D.I. Reunion!!

Great time was had by all as the Deane's hosted the first annual Disaster Masters Reunion!! After follies in the basement... pizza was devoured by all and an afternoon of fort building ensued outside! The wind was unforgiving... but the Disaster Masters were tough as they burrowed their way to new civilizations with tree covered tunnels and top secret passageways! After being forced inside, the team enjoyed some rich delicious hot chocolate and homemade chocolate chip cookies! Holy cow... it's good to be a Disaster Master... even a year later!!

AND THE WINNER IS!!

Congratulations to Flossie Hill-Miller for holding the winning ticket in the Quilt raffle.  $288 was raised and the proceeds was split between the Disaster Masters and the Sunderland Public Library.  We are so lucky to have such supporters!

Sheila draws the winning ticket.

Happy Birthday Anna - on her way home

The team has landed in Charlotte and are killing time before they board their flight to Hartford.  Tony and Deb are estimated to arrive home around 6 tonight!!

Safe travels.

Totally Amazing - these kids

They finished 13th!! See the results.
http://globalfinals.org/index.php/results/322-results-challenge-b-dir-bot

Closing Ceremonies - The energy is amazing

Performance pictures

Amy forwarded this to me!

They have the "official" photos of the Disaster Masters performance
posted on page 14 and 15 of the DiBOT area:

http://idodi.smugmug.com/Global-Finals-2010/challenges/Challenge-DI-Bot/12288358_T2LJK#882735387_dheht

They are just SOOOO Cute

Best Performance yet!

The kids keep outdoing themselves!!

now that is some waaaavy hair!

Ready Set Go

Morning Pep Talk

Breakfast of Champions

Final Day Schedule - Main Challenge and Pool Party

Too tired to type more than necessary.

Breakfast will be at the same time as yesterday. 7. Be there or be square.

Focus : Challenge.  What else can I say?  The hair is braided, Mr. 
Shrimpton is loose, Aquaman us pumped up!  Game on!

See you in the morning.

Okay. Now that I realize Julie is posting these emails......

After the challenge we are cutting loose!  Back to the dorms to change into swim gear then down to the Presidential courtyard for pin trading
- we will get pictures - lunch that is not pulled pork or chicken, and then some major pool action. Slip n'slide, diving board, floatees....kid (and manager!) chill time.

Then back to the dorms to change and pack up and off to closing ceremonies. I can't believe it's over.  Didn't it just start?

--Judy

Check out the new videos and pictures posted!!

Video, New pics

Deb uploaded some video of the kids. (Look at the bottom of the post for more pictures and link to the album where more pictures are available to view.

Ta Da moment after Instant Challenge



Missing Home on the way to Opening ceremonies


Singing the llama song on the way to opening ceremonies



Why Fish in the llama song?


I uploaded a bunch of pictures to the DI pages, Go and browse there.  here are a few.

Cave Caves Everywhere

Caves...400 feet Below the Ground!!

Tuckaleechee...Tuck-a-what-ee?? Tuckaleechee...as in caves!! Everyone took a very cool field trip to these very famous caves in Tennessee's Smokey Mountains. Waterfalls 450 feet below the earth... vernal pools, stalactites, stalagmites, and the cleanest, clearest, freshest, tastiest drinking water you've ever tasted! Very Impressive!

Friday Schedule and More Pics from Thursday Dance/Bed Time

Another great day is behind us!  I know you all hears about how great the kids felt they did on IC today. What you

didn't hear about is the box and ball dance we went to. Check out the blog for some great pictures of this event -

hopefully Julie has time to post them!  The highlight of the night was when the band played "don't stop believing!".

The kids truly think this song is for them!  The enthusiasm was crazypants!  We have the video to prove it.

Breakfast tomorrow 7:00 at the magical Smokey's at the campus center.

Fieldtrip to the caves at 9-4:30.

Dinner once we disembark. And then we will have some team performance practice.

Busy day ahead. Call if you need anything - although who knows what type of cell service the caves get.
Judy

Taaaaa Daaaaaaah!

