Destination Imagination State Tournament

Our final day! It kind of felt like we were already done at this point because even though we were in Fresno, not home, we met up with friends for the Destination Imagination State Finals, so it felt like we were home. 

Bug and his teammates competed in the Medical Mystery category. They had worked for the last few weeks to improve their script and props after the feedback they got from the regional tournament.

They had their Instant Challenge first thing in the morning and then their performance. We were all so proud of their hard work. They had a couple setbacks at performance time, but took them in stride and quickly came up with a plan B. I think I was even more impressed with their great attitudes than I was with the actual play.

And then we got to relax and enjoy the other groups performances. We went to several different ones in the different categories and it was fun to see how groups worked with the challenges. The kids were getting ideas for next year, and just having fun knowing that they were done for this year. There was a lot of playing around and hanging out.

Games. This trip has convinced me that it is a good idea to keep a couple small games in my purse for those moments where we are waiting--for food, for the next event, or whatever. Peanut, especially, is so much happier when he has something fun to do while waiting. Spot It was a nice one because it doesn't take much room at all.

We took the chance to go back to the hotel where everyone else was staying so the kids could swim for an hour before the awards ceremony that evening.

That was the only pool time our kids saw this week--the Pacific Northwest in April isn't really a pool place, but Fresno was nice.

These kids didn't win anything and won't be moving on, but we found out later that they had the second highest score for their instant challenge in their category, which was pretty impressive. They still aren't allowed to tell us what the challenge was because they use the same group of challenges in Globals next month, but I can't wait to hear what they did when this is all over.

While this whole DI experience has been incredibly time consuming and sometimes stressful, I'm glad that Bug did it. I feel like it is a great program and lets the kids be creative, while learning some great skills. Overall, I think Bug would say that he liked it and is glad that he did it, too, but I don't know if any of us will be sad if he decides to not participate next year. Right now, he's looking forward to getting his Saturdays and two afternoons a week back and not having looming performances stressing him out.

Once we were done there, we went to dinner with a couple of the families, and then FINALLY headed home. We had actually considered driving up to Mariposa instead which would have meant a shorter drive that evening, and a chance to see the wildflowers that are everywhere right now around where Daddy-o grew up, but in the end, sleeping in our own beds and having a full day to recover and do laundry before jumping back into normal life won. The wildflowers will have to wait until another year. We did see some pretty cool different types of nature this spring.

Destination Imagination

5 months of preparations came together this weekend for this DIsasters Team! They chose from 6 challenges and opted to tackle the Medical Mystery category. They had certain requirements they had to fulfill, including coming up with an 8-minute or shorter presentation to explain a medical situation, a diagnosis, and build a Sympt-o-matic. They did the research, wrote the script, built the set and props--including a hologram (who knew you could make one at home!)--and performed their final product in front of about 100 people.

Their score from that, as well as from an Instant Challenge they did earlier in the day, was high enough to get 3rd place and send them to the state competition in April! We're so proud of all the work they put into this, even though it wasn't always easy (or even fun at times).

Here's their performance:

These Days

This is what the photos on my phone look like these days. Meet Dandan, my regular dog walking client. I get to walk this overgrown puppy Monday thru Friday (in hopes that when his owners come home, he won't maul them as they come through the door.) He's a little crazy and has a bad habit of jumping, but he's also super smart and happy, which is impossible to not be affected by, so I'm loving our daily walks. And I still get the occasional dog sitting or drop-in visits, so this little side-hustle is bringing in a small, but steady income which is also fun.

These nights are now lit up by Deacon Dave's again. 

We can no longer see the lights from our house, but that hasn't stopped us from enjoying them with friends on multiple nights already, and every time we drive that direction. While the kids are a little sad about the loss of hot chocolate income, I think we've all enjoyed more relaxed weekends with time for movies.

But these days are still busy with kids' activities and church callings, and school. Bug had a practice Destination Imagination tournament a couple weekends ago. He's involved on a team that meets weekly, preparing for the STEM challenges and performance that they will compete at in February. And he is in piano and art, which just feels like part of his school day. Bean has a lighter schedule this trimester, and isn't doing a school sport, so we decided to let her fill up her evenings with art class and 2 days of club water polo. Peanut is the only one who isn't involved in anything extracurricular right now.

This feels like my second home these days. Some days, I feel like my time is broken into chunks of 15-45 minutes, between two different school runs in the a.m., Bug's classes during the day, two school pick ups, after school activities, and my dog clients. It doesn't make for the best productivity, but I'm trying to embrace it. It is making me appreciate my mom who did the same for us for years. And at least I have a new (to us) van to run my taxi service.

And these nights, I'm trying to spend as much time as possible right here, enjoying the lights and, once everyone else goes to bed (or at least their rooms), the quiet. 'Tis the season.