FTC Regionals 2022

We came home from Florida on the early side this year so that Abby could help her FTC team (7080 BACON) prepare for and compete in the 2022 regionals (the organization had regionals instead of states this year and our region was DC, Maryland and Virginia). The team was a little surprised to qualify and Abby did not want to give up her last chance to compete. Because the event fell over spring break, none of the normal FTC coaches were able to chaperone. Kevin stepped in and he and Abby drove to Hampton Friday night for the Saturday competition. Benji and I watched the Twitch stream from home, so we have pictures from two vantage points:

Loading in their equipment

First match

Twitch stream of first match

Final

Match 2

Abby driving the robot

View of the drivers from the Twitch stream

Match 2 Final

With Graham between matches

Match 3 final

Final match-up

Talking to the ref before the final match

Final score of final match-up

Hanging with the Kishores

Katie texted while we were in Florida to see if Abby might be available to babysit the Friday of Spring Break week. She couldn't do it because her FTC team was busy in the lab getting ready for states, but Benji and I volunteered to hang out with the girls instead. We had fun morning playing all the games (at Kiran's request) and I was able to snap a few pictures:

Ivy Day Swag

 "Ivy Day," the date the acceptance letters from all the Ivy League schools arrive, was Thursday, March 31st this year. Abby has, of course, long since had her early decision offer from Dartmouth, but in conjunction with Ivy Day most of the schools send boxes of swag to the students they have accepted. Abby was happy to receive a box from Dartmouth shortly after our return from spring break:

Last Day in Palm Beach: Lizards and Cats and Planes, Oh My!

As a consequence of our canceled flight, we had to fly to Fort Lauderdale instead of Palm Beach. Because we were renting a car for the trip, we needed to go in and out of the same airport and therefore had to also change our return flight. We couldn't stay any extra days because of Abby's FTC competition, but we were able to take a flight later in the day that gave us most of the day with my dad (leaving his house around 3pm). We decided the beach would be a lot, but I'd always wanted to check out the Panther Ridge Conservatory, so we booked an early afternoon tour there. We started with a fun brunch in Lake Worth. On the way home, my dad had us pull over at a drainage ditch because "that's where all the lizards are." He was right! Dozens of them went scrambling as we approached and I was able to catch the last few on film:

We got a small tour at the conservancy and saw all types of cats they have there. The main mission of the rescue is to try to breed endangered cats from a more diverse gene pool, but they also take in cats that have been mistreated elsewhere. Our guide was very knowledgeable. All the animals are predators and had to stay in their enclosures, but I tried to get some pretty pictures.

Serval:

Leopard:

Cloud Leopard:

Fishing Cat:

Action shot of it catching prey in the air

Amur Leopard:

She does not like men and was growling at someone in the group

Cheetah:

Ocelot:

Puma (Cougar):

And with that, we were headed home.

Another Beach Day

 Tuesday we decided on a slower start and we all went to the park for some exercise (Abby and Kevin individually, Grandpa Steve, Benji and I as a group). We had some down time in the morning where the kids and I played a couple rounds of Bananagrams (my masterpiece pictured) and then we headed to the beach with a picnic in the evening. We ended staying until well past dark and it was amazing to watch the stars come out over the sand:

Winning board

Back at Singer Beach, this time in perfect light

Bonus selfie

Gorgeous sunset

Grandpa Steve just chilling while Abby does some watercolor painting

Her subject (the flowers were mine)

Spring Break (at last)

It's been such a crazy few weeks around here, I have quite a bit of catch-up to do. A big part of this was traveling for Spring Break for the first time in more than 2 years. We had a bit of trouble gettign started with a canceled flight on Saturday followed by a delayed take-off on Sunday, but we finally made it to Grandpa Steve's house late on Sunday night (after several abortive attempts to get food on the way). Monday started rainy but we made out way to the breach anyway. It actually turned into a beautiful day so if we had been patient it would have been a nicer beach afternoon, but instead we had a lovely lunch and stroll through City Place:

On the plane Sunday night. When they rebooked us, none of our seats were together, but Benji was able to switch with the person behind him

It was cloudy and drizzle when we got to the beach, so we amused ourselves looking for shells

Benji didn't mean to get all wet but he "accidentally sat down when a wave was coming."

After shelling came selfies by the shore

We decided we'd might as well take some nicer pictures, too

By late morning the sun had come out and we were able to go into the water and do a little sunbathing before it got too hot and we had to leave

After quick showers and changes, we headed to City Place for lunch at Il Bellagio and some window shopping. Abby was really taken by this art installation under the escalator