Halloween -- LDS Style

So on Saturday we had a ward Halloween party. There's nothing like hanging out at the Cultural Hall enjoying a glass of apple juice under the basketball hoop.

Just a few observations regarding costumes:

- The adults that show up seem to fit in one of three categories:
1) Those who come in full costume. Nine times out of ten this includes the one guy that comes dressed up in some freaked out costume like the grim reaper or dracula.
2) Those who choose to not dress up at all.
3) Those who put on some of their "regular" clothes they have in the closet and call it a costume. Examples include the husband and wife that both wear a soccer jersey with jeans; those who wear scrubs (even though they've never worked in the medical field but bought them because they're "cool pajamas"); and my personal favorite, the guy who wore his suit with his old missionary tag.

Just for the record, Mayka and I dressed up as disco stars. I had my hair slicked back and towards the end of the night, the bishop's wife came up and said to me, "We've been trying all night to figure out what you are. Are you supposed to be some sort of pimp?" Looks like I'll be keeping that Webelos calling.

As part of the festivities, people could bring their pre-carved pumpkins for a contest. Well, our family brought five pumpkins (we each carved our own) and even though Mom never taught us to carve pumpkins growing up, I got first place. (Mayka got a respectable second.)

In the photo, the pumpkins, from left to right, were designed by Rhys, Riley, Mayka, Sam, myself.

Well, after the games, musical chairs, and my all-time favorite activity the piñata, the night ended with trunk-or-treating outside in the pitch black parking lot. I don't think I've ever seen Rhys as excited as he was that night when all of a sudden he realized that people put candy in his bag and all he had to do was hold it out. It was fun to watch.

McDonald's Lovin'

OK, so there are only about four days left for the McDonald's Monopoly Game. I've got the monopoly board and now need your game pieces. If we win, we split the money six ways. If you have any game pieces lying around, let me know what they are and I will tell you if we still need them.

Come on people! Hurry up and stuff down those Big Macs, Sausage Biscuits, small 32 oz. sodas, we've got to win! If everyone eats there two meals a day for the next three days, there's no telling what we could win!

I be one ugly mofo!!

Well, the secret is out. For the past month I have been dating someone (a girl, in case you were wondering, Chad) and her name is Brenna Jackson. She is an Orem native and I met her at one of my roommate's wedding luncheon. (*sidenote: the girl in the "engagement" picture is just a friend here from work. Her name is Elaine. She is actually 27 years old and also a crew chief. We just thought we would make fun of all the other cheesy wedding pictures that were on the board at that time). Also, for the past two weeks I have been hounded and bugged and molested and annoyed with constant badgering from my roommates to hold her hand. Well, to make the long story short, I finally did the night before last. Cool. Anyway, the next morning I am walking into work, open up the paper to the Letters to the Editor and the first article I see is an article entitled "Looks aren't important". I glance briefly at the name and who is it but Brenna Jackson from Orem, Utah. Go ahead and laugh. Everyone else that I have told seems to do that without any sort of restraint. If you want to read the letter here it is. The actual letter is in response to a previous letter titled birds of a feather wherein the author states how ugly men need to stick to ugly women and good looking men need to stick to good-looking women and vice versa. Brenna is just refuting that claim. She said she didn't pick that title; that it was chosen by the editor and that it presented the message wrong. Bytheway, in response to my asking if I could write about this to you guys, she said I couldn't do it, so lets just keep this on the DL. Great. Hope you had a great laugh.

I'm Engaged!!

Just thought I would let you all know that I am in engaged. Cool, huh?

Conference Call

Being Conference weekend, I thought I’d start out with a joke of a spiritual nature—a family favorite even.

What do you call a religious Dorito?
-a chipmunk

Mike & I went to Priesthood meeting yesterday. It was difficult but we decided to leave the ice chest at home. A couple of observations:

--We have a men’s choir from Brigham City. Mike asks if any of our cousins might be there. Uh, no. No sign of Wilford Brimley either. Highly disappointing.

--Why is it that the General Authorities use middle and other initials? Is it because we might get confused with another Gordon Hinckley that lives in Iowa and works at the local Chucky Cheese’s? Why doesn’t this apply to Bishops on the ward programs? I’m full of questions. I guess it’s just one of those things that you never find out the reason. It’s like wondering why anyone in their right mind would buy a Ralph Tresvant album. You’ll always just end up scratching your head and decide to move on in life.

--Note to the brethren: all buildings need wireless internet. You know, to take notes, use online thesaurus, speaker bios, etc.

--Elder Eyring strangely resembles someone famous—after racking my brain, the only name I could come up with is Bob Saget…I don't know. Another resemblance: D. Todd Christoferson looks like Glenn Beck’s long lost older brother. What Nick?!

That's all I have. Can't wait to see some of you in a couple of days.