Return of the Droids!!

Well apparently I was wrong when I reported that our sons robotics team didn't make it to the world championships in St Louis! It seems that one of the qualifying teams was not able to go so....The Droids are in!!! unfortunately this meant that the team was behind the power curve in both fundraising and planning. The kids have been franticly planning for the trip and attempting to improve their robot.

Here is the message sent out by their team mentor soliciting donations and more importantly prayers:

Our St. Peter the Rock home school robotics team has earned a spot to compete in the FTC World Championships in St. Louis, MO 24-28 April! We are so excited that we can hardly believe it. We did very well in our regional competition and at the MD state level, but we never expected to do so well that we would earn a chance to compete at the world level. While we are thrilled and excited, we are also burdened with the very real monetary issue of getting a team of 10 students plus chaperones plus the robot and tools to St. Louis in just over a month, and we still need to upgrade our robot to compete at this level. Up until this point the students have worked hard to earn the money they needed to compete. Now we need to ask for donations of any kind to help us raise $5,000 in four weeks.

These students have worked diligently to learn engineering principles and solid business practices. They have grown in inter-personal skills as a team and in their problem solving skills. They have built a solid robot that performs consistently and created a winning team presentation for the judges. They bring enthusiasm to each competition and continue to positively impress the judges and other teams at every level. They are The Droids and wear R2D2 beanies so everyone knows who they are. They are an amazing group of young adults, and are fantastic ambassadors for home schooling.

We have a link on our website, www.ftcteam4081.com, where you can donate any amount by credit card through Paypal to our account, or you can send a check to SPR Robotics Group, Inc to 3206 Blackwalnut Drive, Annapolis, MD 21403.

If you cannot donate money, I'd ask you to please pray for our students as they prepare for this event. Help them to remember to keep the competition in the proper perspective, to use their individual gifts and talents wisely, to humbly help others along the way, and to be good sportsman throughout this journey.

Thank you and we are in your debt,

Mrs H

FTC Team 4081

The Droids

- We ARE the droids you're looking for -

These are the DROIDS you are looking for

We are very proud of the FTC Robotics team Inch has been part of since last school year. The team, called "The Droids", competed in the MD State Championship this last weakened and did an amazing job.

The team won the "FTC Think Award" for their engineering notebook and for documenting their journey this year. They also received third place for the State Inspire Award.

Unfortunately they didn't qualified for the World Championship in April but we are still so very proud of of them regardless!

They had wonderful mentors, really grateful for all their hard work,especially Mrs. H.

this is what the playing field looked like

The team all had matching R2D2 beanies...so did Little z

Happy Birthday Inch

They always start out so small!

Eighteen years ago God gave us a HUGE responsibility....a little baby boy to take care of.

As the years have passed that baby boy has grown up into a wonderful, strong, handsome,young man who has a deep love for Christ. Inch, has changed our lives for the better, he has brought us closer to our Lord. Yes, he can be strong willed and stubborn but more often than not he is the cause of great joy and pride! We know God has great plans for you, continue to

stay close to Him and He will guide your path. We love you so very much.

Happy Birthday Inch!

Love,

your family

Inch always loved spending time with his grandmothers "Ammuma" and "Nana"

WYD Madrid / Pilgrimage

WYD Madrid /Pilgrimage

Follow the link above for a slide show, enjoy.

Pilgrimage

Our oldest two are on a month long Pilgrimage to Europe, ending with World Youth Day! We are so excited for them.
We are really proud of them for earning / saving the money for this trip on their own. We are also so thankful for family and friends who helped them with generous donations. Please keep them in prayer.

A map of their travels

Happy 17th Inch

Seventeen things we love about Inch.....

1. Your Love for God
2. Your yearning to learn Theology
3. Your love for family
4. Your loyalty to friends
5. Your wonderful laugh
6. Your big smile
7. Your ability to relate to kids of all ages
8. Your sense of humor
9. Your dedication to go to daily Mass
10. Your some one we can count on
    
11. Your determination
12. Your desire to volunteer
13. Your a good babysitter
14. Your commitment to your team
15. Your relationship with your siblings
16. Your cool because you don't worry about being "cool"
17. When you are around I never have to read any instruction manuals..You know how to put stuff together ... especially when dad is traveling that's real helpful :)

We love you son we are proud of the young man you are becoming.
Love,
Mom & Dad

Happy Birthday Inch

Well there is a time in every parents life when they realize that their little boy/girl is becoming a man/woman. Inch is now 16 years old and gone is that little boy who we held in our arms. Inch has become a mature young adult.

He has shown us that he has wisdom beyond his years. We actually find ourselves asking his opinions on important family decisions. His advice is almost never rash but for the most part well thought out and articulate. It is hard to believe that he will be leaving our house and forging his own path out into this world.

I hope that the world is ready for this young man. He will be a challenge to all that he meets. I mean this in a good way, to often people are satisfied with the "status quo" without questioning why things are the way they are. Inch has never been happy with the standard "just because" answers to his why. This has challenged to grow as parents and as Catholics. He dreams of being a Theology Professor some day and I don't doubt for a minute that he will be one someday.

Happy Birthday Young man we thank God for your health and for you being you.

Love Mom, Dad, "U", Mystical Rose, and GMAC

We are very proud of Inch

Ladies and Gentlemen May I introduce you to Americas Newest Eagle Scout
Inch passed his board of review with flying colors

Just filling out some district paperwork

Posing with the Board of review members

his goal was to make this rank before his 16th birthday.... and he did it!!
We are all so very proud of him!