4th Grade Robotics

William was not drawn in the lottery for robotics last year, so this year I did what I could to get the twins signed up.  Since I knew better how our days would actually look, I also signed up to be a mentor.

I've enjoyed seeing them work! They are learning how to code, and teamwork, and patience, and how to overcome obstacles as a team.  It's been super awesome to see them grow as a group.

Juliet's bff Kennedy is also on the team, so she has really enjoyed that.

One of the middle school robotic team members came to help one day!

The robot has to complete some pre-programmed tasks, as many as possible in 2:30!

It's a great group, and I hope they rock out on Saturday!

 later days

All the Other Pieces

These are all the little things that don't fit with the other posts, but that I want to remember!

Somehow we missed this summer's ophthalmologist appointment, and when I realized my mistake (they usually call me!) I couldn't get an appointment until February!!!   So, poor Juliet is still having to patch daily for three hours, hence all of the pictures of her in her patch!

That said, she made an adorable micro-city out of Legos! = )

Kristy gifted us some venison stew meat, and since Thursdays are my primary day to sub and the twins have their robotics meeting (and so do the big girls) I've been crock-potting Thursday meals each week.  To make it special I bought some bread bowls from Panera (just like I did with the murder mystery party) and all of the kids really liked it!!

I remembered to take a picture this go round!!!

We rescued a metal duck from our yard sale this summer.  We're not sure where he came from, but we've named him 'yardie' and we hide him around the kitchen for fun. = )

When the Backstreet Boys came on Mosaic one day, Grace was telling me that they sound just like the band in Turning Red!  I told her this was totally intentional, and she asked if they got their sound from the movie.... I laughed really hard.

The kids broke out some building materials and had some creative time!

Magnets:

Foam blocks (I had to clear them out of the basement, because Billy bought a case of coffee cups, and we needed the space!)

A sheet that I bought for Emily to cut up for her school dance, but that she thought was fun to play in, and then she had company!

Out shopping we found a Christmas Moose for Aunt Rocky!  (but she didn't want it. lol)

On a particularly rainy day, the volunteer opportunity for which I had signed up did not need me.  Since it was also the day of parent-teacher conferences at the big kids school I didn't want to go far.  I ended up at McDonald's with my book and a nice hot latte until it was time to return.

Picture day for the twins!!!

Eatran: On the go! (IYKYK)

A cute little ceramic mushroom in the greenery.

Happy to have all these little memories documented for another day.

later days

Groceries

 This post isn't really for now, it's to look back at packaging and prices and selection.  

There are several stores represented here: Horrocks, a party store, Aldi, and Gordon's for sure, but could be more.

For prosperity!  #posthumouslyfamous

later days

All the Fall colors!

Fall this year came on slowly and lovely.  Some of the early turning plants made the most amazing shades of red really early in the season!  The twins found these almost unnaturally pink/red plant castoffs on their way to school.

The river was so still it was like a mirror, and as I watched the crane take off, I was able to see two as the reflection also took to the downward sky.

Billy finished raised bed number two!  We already have so many saved seeds and new plans for the planters, it will never be enough!

I'm still collecting used/broken cell phone cases to pave the path between! If you have any let me know!

Alice's new birds looked particularly hidden in the new leaves.

Usually, we rake all of the leaves to the road for the vacuum, but this year I raked a pile back towards the garden beds to fill it up!

Emily decided that she wanted to carve a pumpkin for the downtown event, and Grace wanted to join too.  Aldi was sold out by the time Grace made that decision, so she grabbed one of the ones from our garden to carve.

This was the first year they'd held the competition, so we didn't know if Grace needed to be present to win, which meant that she had to decide between a birthday party and the competition.  She picked the party, but hindsight showed that she could have done both!

Emily didn't win* = (  and she had the most competition of any age group!  In fact, had grace joined, she would have been one of only three pumpkins!  Alice, had hers survived, would have been one of two!

Grace, Juliet, and I did go vote, and the pumpkins were really cool!

Next year, we'll know more!  And hopefully, it will be a little bit warmer.

later days

*Billy and Emily were a little late on returning, so they didn't find out who took the award!