A New Fun Food Storage Site

This Site is totally giving away a free bosche mixer! Check it out!

Food Storage Challenge...Let the games begin!

So, I have had a strong desire lately to get my food storage growing again. I have challenged myself to get going on better preparing my family for any rough times that may come. We were doing great at it before we left Rexburg, but have really slacked off since we moved back home. I guess the 2 moves in 3.5 months may have something to do with it...but anyhoo...I am now ready to jump back in. I would love to get some ideas from you all as well. I am going to share what I find as I go. So, here is the first discovery I have made.

It is called Food Storage Made Easy...here is the link http://foodstoragemadeeasy.net/

It is a couple of awesome ladies that have put together 10 baby steps that help us to make the process a bit easier not to mention that is is free! The web site is super fun and it is totally geared for the modern woman. They even have it all cutseyfied (if that is a word). They also have a 100 page binder you can print out that has all the steps with cute graphics etc ($17). If you don't want to fork out the $17 smackers, you can just follow the steps online. It is all there.

They also have videos that help you with the web site as well as some of the steps. The main downloads I snatched are

1. The 3 Mo Food Storage Excel Spreadsheet found in baby step 3 ...I suggest watching the video that shows you how the spreadsheet is meant to work. It helped me out a ton.

2. The Food Storage Calculator Found in Baby Step Four on the Web site. It is sweet! It lets you type in the number of people in your family and calculates it.

I am still studying the web site and loving all their ideas. I will keep you all posted with what else I come across in my wanderings.

Please share your ideas and resources with us!

The New Bosch is on Sale! I am totally getting it!

I have been shopping around for a Mixer and I found this sweet site for the New Bosch Universal Mixer. The bowl is bigger then the older version and it has a larger motor. They are on sale right now for $399.99 with free shipping plus $10 off if you put their link in your blog or web site!

http://www.everythingkitchens.com/boschUKM.html

Our Logan Temple

Tucker and Oakley's Nana aka, Bonnie, took this pic sitting at a stop light! This is what she said, "This photo was taken while sitting at a traffic light! It took my breath when I noticed the view and hurried and got the camera out and snapped the picture before the light turned green!" It is Beautiful!

The difference between Home-Making and House-Keeping

I like to sew in the morning hours before my little ones wake up in the morning. I love listening to talks off the LDS Church website. The talks I listened to this morning were so awesome! I did not attend the World Wide Leadership Training this year; so I learned this morning that I missed out on a ton of really neat stuff! The section on Building a Righteous Posterity was so awesome! It gave me a ton of hope in regards to my role as a Mommy in our Heavenly Father's plan. It made me rethink my battle plan in regards to my decision to be a "home-maker". My view of "home-making" has changed.

Okay... so this is my favorite part...We were taught in these talks that there is a major difference between Home-Making and House-keeping. Home-Making is making or creating an atmosphere that allows the Spirit to reside and allows and encourages our children to learn those things that will help them build confidence and testimonies of our Savior and our Heavenly Father's plan. House-keeping on the other hand is what we do to keep our homes orderly and clean like the list above in our title of this Mommy Blog. I am so glad that I was taught this morning to look at it in a new light.

Home-making is something that is a shared responsibility. Our husbands, if we have one, are also responsible to do their best to help "make" our homes more like Heaven on Earth. Our homes can be a place of refuge for our children. Some of us may not be currently married due to a variety of reasons be they divorce or widowhood, etc; but we all have a responsibility, and are promised blessings if we do so, to "make" our homes conducive to the Spirit and learning the gospel principles the best way we know how in the situation that we are in. I learned this morning that there is a pattern that we should try to achieve...the "perfect" example of a family in God's plan. I learned that the perfect Family is not a family without problems or challenges; but it is the Family that is striving everyday to do their best with what they have to keep God's Commandments and follow the Spirit! It isn't being the ideal perfect family...it is the desire and the effort we put forth that bring us closer to perfection. The talks explain this way better then I ever could. Go Listen!

We can come up with our own battle plans to "create" such homes through prayer, scripture study and by listening to the Spirit. I thought this was really neat. Do you have any further ideas or insights to this topic? Please share.

