Get Your Pi Pod On - GPA 7

We got to bust out our Pi Pod shirts today!!  Let the competition begin!
I often say there is a fine line between brave and crazy-- and I regularly vacillate between the two.
On this trip, with how much we are squeezing into each day, I cannot say for sure which side of the line we're on, but I'm leaning toward crazy.

There is so much to do here in St. Louis-- it is incredible and most of it is FREE!!!  There are also events for Pi Pod we want to go see.  I cannot believe how much we've been able to do on this trip with our little kiddos in tow.  So far, every little (and not so little) body is holding up pretty well.

Ew.  Penguins are stinky.
We headed off to the St. Louis Zoo first thing this morning.  I should say that was the first thing for the kids and I.  Abe had already shuttled the team to the convention center earlier.  Our monster van is working out great as Team Pi Pod Shuttlecraft.
In our travels we have always enjoyed going to visit the zoos of different cities.  They've been a favorite of Clark's.  It felt so wrong to go to a zoo without Clark with us today-- he had FIRST Lego League events.  In honor of him, Faith sat on the snakes on the carousel. 

We have petted stingrays before, but this was fun because we got to feed them.  You put a piece of fish between your fingers and they come and suck it off.  Very fun.  Elinor swears a ray tried to bite her.  I don't think so, but she was not to be convinced.

Now that is a real man!

"Mommy and Daddy, can we pleeeease get a guinea pig?"
No.  Maybe.  We'll see.

One very happy baby.  One very handsome husband.  Two cute little fennec foxes in the back.

The boys are having a great time.  One of the fun things the teams from all over the world do is exchange buttons and swag.  Pi Pod boys are pinning buttons all over their hats. 

Gives the term "metal head" a whole new meaning.

Tonight was the Opening Ceremony for FLL.  It was an exciting and spirited atmosphere.  A huge ballroom with music, emcee, talent show and at least 2,000 screaming FLL participants and supporters.  Roughly half of the 84 teams are international teams.  It was so inspiring to watch each country's team come onto the stage and announce their country and say hello in their language.  There as a particularly touching moment when the Japanese team performed a Janpanese dance of celebration, but before they performed, a young man spoke in Japanese with a translator.  He spoke of the earthquakes and tsunami back home and thanked the other countries for their support.  The whole ballroom stood up and applauded them. 

FLL talks a lot about Core Values

• We are a team.
• We do the work to find solutions with guidance from our coaches and mentors.
• We honor the spirit of friendly competition.
• What we discover is more important than what we win.
• We share our experiences with others.
• We display Gracious Professionalism in everything we do.
• We have fun.

 There is a very positive atmosphere associated with this whole endeavor.  We are so grateful to everyone who helped make this trip possible for Clark and Team Pi Pod.  Thank you, thank you, thank you.