Well, Amy did not win her first election. She was in the final two for 7th grade president and we really thought she had a chance. But she took it like a man. Rachel and I had a big plan to get a cake, and go to the school and listen to the announcement, then drive Amy home. But I got a flat tire on the way to Rachel's school. My neighbor's, the Kiefer's, drove by and rescued me, and Quin rescued Rachel who'd been waiting at her school a long time. And we were a little late. Just missed the announcement, but found Amy and got her a Dairy Queen ice cream cake. I told her I'll buy her one every time she loses, but not when she wins how 'bout.

Saturday night I got out and bought all our new 72-hour kit food and we stayed up late and repacked everything. Yea! Last year it took several months to repack and the kits sat, strewn, all through the downstairs hall. A week and a day this year. That's progress. Food tips: The Ravioli with pop-top lids was a hit. We were able to heat them on the campfire nicely. Everybody hates the cheese and peanut butter crackers, so we replaced them with cheese nips. The fig newtons got gooey and we didn't dare eat them. The kippered snacks, while loved by a vocal minority, were vetoed by a more vocal majority as "too stinky". So, vienna sausages will be the canned meat of choice this year. I feel really good about this tradition. We are ready to sit in an emergency shelter when Katrina comes to town again. (That's the hurricane, not the Stanford, btw.)

Well, it's Oct 27. Probably time to get started making some Halloween costumes.

Weekly Update--

Comcast fiddled with their e-mail and I'm so frustrated because I can't figure out how to write to y'all. So I've moved to the g-mail account that Heidi was so smart to set up for us. It seems to be a lot more dumb-user friendly.

School was out for two days last week, so we grabbed our 72-hour kits and drove to Payson Lakes campground. It was beautiful. A tad cold at night and one guy who wasn't very happy to be there, but mostly kind of fun and nice to get away. On the drive home we found out that people had TONS of things to do, so Saturday was very busy. We did math all day mostly. Rachel won the prize for the most math by spending from noon until just after midnight (with a 2-hour break for a party) sitting in the same spot at the kitchen table doing her assignments. Yikes.

Amy is running for 7th grade president as some of you know. So she spent the weekend making some pretty clever campaign posters (with Krysta's help). The final vote is this week, so we'll see what happens. She says if she loses, she'll run again next year...and the next year...and the next year...and the next year...

Paul and Daniel got asked to the Halloween dance this week. Daniel got asked by the girl that Paul took to Homecoming. Paul hadn't answered his date before the campout, so Saturday Quin and I asked what we could do to help since Paul was feeling a little under the weather. Daniel says, "Oh, I already answered for him last night!" Weird.

Oh, I have a new calling--I'm Young Womens Camp Director next year! That will be very fun. I have an assistant I really like, too--Michelle Fitzgerald. But I realized I have to start being nice to all the girls. Most of them are in my living room every morning at 7:30 waiting for the Jr. High bus, I noticed today. I need to be careful not to be too crabby. :)