the deep fat fried texas state fair

Each year around this time Tom and I apply for a small loan so we can take the girls to the Texas State Fair--the only place on earth you can see a 1212 pound pig and then eat your way into a similar condition, all in one expensive day. Although the state fair activities don't rise much above stupid animal tricks, life threatening carny rides, and food limited to something that is either eaten off a stick or triple fried or both, there is something unmissable about it.

This year Heidi and I took the girls and unlike the last year we did not feel compelled to try all things fried. The list of this year's fair food is included at the end of the post so you can know some of the items that tempted us. Keep in mind, this is not a complete list...just a taste.


Heidi and Delberd on the mini roller coaster. Adelle is finally outgrowing some of her vertigo issues that plagued our Walt Disney World trip last January.


I, on the other hand, not only struggled fitting my J-Lo-ness into the kiddie sized molded seats, but also needed Tess to hold my hand on the up-n-drop kid ride.

The corny dogs are the state fair classic (and Adelle's favorite).

Tess loved the climbing wall. After her first attempt she came down and said with a stomp, "I'm not proud of myself!" She gave it another go, and after climbing much higher came down with a big smile. She was pretty intense about the whole thing so I let her try a third climb, after which she admitted she had regained her pride and dignity.

the Pee-Wee Stampede

After the disappointing Pee-Wee Stampede, Tess was fully annoyed with her little sister. The rub just got worst as Adelle decided to star in her own Celtic rock dance. Her dancing landed her a job as the new Red Bull girl for pre-K promotions--we are so proud.

We did get a few people complimenting us on Deli's dancing ability. I was quick to mention that I have two daughters that are great dancers, one chose to sit it out today.

Chicken Fried Bacon – Thick and peppery bacon is seasoned, double-dipped in a special batter and breading and deep-fried. Served with a creamy side of ranch or honey mustard sauce.
Fried Banana Split – A mixture of banana and honey peanut butter is rolled in balls, battered and deep-fried and topped with assorted, delicious fixings, including powdered sugar, caramel and chocolate syrups, chopped peanuts, whipped cream and banana split flavored ice cream bites then fittingly crowned with the traditional cherry
Fernie’s All-American Fried Grilled Cheese Sandwich – An American classic with a State Fair twist. Two slices of white bread filled with a blend of American and cheddar cheeses, dipped in an egg and milk batter and lightly coated with panko bread crumbs for extra crispness. Served with a side of shoestring potato sticks, a pickle spear and tomato soup dipping sauce. The All American Meal!
Texas Fried Jelly Belly Beans – Jelly Belly Beans are rolled in funnel cake batter and fried to a crunch. People can share the treat with friends and try to guess the flavors before biting down.