Hi Everyone! This link below will take you to an ensign article that you can listen to! It is awesome! It has super ideas about teaching our kiddies about the importance of General Conference as well as ideas to help teach the principles in the talks! I am so excited to use the "Quiz Night" and the idea about having each of our family members have their own copy of the ensign with their own name on the front that we study out of each Monday night for Family Home Evening! I just love this Talk from the Ensign! We are so blessed! Copy and paste the link below and it will take you to the March Ensign Artilces. Then just click on the "Preparing our Children for General Conference" link when you get there.

http://www.lds.org/mp3/display/0,18692,8474-3,00.html

Fun Ideas to do with our Kiddies!

Hi Everyone! I often find myself in a rut when it comes to thinking of fun activities for my little cuties during the cold winter hours inside. I came across this fun list that had some fabulous ideas! I can't wait to try them!

Five Cheap and fun Activities to do with our kids!

Let 'er rip

Maybe it's that pleasing shredding sound or maybe it's the satisfaction of making a permanent change in something, but babies love to tear up paper. So plunder your recycling box for magazines or junk mail – when you see that gappy smile on your baby's face as she gets to work, you won't even mind the mess.

Dog days

You could take your baby to the zoo, but don't be surprised if he falls fast asleep – or favors the water fountain over the orangutans. Instead, try a park where he can see dogs playing. It's a lot less overwhelming and every bit as exciting, plus it doesn't cost a penny. Just be sure to practice good doggy-and-child safety habits. You might want to carry your baby in your arms or a baby carrier to make sure he's safe when watching and petting the pups (with permission, of course).

Flashlight games

Turn off the lights, close the blinds, grab a flashlight, and lie back on the floor for a rockin' light show with your little one. Dance the light beam along the ceiling and walls as your baby stares in delight. An older baby might like to try holding the flashlight herself (though you shouldn't be surprised if all she does is gum it). Just don't let her shine it directly in her eyes – or, for that matter, in yours.

Dining out

For a change of pace, set up your baby's highchair in the backyard or out on the front stoop and, between bites, let him fling the food wherever he likes. He'll feel like he's won the lottery! A bit short in the yard department? No worries – bring a booster chair to the park and set it right on the grass. Throw in some bubbles and you've got a perfect recipe for a fun-filled morning.

Go clubbing

In your living room, that is. Turn on your favorite music and dance with your baby in your arms. She'll be in seventh heaven – after all, she'll be enjoying three of her favorite things in the world simultaneously: music, bouncing, and closeness to you.

Hop a freight

Toddlers love transportation, especially if it's a departure from the same-old-same-old car seat. Check out your local airport or hospital – many have a free shuttle or tram that you can ride as often as your little one's heart desires. If you don't usually travel by bus, check your local bus system and take a spin around town, enjoying things from a thrilling new vantage point.

Play dough

Borrow a tip from kid-friendly restaurants and let your toddler play with a gratifying hunk of pizza dough. Not too sticky and not too runny, it's the perfect consistency for little fingers. Get some from your local grocery store or pizza parlor or mix up your own. A rolling pin is the icing on the cake for this activity (or, shall we say, the cheese on the pie). If you're feeling motivated, you can bake a pizza with the rest of the dough while your child plays with his portion. Otherwise, simply freeze or refrigerate the rest for future playtime.

Fancy wrappings

If you've ever watched a toddler open a present, you know that she's likely to ignore what's inside and focus all her attention on the box, wrapping paper, and ribbon. If you can't beat 'em, join 'em! Wrap up something small, such as a pretty postcard or a toy you already own. Make sure to use lots of ribbon and paper (Sunday comics work great). Present it to her with a flourish.

It's a plane!

Check with your local airport to see whether it has an observation tower – or a room with huge windows where your toddler can watch planes take off and land. Bring along some lunch and enjoy the show.

