Boo-rific

Halloween has become one of those holidays that is in general over-the-top in my opinion. Too many horrific costumes, too many gross movies, too many adults playing dress up, too many decorations. The candy, well hey, its all good. Recent Halloweens we have lived at the end of a dark cul-de-sac that I wouldn't dream of walking down if I were a kid, and then we were in mid-move, so we did not get a lot of visitors.. This year was more  normal and we had a steady stream of visitors at the door, most with parents accompanying, and most in the cute not that ishy side of costumes.


We underestimated our trick or treat visitors and ended up handing out granola bars to the late arrivals who must think we are health nuts - oh well. We did have our favorite visitors drop by. They had done their trick or treating at the Ward trunk -or-treat - yesterday but needed a break from having everyone knock on their door and not being able to go out - so they visited us in full costume instead. What a great treat for us.

Happy Birthday

We miss not having him around everyday but we love our Parker.
Thought you'd enjoy seeing his dashingly handsome self.

Happy Birthday

Google

i've spent the last few days at a google summit discussing the changes in the retail marketplace, how to reach customers with tradional and neew media preparing for dramatic chancge and building shopportunies. It is a mecca of new thought, thinking and innovation - evidence by the driverless car I witnessed.

Three most intriguing tangental thoughts:

• Be willing to bury your current thinking
• Groupon - which started in 2009 will be the quickest company to $1bil in revenue - and the core concept is coupons - who'd a thunk it
• Soon phones will out number toilets in the world

Most hopeful chance that one can randomly still strike it rich:

• Fred loses his meds - this youtube exhibitionist will generate $1 mil in revenue this year ( http://www.youtubevideos1.com/fred-loses-his-meds/ not worth watching)

Sunday Meetings

Well, Rindy, Julie, Eden, and my favorite niece weren't there but I did get to spend the weekend with three of the best women around.Sunday afternoon we held a brief home sacrament meeting. Mom participated in the singing and giving the closing prayer. It was a nice end of the weekend.

Briggs Buddies

Mackey is lucky to have multiple good friends in multiple locations. Few surpass the Brigg's for their graciousness and hospitality. Erin and Kelly have continually looped Mackey in on our trips back to Mn - whether that has been girls camp, noctrinal activities, stake dances or just hanging out. Obviously the Briggs parentals are to thank as well. Makes you grateful.

Promenade

The colors of fall are wonderful. Mackey and I noticed driving up to Mpls that mostly the reds and rusts were left the early fall oranges and yellows already fallen. This afternoon was pleasant enough that we put a sweater on Mom wrapped her up and rolled her out. We walked down to Lunds and around the block for about a 40 minute stroll. The fresh air is good for all of us and we collected 'reds' as we went. Though Mom was reluctant to start with us she appreciated getting out of the house. Its been a short but nice visit.

The King Inside

Disney does so many things well and amongst them are the story lines of their various movies and plays. The self-discovery  in Lion King of finding the royalness inside is amonst the best.  He runs, he hides, he doesn't become a bad person he simply becomes inconsequential when it was his birthright to be so much more; and thaankfully, due to a good woman in his life and remembering the teachings of his father he becomes the King he was inside. The story is familiar and scriptural.

Thursday night Rindy, Mackie and I went downtown and enjoyed the broadway production. None of us had seen it before and we were delighted from the first animal running wild down the aisle to the last curtain call.

The costumes, the set, the choreography, the story and needless to say the music was fantastic. Gratfeul we good go and enjoy a wonderful evening together

Resplendant Glory

I got up to drive mackey over to the high school and glanced across the corner of our lot as the sun crested the trees. Its a beautiful fall day in Illinois.

Really

Given I know the type
though they might be addicted to different brnads
I thought many could relate

Museum of Contemproray Art

Large metropolitan communities are endowed with significant public art and that is one of the beauties of living in a big city.. Chicago's museums have various "free visit" programs, that allow a visitor to attend without the price of admission - yeah for underwriting.. And so this week Rindy and some friends, joined by Julie, visited the Calder exhibit. After a brief train ride into town, the agenda was art and food.

The museum  offered:
"Alexander Calder and Contemporary Art: Form, Balance, Joy pairs the work of Alexander Calder with the work of seven contemporary artists whose practices are bound to Calder's legacy as modern sculptor. While a well-known, even beloved figure, Calder has not previously been considered an important point of reference for contemporary artists. This is the first exhibition to explore Calder's significance for an emerging generation of sculptors, reconsidering his influence and his innovation through a presentation of his own work alongside the work of contemporary artists."

