It's a HOEDOWN...Not a HOOT'n'ANNIE

Our ward had an amazingly fun opening social this weekend. No, it wasn't the usual Ice Cream-walk around awkwardly-meet everyone thing....it was a Hoedown and Chili Cook-off. The evening started off with a southern, cowboy bang (stupid jokes and 'rootin tootin' debating)...and then the Chili.
There were about 20 or so different kinds of Chili and numerous batches of cornbread. With a plate and a bowl on hand, you ransacked the smorgasbord of re chili, white chili, sweet chili, etc etc etc. Then, you'd take a slip of paper and vote for your top 3 favourites. One of the winning dishes was concocted with the help of 4 cans of "Homestyle Chili". As quoted by the master chef "Hey, you've gotta use your resources to your advantage".
There were a couple of little competitions throughout the night. While we ate, "spies" were prowling the borders checking out our costumes. There were cowboys, cowgirls, cowhands, hicks, and a random Mario. The BEST DRESSED girl went to my roommate Skidamarink. Keribear was also one of the top prize winners.

Then, there was a barn animal noise contest. Each table sent one representative to the front who would draw an animal out of a hat and make the noise for that animal. I was chosen and I got the pig. Luckily, my childhood instincts kicked in to save me from potential embarrassment....not really. When I was a baby, one of the noises I would make was a grunting sound from my throat. It's always been something that only my family really knows about...not anymore. SO, in front of the whole ward, bishopric, and the high councilman I had to let the beast loose. Oh how humiliating!!! With numerous cheers, whistles, and yee-haws, I won.
After these bigger competitions, the tables came down and the fun just continued. There was "Sheep herding" (balloons in an obstacle course with a fly swatter), a "Shooting gallery" (rubberbands at tin cans), wheelbarrow races (blindfold the wheelbarrow one diraction, then three-legged race the other), and country dancing.

Overall, everyone seemed to have a Rootin' Tootin' good time!!!