Hallis Prop 8 debate

Halli came home from school two days ago to inform me that she had a "prop 8 debate"
at school with one of her best friends. Halli, "Me and {K} were fighting about prop 8 today" Keri "oh. what were you fighting about?" Halli "well we were talking about it and {K} said that gay people should be able to get married if they want to. And I said yeah but don't you think that a boy marrying a boy is just wrong? and she said well they should be able to get married if they want to because it is their choice. And I said, but that is not what God wants for families, and {K} said but it is their choice and we should not be able to tell them that they can't, and I said , but it's not what God wants and it just went on and on and on!"

OH BOY! When I was 8 I don't think I had any idea what Gay was in the first place or that it was even possible. I was busy running around my neighborhood and playing with barbies. I was not aware of the president or what was going on in the world, And here my little third grader is having grown up discussions with her friends about issues that are HUGE. I was proud of her for being able to take a stand for what we have taught her, even when her friend felt differently, but at the same time, I was so sad that she had to be aware of this at all. As the election is near and these issues are heating up, the tension in the air is as well. We are standing on the street with our YES on prop 8 signs, Making calls, hanging door hangers, and flaunting banners on our cars and yards. We have been honked at and our sign on the lawn was stolen and as Corey was sign turning on the street with other supporters, they were yelled at and confronted. And it just gets worse as it gets closer. On one corner there is a yes sign and on the other a No sign....

I have to admit that the discrimination seems wrong, like discrimination against color, this feels the same as well....or at least that is how the other side is making it feel. As you look at the basis of family and the purpose to procreate, It is definitely NOT the way God intended it. The media wants everyone to think that this is just normal behavior and not immoral. just like premarital relations....marriage in general means nothing to world. Not like it does to me and my husband. I was thinking about the Proclamation to the world (click here to read)
that was given to us by our prophet 10 years ago, it is amazing to me that even that long ago God was giving us direction on what he wants and expects. And now as we are in the trenches fighting for something that I never thought we would have to...we are being reverse discriminated against and never in my life have I ever felt like the people that were being mocked by the great and spacious building until now....It is real and I feel it.

There is no way to really describe to others how or why we are fighting for this except to say in the words of ADAM "I know not, save the Lord commanded me."

Moses 5: 6
6 And after many days an angel of the Lord appeared unto Adam, saying: Why dost thou offer sacrifices unto the Lord? And Adam said unto him: I know not, save the Lord commanded me.


Beyond the media, beyond being popular, beyond "go with the crowd", where is morality going to take a stand? when are we going to take responsibility to and for our children, who will protect their tomorrow if not us?

I had the BESTEST week ever!

oh! my sweet Ethan! This week he said he had the bestest week ever! First it started out that he was STAR student at school this week and we made his all about me poster. It of course was adorable!

Then Tuesday he got to go and play the WII and his aunts house while I was at scouts!

Wednesday we went to apple hill And if that wasn't good enough he only got one bite of his caramel apple before he lost his tooth!
(tooth fairy was on vacation this week and forgot his tooth 3 nights in a row, but FINALLY today she had left a note saying she was in Hawaii taking a rest..and gave him 3 whole dollars since he had to wait) what a lucky boy! LOL

Friday was his harvest party in his class at school, and I brought our dog MAX to school so he could show the class.
Then friday night we had Trunk-or-Treat at the church, which he said was the best and funnest one he has ever been too!

Saturday we did a service project with the scouts, Then he had a soccer game that he was so proud of cause "some guys were standing around the goal just like having a tea party and I swooped in and kicked the ball from them!" haha!
and then Saturday evening was the primary pizza party program practice!

I actually think that it was a pretty darn good week for Ethan. I will put it in the words of our friend Matt (also soccer coach) "we could all learn a few things from Ethan" Ethan doesn't stress, he is care free and happy, always humming a theme song, his whole life is a theme song...really. he will come home from a game or school and say "mom do you know why I was running so fast?" /?/ "cause I was singing the Indiana jones song in my head" and he does that all the time with everything. He is so happy to be alive and truly has fun just being. And just to tell you REALITY in the soccer game with the "tea party" Ethan just jogs around the field and watches, he is not aggressive and only gets the ball once in a while....but boy does he have fun skipping around that soccer field!

truly was the best week...ever.

p.s. and VERY busy for me!

