MaLM - Dear Fall

In our family when someone is feeling down or grumpy or maybe even when they are happy, you'll occasionally hear the refrain of "let's all say something we like about _____." We all take turns and usually the person is beaming by the end.

Yesterday we went for a ride through American Fork Canyon to look at the fall leaves and we all took turns saying what we liked about fall. Here is how it went.

Dear Fall,

We love you so much. In fact, some of us like you best of all the seasons! We love (in no particular order) your
1. beautiful leaves
2. apple cider
3. pumpkin bread
4. our annual pumpkin carving party
5. Halloween!!!
6. Thanksgiving!!!
7. cool weather
8. walking along under the trees, wrapped in a warm jacket and crunching leaves
9. starting school
10. soccer
11. fall leaf drives
12. our annual Arches camping trip
13. any pumpkin food
14. BYU football
15. back yard fires complete with smores

Oh, we do love you fall. But would you be offended if one of the things we most loved about you is that we get to look forward to Christmas all through your sweet, crisp days? Because we do. Sorry.

Love, us

FYI: Dusk vs. Twilight

Note: This is NOT a post about the book, Twilight, by Stephenie Meyer. Please continue on.

For Your Information

Twilight begins when the sun sets. It lasts until dusk, which is the end of twilight, or more specifically, when the sun is 6 degrees below the horizon.

So, twilight is a period of time, dusk is a certain moment.

Morning also has a twilight period, the time between dawn, the beginning of morning light, and the sunrise.

Just in case you were wondering. See here for more information.

14 Steps to a Great Camping Trip

1. Take your trailer (extra points if you just borrow one) up a day early to save a spot.

2. Since you already have the site, go back up on Thursday for a picnic. Just take left-overs; you'll be glad since it may be raining. Be glad you already set up the trailer.

3. Try your best to go up the canyon early, but don't despair when you don't.

4. Also, don't despair if it happens to start raining again on the way there after a beautiful clear day.

5. Play a new game while you try to cook the tin foil dinners in a skillet.

6. Laugh when kids all reject this cool meal.

7. Take advantage of the pause in rain for a campfire.

8. Roast marshmallows and make smores, even if the fire doesn't like the wet weather.

9. Go to bed late, read a little Harry Potter even thought it will be really late.

10. Sleep well!

11. Make sure someone who regularly uses pancake mix has bought the supplies for breakfast, or you might end up with the kind of mix that needs eggs and milk.

12. Pack up early to go have breakfast at home.

13. Make sure you camp by nice people who will move their camper to give your battery a charge after you realize it is dead.

14. Make sure you talk about how much fun it has all been on the ride home, enjoy the leaves, and take a nap later.

Do You Want a Big Kitchen?

Yes, please.

Be Hopeful

P.S. I just found out that Stephanie Neilsen of the Nie Nie Dialogues is in this. Can you spot her?

MaLM - Dance Moves You Need to Know

Make a List Monday --Individual Dance Moves Everyone Should Know

1. Moon walk

2. Napoleon Dynamite's dance
Napoleon Dynamite Dance Scene

3. A little break dancing

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CNJsu7sMGL8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i9NJ4OofEXo
4. A bit of hip hop, maybe something like this
(Start about 1:30 to see the whole thing)
4. The Electric Slide

And of course, we've already learned this one.
What others should we all know?

Peace Out

Every Friday Beach Bungalow 8 posts a "Peace Out" post with a pretty picture. I always love them, so I thought I'd share.

Have a great weekend!

Marriage, divorce, love and pride

I just read an article from The New York Times writer Laura Munson titled "Those aren't fighting words, dear." It was such an interesting article I had to share it.

It tells the story of her husband's supposed loss of love and its root cause. It is the story of a woman with tremendous self-assurance and self-control. It is a story of real love in action.

When her husband hurled a emotional dart, she ducked and kept on loving. And it all turned out all right. Read it here. It's short, and you'll be glad.

President Obama's Speech

I am happy that two of my children will be watching President Obama's speech today.

I am sad that one of them, along with thousands of others, will not be watching it.

I am happy that our President supports education. (Of course he does.)

I am sad that our country is so politicized that we can't even let our children be inspired by a president that comes from a different party than ours.

I am happy that I live in a country where people can refuse to watch the President's address. . .

I am happy.

You can read the speech at www.whitehouse.gov.

A big old spot of blue sun

Go Cougars!!! #9 now!

Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

Last night my book group met at my house to discuss The Hunger Games, a young adult novel that is essentially about control, government and self. Throw in a little Survivor and a little love and you've got a book you can't put down. (My book group all loved it as well.) I read this book a few months ago and have been anxiously waiting for the sequel to come out. Well, September 1 was the big day.

Catching Fire, the second book of the Hunger Games Trilogy by Suzanne Collins, is now available. My sweet hubby brought it home for me Tuesday. I devoured it in one day (sorry kids) and loved it. Matt laughed at my exclamations and sighs, my frustrated grunts and my occasionally weepiness as I whipped through it.

As do most middle-of-the-trilogy books, it ends in turmoil. But the journey was so good. I highly recommend it.

My only question is this, why do love triangles so appeal to us? What is it about the thrill and pain of a terrible choice between two good things get us? This book continues to follow Catniss (the narrator) and her struggle to know herself (and her choice between Gale and Peeta). Also, is it my imagination or are most love triangles about one girl and two guys? Is it less appealing to have a man deciding between two women because historically we see that as normal? Is it because women are the traditional "consumers" of romance and it feeds our egos to be wanted by two men? Hmm. What do you think?

A Vacation is a Bit of Heaven

Especially when it's on the beach. Our yearly tromp to Newport Beach was heaven again this year. Mom and Dad loved the relaxing time. Dawn loved the deep waves with Mom and diving under the waves. Rachel loved playing in the water and catching crabs on the jetty. Scott loved the waves this year and started diving under them a bit as well as learned to play smashball. Andrew loved the sand, especially digging and throwing it. Charity liked eating the sand, a lot.




















Thanks Grandpa!