Emergency kits

1. Generators(Good ones cost dearly. Gas storage, risky. Noisy…target of thieves; maintenance etc.)
2. Water Filters/Purifiers
3. Portable Toilets
4. Seasoned Firewood. Wood takes about 6 – 12 months to become dried, for home uses.
5. Lamp Oil, Wicks, Oil Lamps (First Choice: Buy CLEAR oil. If scarce, stockpile ANY!)
6. Coleman Fuel. Impossible to stockpile too much.
7. Guns, Ammunition, Pepper Spray, Knives, Clubs, Bats & Slingshots.
8. Can openers, & hand egg beaters, whisks, kitchen utensils.
9. Honey/Syrups/white, brown sugar
10. Rice – Beans – Wheat
11. Vegetable Oil (for cooking) Without it food burns/must be boiled etc.,)
12. Charcoal, Lighter Fluid (Will become scarce suddenly)
13. Water Containers (Urgent Item to obtain.) Any size. Small: HARD CLEAR PLASTIC ONLY – note – food grade if for drinking.
16. Propane Cylinders(Urgent: Definite shortages will occur.)
17. Survival Guide Book.
18. Mantles: Aladdin, Coleman, etc. (Without this item, longer-term lighting is difficult.)
19. Baby Supplies: Diapers/formula. ointments/aspirin, etc.
20. Washboards, Mop Bucket w/wringer (for Laundry)
21. Cook Stoves(Propane, Coleman & Kerosene)
22. Vitamins
23. Propane Cylinders and Handle-Holders (Urgent: Small canister use is dangerous without this item)
24. Feminine Hygiene/Haircare/Skin products.
25. Thermal underwear (Tops & Bottoms)
26. Bow saws, axes and hatchets, Wedges (also, honing oil)
27. Aluminum Foil Reg. & Heavy Duty (Great Cooking and Barter Item)
28. Gasoline Containers (Plastic & Metal)
29. Garbage Bags (Impossible To Have Too Many).
30. Toilet Paper, Kleenex, Paper Towels
31. Milk – Powdered & Condensed (Shake Liquid every 3 to 4 months)
32. Garden Seeds (Non-Hybrid) (A MUST)
33. Clothes pins/line/hangers (A MUST)
34. Coleman’s Pump Repair Kit
35. Tuna Fish (in oil)
36. Fire Extinguishers(or..large box of Baking Soda in every room)
37. First aid kits
38. Batteries (all sizes…buy furthest-out for Expiration Dates)
39. Garlic, spices & vinegar, baking supplies
40. Big Dogs (and plenty of dog food)
41. Flour, yeast & salt
42. Matches. {“Strike Anywhere” preferred.) Boxed, wooden matches will go first
43. Writing paper/pads/pencils, solar calculators
44. Insulated ice chests (good for keeping items from freezing in Wintertime.)
45. Heavy Duty Work Boots, belts, Levis & durable shirts
46. Flashlights/LIGHTSTICKS & torches, “No. 76 Dietz” Lanterns
47. Journals, Diaries & Scrapbooks (jot down ideas, feelings, experience; Historic Times)
48. Garbage cans Plastic (great for storage, water, transporting – if with wheels)
49. Men’s Hygiene: Shampoo, Toothbrush/paste, Mouthwash/floss, nail clippers, etc
50. Cast iron cookware (sturdy, efficient)
51. Fishing supplies/tools
52. Mosquito coils/repellent, sprays/creams
53. Duct Tape
54. Tarps/stakes/twine/nails/rope/spikes
55. Candles
56. Laundry Detergent (liquid)
57. Backpacks, Duffel Bags
58. Garden tools & supplies
59. Scissors, fabrics & sewing supplies
60. Canned Fruits, Veggies, Soups, stews, etc.
61. Bleach (plain, NOT scented: 4 to 6% sodium hypochlorite)
62. Canning supplies, (Jars/lids/wax)
63. Knives & Sharpening tools: files, stones, steel
64. Bicycles…Tires/tubes/pumps/chains, etc
65. Sleeping Bags& blankets/pillows/mats
66. Carbon Monoxide Alarm (battery powered)
67. Board Games, Cards, Dice
68. d-con Rat poison, MOUSE PRUFE II, Roach Killer
69. Mousetraps, Ant traps & cockroach magnets
70. Paper plates/cups/utensils (stock up, folks)
71. Baby wipes, oils, waterless & Antibacterial soap (saves a lot of water)
72. Rain gear, rubberized boots, etc.
73. Shaving supplies (razors & creams, talc, after shave)
74. Hand pumps & siphons (for water and for fuels)
75. Soysauce, vinegar, bullions/gravy/soupbase
76. Reading glasses
77. Chocolate/Cocoa/Tang/Punch (water enhancers)
78. “Survival-in-a-Can”
79. Woolen clothing: socks, scarves/ear-muffs/mittens
80. Boy Scout Handbook, / also Leaders Catalog
81. Roll-on Window Insulation Kit (MANCO)
82. Graham crackers, saltines, pretzels, Trail mix/Jerky
83. Popcorn, Peanut Butter, Nuts
84. Socks, Underwear, T-shirts, etc. (extras)
85. Lumber (all types)
86. Wagons & utility carts (for transport to and from)
87. Cots & Inflatable mattress’s
88. Gloves: Work/warming/gardening, etc.
89. Lantern Hangers
90. Screen Patches, glue, nails, screws, nuts & bolts
91. Teas
92. Coffee
93. Cigarettes
94. Wine/Liquors (for bribes, medicinal, etc,)
95. Paraffin Wax
96. Chickens
97. Chewing gum/candies
98. Atomizers (for cooling/bathing)
99. Hats & cotton neckerchiefs
100. Livestock

