Utah FIRST LEGO League Championship......................

So Jax's Lego League competed in the first annual Lego League Championship this yesterday at the University of Utah.  This meant that I had to get up at 4:30A.M. on a Saturday morning to be down to the University of Utah by 8:00 a.m. What I don't do to support my grandchildren.......:)

At the beginning of the school year Jax joined the Lego League. It is the first time that they have had it. To get in he had to write an essay about why he wanted to be in the league.  Then he had to be at the school EVERY Saturday morning from 8 until 11:30. 

This league is sponsored by Lego and everything they use to build their robot must be Lego items. They design and build a robot then they have to program it to do certain tasks.  They also learn how to research and work together as a team and other assigned tasks.  It is a great program and Jax has really enjoyed it.

Here is Jax in the 'pit' waiting for things to begin.......

They had a parade of teams to start out the event. Here is Jax with his team, The Atomic Inventing Mindbending Scientific8ors...or AIMS.

The competition consisted of several events. 
Core Values-where the teams are observed as the complete a hands on teamwork activity, participate in an interview with judges and are observed throughout the competition.
Robot Designs
Project-where their teams identify an existing problem in the scientific specialty related to the Challenge, and find a solution to that problem.
Robot Games Match- this is where they put their robots through specific tasks and receive points for completing the tasks in a given amount of time.  Each team had three matches.

The Matches were the only things we were allowed to watch. They didn't want the parents to be in the other events as to not influence how the kids responded to their other tasks.

Here is Jax's team in their first match..I think Jax was a little nervous.....

 Here is a closeup of their robot.....

Note the referee in the funny hat.  All the refs wore crazy hats.  The teams all deigned their own team t-shirts and outfits.  It was very colorful and crazy.  Only two team members at a time were allowed at the game table to run the robot.  In the last match Jax had his chance to control the robot.

There were 56 teams from elementary and junior high schools that came to compete.  It went until 5 that afternoon.  They did a great job of keeping everything running on time and smoothly. At 4 they handed out the trophies, unfortunately Jax's team did not receive one. Everyone did get a medallion.  These are a smart bunch of kids.  Jax would talk about things and I was amazed at what he knew.  I have a few more pictures on my FB page it you want to look.

Meet Ch This Is All I Ask...........

My friend Conly's parents raise and show dogs.  They have a dalmatian and 3 smooth fox terrier.  Kathy (Conly's mom) wanted to get a new dalmatian puppy to raise and show.  Mike (Conly's dad) said she could get the puppy but only if they got rid of one of their dogs.  Four dogs is his limit I guess.... so they needed to find a home for Ch This Is All I Ask...aka Chris.

Chris is a 4 year old champion smooth fox terrier. Her parents are Ch Tudex Raybill Doubloon and Ch Honky Tonk Angel. For some reason show dogs have the most interesting names. She no longer competes in shows and they tried to breed her but she wouldn't cooperate....

So me...being the sucker  kind hearted person that I am told them that I would take the dog.

This is Chris.....I could barely get her to stand still so I could take this.....

Such a cute face....... 

Everyone seemed to think that I needed a dog.  Don't get me wrong, I love dogs but I've never owned one.  I have been living alone since Leslie got married (10 years ago).  That being said...it has been a challenge to get used to having a dog around.  I've had her for 3 weeks now and I've had to make several adjustments to the house.

She is a good dog, crate trained and house trained.  Mike, Kathy and Conly have been great helping me.  Mike and Conly came over and finished the fence in the front of my back yard and doggified the back yard for me.  Then Mike and Kathy brought over an extra dog door that they had and Mike installed it and put up a move able fence so she can go right out my side door and into the back yard and then I don't have to worry about coming home and letting her out, and then I can roll up the fencing if I need to use the backdoor. 

I've bought 3 gates, one keeps her out of my living room, I needed a dog hair free room for company.  One keeps her out of the back hall and bedrooms.  I had to put Pesto in Leslie's old bedroom that I've turned into a computer/work room.  Chris wanted to eat him and then she knows he is in that bedroom and kept trying to dig her way under the door and I didn't need my carpet being tore up.The last gate I put up to keep her out of the family room while I'm at work or away. This way she doesn't have to stay in her crate all day, and she can be in the kitchen or outside.  These all may not be permanent once we get more accustomed to each other.

She has had only 3 accidents in the house, 2 downstairs and one in the kitchen.  The one in the kitchen was, I'm pretty sure, because she was mad at me.  I'd been in the computer room for quite a while and she can't come in there because of Pesto sooo she peed in the kitchen instead of going out the doggy door.

She loves to play ball and will keep bringing the ball back to you even if your arm is falling off and her tongue is dragging the ground. 

She sleeps in her crate because I just don't want dog hair in my bed, plus the fact that I don't like anything touching me when I'm really tired and want to sleep, but she is used to that.  She's used to spending a good part of her day in a crate coming from a house with 4 show dogs, so here she actually has more freedom then she used to get. 

Last night she decided that maybe the couch in the family room would be a good place to stay the night.  I turned off the light and called her and she just sat there looking at me, so I went over to get her and she rolled over on her back. I gently pulled her off the couch and headed towards the stairs.  I turned to see her jumping back onto the couch.  But guess what?  I won........

When she eats, she gobbles it down so fast that she lets out a belch when she is finished.

I watched Braxton and Gunner Saturday night while Leslie and Paul went to dinner.  They loved Chris and she had a great time playing ball with them.  Braxton at one point said "Chris sure likes her cousin Braxton".

So do I like having a dog?  Well the jury is still out on that.....we'll see.

Happy New Year and Happy Birthday Jamie.......