After feeling quite accomplished post-instant challenge, the Disaster Masters share their "ta-dah" moment in the beautiful outdoor amphitheater!

INSTANT CHALLENGE

The team is ready!!

Shana Wrote "All 6 say IC was awesome- couldn't be happier"

More Opening Ceremony Pics and Thursday's agenda

Can't wait to see the pictures and hear the stories from today.   Here is the agenda as emailed late last night!

We had a great first day today. The kids are all asleep and Shana and I have planned out tomorrows activities. Here

is the plan...

Depart for breakfast @ 6:30

Team challenge viewing @ 8:00-9:00 university ballroom

Pin trading and Souvenir Shop visit @ 9-10:30 KCC pin pit

Fuel Up to Play 60 challenge (TBD) in KCC area from 10:30-11:30

Lunch @ worlds fair park @ 11:30

Pool @ 12:30-1:30

Team IC prep 2-3 in room

Team IC depart @ 3 for arrival at the Humanities Building near Thompson Boling Arena.
***please be there for the TaDa moment no later than 4!

Kids choice 4:30-5:30ish

Dinner @ 5:50 @ Smokey's

Box & Costume Ball @ 7:30 - Thompson Boling arena

Whew! Another busy day with these crazy awesome kids :-)

Please call or email with any questions.  Good night!

--Judy

Phew! Amazing Day!

The kids are all asleep, showered and out cold from exhaustion:-) Opening ceremonies was amazing. We sweated it out waiting in a long packed corridor for almost an hour waiting to march in but once we got in there it was big time fun for the team. In other news... pin trading is WAY more addictive and fun than any of us could have imagined. They were all looking at their new pins before bed tonight and rearranging them. Everyone has been brave reaching out to new friends from around the world to make trades. Tomorrow is IC, the kids are gonna knock em dead. They are booming with creativity this week, you can feel it. They sing these really catchy made up songs everywhere they go and folks just love them. The wild hats were a huge hit. I'm going to bed. All six kids are happy and loving this. Great start to our big adventure!

More Soon...

Shana

Thanks New Mexico!!

After somehow walking right through security without any tickets...Lee and Tony found themselves in need of some seats for Opening Ceremonies. Thanks to New Mexico who quickly and graciously gave us three of their available "sweet" seats. Deb arrived soon after (apparently, unfortunately for Deb, security wasn't about to let another ticketless parent into the show), but she talked her way in and soon joined us! We're "feelin' the love" down here in Tennessee. Where I might add, they put good manners, polite tone, courtesy, and plain old being NICE on the map! Tennessee folks and New Mexico folks are amazing!!

WOW!! Opening Ceremonies!

Can you say pyrotechnic excitement...complete with marching band leading in the delegations from around the world!! Brazil...Singapore...Korea, United Kingdom...Mexico...Turkey...Wow!! Watching the kids walk in with the Massachusetts delegation was awesome! Finished the evening with a fireworks display and wild and crazy laser show! Kids loved it...let the games begin!

Opening Ceremonies

They texted that it was HOT!  We heard MA DI come out, but didn't really get a glimpse of the kids!!

Wednesday to Tennessee

I will post pictures as they arrive via email/iphone -  You can also see "official pictures from the event at The Offical Global DI website
Even at 4:45 they look happy!

 At the airport in Hartford

Conveyor Belts are a blast














Stevie's first airplane ride was a success!

Chillin' at Gate C34

The Journey Begins at 4:30am

8:05pm update: Knoxville - Here we are!

3:30pm update:  80 miles north of Roanoke.

11:am update.  They have just gone through Harrisburg, PA. Capital of PA as all those 4th graders know by now!!

The first wave has moved.  4:30am the first stop was for coffee with a packed van and energized parents.  Deb and Tony left Tuesday morning for their 13+ hour drive to Tennessee with luggage, props, snacks, etc.... I hope they will have good weather and views on the way.

This is just half of the back!!!