Ramsdell Family Blog

  Since August my life has been consumed with coaching Jake's Lego Robotics team, the Bionic Ravens. I knew very little about  robots. The boys on my team were all so amazingly smart and taught me how to program a robot. I helped to contain them at meetings and tried to keep them focused (not so easy with six 6th grade boys). We came up with a great game plan and a solid robot that they designed. I never would I have imagined that my team would win first place out of 31 teams. I am so proud of these boys and so happy for their success. I am now retiring from coaching robotics and reclaiming my living room.   At every meeting I would have the boys do some kind of team work challenge. One week we made a human pyramid, so after they won they wanted to get a picture of their pyramid. Competition table, running our last programs. Score board Picture of all 7 teams from our school. Way to go Totem Falls!    

How did it get to be the middle of November already? I have not even had time to post my Halloween pictures!! OK Here will be an update of the last few weeks.     Halloween Photos Trebuchet Jake's Boyscout patrol built to launch pumpkins. Picture we used for our Halloween party invitation George's mom came to visit us for 2 weeks. Our friends planned an adult dodgeball competition. Our team "The Beastie Balls" came in 2nd place. George got pelted on the nose pretty good. I hung out in the back so I would not get hit. It was fun but we were all a bit sore for a few days after.         

My life has been consumed with coaching Jake's First Lego League Robotics team. We have a team of six 6th grade boys. I have been learning lots about building lego's and programming robots -but I must admit the boys are much better at it than me.     This past weekend the local high sponsored Roborama, this was to help mentor the boys with any problems they might be incurring with their robots. These are some of my team members. The competition table.   There is still lots to do before our big competition in December! 

While the boys headed out on another backpacking trip, Jenna and I went to Seattle to see Wicked. The show was great. We both want to go again. After the show, we headed to a yummy dinner at The Cheesecake Factory.   Jake at the campsite on one of their many backpacking trips.     A couple of weeks ago Jenna and I went to see Pacific Northwest Ballet's production of Cinderella. We were glad we went but realized we liked plays better. These pictures were taken at the Seattle Center-it was an amazing sunny day (YES-amazing for the end of September!!) We have had to most amazing weather this fall-I am sure it will never happen again, so we made the most of it.   This week Jake participated in the school districts Pumpkin Run.  Jake did great for his first 1 mile cross country run!

Wow how the summer flew by! And now it's back to school and work for me.  Yesterday Jake started 6th grade. How can that be?     Today Jenna started middle school and had to take the school bus! We have been on a variance so I always had to drive them to and from school. She was real nervous about the bus until it pulled up and had her best friend on it-YAY!! She also had some of best friends in her classes-YAY! She ended up having a great day.    The night before school started we had a picnic at the park to enjoy the sunshine.  

Today we went to register Jenna for middle school. She got her ASB and ID card, agenda and PE clothes. She is all set now! Where has the time gone?   When it finally got to 80 degrees Jenna decided we really needed a pool. We created our own pool cover with a tarp and some old rugs. We are a little ghetto. I will have to say the $20 I spent on this was the best $20 spent this summer. Now if only the sun will come back.  Out in the sun with the Puggy Last summer swim meet. They made it through, even with the awful coach they had. So proud of them for sticking with it.  

Summer has finally made it to Washington. This weekend we are actually supposed to hit 80 degrees. We have had had to water our grass, finally. I do have to admit that I really enjoy our 70 degrees summer days though. This summer has been very unusual for me. I am usually really busy and have lots of projects for myself, but not this summer. For once I have been just hanging out at home not doing a whole lot of anything. Kind of boring for me. So far this summer, Jake went to a week a Boy Scout camp. He had a good time and came home pretty dirty and exhausted. Phoenix Patrol ready for camp George has volunteered to be a Scout Master this year and has really been enjoying learning about backpacking and has taken Jake and Jenna on a couple of backpacking trips. George and Jake left this morning to go on a 5 day back packing trek with scouts. The boys on a very wet 3 day trip to Wallace Falls. After we picked Jake up from scout camp we camped by Mt. Baker. ...

We have been swamped with activities lately. Here are just a few pictures from this week. We had 6th grade recognition for Jenna-its now on to Middle School. Then end of the year school parade Jenna's playing flute in the bright pink tank top. Then we had a party to finish the week off  Tomorrow night we have Jenna's dance recital. Jenna's ballet costume

For Jake's birthday he had a Video game party. George set up 3 computers and linked them together so the boys could all play together on Minecraft (their favorite game). We also had the X Box set up with the Skylanders video game. I think the party was 11 year old boys dream come true-video games for 4.5 hours!!! They stopped to eat candy and pizza-they realized they were to full to eat the birthday cake. This is what we saw of the boys-the backs of thier heads. On a side note-we have finished Jenna's room-she finally decided to get rid of her doll house bed.

Before we pulled out our carpet we let the kids draw masterpieces on it. I thought Jenna took pictures of their art work but this was the only one I found.  The newly carpeted stairs. The new carpet is so soft!  And of course the cat has already hacked up a hairball on it. Easter morning picture.