurse through COVID).   Notably missing that he would have liked to see there were Brandon Schultz, Mike Weiss, and Kenneth Lane.

Recalling with Eddie Maier our junior high basketball days and time hanging out at his house.

 

Brett owes a lot of his being in shape to his wife!

Gusto flew in from Colorado for the event.

Chris Puppione, who Brett played baseball with in 4th and 5th grade.  Chris' dad coached us.

Ripon Round Robin

The Ripon Round Robin is the first debate tournament of the year and is essentially an intra squad matchup in which varsity students are paired with novice students.  Garrett was paired with Bryce (they ran a case on stopping the federal subsidies on wood pellets in the US).   Griffin had Jeremiah Heckinger as his partner (they ran a case on building an LNG receiving terminal in Germany).  Joy served as a judge and Brett worked in tab with Jeff Eschen.  Brett also had the added bonus of getting to talk to David Gregg and Rex Rodgers who were on the church campus that day.

Griffin won #3 speaker among the novice (the same award Bryce won the year before).

Top three novice speakers:  Emilee, Paul, Griffin.

Welcome to the club, little bro!

Bryce and Garrett partnered.

Comparing stories on round three.

Griffin at the makeshift podium, presents the 1AC.

Former baseball teammates when Griffin was 4...now RRR partners with Jeremiah.

Garrett and Bryce listen to Evelyn's speech and strategize their game plan in response.

Jeremiah and Griffin square off against Luke and Naomi Eschen.

Garrett got to go against his varsity partner, Daniel in a battle of brothers.

Garrett and Bryce ready to go.

In the anxious moments leading up to the first postings, hanging out with Daniel and John.

Dressed to impress and for success, but we may need some updated suit jackets...

 

ICC/Biology Classes

ICC continues to provide many opportunities for our kids to lead and create content for the group.  They are leading devotions, teaching the YCC students, and performing skits as needed for the lesson that day.  They are contributing to building community at ICC, chapter Affirm.

As the season changed and November became cold, biology lab began to shift to being indoors, but the learning hasn't stopped and the kids still enjoy breaks outside playing soccer in the backyard.

The brotherly threesome gets things started.

 

Bryce and Griffin perform a duo skit.

Possibly the last outdoor biology lab of the year, Bryce, Noah, and Jake work together.

Working indoors:  Ruby, Molly, Jake, and Griffin at the table.

Jake and Griffin take measurements and chart observations.

Are all these packages for Mom's school supplies OR Dad's Star Wars collection?

Bryce studies and gives Leia attention at the same time, true multi-tasking.

English/Literature class at attention:  Jake, Griffin, Jonathan garner the preferred couch spots, while Selah and Chloe make up the backrow of girls.

Our cats daily lives

We know you just got home and it is only 230pm, but we are petitioning for an early dinner.

 

I like this new car, it matches my coat!

The rain led to the pushing of the outdoor furniture under the awning and the cats decided these were nice new comfy shelters.

Sometimes curiosity leads to interesting pictures?

A relaxed Wrecker...with his claws to Griffin's jugular...

Winter Wonderland Halloween

The whole crew at the Junginger's house to create a family friendly, non-scary affair with games was four families:  Richardson, Swamidass, Junginger, us.  We took on a variety of winter wonderland movie themes with Elf, Christmas Vacation, Grinch who Stole Christmas, the Santa Clause, Frozen, and Polar Express.  Many folks who came by were very thankful for the friendly faces and fun games to play.

Brett (Papa Elf), Joy (Cindy Lou Who), Bryce (Grinch), Griffin (Max-Grinch's Dog), and Garrett (Elf).

Junginger crew:  Luke, Grace, Eric, Anna, Sharon, Caleb.

Stacking presents high was the Grinch name of the game.

Garrett helped kids throw snow balls at moving targets, like Luke.

The Elf green light-red light station to get your candy!

 

Brett did a lot of jumping along with the kids because that is how they had to move in red light-green light.  His feet and knees were a little sore, but it sure was a good workout.

Joy in her first costume of the day--Peter Pan theme for her clinic.

Sunita, Raleigh, and Joy in Peter Pan theme.

Dressed up as Mike Teavee from Willy Wonkas for costume #2.

The Admin team won the day in the HSA competition with the Willy Wonka theme.

Men's Baseball Game #2

For the last weekend in October, we were blessed with some wonderful weather, blue skies and sunshine in the mid 70s for some beautiful baseball.  This was the second installment this year, both in the last two months and we had a high scoring affair, 14-10 final!  The game featured debuts from Jon, Brian, Joshua, and Chris B.  Brett went 3-for-3 in this game with 3 singles (a bloop single to right, a ball in the gap in right center, and a liner to left center).  He changed his walk up song for this game to "Help is on the Way" by Toby Mac.  In order to make the game more interesting in the last inning, after he retired the first two batters, he gave up three runs before shutting the door.  You have to have some entertainment value at the end too, right?

Brett up to bat in the first inning against Dan T.

 

Brett gathers the men for the opening remarks.

Prayer time before first pitch.

Back Row:  Kash, Micah, Derren, Andre, Brian, Dan, Paul, David, Danny, Cameron, Scott, Chris B, Jon, Darren, Brian; Front Row:  Matt, Luke, Josh, Adam, Brett, Ben, Eddie, Chris R, Tim

Official scorekeeper and PA announcer and walk-up song players:  Garrett and Griffin.

Hanging out with Kash after the game at Farmer Boys.

Brett sends a hit to right field.