Atlanta Trip part 1

     Well, as some of you know, we went to Atlanta, Georgia this past week.  We went for the FIRST Robotics World Championship.  We had an amazing time, and even met some new friends!

Day 1: Monday morning we leave just after 10:00 AM.  Its a pretty boring ride to St. Louis, but bearable. :)  We took out the 2 back seats in our 15 passenger van to fit all of the tools and banners and other junk...I mean...very useful articles our team needed for the competition, plus luggage for 7 people.  All the tools bounced and made a lot of noise, but you become immune to it after a while.  We arrived at my cousin's house just in time for dinner.  We had a good time, especially since we haven't seen them in 3 years!

Day 2:  Tuesday morning we leave around 7:00 and start the trek to Atlanta.  I got to see quite a few new states on this trip, including: Georgia, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Indiana.  I still haven't seen the ocean or the Appalachian Mountains in real life, but I will!  Going through Tennessee was gorgeous!  On US24 heading south, just before Chattanooga, there is solid rock on the one side with random waterfalls in places.  Just beautiful!  I didn't get any pictures that weren't blurry, sorry!  That night we sleep over with some new friends in Atlanta.

More to come!  Especially photos!

Go team 2039!!!!!

Well, as it turns out, this is old news by now. I have been so busy that I have neglected my blog for about a week. Rockford Robotics, FIRST team 2039, along with Winnivation, team 1625, and Fondy Fire, team 2194 won the FRC Wisconsin Regional!!!! Yeah!! Ok, so now what? We go to Atlanta, Georgia for the national championships. Our whole family is going to go this time and maybe make it a field trip. :) Well, life continues as usual. School consumes the better part of my day, but I have also been listening to an audio book with my brothers, and playing whatever she sees fit with my little sister. So much to do, so little time, and when there is time, I forget what I had to do!

One thing I am looking forward to is the Spring Banquet that our homeschool co-op is having for 8th through 12th graders. Their theme this year is the inaugural ball, so we will be dancing, just what kind of dancing is what I'm not sure.

Oh, and HAPPY SPRING!!!!

Current Mood: stressed

Hullo! It's off to Milwaukee!

No, this photo has nothing to do with what I'm going to post about, but I found it hilarious. A dainty princess is caught in the midst of a not so dainty stomp! Isn't she cute?

In all seriousness though, these Robotics competitions are not good influences. Very LOUD awful music is playing constantly, it really wears on your nerves. Please pray for my father, my brother and I as we will be exposed to it for about 12 hours everyday this weekend! Also, I will not be able to post this weekend, but on Monday, perhaps, I will be able to post pictures of the competition, robot, and hopefully, a first place trophy!

A round of applause!

"Hurray!  Wake up everyone!  The sun is shining, the tank is clean and we are getting outauuhhhg! The TANK IS CLEAN!!!"

~Peach, Finding Nemo

1. First I would like a round of applause for the glorious day the Lord gave us here in Rockford!  The sun is shining and it is 62 DEGREES!  Aaahhhh...my first day outside in a T-shirt (all day that is) :)  It was so nice today.  You have to feel it to believe it...

2. I would also like a round of applause for my robotics team!  Congratulations FIRST Robotics team 2039 on winning 2ND place in Chicago!!!!!!!  Wish I could have actually been there to receive my medal...(shown above)  I was sick from last Monday to this past Sunday, so I didn't go.  Now its on to Milwaukee!  let's get 1st this time!  :)

Kick Off!

     Well, today was the First Robotics Competition Kick off.  First is For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology, it was founded by a brilliant engineer named Dean Kamen in 1989.  Its mission is to inspire young people to be science and technology leaders, by engaging them in exciting mentor-based programs that build science, engineering and technology skills, that inspire innovation, and that foster well-rounded life capabilities including self-confidence, communication, and leadership.  FRC (First Robotics Competition) is one of the challenges that FIRST has made to inspire young people.  Every year since 1992 in January There is a kick off event.  This is where the thousands of teams across the United States and Canada receive the game challenge for the year.  The teams then have  six weeks to build and ship a robot to one or more of the regionals scattered across the United States.  If you and your alliance win the regional you are at, you proceed to the national in Atlanta, Georgia.  I could go on and on and on about the game we just learned today, but, yall don't really want to hear about that do you? No, I didn't think so.  For those of you that are sorter geeky, if I may call it that, and want to know more, here is the FIRST website, and the website of the local team my brother and I are on: Rockford Robotics.  Now don't get all scared off, I'm not the one who is going to be working on modules, solenoids, bread boards, Gui C++ programming, and sheet metal!  How do I know all that right?  :)  I am going to be working with the paper work and accounting and maybe designing T-shirts. :)  All this was said, just to say that, *sniff* I won't have hardly any time to keep you all posted, let alone read....sew....play....read....read.  *sigh*  Well, I will do my best!  I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me!!:)  Even blog...

Have a happy week!  

Current Mood:  irritated

and busy!