Mamma Mia!

Last Saturday, we planned an adult night out with our friends the Burmans. We did an Escape Room and then had dinner at Petit Pois:

Abby's friend Elisabeth told her mom we would be out, and Rebecca asked if she might take our kids to see Mamma Mia at the high school since they would be going. We had planned to go Sunday, but Abby was enthusiastuc about seeing it with friends, so off they went. Rebecca was kind enough to send a picture:

Lizzy Brisette, Katherine, Benji, Abby and Elisabeth

Kibbutz Project

More of Benji from Sunday School:

Study Buddy

Apparently snuffles is helping her concentrate:

Daddy's Bill Helper

Benji was excited to help Kevin pay the bills:

Valentines Day 2019

We had a family dinner on the actual night, and Kevin and I went out for an adult dinner the next day, which was Friday. At Benji's request, we had make-your-own heart shaped pizzas:

I also made special Valentine drinks:

Over dinner we opened cards we had made for each other (we drew names):

My card to Benji

Benji's card to me

After dinner, we made our own truffles (Abby and I made the actual truffles the night before because they needed to set, but we all decorated them on Valentine's night):

Using the New Table

We've been trying to be careful with the table now that we re-finished the surface. Here is a picture of our first dinner on the new-again table, coasters and all:

Engineering Expo, CHS goes to Buford edition

Abby and Elisabeth volunteered to go back to Buford to help Mr. Martin with the Engineering Expo and to perhaps recruit 8th graders for FTC next year. Abby got to spend her time helping people drive the robot, which she enjoyed:

Valentine's Baking Party

Abby had her friends over to make cupcakes and cookies:

Abby, Pray Meh, Elisabeth, Eve and Lucy

Before the party Dylan (who had slept over with Benji) helped to make the cupcakes and we each decorated a few:

Cub Scout Amazement Square Overnight

Benji has long wanted to do this lock-in event, where the scouts have the run of the museum from closing until the next morning (with lights out at 11pm). We were finally able to make it work this year and he had a blast sleeping over there with Kevin:

Working the locks on the James River. He was having a lot of fun coordinating to flood the rivers

his favorite part was definitely the tunnel system connecting all the floors

Working the lights for the Scout Band

Superbowl Party 2019

As usual, we went to the Dalys for the big game. In preparation, Abby and I made a Superbowl cake:

Kids' table at the party:

Juliana and Elayna Pierce, Kiley and Jack, Jones, Patrick and Sean Daly, and Benji

Benji's Premier Beginning Band Concert

This was a Walker only 5th grade band concert where we got to hear each of the instrument sections featured:

Clarinet player

Last minute help from Ms. Allen

First Tech Challenge, part 2

After not qualifying for States at the Charlottesville Regional, Abby's FTC team attended their second regional in Centreville, VA (it was originally supposed to be in Reston two weeks earlier but was snowed out). The team members had worked hard in the 3 weeks between competitions to buff up their notebook and presentation and it paid off in a big way. In addition to being chosen for a strong alliance (which ended up being the winning alliance), they won the biggest award of the day - the Inspire Award. The Inspire Award winning team is the first (of three total teams) to advance to the state competition and they could not have been happier. They also won the control award (for innovative code) and got second place for the motivate award. Abby arrived back late on Saturday night and was ecstatic:

We watched the competition remotely, as it had a live stream. Benji was very excited to set this up

Here is the "official" write-up from Charlottesville City Schools:

And a group picture with their loot:

Pinewood Derby 2019

This was Benji's last Pinewood Derby before he bridges from Cub Scouts to Boy Scouts next month. He did not exactly go out with a bang with this year's "carrot car":

Weigh-in

Parking Lot

There were a lot of technical issues at the start of the event. Benji, of course, had to be front and center as they tried to figure them out

Ready to race

I think he came in 3rd in every one of his heats

Guest Speaker at CBI Sunday School

Here are some pictures of Benji's Sunday school class with a guest speaker from the Israeli army:

Jigsaw Puzzle 2019

We got this one for Christmas and the kids put the last piece in last week: