Category Contest

CONTEST: What Am I Thinking?

Brian Aaby 8 Comments

I know it has only been a week since our last WAIT, but hey, this one is just too good to pass up. And, since my wife posted this picture on her blog here, I thought it’d be good to get it posted here now since some of you read both.

So, here are the rules.  

You look at the picture, then post a comment giving your best thought on what my precious middle daughter, Audrey, is thinking.  Best one (I play judge and jury) gets the prize (and this prize will involve something holiday-ish).

 

What is Audrey Thinking?

What is Audrey Thinking?

I’ll give it a couple days, post the “in the running” comments (those that I think have a chance of taking home the prize) and then announce the winner on Friday.

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In the Running (but keep them coming):

“I will be the first talented Christian rapper fo sho.” Brad

“I’m not sure what ‘homey’ means, but it sounds good when I say it” Jared

“Yo, Dora,
Yo, Dora,
Yo, Dora the Explora…” AJS

And The Winner Is:  Going to go with AJS.  In a nice shout out to our favorite comedian (Brian Regan) and the recognizing the fact that Audrey actually does say, “yo” from time to time, this just fit really well.  The prize will be presented in person upon a visit from AJS.  It will have something to do with Greg Norman.

 

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Grace,
Brian

Updates

Brian Aaby Leave a comment

The last two contests have updates near the end of the posts (from this point forward I will always update the “in the running” folk and the winners at the end of said posts).

Grace,
Brian

CONTEST: What Am I Thinking?

Brian Aaby 9 Comments

Couple weeks ago we did our first “What Am I Thinking?” (WAIT!… ha!)… so, here we go, this edition has a Youthmark Mission Ventures theme.  You see my good friend, Nathan Schlaud, in this picture, he’s the one creepily staring at the camera.  So, the best “thought” a reader comes up with for Nathan will get that person a free meal at the Spaghetti Factory with the Aabys.  

Setting the stage: there were about 30 of us YMV leaders gathered in this room at the Spaghetti Factory on Monday night as we began our leader/spouse training retreat.  Have fun!

Grace,
Brian

 

What is Schlaud Thinking?

What is Schlaud Thinking?

 In The Running (these are the finalists, winner announced during the weekend):

“If you send over one more waiter pretending that they knew me in high school I’m out of here!” Jared

“No, I’m not married yet”  Brad

“I am not an Aaby child. Put the camera down!”  Jan

“You’re trying to tell me NO ONE knows the score of the Lions game?”  Ricky

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The Winner: Honestly, I laughed at each of them, not just the contenders.  I have to give this one to Jared, because he lives a long way away and it’ll give me time to save money to take him out to dinner.  Actually, his was the first and had me laughing from the get-go because it is something I actually did do to Jared!

Way to go Jared!

Aab-Libs #2

Brian Aaby 7 Comments

Just like Mad-Libs, enjoy the new edition of “Aab-Libs”

Instructions:

1. Type/write out out a list of words that will be used for this Aab-lib (your “blanks” instructions are provided below).

2. Copy the “Aab-Lib” below into a word/pages doc and replace the (parenthesis/#) with your pre-set words (from your chosen words).

3. Copy and paste your now completed “Aab-Lib” into the comments on this blog for all others to enjoy.

4. No cheating and changing things to make the story better.  Nothing inappropriate please!

5. The one that I like the most gets the prize.

Your Words

  1. 4 digit year (i.e. 1984):
  2. Event Type (i.e. Party, Dinner, etc.):
  3. Number:
  4. Unique Name:
  5. Relative Category (grandpa, wife, etc.):
  6. Form of transportation:
  7. Name of a Restaurant:
  8. Food:
  9. Liquid:
  10. Different form of transportation:
  11. Adjective:
  12. Season (Fall, Summer, etc.):
  13. 4 digit year:
  14. Adjective:
  15. Number:
  16. Number:
  17. Plural Noun:
  18. Adjective:
  19. Verb:
  20. Noun:
  21. Verb ending in “ing”:
  22. 4 Digit year:
  23. A president:
  24. A spiritual term:

*Now, replace the parenthesis/number (#) with the word you chose for each number.  Cut and paste that story into the comment section.  Let’s see how it turns out!

The Youthmark Experience

It all began on Monday, November 10, (1).  Youthmark had invited the participants of Youthmark Mission Ventures to a (2).  The gathering took place at the famed, (3)-star (4) Hotel.  After the participants and their (5) had checked in, they commuted in a (6) to the (7) for dinner.

