Relay for Life

Our family participated in the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life. It is featured in the Austin Daily Herald. It was a great experience. My children and I went to some friends and neighbors and asked for donations (we raised over $1000 in money and free food coupons - it is nice to know people who sell grocery products at Hormel). Thank you to all who donated.

On Saturday, about 3:00 p.m., we put on our shirts and went down for our group picture. After the group picture there was food, cotton candy, drinks, games, a silent auction, and a live auction. Our team leader was one of the honorary chairs of the event, and she gave a speech at sunset. Before she was able to give her speech, she had to be bailed out of jail (one of the members of our team put her in jail for $10 and she had to raise $100 from inside jail to be able to get out - the normal bail was $10 - she raised $100 in jail, but got fined $20 for taking off her jumpsuit, so she had to go up on stage and ask for money). Caleb and Eli got put in jail. After a little while, Eli came running back to our group shouting, "I'm out!" He had collect $10 from the people walking by. Caleb still had $8 left to collect. Then one of the young men in our ward wanted to see if Eli could get out again before Caleb got out. Eli was back in jail. After a while, our team captain bailed them both out, but Eli got the money first and came running over to our group yelling, "I beat him again!"We took a couple of laps around the pond, and then a little after 12:00 midnight we started packing up the children to take them home. We finally made it home a little before 1:00 a.m. and went to bed. I set my alarm for 4:20 a.m. and then got up and went back for a couple more laps and the closing ceremony. When I returned home about 7:30, the children were all still asleep, and Brett was at church meetings. Several people were very tired at church.
Emily and Claire were very excited to donate their hair. They have been looking forward to it since we signed up for this event, and the people who were going to come and cut hair cancelled. Emily was very dissapointed and cried a lot. The girls will be getting it cut on Tuesday.

All in all - it was a great event.