Family Day

So I have way too many things on my mind

for keeping this blog real,
things that are not simply look at the fun we had!!

But to make room for all that in my brain
Here's some updates on the fun we had!!

Family Day!

Shane and his family love to Cross Country Ski.
I on the other hand have very little
sporting background AT ALL!!

We went to Alison Creek, in the Crows Nest Pass.
We had just a bit of lunch after arriving

(thank heaven Ms. E slept most of the way!!)

Then we suited up - bundled up the girls,


I gathered my courage and we headed out.


I LOVED IT!!


It was an amazing day little wind and even though the girls put up
just a bit of fuss - we ended up trekking just over 4km!


Wowee!!

After getting warmed up with some Apple Cider,
we hopped back into the van and I convinced Shane
we should go to Frank Slide with the girls.


We had a wonderful time and even though Ms. A ate
almost an entire bag of jujubes we had quite a marvelous day.
I loved so many aspects of it!!


I loved watching Ms. A explore the entire museum.
make all the lights go on - push all the buttons -
jump and run and push and pull on all the gadgets!!


I loved watching Ms. E stop to smile at every
grey and wrinkled stranger.
Bringing sunshine into so many hearts that cold afternoon!


I loved watching Shane share the joy of discovery with the girls -
encourage them gently to discover all on their own
giving them lovely pushes and even some restraint when needed!

(I loved watching him be a DAD!
He has had so little opportunity these past few months!!)

I loved discovering something within myself -
a new desire and a new happiness with myself and my family.

Which at the end of the day I found most fitting for family day!!

Grab and Go Bags

So there has been a lot on my mind these past weeks since Valentines Day.

Some especially emotional days (post possibly to come).

One very fulfilling evening was the
Relief Society Emergency Preparedness Night.

I talked a little bit about My Trip into Emergency Preparedness
and Introduced some things that I had put in Ms. A's Grab and Go bag.


If you haven't heard this concept it is pretty simple.
It is an extension of a 72 hour kit.

It is a bag designed specifically for an emergency.
Stashed with food and clothes for a number of days and
other emergency supplies that might be needed.


What got me thinking about this?
Last year we were evacuated from our home.
I was grateful that we had been thinking about leaving
far before the evacuation began.

We headed for Raymond to stay with Shanes mom for the night.
My brain DID NOT function well that night,
trying to remember everything the girls would need.

In the end we did not seem to be without anything,
but it would have been much simpler if I had been PREPARED.

So New Years resolution,
Begin preparing Grab and Go bags for the Family.

Here's what I have to show (so far) Ms. A's bag is still missing some items
which I will list at the end, along with many of the wonderful blogs
that I researched for ideas about what to put in this lovely bag!!


I was certainly amazed at what I could fit!!

I was glad for a backpack with three pockets.
1. clothes/diapers and equipment
2. food
3. entertainment
plus room on the outside for some other items.

1. Clothes
Still needing 1 more shirt and 1 more set of pj's
ps. the white bag is Training Pants.
We're still training, there were many reasons to add this
to my bag even if Ms. A had been trained for months.
It is easy to revert in stressful situations and
there are a myriad of reasons they may just refuse.

2. Food

SnacksMore snacks
Drink Crystals
Shane and I are planning on carrying extra water,
and Ms. A will also eventually get a Filtering Straw
so she can drink from any water source.Mixed Hard CandyTo lighten her pack Shane and I split her
main dish food between our two packs.

Plastic bowls/utencils, Paper plates, WipesPlastic GlassesI chose plastic for her because it was light.
Bags for us adults will have proper utensils.

The next few kits I tried to keep very simple
and age appropriate, they can grow with her!

Wash Kit
ToiletriesEquipment KitFirst Aid KitExtra Bags for Dirty Clothes/Diapers etc.
On the outside for easy access.
Whistle and Bandana
Information Kit
Photo, copy of Alberta Health Card, and
Immunization Records.

Contents of Bag list
(no rifling through to remember, also has expiry dates
for food so that I know when to rotate it)

Family Photo has full Names and
Birth dates on it for everyone.
Good Idea for comfort and also for
Identification if we get separated.
How is a 3 year old going to tell a police officer
what I look like?


Last Item for the Outside of the bag is a
Last Minute List - Ms A's is pretty short.
Shoes, Coat, Stuffy, Blanket.

These will get more complicated as she grows.

Last but not least
3.Entertainment Kit
I had quite a bit of fun doing the research
and finding good ideas for this one!!
Bean Bag, dice, pen, crayon, pad, marbles,
small card game, string, straws, clothespins,
and a list of wonderful games to play with each item
and a few more!!

And one little surprise!
In and Out Pipe Cleaners.


This was quite a hit at the Relief Society evening.
Many saying they were going to make one for
Sacrament Meeting.


Ms. A already Loves this one, and can do most of it herself!

All the kits are in individual plastic bags to save time
in restocking and also for protection.
(food not tasting like soap, and toothpaste not exploding
all over the backpack and clothes!)

What belongs in her bag that is not pictured here
is one more shirt, one more pair of pj's and a Purification Straw.

These things are on my organization/purchase list.

I hope you enjoyed the peek into Ms. A's Bag.
Here's A list of links I hope you enjoy as much as I did!!
There is a lot! Take Your Time!

http://orgjunkie.com/2011/10/emergency-preparedness-kit.html?
utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%253A+
ImAnOrganizingJunkie+%2528I%2527m
+an+organizing+junkie%2521%2529

http://www.parents.com/parenting/better-parenting/advice/emergency-preparedness/

http://ayearoffhe.blogspot.com/2011/11/72-hour-kits-pt-1.html

http://lifedesigncraft.blogspot.com/search/label/Home%20Management

http://www.doseofhappy.com/blog/2012/01/16/simple-play-pipe-cleaner-game/

http://sebastiandiaries.blogspot.com/2011/09/food-storage-frenzy.html

http://preparednotscared.blogspot.com/2010/01/preparedness-project-paint-can-heaters.html

http://positivelyprepared.blogspot.com/2009/09/72-hour-kits-week-1-food.html

http://www.sixsistersstuff.com/2011/08/emergency-survival-72-hour-kits.html

http://themoesfamilyintexas.blogspot.com/2011/09/72-hour-kits.html

http://mohawkmolly.blogspot.com/2010/11/72-hours-of-fun-part-3.html

http://www.wannabecrafty.com/search/label/baby

http://endlesscrafting.blogspot.com/2011/01/in-case-of-emergencyday-21yesi-skipped.html

http://www.howdoesshe.com/72-hour-kits-for-kids

Valentine #13

Valentine#13

So loving the cute felt fortune cookie!!
Mostly because there is actually a message just from me inside!!

Valentine #10 &11, The Ball

Valentine #10

Valentine #11

yes that's right - a rainbow pencil!!

The Ball

Well thanks to the fairy grandmother who came to dinner,
did my dishes and put my kiddo's to bed,
I ended up feeling a lot like Cinderella!


The Ball was fantastic!
We danced the night away and visited with friends
and made some new ones as well.

I was able to relax and have fun without the kiddo's.
I even avoided kicking, flipping, and sliding while dancing!
(Shane kept assuring me that my dress would have kept it all modest!)

I don't have any direct report as to bringing people closer to Christ
through reaching out to them.
I can say that I did reach past my comfort zone
and got over myself a little.

At least enough to enjoy meeting new people
and visiting with old friends!!

Valentine #9 and The Ball (like Cinderella)

Valentine #9

Today's valentine - Fizz Candy

(I know its a little hard to read it says
Valentine You Make My Heart Burst!)

Which Shane promptly threw a couple in a cup
of Mountain Dew to see what would happen!!

He called it Science when he explained the
chemical reaction to Ms. A.
She was entertained for about 3 seconds.
He on the other hand was entertained much longer.


The Ball

Tomorrow is The Presidents Ball,
I know it sounds very Cinderella like.
For Valentines Day the stake throws a grand party
for the adults with the Lethbridge Big Band
where we can all get dressed up and go
DANCING!!

Which I love (and Shane loves more) but
it kinda reminds me of high school just a little.

I am torn as I should be ecstatic for a night out
without the kiddo's and some adult conversation.
But there is also this nagging in the back of my head.

A voice saying
"um . . . you are plain/average/forgettable."
"just stay home, you'll feel better."

Now I know exactly who is saying this and why.

The gospel of Jesus Christ is a gospel of peace and joy,
which comes from pushing us outside our comfort zone
where we would just 'feel better'.

From pushing myself past that little voice saying
"you are just a little nothing."

To realize that I am not the only one who has that voice.
I need to look beyond my voice.

I need to go, not for me but for that person who needs me.

ME!!
(not someone else)

Someone who needs me to be there to listen,
to take time, to sit and share,
to give them a hug.

To help them realize they are
NOT plain/average/ordinary
and most importantly,
they are
NOT just a little nothing.

Someone needs me to remind them
(and by reminding them I also remind myself)
that there is ONE person who believes we are
EVERYTHING.
That we are all that we believe, and hope
and dare to dream we can become.
We can do it all.


And our Savior Jesus Christ knows we can do it all
and so much more than we even dare to dream!!

So I will venture tomorrow night with my wonderful husband,
with that small hope that through me someone will remember
the Savior and sweeten their relationship with him.

And I will show that little voice in my head.

I will be an advocate for MY Savior,
by reaching beyond myself and towards someone else.

And for a moment someone will see the savior through me.
(I promise to return and report!)

Date Night and Valentine #8

Date Night

Well this month was a pajama date night.
So Relaxing and nice to be low pressure!!


Shane and I had some previous conversations about
spending all night with our phones on or playing games
without actually talking to each other for most of the night.

I had also thought about creating a conversation jar.


Questions to ask to start conversations when you are at a loss.

So we sat at the kitchen table and read some of the questions
to each other as we cut them out and put them in the jar.


Shane Decided we should keep score and so we played
the Newlyweds game, trying to guess each others answers.

As you can see I won he he!

After we had done all the cutting we could stand,


we dished our selves some ice cream and strawberries,
and vegged on the couch for the night.


Now we have a lovely conversation jar for our family


and enjoyed each others company for the night and
Shane got a little bit of pity for his sickness.

Valentine #8

A most ridiculous glass of water,
Shane was still under the weather this morning
so lots of water was in order.

After his first nap he found this!!

My bag of tricks is getting smaller!!
Valentines Day will soon be here!