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

WYD Madrid / Pilgrimage

WYD Madrid /Pilgrimage

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At 24 weeks

This was taken last week, Crucian Dad and I went to a Pregnancy Center Gala, and had a wonderful time.

No twins or triplets, this is just how I carry!

Sending "U"off

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Our visit with Mallu Mom's cousin

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Really cool nuns

Some may think the term "Cool Nuns" seems like an oxymoron because when people think of nuns they they unfortunately think of this
The stereotypical scary old lady with a permanent scowl and lightning quick with the ruler.

Well let me introduce you to the Servants of the Lord and the Virgin of Matara

The sisters singing a song before mass

These ladies are young (or young at heart) vibrant, full of love for the Lord and seem to always be smiling!

One of the things the sisters do is run an weekly oratory for young girls. Oratory is like a day camp and Mystical Rose has been going for the past year. This past Saturday the sisters held a family day so we all went. Family Day is something we look forward to; with games, singing, food and fellowship it is always fun.

GMAC playing one of the games run by the nuns

The novitiate house is next to a farm

this is where we had mass

"U" was even able to serve at mass

Big Snow 2009

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Pass the pigs

our very good friends came over for pizza and board games. We played Pictionary, Gestures and they introduced us to what is becoming one of our favorite games Pass the Pigs
The game is so simple yet so much fun, with the differences in our kids ages it is hard for us to find games that the whole family can enjoy.

Mistical Rose's Birthday Party

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Fire

Our boys love fire! They are experts at starting fires!! Well, they are experts at making a proper fire( from all of the Boys Scout training.) Inch built a fire pit out of things he found around the back yard/woods. He gathers the rocks all the way at the bottom of the hill. He did a great job and we've enjoyed it quite a bit.

Our niece & nephew

Halloween 2009

OK so I know that it is a few days late but here are the kids in their Halloween costumes.
Even though the teenagers didn't trick-or-treat they still enjoyed dressing up.

Inch is dressed as an ancient Greek

"U" went as a traveling beggar monk

Rose went as Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha

G-MAC as baby Kateri

Daddy & I

My dad and I have been reading this book, and we just finished it! It's about 4 kids that go to an island and meet 2 other kids who who go there every summer. They have a lot of adventure, some of it is with retired and friendly pirates. The thing I like the most is the kids imagination. The plot is really good also. Thanks daddy for reading it with me every night.
--Mystical Rose

Well Inch hit another milestone (pun intended) in a active young mans life.
While playing soccer he was hit in the head with the ball and suffered a mild concussion!

We are not sure exactly when in the game it happened because he continued to play (he was on an adrenaline rush) We only found out when one of his friends came to us after the game and told us that he was dizzy and had been throwing up.
Inch has an early game and the rest of the kids play after he does. Inch and his friends sit around and talk and joke while their siblings play their games.

We took him to the ER and a CT scan came back normal. The doctor said that it was only a mild concussion.

Inch is doing fine , he has a bad headache and is just a little dizzy especially when he moves too fast.

-- Crucian Dad

Field Trip to the Science Center

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Assumption Mass

When we began to our search for a home, I made a request of Our Blessed Mother. I promised her that if she would pray for us to find us a house before the Feast of the Assumption (August 15) we would have a Mass offered at our house in her honor. Our Lady came through for us, we closed on the 10th !

This feast is very special to me for a couple of reasons, last year on the 15th I consecrated myself to Jesus through Mary. I was able to reconsecrated myself the Mass at our house.
August 15th is also India's Independence day!

We were very blessed to have wonderful friends and family to share this day with us. Thank you.

Most of the pictures on the post below are taken by my sis, the out of focus ones were taken by me ;-)

Mallu Mom

Pictures from the Mass

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Quality Time

Mistical Rose and I had some quality time at the arts and crafts center on post; we worked on painting some ceramics. It was fun and relaxing.

Rose picke out a "piggy bank"..... well a "locker bank"!

Look at that concentration!

Just the gals

The end product; she did a terrific job!