Resolutions and Follow Ups!!

Resolutions . . . 

Of course we're gonna talk about them in February.  

I can't exactly recall how I decided on some of these goals and 

wow over the course of January they have changed.  

They also a lovely chat with a fantastic relative about 

the reality of motherhood. 

 I think that this has been an important learning experience.  

I started with my original goals and over the month 

I allowed them to morph into goals that were a little different 

(mostly just more attainable/reasonable 

with the basic concept still there).  

I realized early in the month that as we moved into a 

comfortable routine they may change a bit!!  

After all I've never had three kids before!!

I'm not going to go into details about how my goals 

looked originally, here's my list as they stand.

(I am going to continue to let them morph just a bit!)

Spiritual

Read a Chapter of the Old Testament Every night.

Choosing more spiritual Entertainment.

Educational

Learn a new quilt pattern

Learn how to Make Bread/Rolls/Tortilla's 

and Laundry Detergent

Financial

Cut back on Grocery Bills, 

Stick closer to the budget,

Pay Off the VAN!!

(we are so close already!)

Physical

Exercise 6 days a week with the girls

Brush and Floss my teeth every day twice a day

Family

More Meaningful and Planned Family Home Evening.

Find Creative ways to curb the screaming!

(from everyone but especially me)

Now we went over our goals for a Family Home Evening 

one night and the girls also made goals for me to help them with.

(thank goodness I have all year to work on some of this!!)

They include some things like 

Ms. A learning all the songs for the Primary Presentation 

and Passing her Swimming class next session!  

Ms. E getting Potty Trained. (Yikes!!)

Mr. T gets to learn how to crawl and walk 

(ha ha not helping one bit on this one!!) 

Shane also has some goals in which I have a role, 

like getting 100% Home teaching 

(meaning I need to be around to watch the kiddo's at night) 

and only spending $25/month on lunches at the school. 

(meaning I help him get his hiney out of 

bed on time to make a lunch!)

This is such a daunting task when I look at it all together,

and I'm always grateful for a little divine intervention 

that diffuses some of the chaos around our home these days!!

Now for a little bit of fun,

Reviewing Last Years Goals! 

FOLLOW UP TIME!!

So I am almost completely finished our BOB 

you can read my last update here.

All we are missing for the BOB's is 

a few larger more expensive Items like 

Crank radio's and carbon straws.

Our Document folder is almost complete as well Except for a 

WILL!!

(still trying to convince Shane it's 

not super depressing to take on)

The other fantastic update is 

FAMILY HISTORY!

Of my Three Goals here I feel I have at least made 

some progress on each one!

My favorite was going through the box of originals from my Dad!

He has some super exciting documents/copies of documents.

When we started getting into Family history a bit more we went 

to see a family history consultant which was really fun 

and a bit eye opening as to where we should start 

on each line in our family.

They had also invited me to come scan/copy all of 

Dad's documents on her fantastic photocopier!

However we had a hiccup as soon after she was hospitalized 

and is still not doing very well.

In a surprising turn of events our printer died and we ended up 

investing in  a printer/scanner/copier combo which will 

allow us to do all that work!!

I also just took Mr. T out to the farm to meet my grandparents 

and took the time to ask grandma about her early life 

and some of the stories she remembers.  

We took a Dictaphone and I'm in the process 

of transcribing them for everyone. 

( I will probably give everyone copies for 

Easter Presents, that's the goal anyway).

I'm still amazed by how much I learn when I just ask even my parents.

That same visit I asked my dad what his grandpa did for a living. 

(I knew Grandma Grew up in Calgary but I had no idea 

what her dad did or how she and Grandpa met!)

Turns out He was a delivery driver for CP rail and we 

even have a photograph of him standing beside the delivery truck. 

This also launched my dad into telling a story about his mother 

and her siblings stealing watermelon from the rail yard, 

and bringing out a book of photo's of all kinds 

that I had no recollection we had.  

Look at all the resources I found just by opening my mouth!

We even have a picture of Grandpa during the war 

with his para trooping unit!  

Where was this when I was trying to explain to Ms. A 

what a soldier was around Remembrance day!!

These goals obviously are still standing until I finish the BOB's 

and hit brick walls with the family history.

Now that I have all the progress written down 

I am a bit proud of the progress I made this year on these goals!!

This has been quite a post!! wow ITS a NOVEL!!

So to make it up to you . . . I promise my next post will be 

filled with pictures!!

(after all it's about the girls new bunk beds, 

and the adventure they are having getting 

used to sharing a room)

That Eeerie Feeling!!

Ok so I'm sure that some of my friends and neighbors had 

much worse experiences than I did this past week.  

LIKE BEING EVACUATED FROM THEIR HOMES!!

So I'm going to keep this short and sweet, you may remember this post 

from last year and possibly this one as well!!

It's just not a coincidence for me that this city has 

experienced yet another wildfire requiring the 

evacuation some of the residents near our home.  

This time when I saw the giant smokey cloud I got an eerie feeling 

and kept a watch out the window to help me decide 

when I needed to call Shane. 

One major difference this time was that my mother was visiting for the day 

and my wonderful father was listening to the radio while working 

and soon called to let me know that some of the 

surrounding county residence areas had been evacuated already.  

Double Eeerie when those areas were the first evacuated last year as well.  

As soon as I saw the list I got on the phone to Shane.  

My loving and supportive husband said 

"well get those grab and go bags out and I'll be home as soon as I can,

we'll decide what to do then."  

(awe he does appreciate my randomness)

What did I do while I waited for him to show up?  

I mixed up banana muffins, 

cuz every emergency needs banana muffins.  

Yep I was simply trying to calm down enough to think straight.  

 

I threw the mix in the fridge when we left and hoped 

that they would work out fine 

whenever I got around to actually baking them.

 

Obviously The girls like the minni muffins best,

and I confess the one large missing muffin 

was in my tummy!!!

Eventually we did head out of town 

(we stayed as long as we could to make sure 

Shane's dad was taken care of at the care facility) 

and stayed in Raymond again with his mother 

even though our community was not evacuated.  

It was too creepy and reminiscent of last year to stay around. 

As we were packing to go I got a little sad as I realized 

how close we had come to finishing this project and it just stalled!! 

 I don't even remember why!! 

Therefore for me this second fire was no coincidence!! 

This was a loving heavenly father giving me a nudge saying 

"hey remember this it's REALLY IMPORTANT for your family!!"

So here's a little update since my last preparedness post.

Here they are - our family backpacks. 

lined up ready to be restocked after using the clothes.

 One bag for each of us and the blue folder 

is my copies of important documents.

 We are grateful that we had them!!

Something that I did realize when we got back was that 

I had also tackled another huge dimension of 

our home preparedness our family First Aid Kit.

There are a few things I love about this kit.

#1 The easy access top for things you always need like band aids, halls, etc

 #2 It holds Shanes MASSIVE first aid manuals.

 

 #3 4 separate compartments that are easy to see into (less labeling/searching)

In the end my happy ending is that I'm back working on these, 

even the first aid kit.  

And I'm more close than ever before to having the joy 

of a triumphant post when these are all assembled and ready to go. 

(Hopefully we will not need them for at least another year!!)

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