Finally...a post about our trip to Utah!

finally posting pics of our trip to Utah. We really had a lot of fun. Mostly we just hung out ot Coreys parents house in Nephi. The reason we went to Utah in the first place was for Coreys mission reunion. His mission president was there from Australia, and this was the first time corey had seen him or alot of his mision friends for 12 years. I absolutely loved meeting them. THis time of Coreys life was so special for him and helped make him who he is today, which I am grateful for. The testimony meeting at the end was such a spiritual experience. And we got to see some friends that we had not seen for a while and it was such a blast. And of course I did not get pictures, because Corey did not want me to be a "Paparazzi".

But on another spiritual note I Absolutley loved conference We have had so many big decisions in front of us and so many unkowns, especially with the world being like it is right now...and it was so comforting to hear them say stay the course. like always, but it is comforting just the same. A day before conference I told Corey. " I thought things were just going to run smoothly for a while, I want don't want things to change". And President Monson in one of his talks said "The only thing constant in this lif is that things are always changing" cory nidged me and I laughed .... but boy is that true, For everyone around me it seems. My life has been one huge whirlwind tornado of ever present change and trials. At some point I would like to feel like I can put it in Cruise control. But to be honest with you I think I would get bored after a year. Which is why Corey and I are always moving and starting new things and taking in teenagers and having babies and starting businesses and changing jobs and on and on and on....
So anyway,
Coreys mom and dad got a new hot tub...so I bet you can guess what we were doing at there house..




The last day We hung out with the Nydeggars for an afternoon. We went to there brother in laws house. He is an amazing artist, and makes the most amazing things. I had so much fun taking pictures around his shop. you can see his work by clicking on this... The Art of Andrew Smith
These are some of the pictures I got.






how cool is it that they have a huge rocket in their back yard!



Then we went to Thanksgiving point to Cornbellies. the kids loved it, I actually have never been there before but apparently they have been doing it for years. I guess we really did move a long time ago. After the kids burried themselves in corn kernals we left for my grandmas....and we were picking up corn for the next two days. It was falling out of ever nook and crany my kids had on them!

I Love Anthropologie!!!

I love ANTHROPOLOGIE It is seriously becoming one of my favorite stores. Until now I could only go on line, but now it is at the
Fountains Where I went with my Aunt today for a fun little window shopping trip. But I actually Had to buy this super cute hat!





and this super cute plate for my bedroom wall with the D for Dalebout of course!



I am loving their clothes and can't wait till I am a few sizes smaller and I am going for a shopping spree! If you get a chance go... it is totally worth your time. Or check it out on line!

I Love my aunt too! I hope she know how much I love to hang out with her. She is like my big sister and I have loved having her in california with us. I love her boys and I Love her cooking and love to go shopping with her. She is Martha stewart, seriously she could have her own show. Until recently she taught decorating classes at pottery barn and her house is beautifully decorated. And if you have never had the opportunity to eat a meal at her house well,,,you are just missing out! She is the kind of person that makes you feel special and she is so happy and funny, She is a totall football fan and loves to cheer for her boys, and did I mention that she is gorgeous? well she is. I love you Katy!!!!

Body 4 life!!!

