First Lego League Regional Competition

 Nathan, Samuel and Elisabeth participated on a Lego League Robotics team this Fall with several of their friends from co-op. They were excited to show off their hard work at the Regional Qualifier at Bishop Kelley.

We spent a lot of time at the Toaster the week leading up to their competition. Nathan and Samuel especially are very hard workers who desire to do the best possible job. I love their enthusiasm and work ethic, but gosh it was a tiring week! We are all excited for the competition though. 

The kids ran through their presentation on Friday night before the competition to work out all the kinks. 

These three were ready for an exciting day on Saturday morning. 

Our prayer is always that these kids would shine for Jesus in whatever they do. I'm glad we are all unified in that goal among the team. 

The judging presentation was early in the competition, so they did a quick run through. 

The team presents an innovation project to the judges and also presents on their robot design. 

This year the theme was submerged, so the team's innovation project was a way to protect seals from getting injured or killed by boat propellers. They designed a buzzer inside a capsule that emits a sound to deter the seals. 

After the judging, it was time for the robot matches. Those are always stressful, because no matter how hard the team prepares, there's always something that doesn't go as planned. 

Their best run was their third match which landed them in sixth place overall. 

They regrouped and tried to improve after each match. 

They had some downtime too!

I think everyone was a little anxious for the awards ceremony. The team placed sixth out of thirty for their robot performance, but it was hard to compare in the other categories. We really had no idea how they performed compared to the other teams. 

We waited anxiously, while they announced every single award and never called Riptide's name. I kept thinking that they would place in a category. Their core values are awesome, I thought their innovation project was solid, their mentor said their robot was pretty innovative compared to the other teams. But no. We just kept waiting. As the awards continued on, I could tell the kids were pretty defeated, and I was feeling it too. We had hoped to advance to state and compete again. 

In my head I was thinking about the conversation in the car on the way home with some pretty sad kids- How could I encourage them, what lessons did they learn, etc. 

And then this happened!

They announced the very last award, one we were all sure we had no chance of winning, the champions award.

I recorded every other award, but then I stopped because I thought there was no way they'd win first place champions award. I'm so thankful another mom captured the moment. 

We were shocked -sure that a team who had one other first place awards, would win the first place Champions award. That moment of shock, pride, and joy will stick with our family for a long time. I love the genuine surprise on their faces. 

Then we heard the news everyone was hoping for- Riptide is going to STATE

Those kids worked so well together even through frustrations. They all prepared their speaking parts, coded and designed building attachments, and had the best attitudes and enthusiasm. I'm so proud of each of those ten kids and blessed that my kids could be on the team. 

We celebrated the big day with ice cream on the way home. 

WHAT.A.DAY

Halloween 2024

 Halloween was a fun event for the Baugher kids this year. The kids were invited by another family to dress as Jurassic World characters. Katherine was Claire, her friend Kaden was Owen, and the older siblings were inflatable dinosaurs. The kids posed one day to make sure they were ready for the big day. 

The kids dressed up in their costumes for co-op. It was pretty hilarious looking in my back seat and seeing giant dinosaurs. 

We took some pictures that morning before classes started. 

I helped in Elisabeth's astronomy class that morning too. The kids were doing egg drop challenges. Elisabeth brought a back up costume, since an inflatable dinosaur costume isn't very conducive to sitting through classes. 

Evelyn was sweet with Dino Nathan. 

The kid got to go upstairs for their egg drop challenges. They were so excited. 

Elisabeth gave her history presentation on the East India Trading Company in her costume, ha! She did a great job on her presentation. She researched and prepared well. We both learned a lot preparing for it!

During the last period of the day, I caught Nathan dressed as a dinosaur playing with all the younger kids. He would use his mouth to take off their hats. It was hilarious and also the most precious thing. Don't come at me with the homeschoolers are unsocialized argument after watching him interact so well with kids of all ages. 

After co-op, we picked up Matt, grabbed some takeout and headed over to the Shondelmyers for our annual Halloween tradition. 

I can't believe this is our eighth year celebrating together. 

These two coordinated their costumes. 

I'll always remember our very first year trick or treating together. Katherine was a newborn, Elisabeth and the twins were three years old, and Corey had to run home and grab his truck after we trick or treated on just a few streets, because the kids were melting down. We've come a long way. This year was especially monumental, because all the adults stayed back at the house, visited, and handed out candy by the fire. What?!?!? We have arrived. 

Elisabeth and Kaydence were given strict boundaries and a phone to track them, and Nathan, Samuel, Keaton and Katherine went on their own too. Brooke and I had always talked about the day when they'd be big enough to trick or treat on their own. I can't believe it happened so fast, but I'm so thankful for dear friends to experience every stage of parenting with. 

The kids came home and swapped candy. We caught these two outside snacking and chatting. They're the cutest!

It was another fabulous Halloween!

October Happenings

 Our October was full of school and activities. 

Katherine is reading so well this year. It has been such a privilege to watch her progress and see it "click." She's an easy student to teach. 

We celebrated Kaden with a super fun baseball themed party. Of course we should know that Ms. Paige, the best PE teacher would throw the best birthday parties!

The kids played all sorts of baseball themed games. 

These two bought coordinating pajamas and had to pose and show them off. 

Elisabeth's good friend Hadassah invited us and a few other families over to a scooter and smores night. We roasted hot dogs and smores and played outside enjoying the beautiful weather. 

Sam and Matt were out of town on a campout, but the rest of us thoroughly enjoyed the evening. 

While their big siblings were at robotics one day, these three girls were living their best life with a fashion show and dance party. Our neighborhood "bus" carpool situation is the absolute best. Tell me you homeschool without telling me you homeschool when the girls randomly burst out in singing to the states and capitals song, ha!

We spontaneously stopped at a playground one afternoon for a bit. 

This girl got a book series from her cousins for her birthday, and she read them nonstop. Every time I looked over at her it seemed like she was reading. I hope she doesn't lose her love of reading. 

Our middle school CHEER group enjoyed a hike at Ray Harrel one afternoon. 

These kids are awesome. They all enjoyed exploring the trails. 

Then the next day our Keepers of the Faith group hiked another trail. October was filled with outdoor activities. 

After finishing By the Great Horn Spoon in book club we played a game, and these two ended up arm wrestling each other. Any guesses who won???

Elisabeth presented in history about the East India Trading Company. She did a great job researching and preparing. 

Also, in history Nathan and Elisabeth learned about the history of the song, "Michael Row Your Boat Ashore." The meaning really impacted them, and Nathan even learned to play it on his guitar. 

One of the moms in our homeschool group hosted a middle school nerf war, and it was epic. My boys absolutely loved it. 

You never know what you're going to find at my house on a normal day. This day it was gangster penguins. 

On a random free Saturday, we headed to the Gathering Place for the afternoon. This is the only picture we took. 

This girl seems to always have a book in her hand.