Marriage = One Man + One Woman

Dallin's sister Chelsea has been actively involved in the fight to protect marriage in California. Yesterday she wrote a post on her blog about her experience and it was wonderful so I wanted to share. http://timeyetforvisions.blogspot.com/ Go vote today!!! And go "Vote Yes on 8" if you live in California.

Just for Fun

A Little Time-Out Fun

This post will probably implicate me in my mean mom ways, but it was just too funny. The girls were arguing and fighting non stop. After several warnings, they both ended up in time out. There was much weeping and wailing as they headed to the time out spot. The drama was so extreme that Porter thought they were being silly and he decided to join in the fun. I love that they are really crying and he thinks it's so funny. The girl's faces look like they were physically punished before being sent to time out (they weren't) and Porter looks like I just told everyone they were getting candy. He sat here in time out with them for the whole time. Ella and Brooklyn did not find this as humorous as I did, especially when I started taking pictures.

My New Exercise Friend

Since I've really been trying to hit the books these days, I have found it hard to find time to do all the things I want to get done everyday. Exercise is supposed to get on my to do list everyday, but more and more often it's not quite making it there. I was getting settled into an exercise routine, but with the limit on my time, the hour long aerobic workout just isn't fitting it. But then I made a fabulous discovery. I found an amazing workout video. It's only 20 minutes - I sweat, my muscles burn and I feel energized. I do the advanced workout, but it is tough (especially with Ella drilling me with questions while I'm trying to do pushups). There is also a beginner and intermediate version. Happy work-outs!!

Happy Fall

I love fall. I love the cooler weather, changing colors and the smells - pumpkin pie, orange with cinnamon. I love high school football games and the first mugs of hot cocoa when it firsts starts to get brisk outside. Too bad it only lasts for about 3 weeks in Texas. One day I want to go on vacation to a place that shouts fall
I have seen pictures from some of my friends blogs where they visited really authentic pumpkin patches. We made a trip to a pumpkin patch too - but somehow Surfs' Up doesn't have the fall feel I was imagining - I guess if you throw in some hay and pumpkins and take a hayride you have the perfect fall setting.

The State Fair of Texas

A fall tradition in our family - we try to make it to the state fair every year. Shouldn't everyone flock to the place that claims to be the "fried food capital of the US" and where this big guy watches over you?

Our favorite things about the fair:

1. Fletcher's Corny Dogs

I have to have a corn dog too, but Dallin prefers to get a turkey leg (nothing like looking like a cave man as you stroll around the fair grounds). Brooklyn was converted to cave manism this year and next year I think we'll be getting 4 corny dogs and 2 turkey legs.

2. The car show

The kids actually had requests for cars this year. Baden wanted to see Hummers. Apparently that is what he will be driving when he turns 16, but a regular Hummer because it's the biggest, maybe an H2, but never an H3. Who knew he was such a Hummer snob? Brooklyn wanted to sit in a VW Bug, but we never found one - so instead they climbed into an almost $70,000 convertible Lexus - if you can't have a Bug you might as well go to the other end of the car spectrum.

3. The Midway Rides

Brooklyn is very bold and sassy and you would think that brave would also be one of her finer characteristics - well, let's just say she could join the cowardly lion in Oz. Her ride pick was the whale ride - doesn't look very thrilling to me, but the girls look like they are having the time of their lives. Baden's ride was more daring and Ella decided it looked fun too but she wasn't tall enough to ride without an adult so Dallin got to join in on the fun too. Ella decided later that the whales were much more her kind of ride than the bomber airplanes. (Sorry girls, you get that from your mom.)

4. The laser/fire show

I love Ella's hip shaking (she got that from her dad - ha!).

5. COTTON CANDY

Everyone's favorite sweet treat - and we get it once a year at the fair and I always bring plenty of wet wipes. I, on the other hand, prefer apple slices smothered in carmel - sorry, no pictures of me shoving carmel apple into my mouth. We'll save those shots for next year.

Tips for fair goers next year - find the day that looks like rain and go that day. It causes bad hair (see photo of me below for example) but it brings cool weather and small crowds.