[Thanks to The Bacon Report for this list]

I thought this was super important to have a list of.  I would add a tent and anything you might go camping with to things that you would want to buy.  I am slowly getting there.

Baby Leavitt #2

Isn't he so cute?  We got to visit our newest cousin yesterday after I got off work.  He wasn't even a full day old yet.  He was so content just letting us love on him the entire time.  It is still so crazy to think something so big fits inside of your body and yet they are so tiny when they come into this world.  We brought everyone in the family a gift for having a new baby.  H got a couple outfits, T man got a Lightning McQueen, Aunt M got some delicious chocolates and Beav got a cherry slurpee!  I wish we could have stayed longer to hold him but we'll get to do that more later on I'm sure!  Congrats to everyone on the newest, cutest red head in the family!

75 Kids Activities for Spring and Summer! (Most are FREE!)

75 Kids Activities for Spring and Summer! (Most are FREE!) Ever have a hard time coming up with fun activities for your Kids during Spring and Summer?  Well, I decided we should all put our brains together and come up with an awesome list of ideas.  So the next time your kids are driving you crazy, or are just bored out of their minds, you can refer to this list and hopefully get one that sparks your interest! Summer break is a long time to keep kids occupied.  So, here are 75 Kid and Family Activities for Spring and Summer.  Enjoy! Draw with Sidewalk Chalk Play with Water Toys in the Yard Slip N Slide Make Giant Bubbles Paint Items Outside with Water  (It dries and there is no mess!) Go to a Local Fishing Pond Backyard Camp out Draw Monster Pictures on Paper, Hang them in the Yard and “Melt” them with the Hose or Spray Bottle Head to a Splash Park Go on a Treasure Hunt for Rocks and Paint them Participate in the Summer Movie Program! (Kid Friendly Movies are only $.50 during the Summer!) Collect Flowers and Press them in Books. Outdoor Picnic Create a Campfire and Do S’mores Head to the Zoo Make a Lemonade Stand and Sell it Outside to the Neighbors Take a Tour of a Fire Station Head to a Water Park Go on a Family Hike Have a Movie Night Outside with Pillows and Blankets Make Homemade Ice Cream Head to a Free Fireworks Show or Have Your Own at Home Do a Family Game Night with Fun Prizes at the End Go on a Bike Ride Take a Family Walk Go to a Park and Feed the Ducks Have Bath time in the Bathtub with Glow sticks! Build a Fort Inside on a Rainy Summer Day Let them Color on your Windows with Window Markers or Crayons Purchase Solid Colored Shirts and Hand Kids a Bleached Pen to Create their Own Designs Make Your Own Playdoh Do an Outdoor Scavenger Hunt Color Ice Cubes and Set on the Drive way to Melt Finger paint with Pudding Make Tin Foil Dinners and Cook them in the Oven. Teach your Kids to Sew. Make cute hair clips with your Kids. Find Shapes in the Clouds Water Balloon Fight Play Outdoor Night Games Go to the Library Each Week and Read Books at the Park Make Homemade Popsicles Backyard Tic Tac Toe Make a Marshmallow Shooter, Spray Paint the Outside and Have Teams Blow Up Balloons and Cut Water Noodles in Half for a Fun Game. Make Your Own Slime ABC Hunt- Write all 26 Letters on your Driveway and Find Items Outside and Place Next to Each Letter. Make Root beer Floats Go to One of the Free Museum or Free National Park Days in your area Go to a Baseball Game Make SnoCones at Home Plant a Garden Go to a Dinosaur Museum Head to a Farm and Feed the Animals Participate in Kids Bowl Free! Go Star Gazing Go Miniature Golfing Head to Free Movies in the Park (Check local cities for times.) Do a Kid Fun Run Make Your Own Lava Lamp Go to a Library Story time Go to a Carnival or County Fair Go Fishing Make Necklaces out of Colored Pasta Have a Princess Tea Party Outdoors Have a Muddy Sandbox Day Flashlight Tag Travel to New Playgrounds On Rainy Days, Create a Homemade Music Video Write with Chalk on your Trampoline.  (It washes right off and looks more like a Chalkboard!) Make homemade Popsicles with fruit juice and Popsicle molds. Have a read-a-thon day at the Park with treats. Go have a picnic at a park or a camp ground site. Haul the TV and DVD player outside for a starlit movie night. Door Bell Ditch Someone with Ding Dongs! I get a daily email from Freebies 2 Deals and this was one of the things that was listed in the email.  It was too great not to share.  I don't know about any of you but I like being able to do fun things with Ms. M but need it to be very cheap or free.  This list is very helpful!