Deep Fried S’mores – Marshmallow cream and chocolate chips are sandwiched between two graham crackers, dipped in a feather-light batter and fried to a golden brown. The campfire-inspired treats are dusted in powdered sugar.
Fried Chocolate Truffles – A silky-smooth, handmade, dark chocolate truffle is rolled in cocoa powder before being battered and deep-fried. The melting chocolate goodness is dusted in cinnamon, sugar and cocoa powder.
Chocolate-Covered Strawberry Waffle Balls – Plump fresh strawberries covered in a thick chocolate shell are dipped in a sweet, waffle batter and deep-fried. Dusted with powdered sugar and served on a stick.
Fried Pop Rocks Fundae Blast - Ignite your senses with this explosion of Tastes. Fried Ice Cream covered in Hershey’s Syrup and Pop Rocks. Your fuse is a Twizzler rolled in Pop Rocks. While you disarm it, you’ll find an Atomic Fireball inside . . .“Fire in the Bowl”!
Fried Dinner Roll – A savory dinner roll lusciously filled with cream cheese and covered with a sweet batter, placed on a stick and deep fried to perfection.
Fried Cake on a Stick – A delicious, chocolate covered white cake filled with strawberry jelly and cream, dipped in sweet batter and deep fried until golden brown and served on a stick!
Green Bean Fries - Fresh Green Beans lightly battered, deep fried, and served with a side of cucumber ranch dressing for dipping!
“Jalapeno” Deep Fried Gorditas - Jalapeno flavored gordita cooked on the grill and then deep fried, stuffed with beef, chicken, or bean & cheese, and finally topped with lettuce, tomato, guacamole, and cheese
Fried Apple iPie – A warm, delicious crispy fried apple pie with just a hint of cinnamon, is smothered in rich vanilla ice cream and topped with an edible iPod “like” mp3 player and whipped cream. Real working souvenir “ear-bud” earphones complete this tasty iPie experience
Fried Snowballs – Fresh from the fryer! A lightly battered Snowball (cupcake) dusted with powdered sugar!
Fried Honey Bun – A lightly battered Honey Bun, served fresh from the fryer with a light dusting of powdered sugar! .
Mini Chicken Fried Steak Slider - A miniature crispy chicken fried steak patty served on a mini bun with a side of cream gravy
Ignited Moon Pie­ - The Original Moon Pie, lightly battered and deep fried, then gently sprinkled with powdered sugar!
Beefy Fried Queso Bites ­– Queso mixed with taco meat, breaded in a zesty batter and deep fried.
Chick-a-Mole Bites – Guacamole mixed with a taco-flavor shredded chicken and cheddar/Monterey jack cheese, breaded in a zesty batter and deep fried.
Crispy Fried Cantaloupe Pie – Diced cantaloupe seasoned with brown sugar, cinnamon and coconut milk, rolled in a flaky pie pastry, and then deep fried. Topped with powdered sugar and whip cream.

Harold Spencer Budge

October 19, 1931 - September 21, 2008

We are thinking of you and missing you Grandpa.

We love you and Grandma so much!

new old pics

Here are some of my favorite pictures from this last spring and summer that I haven't posted yet.


upward, ever upward


Isn't it fun when you get a glimpse of what your four year old may look like when she's eighty three. (click on the picture for more detail)


soft grandma-made blankets,
bowl full of strawberries,
green leaves and grass...
summer happiness


I have a whole collection of these sleeping pictures. At the end of the day the girls usually end up fighting over whose leg or arm goes where. This argument ends with them on opposite sides of the bed as they settle down to sleep. Yet, when I go into check on them after everything is quiet, I'm most likely to find them some how intertwined.

family night

A few years ago, Tom and I saw a terrifying independent film called "Thirteen." Briefly, the film follows the deterioration of a fun, interesting, confident twelve year old into an insecure, popular, media driven thirteen year old. As soon as the film was over, Tom turned to me and said, "We are having family night* every night." We were motivated for a month or two and then Project Runaway happened. The next spur to action was when we were having a discussion over dinner about something gospel-related and every reply the girls gave us was either "read your scriptures" or "say your prayers." (Disclaimer: I'm not saying those are not good answers--in fact, they are often right--we just don't want the girls to become intellectually or spiritually lazy like their folks.) We were stirred to action once again until Mythbusters started. For about three months now, we have had consistent, interesting and fun family nights thanks to a little gem I stumbled upon, "Little Big Minds." Our discussion on responsibility last night involved the following poem:


The Summer Day
by Mary Oliver
Who made the world?
Who made the swan, and the black bear?
Who made the grasshopper?
This grasshopper, I mean-the one who has flung herself out of the grass,
the one who is eating sugar out of my hand,
who is moving her jaws back and forth instead of up and down-who is gazing around with her enormous and complicated eyes.
Now she lifts her pale forearms and thoroughly washes her face.
Now she snaps her wings open, and floats away.
I don't know exactly what a prayer is.
I do know how to pay attention, how to fall down into the grass,
how to kneel down in the grass,how to be idle and blessed,
how to stroll through the fields,which is what I have been doing all day.
Tell me, what else should I have done?
Doesn't everything die at last, and too soon?
Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?


Most of the evening, Tess complained that we were only asking her 4-year old questions, which is insulting to her. According to Tess, she is ready for 8-year old level questions.


Here are a few of the girls favorite responsibilities:


- Get enough sleep so you aren't a pill; and


- Always look your best when cleaning the chalk boards.


