Branch Christmas Party!!!

So we had our branch Christmas party last night, and it was awesome! It was a formal affair...mostly. There was a spectrum of "formal" which is just fine by me. Everybody looked lovely. Everybody, that is, except my "friends" who showed up with the facial hair I hate most: mustaches. Ew. Jason and Cameron have been sporting beards/gotees ever since they found out how I feel about mustaches, so I pretty much knew that the facial hair would be reduced to a mustache sometime...I just didn't know when. Honestly, I was banking on it over our upcoming trip to Colorado. (Funny, I had just been having a conversation with Brooke about it the night before.) Anyway...the first person I saw when I entered the Rose Shop was Cameron, wearing a big smile and a handlebar mustache. Oi...I really can't tell you what my reaction was exactly; I'm pretty sure it involved rolling my eyes and walking away...there's a 50/50 chance that there was a smile on my face; I'll have to ask Cameron. Anyway, once I saw Cameron and his nasty facial hair, I was planning on Jason showing up with less than a beard as well. And I was right to assume such. He had a mustache and mutton chops. Geez. Later on, Jayson showed up with a mustache (which I was not planning on). Scott showed up with a mustache as well. I was surrounded by mustaches all night!

So as obnoxious as my friends are, I laughed at it. I figured the joke was over.

Oh, how wrong I was.

After the fellas had finished eating, they showed up with bananas. That's right. They pealed and ate them right there in front of me. Cameron even mushed it into his mustache all over his face, just for the nasty affect of my least favorite food stuck in my least favorite form of facial hair. Ew. A lot.

Besides all this, though, the evening was lovely. Jamie sang us a tune and President Baird read a poem in his...uh...special attire. Then we had a white elephant gift exchange, watched the Nativity (Luke 2), and gave a personal gift to Christ. It was lovely note to end on.

Here are some pix of the night's events...

Me and my cute roommates, all decked out.


Jason, Gina, Cameron...and their mustaches.
This was before the banana prank.

Kattie enjoying her prime rib dinner.
Yum-o!

Here is the banana attack.
Jayson, Scott, me, Cameron and Jason.

Cameron with banana mushed all over his face.
He and Jason think they are so funny.

It's kind of funny; at some point, I closed my eyes and plugged my ears for I don't know how long. When I opened my eyes, I saw about a dozen of my friends from the branch snapping pictures, which is something I was not expecting.

Our wonderful branch presidency:
Bro. Buell, Pres. Baird, Bro. Kocsis, and Bro. Stevenson.
I love these men!

Linda and Melinda.

Jennifer, Tish and KaTrina

Patrick and Jamie

President Baird (aka PB) reading us an original poem:
" 'Twas One Week Until Christmas"
by Clement Clarke Moore, adapted by Gina Orgill for Pres. Mike Baird

More of the wonderful people in the branch:
Sam, Chelsie, Kelsey, Sheila, Hayley, Mark

And now I give you: BROCK HIGHAM!!!
This fella moved to AZ to get educated, and nobody knew
he'd be back for our party. What a great surprise!

***************************************
'Twas One Before Until Christmas
by Clement Clarke Moore, adapted by Gina Orgill for Pres. Mike Baird

‘twas a week until Christmas and all through the branch
Carols were playing, which made Chris want to dance.
The Harshbargers prepared such a wonderful meal—
No bananas were used, which for Gina was a big deal!
The children were nestled ‘round the tables on chairs
Awaiting PB’s poem read in his long underwear.
Sister Baird, looking lovely, and I—dressed like this—
Snuck under the mistletoe for a sweet Christmas kiss!
When out in the parking lot arose such a clatter
We sprang from our seats to see what was the matter.
Someone was attempting to steal the skis
Of Cameron and Jason—they took him down with great ease.
Katie and Sheila attended to his wounds
Because they’re so smart, and that’s what they do…
The moon cast dark shadows and Missy got scared
So Briant led her back inside ‘cause he cared.
When what to our wondering eyes had appeared
But dessert on the tables, and each of us cheered.
With presents beside them—white elephant gifts;
Brianne got excited, and our spirits did lift.
More rapid than eagles the packages were unwrapped
The happy jubilation awoke Brooke from her nap.
Now Jamie and Patrick, plus Hayley and Mark
Snuck off to smooch under the mistletoe in the dark.
Then Linda sang us a beautiful tune—
It sounded so lovely that Matthew did swoon.
Then all twinkling and cute Jennifer, too, sang
In the hearts of David and Kandyce, melodies rang.
As our hands clapped together, we all cheered for more;
Brother Stevenson sounds just like Bing Crosby for sure!
We were dressed to impress; we looked good, it’s no doubt…
“This party is rockin’!” KaTrina did shout.
It all came together with planning and care
The fellows looked handsome and the maidens were fair.
Shalene had sewn pretty jackets for girls
To make dresses modest and look good with their pearls.
Megan and Kayla, so cute on their own,
Lent their services too—pretty hair do’s were shown.
Our eyes-how they sparkled like the lights on a tree;
We’re so glad for new friends from the Virlow branch, don’t you see?!
The 1^st branch is spectacular—we make each other smile…
In planning activities, Kattie goes the extra mile.
Jess posts the bulletins. Matt Svedin ain’t no geek.
And coming up soon Melinda marries Ryan Weeks!
Kelly likes to bake, and she’s good at it too!
Speaking of cooking—Tracie makes a good stew.
A wink of the eye from Billy can really make us worry;
But we’ll just call on Tish; she calms him down in a hurry.
We don’t need to say how we love one another;
It’s obvious in the way we treat all as sisters and brothers.
Lisa and Callie are both organized and so darn cute;
The Kocsises travel to Colorado with boots.
The Buells are noted for all of their fame;
They’re constantly going to all sorts of games.
The poem was ending, and PB did state:
“You all are amazing, and I think you should date!
Hold to the rod and be faithful and true.
Happy Christmas to each and every one of you!”