After the meal of (8) and (9) they jumped into their (10) to commute back to the (11) hotel.  It was then we began our training time to talk about the trips coming in the (12) of (13).  

“This time together was (14)!”  Exclaimed one Youth Pastor!

Another said, “I plan to bring (15) students and at least (16) (17) on this trip!”

After a (18) night of (19) the group gathered again for (20).  The focus in the morning session was more about the spiritual (21) which would take place early in (22).

(23),the President of Youthmark, thought the event could be described with just one word: (24)!

Grace,

Brian

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The Winner: Brad Hostak, one of my favorite sections below.

Another said, “I plan to bring 13 students and at least 402 chairs on this trip!”

After a cherry night of run the group gathered again for carpet. The focus in the morning session was more about the spiritual farting which would take place early in 2008.
Classic!  I love the 13 students and 402 chairs, because this is often what happens on trips… you bring way more “stuff” than what you need for the actual attendees… and okay, I’m still in Youth Ministry when I laugh at spiritual farting!
  
All of them were great, but Brad gets the Aab-Lib prize of a new Mad-Libs book… as soon as I buy one.

Contest Updates

Brian Aaby Leave a comment

My most recent post was a contest, with my “in the running” candidates listed at the end of this post.  We’ll get to the winner at the end of the weekend, so, don’t hesitate to submit another or comment for your first time.  I have also included the list of all my other contest winners (and prizes when applicable).

Best Fast Food Burger: In-N-Out is the clear winner

Best Coffee Place: Starbucks won this one, Peet’s and Non-Corp coming in a close second.

Best Club: Winner: Wescott, with his suggestion for BJ’s… next time you’re in town Wes, we’ll go.

Best Fair Food: Scone, hands down.

Tell Me About My Day (Aab-Libs): Dylan wins the prize of a big Man-Hug for the best Aab-Lib. I really enjoyed the Draino and the Prom Night Punch. 

The Stove: We found it on our own, so we win the prize of dinner at our house!

The Ultimate Summer Meal:  It’s fall, and we’re still waiting for the ultimate summer meal at another house.  Now we’re feeling unloved…

Who Am I?  Schlaud won the prize, and I’m not sure if I ever got him the coffee card?  Schlaud, did I?

Name the Celebrity: Jan B. won the prize, and I know she didn’t get the coffee card, but I  think I have gotten her a couple Iced Teas at Starbucks since the win.

Free Coffee: Elisabeth won the prize and I have paid up… right?  Ha.

 

Okay, as for “What’s He Thinking:” here are the people we have “in the running…”

“Mmmm…coffee, I hope the chicks still dig me when I’m 5′1 at age 18…” Byron

“Wait till mommy sees this diaper” Jared

“Watch out below, Americano diaper in 1, 2, 3…” Jeramy

Family Insider Award: “Did you watch them shake it?” MIL*

AND THE WINNER IS:

Going to give it up to Jeramy, though Jared had the first diaper joke in, he added the good coffee twist.  My brother had a great one, but it offended my wife, so he’s out!  Great work Jeramy, your prize is a diaper from Will next time we’re down in Escondido!  Or a Starbucks drink, your choice.

*So the Aaby and Stimer families really enjoy our shaken Iced Tea at Starbucks.  But most of us get it w/o water and w/o the sweetner, so sometimes the baristas see this as an opportunity to be lazy and skip the “shaking” (since they think you only need it shaken if you have other stuff in there)… so we typically watch to make sure it is actually shaken! 

So, there’s still time to submit another quote from Will, get to it if you want the prize!

Grace,
Brian 

CONTEST: Startin’ him early

Brian Aaby 13 Comments

I promise that in the next week or so I’ll go back through my posts and announce the winners of all previous “contests” (I have them, just haven’t announced them).  But I thought I’d start a new one (yes, it’s based off an idea that I have seen on other blogs, but we’ll switch it up a bit).  It’s called “What Am I Thinking?”

You’ll need to give your best or funniest thought/quote for the person(s) in the picture. Today, we’ll start with my son Will, this pic was staged last week in California.  What’s he thinking?

 

What Am I Thinking?

What Am I Thinking?

Have fun, we’ll see who comes up with the best one (the entire Aaby fam will be the judges).

Grace,
Brian

CONTEST: Want to Join My Club?

Brian Aaby 4 Comments

 

Megan and Nathan

Megan and Nathan

Last week the Aabys joined the Schlauds (okay, Nathan and Megan aren’t married yet, but it’s fun to tease).  We revisited the place I took Nathan the day he arrived from Michigan to begin his year of serving with me.  He was the Apprentice (insert Donald Trump joke here).