Sweet moments

I haven't posted too much about Ms. M lately and I figured it was due time.  She has been learning so much lately and is loving the new freedom to go outside and not have yucky weather.  Right now she loves to draw on the side walk with chalk, help me bake and add ingredients to what we are making, dancing, singing (which is more like screaming for anyone who hears her), drawing pictures, reading stories and more.

This past couple of weeks she has been reading along with me in her smaller books.  It is so cute listening to her try and figure out how to say some of the words.  It is helping with her speech as well too.  She is just a little behind with her speech and it helps quite a bit.

She still throws fits when she wants something and forgets to tell me what she is needing or why she is freaking out.  It is like an ah,ha moment when she tells me and she gets what she wants.  I usually have to remind her "use your words" and she does it and everything is not the end of the world anymore.

My brother that is living with us plays the guitar and she has just starting playing the "air guitar" and it is pretty stinking cute!  She'll put one arm out and up to the side and strum her belly as she bobs her head.  I'll have to sneak a video of her doing it.

She had figured out how to open the front door and unlock the dead bolt about a month ago and so I baby proofed it.  She just recently discovered that she could use the wing of tinker bell to open the other doors in the house.  I had to baby proof those otherwise she'd be walking in on you using the bathroom.  I'm sure my brother would appreciate that. ha

Whenever I am making cookies or have to season anything she immediately pulls the chair up to the counter and insists on helping.  I make sure that she is wearing her cool aprons (she has one from China from nana and papa and one from Africa from Aunt J)!

Ms. M has been saying prayer on her own for a little over a month now and she makes it up as she goes and then I have to help her some.  Her prayer usually goes like this.  Mommy, daddy, lizzy, jack, thank you.  That is about all I can depict what she is actually saying.  It is so cute and in her own mind I am sure she is saying this very amazing prayer and having a deep conversation with her Heavenly Father.  I love this little girl so much and can't believe how much of a personality and how close of a relationship she is beginning with her Heavenly Father.  I honestly believe that she is so much closer to him then anyone I know.  She is so in tune and just so meek and humbled!

She is a flirt!  She always finds one or two guys and plays with them and sneaks things.  It is so funny to watch.  

It's a girl!!

My brother J and his girlfriend, N came to visit over the weekend and it was so great to see them!  We went to dinner at Texas Roadhouse and we tried going go carting but the place keeps adding rules and you can't drive with open toed shoes which N and I were wearing.  We went home and skyped with my other brother and sister in law.  It made me miss them being so close and being able to have all of us together!  Hopefully next week we'll all be together, well besides my parents.

N is about 16 weeks along and they have an ultrasound in a couple weeks to find out the sex but I thought it'd be cool to do the gender prediction test while they were here.  We went to like five stores before we found one; you'd think that WalMart would carry them but they do not.  Babies R' Us had it and N took it when we got home.  So before she took this test I did this circle test and every time we did that it said it would be a girl.  The gender prediction test also said it was a girl.  I am excited to see how accurate the G.P.T really is in a couple of weeks.  So excited for them!

Strawberry Freezer Jam

After the race I did some grocery shopping and I scored good with some strawberries.  I got 8 lbs of strawberries for $9.47.  I feel like that was a pretty great deal and am excited to make some freezer jam with it.  I have a recipe for strawberry, peach jam so maybe I'll do some of that as well.

Running with Angels

Saturday morning I had another 5K that I was going to walk; walking since my little side kick would be coming with me.  It was at Thanksgiving Point at the Gardens so I left with plenty of time to be there before it was supposed to start.  They have had freeway exit that I normally take closed but that morning it was somewhat open so I went through and thinking everyone else was dumb for not going that way; I quickly realized that it was being worked on still.  I pulled to the side to try and turn around but a cop had come up to me at this point.  I explained that it was still open up the hill and that is why I went through, more people started coming through at this point too.  I didn't feel so foolish going this way since I was not the only one that ended up doing this.  I had to move a barrel, drive through and then move it back.  I got to the race just as they were starting which I was super bummed about.  I was supposed to meet up with a friend from my surro group and I still had to get my numbers and then go from the starting line.  I did eventually meet up with my surro friend and we walked fast the whole way.  It was lots of fun and so beautiful out there!  I had gotten my bridal pictures done there!

I really have liked doing these 5K's and think I want to do them more regularly and start actually trying to race them.  I need to either not take Ms. M with me or get the jogger set up for it.