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

So me and my roommate Brookey decorated the front room to look like Christmas time a few weeks ago...I just finally took some pictures and uploaded them onto my computer. Here they are: it makes our apartment seem so much more homey and inviting!

This is the entire room, all sparkley.

And here we have our little Christmas tree...
Isn't it loverly?

And this is, like, the only decoration that is mine.
But I love my one Christmas item!

the $4 war...

So...last month me and my buddies went to Moab to frolic and play. Cameron drove his Amigo, so I owed him gas money. After much pestering on my part, he finally caved and told me the amount (roughly $41). I decided to write it for a few dollars over, since he drove quite a bit over the summer but would never accept money for it. Just $4. So when I gave him the check, he noticed immediately and reached for his wallet to give me $4 in cash, at which point I ran out to my car and locked him out. He followed, but before I could pull out he put the money under my windshield wipers and took off. I chased him for not very long (he's really fast!) and decided, since he thought the race was still on, that I would just put his money in his backpack. Before I left, I warned my roommates NOT to take any money from him, that it was dirty money. So I went home and relaxed. A few days later I came home from work to find the money and a note on my pillow. I realize it's only $4, but it's the principle of the thing...I gave him the money and he needs to keep it! So I found a dumb little piggy bank and switched the bills for change: $2 in nickels and $2 in pennies. Then I left it in a bag with a snooty note and giggled to myself. That was nearly 2 weeks ago. Cameron is a patient man, I suppose. He lulled me into this false sense of security that I had won the war. DANG IT! Well last night as I was pulling back the covers on my bed, I saw that $4 change spread all over my bed under my sheets. I was shocked, to say the least. I immediately blamed Brooke for "selling me down the river" to help Cameron's cause and I wrote her a note saying as much. (She was sleeping when I found my little treasure trove). So...this morning when I got up, Brooke was laughing and told me that Cameron did his own dirty work this time; he dropped by last night while I was visiting teaching to get a movie from Brooke. I suppose he noticed I was gone and had a little party in my room. (He even left the piggy bank!) Geez! This is a little bit annoying, I must say. However, the war is so not over! Not until he gives up! I have a few ideas...but if you have any ideas, please feel free to send them my way.

Did you ever wonder what $4 in change looks like?

How about $4 in change scattered inside your bed?


Here's a closer look...


And here's the culprit, Cameron.
He looks like such a nice man, doesn't he?
But in reality, he's evil...

Here we come a caroling...

So tonight for FHE, we went caroling on a hay ride. It was great fun, I must say, as well as super freaking cold. For real. Riding on the back of a truck with the ferociously cold wind whipping 'round us made me wonder if I'd ever be warm again! -But we had a good time, I think. Then it was back to the church for hot chocolate and pizza (provided by the Buells...yum-o!).

Here are some pix of tonight's events...

This was my side of the truck...
Sister Kocsis, Kelly, Jayson, Tracie, Jennifer
Gina, Cameron, Brooke

More of our carolers...

And even more...

And more still...
(there were about 40 of us in all!)

Thawing out!
Gina, Brooke, Lisa

Caroling is a tradition for the Idaho Falls 1st Branch. We did it last year (and nearly froze then too!) It really is a terrific time, even if we did nearly freeze to deaths. Oh how I heart Christmas!

Singlehood...

So...one of my friends recently had a rough few minutes dealing with life without a boyfriend. It was short-lived, but rather intense. The next day I wrote a poem about life as a single gal, dedicated to this dear friend of mine. (Cheers!)

SINGLEHOOD
by Gina O.
Guys are dumb--they really are--such anguish and frustration
Is what they bring into our lives, and--so it seems--damnation.
That was a stretch--damnation, I mean--I know we need each other;
But FINDING Mr. Right is tough when my guy friends become like brothers.
It is a CURSE, so it seems...it typically plays out the same...
Meet guy, like him, then he moves on--it's such an ugly game!
I look around at my best friends; somehow they're single too!
Amazing, great and beautiful--the guys must not have a clue!
Those friends of ours who married one go on about the boy
With whom they fell in love; how nice for them to have found a man who brings them joy.
"Hanging out" is an epidemic that plagues the whole wide world...
Whatever happened to, "Let's go out" with just one guy and girl?!
The part that feels the worst when you're so incredibly single
Is wondering, "What's wrong with me? I try to mix and mingle!"
I feel like I do my part; I wear makeup and I'm employed...
And I've done it all for me...not for some silly boy.
Happy and single--the words coexist in my life, it's true...
I'd LOVE a husband and some kids, but not until I'm wooed...
Because I'd hate to be settled for, and I don't want to settle...
I'll count the blessings I enjoy till my knight comes (with diamonds and metal!)
"It just takes one." That's what they say, and somehow I believe them...
Although this world is infested with "frogs"--I'll find my prince, my gem.
So--here's to us: the single and lovely, the fun gals without a date...
God loves us lots--just hang on--we're worth more cows than eight!

I hope that all my single gal pals out there enjoy this. It was actually a lot of fun to write. -I'm not bitter to be without a male counterpart; I've done alright without one so far. :) But this poem definitely has a lot of truth to it!