Quick Cub Scout links

Just a couple quick links to some photo galleries:

• Pack 61 Blue and Gold banquet
• Den 13 helps Pack 96/796 with their Pinewood Derby

Pack 61 Pinewood Derby, 2007

Pack 61 held their 2007 Pinewood Derby at Southwest Hills Community Church. The derby is one of the best events of Cub Scouting ... the boys and the parents really get into it.

This year, Sean's Cheesecake car won an award for Most Original design. This is kind of funny because last year Brian won the same award for an ice cream sundae car.

Brian's car was a Mario Kart car with a neat Model Magic character he sculpted, but alas it was more than the required 5 ounces. We tried to put Mario on a diet, but he just couldn't lose enough weight by race time, so the car ran riderless. It was a good effort none-the-less.

The year also marked the debut of a new aluminum track and computer timer finish line. The track was very fast and quite nice to look at. Putting it together for the first time proved to be quite an experience.

We had one computer glitch that stalled us for a bit at the beginning, but we ended up racing more than 60 cars in four lanes in about an hour.

Here are scene photos from the derby, and then here are photos of all the winners.

Snow in Austin? Yes ... it happens

Yes, it does occasionally snow in Austin. It was forecast for starting Friday night, but the icy mess didn't actually start until Sunday night. The threat of icy roads forced dad to stay in a hotel downtown for two nights (though I could've made it home and back, I think.)

The kids were off school on Tuesday and Wednesday and have to make them up later in the year. Frankly, we'd rather have had the days off later.

Click here for more Blizzard of 2007 photos!

Letters to Santa

Brian and Sean did wait a little later than most kids to write their letters to Santa ... they wrote them tonight, Christmas Eve, as we waited for dinner at Nuevo Leon. Luckily, Santa is magical and I'm sure he knows already what they want.

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas!