Sunday, February 15, 2009

Camping


Woo hoo. I love camping. And the best part EVER-
the kids are finally at a stage where they will just go in the tent and go to bed. I got to sit at the fire and talk! It was so much funner than watching TV, doing the dishes, or even blogging.
So- if you happen to be go camping...INVITE US.
We can put Lex in charge of the small wondering kids, let Daisy take care of roaming dogs, and let Ben use his weapons to defend the fort. Colby is merely there for entertainment purposes. But next time, for my own sake, I am going to write a list of things necessary for camping:

1. flashlight (one per kid is preferable- but one at all will do)
2. lantern that is CHARGED
3. battery controlled noise machine
4. hot dogs for the kids while grown-up food is cooking that the kids won't eat anyway
5. peanut butter cups for smores, instead of Hersheys
6. my own portable toilet and not the one that has no running water and a urinal
7. LONG skewers and not the short ones that allow the hair off your knuckles to be singed.
8. Extra tennis shoes for when you get too close to the fire, and the glue from your soles melt.
9. Ponchos for the kids-just in case.
10. Hot chocolate
11. camera

Things I won't need at my next camp-out:
1. 2 space heater fans
2. Two really long extension cords
3. A box fan
4. Change of clothes (we always wind up in the same outfit day to day)
5. Sparklers (Uh oh-Did the forest ranger see that?)
6. Toys
7. Science lesson for Habitats. Games for habitats. Yeah right. That was gonna happen.
8. Fishing gear
9. Worms for fishing (that Daisy felt we needed to "free" to the wild)
10. Two bags of marshmellows- because the children will then eat two bags of marshmellows!

Food Storage x2

These aren't really my groceries. I use cloth bags, of course.

OK- that wasn't gratifying enough. I need to specify a few things-just in case anyone out there has the same pallet and numbers as the Tucker family and wants to copy our menu.

The groceries were purchased at Walmart, Sams Club, and Save-a-lot. I think I found what stores had the best price. (sometimes it wasn't, but I didn't want a GINORMOUS package of that thing from Sam's)


oatmeal 4 big canisters Walmart
jelly 6 jars Save-a-Lot
peanut butter 6 huge containers Walmart
spaghetti noodles 6 large boxes Walmart
spaghetti sauce 9 jars Save-a-Lot (best kind ever $1)
Alfredo sauce 3 jars Walmart
elbow macaroni 3 large boxes Walmart
can tomatoes 24 Save-a-Lot
can tomato sauce 18 Save-a-lot
mac-n-cheese 9 boxes Walmart
ramen 45 packages Save-a-lot ($1 for 6)
chicken cans 36 Sams
pineapple 27 ?
mandarin oranges 24 Save-a-lot
almonds 3 packages Walmart
coconut 2 packages Walmart
hamburger meat 9 pounds Sams
enchilada sauce 3 Walmart
refried beans 12 #10 cans
soup 24 Sams
egg noodles 3 Walmart
salsa 3 huge Sams/Walmart
cheese 13 Sams
mixed vegetables 15 cans Save-a-lot
cream of chicken 18 Save-a-lot
corn 30 Save-a-lot
rice 3 huge bags Sams
black beans 12 Save-a-lot
kidney beans-light 12 Save-a-lot
kidney beans-dark 6 Save-a-lot
grits 2 canisters Walmart
cereal 24 boxes Walmart
flour 2 HUGE bags Sams
northern beans 6 Save-a-lot
syrup 1 Homemade
applesauce 6 glass jars Save-a-lot
popcorn 24 bags Walmart
chips 4 bags Save-a-lot
chocolate chips 4 packages Save-a-lot
pumpkin 4 cans Walmart
green beans 24 Save-a-lot
peaches 18 Save-a-lot
pears 18 Save-a-lot


For those of you who haven't heard of Save-a-lot...it is ghetto. There is no arguing about it. But prices cheaper than Walmart? Come on. And Rhet won't eat any other spaghetti sauce than theirs (only $1 a jar, too) I don't go very often (location North Augusta, SC- about 20 min from my house) so I got 15 jars last time and he was fussing cause he wanted me to get more. Their prices for canned goods are $.49. If you don't care about name-brand- this is the place to go (during the day...without many small children...with your cell phone charged...and tell at least two people where you will be:)


I was happy- the Save-a-lot in North Augusta was clean, they bagged your groceries IN BAGS, and you could bring the cart to your car...unlike Tallahassee and Philly where you put the groceries directly into your cart after purchase, item by item, the carts were locked in and you couldn't bring them to your car, and the stores weren't so clean. Good times. Good times.
Yes, I believe I am done bragging now. Anyone who sees Rhet... Will you do me a favor and just casually ask when he will be making the food rotation shelves whenever (and everytime) you see him? Thanks! Peer pressure. Works for teens- why not for husbands??