*family night is a LDS tradition where one night a week you force yourself to do something besides watching reality television after dinner. Instead, you attempt to teach your offspring something wholesome and then eat something unwholesome, like a four-layer brownie and pint of Godiva ice cream. It's fun.

dog days

I love putting Adelle in charge of things. She either feels delighted and empowered or crumbles to the floor wailing about being like Cinderella (a trick that her sister taught her). So I was pleased when she jumped at the chance to fill the bath tub and get the dog shampoo, washcloths, towel, special dog brush thing and dog perfume--all by herself.



Poe was sufficiently subdued as Adelle lathered her up for about 15 minutes.



Tess--"Poe is the most beautiful thing in my life"



Also...

The girls started their Chinese class today. Here they are with their friends Ava and Sophia before class. They loved their class, and we are grateful to Aunt Tian Tian for sparkling (chinglish) their interest.





PS these are pictures of apartments I want to sublet in Barcelona this summer. Since it is difficult to inspire visits to Dallas in the summer I thought I would try parking it in Spain for a month next year. Any takers? I don't really want to go but the girls need to learn Spanish too, so I have volunteered.

afternoons with delanor

labor day weekend

I knew labor day weekend was going to be a good one when Tom and I both got to sleep in Saturday morning and woke up to this...

The girls had dressed themselves appropriately for a holiday weekend brunch and were content with parent-less conversation and chips for breakfast.

Saturday night we held an exciting, award winning runway show with friends.

Contestants were given vintage, year-old, clydesdale, running medals for fashion effort and bravery.

Sophia and Adelle

With Heidi being out of town, we struggled to entertain ourselves Sunday night. Tom and I decided to play along when the girls asked us to dress up in something fancy enough to attend the restaurant they had set up in the family room. Tess was creating a mood for the restaurant with some music when things went disturbingly awry for her.

I can't decide if my favorite line is "You don't deserve any food!" or "You don't respect me!"

Monday

We headed back to Burgers Lake to share in the goodness with Tom.

The girls were happy to finally swim with their Dad this summer and I was happy to get some much anticipated trapeze time. Tom failed to master the point-&-shootness of our automatic camera so unfortunately, I don't have any action shots. At least we have this picture of the awesome structure and my new trapeze outfit. Every credible trapeze artist needs a cape.

The weekend's happiness even spilled over into Tuesday's back to school routine.

Who wouldn't want to walk these girls to school?

Happy Birthday Grant & Dona

& on the 7th day...we did a whole lotta nothing

Some days in Texas it is just too hot to get out of your pajamas.

Tom talked the girls into watching Meet the Press with him,

and luckily it took a good hour or two to work through a bowl of peanuts so the girls lasted the whole show.

I can't tell you how happy I was to get this shot. Very few people outside of Tom's family get to see his goofy side. Animals and small children do tend to bring it out in him more easily. Just in case you thought I married Toad because of good looks or sizable skull now you can know the real reason--he makes me laugh, a lot.

school day mornings

first day of school morning
5:00am I'm up and I'm hyper, painted half of our little hall between the kitchen and the dining room
5:30am running with friends
6:30am finish painting hall/shower
7:00am get the girls up (they hop out of bed happily), make steel cut oats w/ agave, and green smoothies with fresh OJ, frozen blueberries, & collard greens
7:15am girls lap up the practically perfect healthy goodness
7:30am Tess practices her piano while Adelle feeds the dog
7:45am leash on Poe and walk the 1/2 mile to the girls school
8:00am girls are right on time
8:15am head to our favorite local breakfast diner for an exciting kid-free breakfast
9:00am-11:30am kiss Tom good-bye, hurry back home to shower, clean, read, web surf and enjoy the quietness

2nd, 3rd and 4th day of school mornings
7:39am I’m up and back to my regular sluggish self
7:40am drag tired, ornery kids out of bed, pop-tarts for breakfast
8:10am drive girls to school—they are tardy and mad

This is of course a cautionary tale: never set expectations while watching the Olympics. Let's just hope I can make it through to labor day without doping.


the traditional TGIF after school kiss

Here is a video of what I've been missing in the morning.