STEM Robotics Competition
The “Crosswell Flares” logo and design the kids came up with for this year.
The girls STEM Robotics Team – The Crosswell Flares – did a great job this weekend! It was their first year in the competition and a long day (left the house at 7 am and wasn’t back home until around 7 pm that night), but all their hard work paid off they got 2 Trophies!!! The girls had a blast, learned a lot, and met a lot of people from various schools in the area!
The tagline they came up with was “Keep your flame in the game” which was on the back of their shirts along with the list of team members.
With so many people around the robot table during the competition this was the best picture we could get that day. This is their robot going through the course. They were able to accomplish all their missions that they had programmed and practiced.
The team getting ready to start the competition!
Brina very excited about her “swag bag”! As part of the competition each team made swag bags for their team members then they would have the opportunities to trade items with other teams. It stimulated a lot of interaction among the various teams. They were actually judged on this piece of the competition as well.
Karlie showing off her swag bag! Their team actually won a trophy for this part of the competition which included their sportsmanship and values.
They won 2 trophies! It was a long day and a lot of work, but they did fantastic! The kids were troopers! This was the teams first year competing against 17 teams (most of which have been competing for several years). Proud of all the kids and coaches for all the hard work. Good Job!!!
Brina and Karlie’s Show
Brina and Karlie put on a show for us recently. It was called “The Town of Twenty”. It was quite an interesting performance. Full of singing, dancing, acting, audience participation, and more fun. It is wonderful seeing them use their creativity and come up with some neat ideas.
Brina singing during one of her parts in the play.
Another fun part of the play.
Karlie playing one of her parts.
Brina all smiles
Chatting with the girls after their play. Love watching them act out their show and having some time to chit-chat with them afterward. Thankful for our girls, their creativity, and their excitement about life.
Loom Bracelet Craze
The girls have a loom bracelet set and over the past few weeks there has been loom bracelets popping up everywhere in our house, car, backpacks and random places. In one day they went from making no loom bracelets to do several in a day. Not to mention, the little individual bands have been sprinkled like confetti around the house.
The girls are learning that these are not only fun making they are a blast trading with friends, giving them away to friends, or teaching their friends how to make them. They go to school with a certain amount of bracelets and come home with a different amount and a variety of other colors. They’ll even make custom-colored and various size bracelets for friends too. Yes, they even made one for Mom and Dad (we were recipients of the first couple they made)!
It’s neat to see them making these and sharing them with others. The nice part about them being easy to weave together is they can make several in one day. Since starting making the loom bands they have discovered a number of different patterns, shapes, sizes, and neat designs. So even though they learned how to make them one way they have adapted to learn a variety of ways to make the bracelets.
A pile of bracelets put on their bar stool the night before so they could put them on before school at breakfast time.
A common sight laying around our house the past few months!
Brina ready for school with a stack of bracelets on her arm.
The bracelets Brina made
Karlie ready to go to school with an armful of bracelets
Karlie’s bracelets she made in one night.
Thames & Kosmos Air + Water Power
The girls are fascinated and focused on their first experiment with their Thames & Kosmos Air & Water Power Kit.
It was successful! 🙂
Brina and Karlie have been enjoying doing various science experiments, robotics, and more science fun. Grandpa and Grandma gave the girls a Thames & Kosmos Air + Water Power set for Christmas. The girls have really enjoyed putting it together and making it work. They are super excited to check out all the cool things they can build and run with air and water power. They are thrilled to learn about the law of physics and how air + water can power various items.
With this kit they can learn about Pneumatic Hydraulic Engines by building their own models which are powered by air and water pressure. They can build items with engines powered both by water jet propelled cars and hydro pneumo (air pressure + water pressure). There are 15 models including a cutting machine, truck, excavator, radar car, tank, antique car, helicopter, motorbike, backhoe, rocket car, forklift, roadster, propeller plane, and grinder.
A Treat for My Errand Buddies
I LOVED having my girls home for the Christmas Holiday. My only complaint is the time went by way too fast. We had several days when we had to run errands. On our last day of appointments and errands we ended with a special treat from QT. The girls each got to pick out what they wanted from QuikTrip. Karlie picked out a peppermint donut. Brina picked out a hot peppermint vanilla cupcake drink. They were very pleased with their special treats.
It has been so much fun running my errands with the girls. We had a blast giggling, exploring, playing, random silly games, and activities throughout our adventures. It won’t be nearly as exciting running around without my little buddies!
Planet & Star Gazing
Our Little Karlie Fox Checking Out Jupiter and its MoonsThe best evening the entire Christmas break to look at the stars was when it was 20 degrees outside! All of us went out on the back deck to check out the beautiful night lights in our big sky. We were able to see Jupiter and its moons! So BEAUTIFUL!!! It’s amazing that you can use a telescope to see so very far away.
Karlie was so excited to see the moon, clusters of stars as well as Jupiter and its moons. Brina looked for awhile but got chilly so went inside and wrapped in a blanket next to the fire. Thankful for a chance to gaze at the stars with the family even if it was very chilly outside.
Planet & star gazing on the back porchLove My Family
My Handsome man reading to the girls. Love listening to Jake reading to the girls. Jake and the girls love history. He was reading a book about the Christmas when Winston Churchill stayed in the White House. The girls love reading and enjoy those moments when we can read to them. Thankful for my family and seeing Jake reading with the girls warms my heart.
Welcome New Year 2014!
We had a fun time bringing in the New Year! It started a little later than we expected because Jake was on call with work, but we were able to pack in a lot of games, snacks, a play, and more exciting activities into the evening. The girls stayed up until midnight again this year to watch the ball drop and bring in the 2014 New Year! They were super excited to start the New Year with confetti!
We talked about all the amazing memories we had in 2013. All of us agreed that 2013 was an awesome year and we packed in a lot of great memories together as a family. Several fun trips – a cruise, Vermont, Charleston, Kansas, Atlanta, North Carolina, and more! We are truly blessed and have so much to be grateful for in our lives.
We discussed goals and what we are looking forward to in 2014. The girls decided they wanted to think of at least one goal for 2014. They took a whole 2 seconds to come up with at least one of their goals.
Brina’s first goal – “Spend more time outside! I love playing and being outside!”
Karlie’s first goal – “Read more books with 400 or more pages!”
The girls make me smile because in many ways they couldn’t be more different! One of the themes for 2014 Brina suggested was “Anything Can Happen!” Thankful for our girls and the opportunity to bring in the New Year with them. I am looking forward to seeing what God has for our family this upcoming year.
The confetti was a lot of fun and I am sure it will spread itself through the house even though we tried to sweep it up.
Creative Kids: New Hot Pads!
Karlie’s colorful hot pad she made!
The other day I was working on several items that needed to be done so the girls took some time to do some crafts. I wasn’t sure what they were up to, but they were staying busy and being good. The next morning I was presented with two brand new colorful hot pads! One that Karlie had made and one from Brina! What a special treat it is to get such a sweet gift first thing in the morning. Thankful for my thoughtful girls. I am very blessed and will think of them every time I use their beautiful hot pads.
Brina’s new hot pad she made for me!
My beautiful new hot pads! Love them and especially love the two sweet girls that made them for me.
Christmas Decorations
My cute tree decorators – they did a fabulous job!
Karlie Kat’s room all festive!
Brina Bee’s room all festive!