Food Storage

Yes, I will be bragging. I have worked hard- so I plan on tooting my own horn. (I keep mentioning it over and over to Rhet, but apparently he isn't as super psyched as I'd like him to be:)
I was always "almost" there with having a year's supply of basics (grains, beans, powdered milk, honey, baking powder/soda, oil, sugar, salt, etc). THEN I would have another child and I wouldn't have enough. THEN the food storage plan changed and so I didn't have the three-month supply of foods we normally eat. THEN I had another child and the numbers were thrown off again.

Well, I'm happy to say I am 22 pineapple cans away from having my three month supply (oh, yes, breakfast, lunch, dinner AND snacks) and 5 (#10) cans of beans away from 7 months of long term storage for 5.5 :) people...dun dun dun dun. For a grand total of 10 months!!!

I used a lot of recipes from Safely Gathered In. And the excel spreadsheets for inventory and grocery lists from Food Storage Made Easy. (Yes, I just did a link. Ever learning. Ever learning. Who would have guessed that that was what that green chainLINK right above the post was for? Duh.)

OK- so I am sure you are sooooo interested in my 3 month menu plan:
Breakfast A rotation of the following:
oatmeal,
cereal,
cereal,
grits,
cereal,
waffles/pancakes,
cereal

Lunch A rotation of the following:
PB&J with peaches
Chicken Salad sandwiches (made with oranges, pineapple, and almonds)
Ramen with pears
Quaesadillas with pineapple
Soup with mandarin oranges
Mac-n-cheese with pears

Dinner A rotation of the following:
Speghetti and green beans
Black beans/rice and corn
Chilli
Breakfast dinner
Bean Burritos with corn
Chicken Taco Soup
Pizza
Porcupine Meatballs with corn
Chicken/Salsa/Rice with green beans
Alfredo with green beans
Tacos with corn
Chinese Sunday
Chicken Noodle Soup
Chicken Pot Pie
Ghoulash with you got it, corn

Snacks A rotation of the following:
popcorn
chocolate chip cookies
chips and salsa
applesauce
pumpkin chocolate chip bread
(chocolate makes me a happier person)


Now, I guess it is time to update my 72 hour kits and add some stuff in there for Colbster and put clothes that actually fit my children. (I know, I know, I don't exactly sound pro-children in this post-but they are messing with my plan. Who am I kidding? I'm sure the clothes I have in there for me won't fit, either!

There was a moment that I thought I was DONE...ha ha ha. Done? Ha ha ha.


Sunday, February 8, 2009

Wish List

You can tell a lot about someone from their wish lists. So- what does your wish list say about you? Let's start by analyzing Rhet.

Super tool box. Mini fridge. Lighting System. Built in radio with Bose speakers.
Takes up half the garage.)
New truck. V8 Nissan Titan 4 door. Black. Sport Package and audio upgrades.
Flat front yard.
Neighborhood with a sidewalk.
Job where "I could be home at 5 and only work 4 days a week".
Money fairy to take away student loans.
Golden ticket to the Celestial Kingdom (AKA heaven).

Ok- for starters. He is all boy. Likes the big toys and gadgets that make you feel big and bad. He is a handy man. He has the stereotypical outlook of a "real" man having a big car and that a car is a status symbol that can gain/or discredit respect. (or he just wants to be able to fit in one without bonking his head) He is a family man- as apparent by his wanting a sidewalk and flat yard. He wants a place to walk with his kids and play ball without fear of getting ran over. (and he doesn't want to haul the bike in the car to drive to a field to practice without training wheels). He is not a workaholic. He values his relaxation and family time. Work is a means to money, and not where his most fulfillment comes from. He also must be feeling overwhelmed with working too much lately, due to the specific allegations of time allotment that he placed. He is money conscious. Not a reckless spender. Aware of financial obligations to be paid and working towards taking care of that. Doesn't like loans or debt over his head. A religious man. Wants to do God's will and feels fear that he may not be doing enough to satisfy or make the Lord happy. Reevaluates self often to make sure he is choosing the right and following the commandments.

