The GRRRolling LuNaTeCs and Niagara Falls!

Last weekend was the first competition of the season for my stepson's robotics team! We traveled to Rochester, New York to compete in the Finger Lake Regional FIRST competition. What an AMAZING time we had!!! And to make it even better, Collin's robotics team were finalists! We were so proud of them and all the hard work they have been doing to get this far. It was so nice to see it finally paying off!

Here is the LuNaTeCs robot all ready to compete....


Here is Collin's team after receiving their finalist trophies, and medals. They also received the "Judges" Award. We were extremely proud of their accomplishments, it is so awesome to see all the hard work paying off....

Below is a happy Collin and his girlfriend, Sam with their medals and one of the trophy.

Sam made Ally her own little LuNaTeC crown, and then one of the mentors on the team gave her an orbit ball necklace.

Collin working on the robot prior to the Finals...

And check out this girl's hair. Her team was on our alliance for the finals. I love it!! I think I'll wear mine like that for the next competition!

And here are the GRRRolling LuNaTeCs...

Team GRR, Team Rolling Thunder and our team the LuNaTeCs.

After spending Friday and Saturday at Robotics, we left Saturday night to head to Niagara Falls. It was downpouring and there was lightening almost the whole hour and half ride. But we made it in one piece to the hotel. We stayed at a Comfort Inn right next to the park that surronds Niagara Falls. It was nice and close. We got there at about 9 and I was exhausted.

I started looking at all the brochures, and all of them were saying that you have to see the falls at night because they are lit up and beautiful. Motherly guilt kicked in and I asked the kids if they wanted to go...of course they did. So out we went into the downpour to see the beautiful falls in the drenching rain.

Aren't they beautiful??? Just kidding, the night pictures just don't do it justice.

They actually were stunning with the lights on them, but between the darkness and the pouring rain, I didn't get one picture of the falls that turned out.

I did get a picture of the boys though...Allyson and Fred stayed behind because at this point Allyson was sound asleep...

The next day, after a scrumptious free breakfast at our hotel where we were joined by Collin's girlfriend, her mom and sister, we treked across the street to see the falls in the light of day.

Sam and her sister, Shannon..

Collin and Sam

After Sam and her family left, we headed out to Goat Island, which is one of the island's between the American falls and the Canadian falls. When we came back, the observation deck was open that hangs out over the river for a spectacular view of the falls.

On the way home, we also stopped in Locksport, New York so we could see a lock on the Erie Canal. Just something we thought the boys might be interested in seeing and since it was practically on the way home, why not?

It was cool to see...although I was freezing! I think it would have been much better to actually see a boat go through it, but it is the wrong time of year for that.

Then we headed home...it was a whirlwind weekend. I was really glad to get the kids to Niagara Falls once so they could see what it was like. Last year, when we went to Rochester for one of Collin's competitions, we didn't get to go on to Niagara as we planned because of tons of snow and more on the way so I was glad this year that we could go there since it was not too far.