Okay, back to dinner, the seven of us went to Stanford’s Restaurant down by Southcenter. We had a wonderful time with Nathan and Megan catching up and talking about their wedding; in fact, our girls are going to be in their wedding. But, we received some TERRIBLE news while at Stanfords. Stanfords has basically become a brand new place.  They have the same seats and the same employees, but they were bought out and have a brand-new menu!  Which means, my favorite, The Classic Club, is no longer on the menu.  The new menu is great.  We loved our food, but it is a whole new place.  But I was SOOOO looking forward to my club!  

I'm looking for this!

All this to say… Help me find the best Classic Club!  Have any suggestions?  This is my new contest.  If you point me to the best club in the greater Seattle area, and I deem it “a great club” then I’ll treat you to one.  Deal?  Let the suggestions begin! 

Gotta run, for some reason I’m hungry now!

Grace,
Brian

Is it Fair To Say Scones are the Best?

Brian Aaby 4 Comments

Here we begin the debate; some of my readership has been blessed by the wonderful Scones of the Puyallup Fair, for those who have not, I’m sorry.  Over the next two weeks thousands of these little morsels of goodness will be consumed by the fair goers.  Sometime in the next hour or so a dozen may be consumed by the Aaby family!

Onion Burgers, Elephant Ears (Funnel Cakes), BBQ Sandwiches, Cotton Candy and Scones… these are a few of the wonderful things one can consume at the Puyallup (no worries, I’ll only choose two from this list today!).

Regardless of you having ever attended the Puyallup Fair, I am quite sure you’ve been to a fair in your neck of the woods.  So here’s the contest:  Which one food item ranks the highest for you?  Why? Tell me/us about it.  Here is mine:

 

The Puyallup Fair Scone!

The Puyallup Fair Scone!

The scone!  A nice warm, flakey/gooey buscuit (just the right amount of sweet) and hot, raspberry jam ooozing from the center!  All for about a buck! The 20-45 minute wait to get these things is worth every small step forward!  Just make sure you get a dozen, don’t want to have to wait in line again!

Isn’t this a great post to publish immediately after talking about getting physically fit?  No worries, I’ll walk it all off at the fair!

Grace,
Brian

Tell Me About My Day!

Brian Aaby 11 Comments

Several years ago Elisabeth and I started a new tradition at Christmas (though it only lasted 2-3 years), it is one I would like to resurrect here on my blog.  It’s Aab-libs.  Like Mad-Libs, we created a Christmas letter with a fill-in-the-blank style, your-participation-needed, letter.  Since we sent them out we can only assume our friends and family had fun with them.  Well, here we are in blog-land, where you can now comment back, I can now read your responses… So, here’s Youthmark’s Aab-Lib #1.

Instructions:

1. Type/write out out a list of words that will be used for this Aab-lib (your “blanks” instructions are provided below).

2. Copy the “Aab-Lib” below into a word/pages doc and replace the blank with your pre-set words.

3. Copy and paste your now completed “Aab-Lib” into the comments on this blog for all others to enjoy.

4. No cheating and changing things to make the story better.  Also, don’t cuss or write bad stuff.

5. The one that I like the most gets the prize.

The Blanks

1. Time of Day

2. past tense verb

3. Adjective or Noun

4. Food

5. Beverage

6. Noun

7. A city

8. Mode of transportation

9. A number

10. A Name

11. Noun

12. A dollar amount

13. A place of business

14. A beverage

15. Noun

16. A Meat

17. something you grow

18. A household object

19. Adjective

20. Salutation

The Aab-Lib “Brian’s Day”

This morning I woke up at _________.  As soon as I ____________ out of bed I exclaimed, “_________ is it good to be alive! For breakfast I had  ________ and _______.  Running a little late, I decided not to kiss the kids goodbye, instead I just gave them a __________.  I had a meeting in ______________, so I jumped into my ________ and drove at speeds of ________ mph.  I got to the meeting and introduced myself to __________, the person in charge of sales.  She took me on a tour of the __________.  After the tour we spoke briefly and she told me it would probably cost about ________ to make my event happen there. 

After the meeting I went to _________ to get a cup of _______ and to spend some time surfing the __________.  Upon returning home I had a quick dinner of ______________ and ____________.  Elisabeth and I then drove to an appliance store because we are researching the purchase of a ________.  

All-in-all it was a ___________ day.

___________,

Brian