Duck, Duck, Goose!

Oh, yesterday was THE. BEST. DAY. EVER. At least a few moments of it were. The kids decided to play duck, duck, goose with stuffed animals included to make the circle bigger. Each time one of the older children touched Payge on the head and said "duck" she squealed with delight to be included in the game. Then, when Zac touched Chayce and said, "Goose!" both girls got up and started running. Because they all run at about the same pace, there was an evenly spaced circle of children running, and running, and running--not quite catching each other. I had to try really hard not to laugh...oh, who am I kidding, I laughed hysterically! Finally, they called it off and sat back down to try again, Chayce wanting to be "it". Again, Payge would squeal with glee each time she was touched, her grin unsurpassed by anything I've seen, and then when "Goose!" was yelled, it didn't matter who had been touched, they all started running in the same circle again.

Childhood rocks.

Two Coconut Give-Aways!

Mmmm. I love using coconut oil to cook in. Now, Tropical Traditions has a new product that I want to try, Peanut Butter with coconut oil in it. I realize I could mix my own peanut butter together with coconut oil, and make many of the recipes, but...what if I could WIN a jar of the stuff...mmmm. It's worth a shot. You can try, too, if you want to...
http://sweeps4bloggers.com/?p=671

For a give-away of just plain ol' coconut oil (which is exceptional) go here: http://cutepea.wordpress.com/2009/12/13/gold-label-virgin-coconut-oil-review-and-giveaway/

Food Storage for $5/week

Being prepared in 2010, it seems to be something a lot of folks are thinking about. You just never know when having a store of food will come in handy, so I'm sharing a plan I received from a friend that gives a good guideline for first time storers.

I received this handout many years ago, so, I'm sure the prices have gone up a bit. I think it should be about $8 now, maybe a little more. Anyhow, for those just starting, it is a good place to start.
However, realize that some weeks will be LESS than $5 (like the soup weeks, or tuna) so you save the left over amount and roll it over to the next week. You should use a total of $260/year, but it'll probably be a bit more since grain prices have gone up.

Week1: 6 lbs Salt
Week2: 5 cans cream of chicken soup
Week3: 20 lbs sugar
Week4: 50lbs of wheat (un-ground. I'll post some recipes for wheat without a grinder later)
Week5: 6lbs pasta
Week6: 20lbs sugar
Week7: 8 cans tomato soup.
Week8: 8 cans tuna
Week9: 6 lbs yeast
Week10: 50 lbs wheat
Week11: 8 cans tomatoes
Week12: 20 lbs sugar
Week13: 10 lbs powdered milk
Week14: 7 boxes mac n' cheese
Week 15: 50 lbs wheat
Week16: 5 cans cream of chicken soup
Week17: 1 bottle 500 count multi-vitamins
Week18: 10lbs powdered milk
Week19: 5 cans cream of mushroom soup
Week20: 50 lbs wheat
Week21: 8 cans tomato soup
Week22:20lbs of sugar
Week23: 8 cans tuna
Week24: 6 lbs shortening
Week25: 50lbs of wheat
Week26: 5 lbs honey
Week27: 10 lbs powdered milk
Week28: 20 lbs sugar
Week29: 5lbs peanut butter
Week30: 50 lbs of wheat
Week31: 7 boxes mac n'cheese
Week32: 10 lbs powdered milk
Week33: 1 bottle 500 count aspirin
Week34: 5 cans cream of mushroom soup
Week35: 50 lbs of wheat
Week36: 7 boxes mac n'cheese
Week37: 6 lbs salt
Week 38: 20 lbs sugar
Week39: 8 cans tomato soup
Week40: 50 lbs of wheat
Week41:5 cans cream of chicken soup
Week42: 20 lbs sugar
Week43: 1 500 count bottle vitamins
Week44: 8 cans tuna
Week45: 50 lbs wheat
Week46: 6 lbs pasta
Week47: 20 lbs sugar
Week48: 5 cans cream of mushroom soup
Week49: 5 pounds of honey
Week50: 20 lbs of sugar
Week51: 8 cans tomato soup
Week52: 50 lbs of wheat

You should end up with enough in storage to feed two people. Personally, I'd buy less wheat and add in some dry beans or lentils. Especially lentils because they are faster cooking. However, Whole wheat berries, when soaked and cooked are high in many of the vitamins needed to survive. I personally, would also buy canola oil rather than shortening, and some oats because they make a great fast breakfast (and who could live without oatmeal cookies in case of emergency? Not I!)

Also, it might be more cost effective in the long run to buy each item in larger quantities when on sale. For example, when I knew wheat was available for $0.35/lb, I went ahead and bought a full 600 lbs, rather than 50 pounds here and there. Of course, we use it regularly.
Good luck!

Family

New Year's Resolution #1 is off the list. The family portrait. Done! Whew!

Hope you all had a productive January 1st! Happy New Year!!

Creativity of Cute Babies

Ok, well, they aren't really babies anymore. But, they are my babies. And we had fun in the snow again.


Chayce's idea--using the Waterbaby funnel and a washcloth to turn her snowman into a snow PRINCESS.


The smile on that princess's face after getting her hat.

Zach's snowman's head was tiny. Shrunken head reading in the Ripley's book may be to blame.

Building the snow fort! Hopefully it stays cold so we can keep it awhile.

Some 2009 Memories

I spent some time reviewing 2009, trying to decide what my goals for 2010 should be. I came across a few memories that had me laughing, and crying.

January 2009--the broken fridge disaster! All melted and moldy by the time we came home from our trip. Looking back, we were really VERY blessed. Our CSA involvement quickly refilled our freezer this year, and financially we didn't feel the pinch as we feared we would. Thanks, God!

February 2009--Chayce manipulating time by crowing like a rooster whenever she wished the next day would start. Was that really a whole year ago?

March 2009--We did a pantry purge, (oops, I almost wrote panty purge. I wonder how that would show up on Google...ha ha) which is funny now that I look back on the timing, considering all we lost in January. Wow, isn't looking back and seeing blessings abound just amazing? We are doing that again, this month, mainly to have less to move this summer. We can't do the CSA this year, due to the fact that we might leave this summer. I will really miss Indiana. REALLY. And all the people that come with it.

April 2009--Pantry eating continued. But my favorite was Easter, and warm weather finally being here. Lots of outside photos. Really? Does that mean that we are only three months from warmth again? YAY!! Oh, and Stephen passed his final tests during this month, so we've been ABD since then. He's doing great, by the way.

May 2009--Oh! May was just AWESOME! I could not choose a favorite post. A wedding, splash pads, huge CSA bounty. May Rocked.

June 2009--S'more making, firefly catching, beach going, jam canning. A month of verbs.

July 2009--So busy, we didn't post much. But when we did, it was colorful and memorable. 80's party, canning, harvesting, fun. And the 4th of July!

August 2009--We visited some Church History sites, Palmyra, NY being one of them. Chayce had her 4th birthday, and we saw Niagara Falls. AND, we had our 8th wedding anniversary!

September 2009--Obviously, we were either really busy, or not busy at all, only 8 posts! But, my oldest turned 6, so maybe I was mourning.

October 2009-- So full! Halloween, my first 1/2 marathon (eek!), and a trip (without my kids) to Oregon. Busy, busy.

November 2009--Oh, this was a good November post. It included lots of stuff, so I don't have to do it here! ha!

December 2009--Lots of holiday events. Keeping warm inside, and well...treats! Treats to be worked off this January...

Sledding!

We finally took a little time to enjoy the little snow we have....Maybe we'll get more if learn to use what we've got? (kinda like blessings and talents?)