Ok. He isn't too happy about my evaluation. Said it sounded like a "talk" instead of a "blog"- he really means it sounds like psychobabble...too much watching the "Mentalist" and "Criminal Minds".

On to my next victim. (My family is wondering why I called with this random question. I didn't tell them I was going to be evaluating their answers).

My aunt:
Going to go skydiving before age 55.
Used to want a guy with dark hair, now just wants a guy that has any hair.
A teleporter to travel to different houses.
Live in Utopia.

So. She is obviously single (hopefully). She is a humorous person. Adventurous. Willing to take risks. Doesn't live close to those who are closest to her. Family and close friends are the most important things to her. Doesn't particularly value material objects. Didn't come up with any physical thing that she desired. Wanting to live in Utopia- an egalitarian society with no poor, war, or distrust; may be not as financially well off as percieved others. Or feels uncertainty with the crime and fighting in the world. Or it could just be that she is helping/living at her parents, and so it isn't always quite "Utopia" there.

My sister:
Time machine to go back and be kinder to others.
No bills.
No working.
Get all the equipment needed for a garden.

Ok. Tricky one here. Very penitent of teenage folly. Very compassionate and caring towards others' feelings. Doesn't work for status or for self fulfillment, but rather as income making. Aware of finances. Probably does the bills. Doesn't like to pay late, or have debt. Doesn't have a green thumb- as evidenced by being one of her wishes to get the stuff for a garden, when you basically just need seeds and a hoe:) Wanting to be righteous and self sufficient. Desire to learn and willing to work hard.

Another sister:
Dog trainer.
Robot nanny.

Not materialistic. Major concern in her life right now is her dog, getting it to listen. She wants a robot nanny- but doesn't have any children yet. Lets me know, she has children on her brain and is thinking to her future. Thinking about having a lot of kids. Feeling overwhelmed at the thought of having a lot of kids and how to manage the time and household by herself.

Brother-in-law:
Light Saber.
Camping Gear.
Buy a nice house.

Is an outdoors man. Adventurous. Likes his toys, as well. Wants the saber as the ultimate tool. Likes movies. Refers to day to day life using references to famous clips. Doesn't own his own home yet. Is a family man looking towards his future with children and feels the pressure to provide for that family with a safe and nice shelter.

So, how did I do? And now it is your turn...
My list:
Laptop to be able to research family history while watching TV (and not sitting on the folding chair. (and to bring to McDonalds while the kids are in the playland for 1 1/2 hours.)
3 big food storage racks.
Once a week maid service.
Once a week chef service.
Twice a week babysitting service. Three hours during one day for just me, and three hours Friday night for a date with Rhet.
Cruise with Rhet and friends. (Rhet is fun and all- but I prefer sitting at tables with people we already know-instead of the stranger thing.) Complete with skuba diving, skydiving, bungy jumping, and roller coasters.
A place to dance that isn't a bar/club.
The children to be able to stand up for themselves and for what is right. For them to have true self esteem and realize what being a Child of God means.
To live within 10 minutes of family, but not in the same ward.
To have Rhet home two days a week, and getting home at 5 (or 4).
Our own personal six flags in the back yard.

Your list?

Saturday, February 7, 2009

Lou, lou skip to my Lou. Makes more sense now!

We studied England on Friday... and I learned a few things along with the kids.

When you say someone is "British" it doesn't mean they are from England. They could be from anywhere in the UK. It is offensive to say that someone is from "England" when they state they are British. (They could be from Scotland, etc.)
England, Scotland, and Wales make up Great Britain.
England and Wales make up Britain.
England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland make up the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (UK). The rest of Ireland is independent.

Some common British words and their US equivalents. How many do you already know?
bangers=sausages
barking, crackers, daft, nutter=crazy/dumb
biscuit=cookie
blimey=wow
brolley=umbrella
bum=bottom
candy floss=cotton candy
chips=french fries
lou, cloakroom, "spend a penny"=toilet
(Makes it even funnier in the context that Rhet's nickname is "Big Lou")
bog roll=toilet paper
conk=nose
flat=apartment
soccer=football
jolly=very
knickers, pants=underwear
lift=elevator
manky=dirty
mum=mom
pudding=dessert
purse=wallet
handbag=purse
rubbish=trash
wash up=dishes only, not wash your hands
washing=laundry
crisps=potato chips
dummy=pacifier
nappy=diaper
chinwag=chat
tea= dinner when a smaller meal
supper=biggest meal of day (could be lunch)

So, I'm off to the lou after I wash up and take out the rubbish. Tomorrow I'm going to telly my mum and invite her to some bangers and mash for tea. We'll have a jolly pudding of candy floss and buiscuts after we chinwag about all of the nutter things the children have done with their nappies and dummies. What manky smells those trifle 'ole things can make for my conk! Thank goodness they soon will all be in knickers! Blimey, the time goes fast. I'll meet you for fish and chips at the pub as soon as they fix my lift at the flat. Love to you all, my cracker friends. Cheerio!