So I spent New Years Eve watching Braxton and Gunner (Cambria had a sleepover to attend). We celebrated by watching their favorite movies and having Munchies (this is what they are called, Braxton picked them out), Chips Ahoy cookies (picked out by Gunner) and pizza and bread sticks.

Braxton tried to stay awake until midnight but didn't quite make it. He fell asleep around 10:30.  I stayed up as always so that I could give Jamie her "Happy Birthday" call at midnight.

New Years day the boys helped me make Jamie's birthday cake.  Then that afternoon we had a little cake and ice cream party for Jamie.  Angel, Leslie and Paul came (Cambria was still at her friends), Jamie's friends Paula and Lisa showed up too.

Jamie requested confetti cake and Neapolitan ice cream.  Here she is blowing out her candles..

Ignore the fact that her cake said she is 35....I had a mental moment and bought the wrong candles (I had Braxton and Gunner with me when I was shopping) she is really 34 this year.

I have been released from Primary and I am now the Relief Society's music leader.  Yes I still have to play the organ and accompany the choir.  I've been a little nervous about this new calling.  I have always played the music NEVER lead the music.  That being said....

When I went to church the next day, the heat was not working properly and the Primary room was only 50 degrees so they moved the children to the cultural hall (gym).  They also decided to take the piano out of the Relief Society room so the kids could sing.  That's just dandy, but what about the women?  Don't we need a piano so we can sing?

So my first Sunday leading the music in Relief Society was done a capella.  I wanted to cry.  I don't sing...not unless you count what I do with the radio in my car....  Yes I've sung in choirs, but when I do that I can just blend in.  So after having a small panic attack I got up and led the opening song.  I just picked a note and started singing and they all joined in.  After the meeting several of the women came up to me and told me that they loved the key I started the song in because they could actually sing the melody because it wasn't too high for them.  I was amazed that they actually thought I knew what key I was singing in......That's what I call being led by the Spirit.

Christmas Eve and Day...(almost there...)

Christmas Eve...

When I woke up I could here the kids giggling in the family room.  When I went downstairs, they all pretended to be asleep.  When I got to the bottom of the stairs they all jumped up and yelled "Merry Christmas Eve!"  They were all dressed and ready to go for the day (too bad I wasn't yet).

Here they are eating breakfast.....

I took them all to the matinee to see "Tangled". Cambria, Braxton and Gunner had seen it before (except Gunner fell asleep during it), but Jax and Trevon had not.  They all loved it and Gunner stayed awake all the way through this time.  It is my new favorite Disney movie.

Jamie came and picked up the boys after we got home from the movie.  We didn't do our traditional Christmas Eve because Jamie had her party to replace it.  So Leslie had invited me out to spend the night at her house so that I wouldn't be alone. 

When we got out to her house we went over to their new house so that Paul and Leslie could put one last coat of sealer on their hardwood floor. Because it has been rainy the last little bit it was soo muddy that our shoes were caked with it.  We had to leave our shoes on the porch when we got to Paul's Grandma's house for dinner.  It was buffet and lots of good food.  His Grandmother always makes me feel so welcome. 

After dinner we went back to Leslie's.  The kids opened their Christmas pj's and then they opened their presents from me. 

Here is Braxton ......

 Gunner.....

 And Cambria......

I slept in Cambria's bed and she slept on her beanbag. Christmas morning I was awakened to the sound of Cambria leaning over me saying "Grandma wake up it's Christmas!"  Then she proceeded to wake everyone else up.  they couldn't go downstairs until Leslie and Paul actually got up.  I forgot how early kids get up on Christmas morning.

 Here is Cambria waiting for everyone to get up..

 Braxton, he looks excited doesn't he?

 And Gunner finally making his appearance...

Santa did come!  The Lego's on the floor say "Thanks Santa".  Cambria did that before they went to bed the night before.

Paul opening his stocking...he pretty much just laid on the couch the whole time......

Obviously it was just too exciting for him..........The Steeler's blanket is what the kids made for him.....

After all the present opening we went over to Paul's parents house for breakfast.  Blake cooks the whole thing. He made home made biscuits with sausage gravy, scrambled eggs, ham, and the best potatoes I've ever had. 

When I got home around noon I just laid around and watched TV in between naps.  It was fun to finally get to see Leslie's kids open their presents on Christmas and Paul's family always makes me feel a part of things.

Christmas Eve Eve.....(almost caught up)

So for the second year in a row I was able to have the Grandma's Christmas Eve Eve sleepover with my grandchildren.

When I got home from work that day Cambria, Braxton and Gunner were already there.  Jax and Trevon came shortly after.

We started out by going to McDonald's for dinner and play...they all were very good and ate first with no fussing.

Here is Cambria and Trevon playing games at the computers.....

Here is Jax taking a break for a minute.....love his smile....

Here is Miss Cambria quenching her thirst..........

Gunner loved the coloring program they had...red seemed to be his favorite color (good choice to me)!

Jax gave the keyboard a try (note the sign...then his feet...he he).

For a minute I couldn't find where Cambria went,  this is how I found her.  She was complaining about being the only girl and how the boys didn't want to do anything she wanted to do (sniff, sniff).

Here is Braxton doing his air guitar......

When it got dark we went up to the Christmas village by the courthouse. 

 It's not big but the kids love to walk through it.

After seeing the village we drove around and looked at all the lights on the houses.

When we got back to the house everyone put on their jammie-o-days.  I gave them each an m&m stocking stuffer which they all were very happy about......as I took this picture they were all shouting,

 "Grandma is the greatest!"

We watched "Despicable Me" and had chocolate milk and cheese puffs.  Cambria was the first to fall asleep (as always).  I'm not sure how late the boys stayed awake because I was tired and went to bed around 10:30ish.