Have you ever seen that commercial where the lady is on the couch talking about how her husband stopped drinking soda and lost 15 pounds and she lost 5, and how every one even the dog lost weight and she didn't? well ladies..I am her! I don't think i have told you that 6 weeks ago Corey and I started the body for life program (if you don't know what it is go to bodyforlife.com) anyway, it is a very hard program. wieght lifting, and cardio 6 days a week plus a VERY strict diet. So tell me why I lost 5 pounds gained it back, and lost it again and there it stays. Corey has lost 15 pounds already and is looking fabulous. I feel like the muscle is building under the fat and I am getting FATTER!!! is that possible? the funny thing is that when we went to Utah, I did not work out and ate terrible for 4 days and LOST 3 pounds. I came back and started to work out again and gained it back..
what the hallabalou? rrrrrrrrr! I am so frustrated. WEll on the program he says that women do not usually see results until after the 7th week so I am hangin in there because I desperately need to loose some poundage. I am sore tired and really want some buttered popcorn....so this better work. Plus we are in a competition with our friends and I do not want to loose! I know this is hard to beleive, but when corey and I got married I weighed 112 pounds!!! I know that is way to skinny for me, but seriously somewhere in the middle of where I am now and where I was then would be nice. I want to have another baby, but really need to loose the weight first. sorry this is so random, but I am frusterated!!!!!

Anyone want a protein shake?.....bottoms up!

Play along!

One of my friends a while ago put me on her favorite blog to read list. I never did it and thought I would now...because there are so many that I love to read! I love to see into the world and mind of other bloggers! There are so many talented people out there and I just love keeping in touch with friends. so now according to the rules, I'm supposed to list my own top seven that I enjoy reading. I guess that makes it so you can all try them out too. If I list you that means you are TAGGED and you have to do the same. and leave a comment on the people you chose so they know to play along!

{these are not in any particular order of favoriteness}

1} photography by Jess,(byjess.blogspot.com) one of my old friends, and inspiration. She does fantastic work like my family pictures last year. Her talent is amazing and she works hard at what she does. I find myself at her blog at least once a day!

2}Jared & Sheree, O.k. so I have to say this friend of mine is the nicest person, and not only that but she is like butt kickin healthy, and a fantastic mom. Her posts are always full of love and inspiring things. Her healthy dinners blog is awsome too!

3} Jyl, This hot mama is always at all the hollywood hot spots! I love to check her blog just to see what super fun thing she is doing next. Jyl is a total rock star and super talented, go to her site then check out her website Jyl holiday creations. She makes awsome kid stuff!

4} Ahdis, If only I had the talent for writing and quirky quips like her....I love to read her stuff and usually end up laughing my head off at her posts. I don't know where whe comes up with half the stuff she says. My brain just does not think like that.

5}Krupps, Raimi is just so cute. She is scrapbooker maniac and so good at what she does. She is one of those talented people that leave you wondering if she actually sleeps at night. like where dose she find the time to be so talented? plus she is sooooo nice and thoughtfull.

6} Ben and Kristen, I used to visit teach kristen in Utah, and she found my blog one day and I was so happy to be in touch with her again. I love her blog because she lives in Idaho where I would consider in the middle of nowhere....and is totally a pioneer woman! I love her simplicity and talent, she is a great mom and totally did not even know that canned chicken exsited until I introduced it to her.LOL! :) she is all natural!

7} Liss I am not sure where Liss came from or how she found me...but we are blogger buddies and she lives in Australia. which is fun for me because corey served his mission in Australia and I went there as a teenager for dance and was in the same area that she is in. We share a common love of photography and a few insight into eachothers lives. She is an amazing single mother with special needs children and I love her attitude and friendliness.

8} Krissy& Jax I am adding one more than I should, because she is one of my FAVORITE people. My little sis. She is so beautiful. She is a single mom who works and goes to school full time and if there is anyone who has a nice temple worthy single friend who has a good job and not a lot of baggage, oh yeah and is good looking. well lets get them set up! she deserves the best. I love you sis!!!

9} Jon & kellye o.k. o.k. now I am just getting long winded,..but I can't leave out my best friend from highschool, and college roomate. We kinda lost touch after marraige. I don't even know how that could happen...but it did. and now I love to check on her and see what she is up to and how her cute kids are growing up. I am so happy to be in touch again. That is why I love her blog!


thanks for reading and please....play along!

Ethan said. . . .

to my friend Angie, "I am getting so tall because my mom and dad are on a diet" !!!

then later that day while in the car driving home from Utah. he lifts up his arm and says "arm pit hair OUT! now wait, I don't want it out yet" ?hmmm not sure where that came from.