Llamabots

We didn't exactly know what we were getting ourselves into when we took up coaching Noble's Lego Robotics club. But we have had some good times with these guys over the past several months. Week in, week out we learned a lot together. Sometimes it was all Mike and I could do just to keep order with a crowd of 9 to 11 year old boys.

In the now designated "LEGO ROBOTICS ROOM"

(previously known as the Vampire Room)

On tourney day... we were informed of some rule changes that made a few of our program strategies un-usable. Our guys had some tense minutes as they tweaked the robot and reprogrammed under the gun. Well done guys.

 The robot games. I showed up just in time to see their last robot game, which also turned out to be their best heat. Woohoo!!!

This year FLL had a lot more teams register - so we had preliminary tournaments instead of one huge, all-day tournament. We didn't end up advancing to the championship tournament. ( Noble's team finish last year.)  But honestly, we were pretty happy with our showing, considering our inexperience and that the oldest kid on our team was 12. Not too shabby. If we get up the gumption to coach again next year, I think we could be a force to reckon with. he he he.

The best part of this whole thing was that we got to know these awesome kids & their parents better.  

The kids had some good times, and learned a lot.

Thank you Parachuting Llamabot Ninjas.

P.s. Noble put together this little vid during an unsupervised 15 minute lull at the tournament. Just another case of our kids blowing past us. We didn't even know we had movie making software on the laptop.

It's not high entertainment...just a bunch of 9 & 11 year old kids yelling and laughing. But we were impressed.

Screening for the Team

I think I've mentioned that we took on Noble's Lego Robotics team this year. THAT was a big job. Especially with all that we have going on - and our inexperience with FLL.

Anyway, Mike volunteered me and the Yudu for the task of making the team shirts...and then the team banner.
The kids came up with their team name way back in the summer - and recently designed the image.

The transparency image - pre-screen.

The screen after exposure.

 Inked and printing

Noble and team sporting their team shirts in the heat of competition at the tournament today (more on that later). The tie-dye was a wise choice from a screening perspective. It hides mistakes really well.

For the banner, I went with the freezer paper stencil method. It turned out pretty well.

Team Parachuting Llamabot Ninjas on tourney day - game-faces on.

And with some pretty nice screen-printing too.

Things we've been learning

1. Sully has turned a corner in toileting.  I can't say that any of the books I checked out at the library were much help. If anything helped it was an episode of Super Nanny that I happened to see where she helped potty-train this 3 year old kid. Their issues were different, but the thing I took away was that my own attitude is key. Confidence as a parent is crucial (and NOT just in potty training). Kids, like sharks, sense fear (and frustration)...and they exploit it.

 *Poof*!  A more cooperative Sully.

We are %100 now - including night time. Of course, I've done this long enough to know that kids often revert after they've been consistent for a while - so I won't say we're totally out of the woods yet. But I kind of think that since he waited so long to begin - he might just have made a permanent transition. He requires no reminding. He just goes.
 
2. Noble as Puck. (He won't appreciate my sharing this particular clip because he runs into the tree at the end.)
 

Noble was Puck in the 5th Grade production of A Midsummer Night's Dream. He did not think to tell me when the performance would be until the night before...and even then couldn't tell me the time. He had to call from school the next day to tell me when to come. I'm glad I could go. It was dee-lightful. Sully somehow knew about Bottom and the donkey head (maybe he remembered when Jessie was in the same play 2 years ago?). And he kept asking, "Where's the donkey? Wh-wh-when's the donkey coming?" (he's got a cute little stutter right now). Anyway, WELL DONE, dude.
 

3. Mike - the Lego Robotics coach.

With everything else going on in our lives I worried about Mike taking on Noble's FLL team this year. Especially since technology isn't our strongest suit. He has learned a lot - and the kids are having tons-o-fun.

5. Abner is starting to try solid food. But I think he thinks it's gross. I am trying to cherish all the nursing time I have left with him...so I'm not in a hurry.

4. Sully's hobbies. A little bedtime reading. I found this on Sully's bed yesterday. Apparently, he's developing an interest in economics.