Manners anyone?



For co-op, we studied England and how some of the cultures' ways are more formal than what we are used to. For instance, the fine art of dining etiquette. It was quite comical to see K-2nd graders try to figure out which fork went to which course, which knife to butter with, and how to cut and eat one piece of food at a time. And boy, there were a lot of dishes to clean. Good 'ole US of A! Some french fries, hamburgers, and pizza and we don't even need utensils.

For those of us that have multiple children, it is so much easier to make all their plates (while reaching over anyone sitting in the way), cut all the meat, butter all the biscuit, and put all the food on ONE plate before the family scarfs up the meal like they haven't eaten in two days...after a child says a barely counting prayer that says only to "bless the food" (stated as one word) while chewing a "sample" and arm reaching toward the ketchup to be first because it is almost empty right after a rushed "amen".

It was fun to try to eat a big breakfast this way- but considering it took 1 hour to eat, we will probably limit the "table manner" practice to once a month. For anyone needing to brush up on their English etiquette, try to do these things...

1. Put a dollop of butter on your butter plate, break off a little piece of bread one at a time with your fingers, then butter that piece only with your butter knife. Use your knife only to butter, not to cut. Repeat about 15 times until bread is gone.
2. Never put your utensils back onto the table after they have been used.
3. No elbows on table.
4. Cloth napkin on lap. If you must leave, put the napkin in your chair, not the table. When finished with the meal, leave it loose on the table on the left, not on the plate, not crumpled up and not smoothed (leaves the impression that the host will re-use it without washing it)
5. No hats at dinner table for men. Women don't wear hats in their own home.
6. Men wait for women to be seated. If a lady leaves or arrives, men arise.
7. Everyone waits till host raises her fork to eat before beginning their own food.
8. Serve from the right, and pick up from the right. Food should come from your left.
9. Dip soup spoon away from you and eat from the spoon facing sideways (not having the spoon coming straight toward you)
10. Chew with mouth closed. Don't talk with food in your mouth. Don't over-chew.
11. Merely state, "No thank you" if offered something you do not want.
12. Say only "excuse me" if you need to use the restroom- don't announce that you need to use the restroom.
13. No stretching, blowing nose, flatulating, belching.
14. Use knife in right hand and fork in left to cut. Prongs facing down. American style is cut with right, fork in left, then knife down and switch fork to right to eat.
15. Eat with prongs facing down.
16. Only cut one bite at a time. Put knife down on plate in between bites facing inward.
17. No phone calls or texting.
18. Wait for the host to rise before getting up from dinner.
19. With multiple utensils, start on the outside and work your way in. Salad fork on outer left. Dessert fork above plate. Dessert fork is facing opposite spoon because you would use the left hand for it.
20. When finished, place your fork and knife together on the plate at 6 o'clock with fork on left, prongs up and knife on right, blade facing in. Or fork and knife crossed at 10 and 2 with prongs down signals that you are done, and the servers can take your plate.
21. If you are talking, or have to leave for a second but aren't done eating, place your fork at 8 o'clock and your knife at 4 o'clock with your blade facing in.
22. Don't lean down towards your plate. Sit tall and bring the food to your mouth.
23. Drinks are served to the right.
24. Salt and pepper should be passed together.
25. If drinking wine, carry by stem of glass for white wines and cup of glass for red wines.
26. Do not talk, laugh loudly. Make sure you are not dominating the conversation. Do not interrupt.
27. It is acceptable to have food left on your plate.
28. Never use your fingers to push the food on your fork.
29. Remember to thank your host.


So, having said that... do you want to tell me which numbers you actually do on a normal basis? Or would you rather put a number to the things that have never happened?
For the Tuckers- we normally do 5, 11, 17, 27 and hardly ever do the rest.
But let me tell you- when the timer rang and the kids were allowed to eat however they wanted- my kids really knew how to shovel their food, use their fingers, eat big bites, talk with food in their mouths and had a gorgeous "happy plate".