Baker's man

While your toddler isn't yet old enough to wield an electric mixer or flour sifter, he may be ready to be put in charge of the cookie-sprinkle department. So bake up a batch of cookies (you can even buy pre-made dough) and let him go nuts with a container of sprinkles. You'll probably end up with several bare cookies and a few heavily sprinkled ones. Don't forget to take a picture!

Time travel

You know those old photographs of your own third birthday party or your ninth-grade dance? Dig them out and snuggle with your preschooler for a trip down memory lane. Wedding videos work well too! Of course, she'll also enjoy seeing pictures and videos of herself when she was "little." So break out the snacks and make an evening of it.

Ravishing radishes

When it comes to instant gardening gratification, radishes are the way to go – they pop up in a matter of weeks! After winter's last frost, take your preschooler to the gardening store and let him pick out the package of seeds with the picture he likes best. (It'll cost just a few dollars.) At home, find a sunny patch of yard and have your child plant the seeds directly in the ground or in a small planter. You can even grow radishes inside in a container set in a sunny south-facing window. Your little gardener will love digging a hole, sprinkling in the seeds, and covering them up. The fun continues as he gets to water the radishes and watch them grow.

Monochrome meal

We grown-ups like a little variety in our meals – but kids, who often love uniformity, get a kick out of having a special dinner in which everything is the same color. So serve up a meal that's entirely orange (macaroni and cheese, sweet potato, orange juice, carrots), green (pesto pasta, limeade, broccoli), or yellow (lemonade, scrambled eggs, corn, pineapple).

Hunting down nature

Give your child a bag or bucket and go on an old-fashioned nature hunt. Take your time and let him collect whatever he likes – pinecones, leaves, rocks, sticks, burrs. When you get home, break out the glue and cardboard and get him started making a collage or sculpture. He may also enjoy painting a rock or two (it could become his new favorite pet).

Bon appétit!

Let your child be in charge of dinner – with you as her helpful assistant. She gets to decide what to make. Some suggestions: English muffin pizzas, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, grilled cheese sandwiches, pudding or gelatin for dessert. She can act as the "head cook" and even draw up some fancy menus. She may especially enjoy doing this activity with a friend.

Rest for the weary

You know those nights when you're beyond exhausted, and you just wish someone would put you to bed for a change? Here's your chance! Tell your child that you need a special helper to put you to bed early – and ask if he'd like to do the honors. He can pick out your pajamas, make sure you brush your teeth and wash your face, read you a book, tuck you in, give you a kiss, and turn out the light. It's a safe bet that you'll hear some delighted giggles from beyond your closed door! (Of course, this assumes your partner or another responsible adult has agreed to take on the nighttime duties for your child – and you'll likely find yourself returning the favor sometime soon.)

Camp in

Wait for a dark and dreary day. If your child has a case of the "nothing-to-do" doldrums, all the better! Now suggest that you go camping – in your family room. Make a "tent" with sheets and blankets draped over chairs. If you have sleeping bags, dig them out – or just create some bedrolls with blankets and pillows. Tell stories and sing songs around an imaginary fire. And when the lights go out, make a beautiful galaxy appear on the ceiling of your tent by shining a flashlight through a colander.

Kid's choice day

Let your child "run" the day. She can make the important decisions such as what to eat, what show to watch, and what activities to do. Give this day a special name so that she can plan it, as in, "On my next 'Ali Day,' I want to ride bikes, wash the dog, and eat spaghetti. (Helpful hint: To avoid power struggles with your child's teacher, don't do this on a school day!)

Treasure hunt

Send your child on a treasure hunt, right in your own house. It takes a little preparation, but the excitement is worth it! Give him a note that says something like, "Look in the flour canister." Or make it a bit trickier by writing a clue he has to solve, such as "Look for the white powder that we use for baking." (If your child's reading skills are still primitive, simplify your notes, help him read them, or draw pictures instead.) In the flour canister, he'll find another note telling him where to look next, such as in the refrigerator or under the welcome mat. Let the hunt include a few more hiding places, and put a prize in the very last one (try under his pillow). The prize can be very small – for example, a piece of candy or a pad of paper. As in all true treasure hunts, the real joy is in the search.

www.babycenter.com