Halloween 2012

To start the festivities, I present my favorite cartoon on my favorite day. 

On the front door I hung my cool skull lantern that glows with different colored lights in sequence. 

I got a new specter  with eyes that glow red. The idea for the Jack-O-Lantern eating the legs came from Kim. I don't know why I didn't think of it myself. I got the two lighted skulls last year as part of a set o 5 that can be staked in a line in the lawn.

This idea came to me at the last minute as I was setting up some of the other tricks. Doesn't he look good there? But that's only half the story. I reprized a gag from several years ago. See below.

Yes! The old man slammed under the car hood, and Mr. Bones looks like the culprit.

And as it got dark, the light under the dashboard added a great effect. 

Unfortunately, it started to rain hard before any Trick-Or-Treaters could arrive. Only four brave little kids showed up. So I almost went to all this work for nothing. On the other hand, the biggest reason I do all this is because I enjoy it so much. I wish you could have seen it in the dark. Very nice. Purple lights around the door, orange rope lights lining the walkway, the lighted skeleton, the glowing specter. I real Halloween treat.

Family History Just Keeps on Giving

For an interesting story and photos about Grandpa (one legged) Hall. click on the Our Family Stories link located on the right side of this blog page. Then enjoy.

Conference Weekend

We really enjoyed General Conference this weekend. Though I didn't get "conference pastry" (Mom only makes it for you guys), I planned ahead this time and had some donuts for a backup.

But seriously, I was thrilled to hear about the change in the minimum ages for missionaries, and I felt the speakers were moved by the Spirit in very powerful ways. Elders Cook, Christofferson, Holland, Oakes, and President Packer all had stunning remarks.

For those who weren't at Priesthood meeting, I recommend downloading those talks and listening to them. You won't be sorry.

Of course, President Monson did wonderfully also, and I got to thinking that my children may not know, and have never seen the little bit of personal connection we have to that great man and his kindness. See the letter below. (Grandma, my Mom, has the original)

The back-story on this is that my Dad was on the stake High Council with responsibilities over Family History work (formerly the Geneology program). The stake had just built a Geneological Library (which is still there on the Gridley stake center grounds), and Thomas S. Monson, as the General Authority over that program, had come out to inspect it. I was 6 years old at the time, and he stayed in our home over on Second Street. My Mom always says how embarrassed she was that all they could offer him to sleep on was a "roll-a-way" bed (the kind that folds up in the middle and has wheels so that you can store it in a closet). Of course, Pres. Monson is well over 6' tall, and the bed was well under 6' long. But as you might imagine, and can see in the letter - he never complained.