The restaurant Xoco
"That’s why your first step into XOCO is a step into our kitchen, where each torta is built, each baked good is fashioned, each hot chocolate is whipped to a froth as you watch" My dad would have loved to join them for a hot chocolate and churro on their way to the museum and then back for lunch with Chef Rick Bayless before heading back to the burbs.

Another day in Chicago

Dog Sitting

So one of the benefits of living close to Blair & Julie is having them occasionally drop in and visit.
Even more fun bring the pictured favorites Dean and Eden. This week Blair had a conference in Chicago. Julie and the kids drove down with him and stayed downtown at a hotel (an answer to prayed for Eden who currently loves hotels, what kid doesn't). Us who did we get, we got Duncan the dog as a visitor.

Family time

So at conference last night we had a straw poll taken on which of the three spots we liked the best.
Which do you like?
Which do you think delivers on the objective of having viewers consider the time the spend with their family?

Me I'm a pirate kinda guy

Window Washing

What incredible Fall weather.
Call it an Indian Summer
Call it localized global warming
Call it down right pleasant

Today was a great day to do household chores, clean the garage and clean the windows.
With Rindy running the hose, me the ladder, mackey (gratefully not us) scampered onto the roof for the fall cleaning of windows. They do look shiny and nice.

The Essence of Confernece

OK
TJ is famous as a great cook. If not world-wide at least with the boys and me. The boys have all enjoyed the refuge of Rindy's brother's home in Roy as a safe-haven in Utah when feeling far away from home. Sunday morning conference with John & TJ is not surpassed. A warm up game of pool, a great spread, and this time home-made grape juice from the grapes raised in their back yard.

Mackey gets her reluctance to be photographed from John, TJ & gang who are all extremely camera shy.

I appreciate the love and support from Rindy's immediate and extended family.

Before heading to the airport and back home the boys and I stopped and visited Rindy's mom Bettie. A great lady.

Saturday Night

It rarely gets better.
The perfect trip would have been to have Rindy, Mackey, Julie & kids with us, but the next best thing was sitting in the tenth row of the Conference Center with my four boys, listening to and attending General priesthood together. This would be the good type of pride mixed with large doses of gratitude. It was a great meeting and great evening. It was the driving reason for the trip. The first time for the 5 of us together in the conference center on a Saturday night; with Parker heading out on a mission in coming months, and not knowing where Brigham and Evan will be when Parker returns in two years it was an opportunity we couldn't pass by.

Added fun for the night - we sat with my brother Paul, and Blair's good friend Joshua.
Drove up to Ogden for Lime Rickey's the over to John and TJ to visit with them, Liz, Tori and Larry.

General Conference

French Toast
What a beautiful way to start the morning. The boys and I met at kneaders for breakfast. All you can eat french toast well worth the visit. To top it off the weather was warm enough that we ate outside.

Next stop dropping in on Josh - Ella - Adelle for a quick visit. Adorable girls and Josh is well Josh. We delight in Josh and it was great catching up with him and the girls. Lindsay had already left for the money up to SLC for conference.

We then watched on TV the morning session of conference. Its a twice -a-year recharge and this was no different. After the amen we headed to Jdawgs. Having become a connoisseur of quality hot dogs of all sorts since moving to Chicago; I must agree with the boys its a great place ( I guess a friend of Robert's owns it)

We drove up to SLC and were fortunate to have good seats in the Conference Center for the afternoon session. We ran into my cousins Larry & Pam, the Henstrom boys, the famous Elder Burkhart visiting from Germany with his wife, and others.

BYU

(A quick start of our trip we dropped in on Larry and went to lunch. Larry has always been an incredibly supportive brother to Rindy and uncle to the kids. Beside great food we covered world religion, travel, family and politics)

BYU is a wonderful place. Though the campus has evolved and changed since I attended, Blair & I shared the feeling of coming back home to something wonderful upon stepping on campus. I assume most alumni have similar feeling about their college -I'm glad I do. And very grateful that Brigham - Evan _ Parker are all out there right now. Each is having a different experience from the other but each is having a great experience for him.

Part of walking on campus is running into friends at the Wilke. The most notable of whom were:
Cousin Mary
Evan's room mate - Stuart
(grateful for what an incredible man and friend Stuart is)
Parker's room mate - Marshall and his dad Scott
(still grateful for the small world that allowed Parker to become friends with another great Oelker)
my brother Paul & his wife Ann.
Other than campus, Friday highlights included checking out everyone's housing arrangements, a round of pool,watching Brigham -boom- and win a volleyball game and top it off at the Happy Sumo for some sushi.