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!”