7 Day Challenge

Thanks to Tip Junkie I stumbled upon an Emergency Preparedness Web-Blog. It has a ton of great info and tips on how to be prepared for any emergency situation. I linked to the site on the left (under link)-it's labeled food storage. Jarrod and I have been discussing setting up our food stores just in case anything happens. We will be starting pretty soon and are thankful to have a Costco membership so that we can get some extra bulk items for the storage.
When I found the site, they were having a 7 Day Challenge. I happened upon it in the middle of the challenge, so I opted out since we were definitely not prepared. Here are the daily challenges and things I realized I need to get ready ASAP.

Day1- Natural Disaster- it's a flood
-def. need to get those food stock in order and set up 72 hr. packs
-need a good disaster kit (have some items just need to put it together)and a grab list ready to go

Day2-Pandemic- time for quarantine
-really need to get that food stocked and stock up on other storage items-batteries, flashlight, TP, paper towels, etc

Day3-Everyday Emergency- dinner guests
-need to have food around for quick easy meals for surprise/last minute visits

Day4-Economic Crisis-Money is Tight
this one wasn't too hard since we've sort of been there, done that, doing it now
-we have cut back on things and try not to do too much (not sure we do much of anything really that costs extra money) we've been doing free stuff to entertain the kids and we don't really eat out at all
-do need to learn how to make bread (find an easy recipe)
-need water stores (might finally get that rain barrel together)

Day5-Nat. Disaster-earthquake
-need car shovel (also want to get window breaker/seat belt cutter)
- need to stock freezer
- Need to back-up computers

Day6-Diet Disaster- healthy lifestyle
- we eat pretty healthy just need to cut back on sweets (will be hard since I LOVE to bake)

Day7-Everyday emergency- why didn't you ask for this sooner
- could probably make a quick treat with what we have on hand
-probably should get powdered eggs and some sort of shelf stable butter substitute (we usually have powdered milk- we keep it on hand for when we run out of milk in case it's not a grocery day yet)

Well, we are prepared in some ways, but we do need to work on the food/misc. storage- we would have a hard time making it with no food. So, that's where we will start. You should definitely check out the site. They have great info and links to things you may need. So, what are you waiting for, go check it out!

September Birthdays

Ok, so I wrote this awhile back and I'm posting it a little late. Will be updating later today with some pics of Bdays and other things (a big boy bed and what our room now looks like)



2 of the Fabulous Fanchers have September birthdays (Jarrod and E) and they turned 6 and 31 this year. I'll let you guess who turned what age. Since we don't know all that many people here, we just hung out as a family.
E opened her gifts the morning of her Bday and got a special Bday dinner of Spaghetti. I also made some yummy sandwich cookies(from Bakerella) for her Bday treat.
We made Jarrod a really cute card and I made him Chocolate Chipotle Cupcakes (courtesy of Bakerella). Yes, they were quite spicy, but the ice cream and chocolate chili ganache really helped cool it down.
We kept the parties small, but it was a lot of fun just getting to spend that special time as a family.

Ems,
Daddy and I love you so much. You have grown up to be such a big girl. You are a great helper and you have such a tender,sweet heart. You are our sweet little Emmabird and you always will be! Here are 6 things we love about you:
1. You are a great helper
2. You love everybody
3. You are an awesome kid and a great sister
4. You love school
5. You are so silly. You crack us up all the time.
6. You give the best hugs!
You are definitely a special gift from God that we will cherish forever. We love you Emmabird and are looking forward to watching you grow up and mature into the wonderful person we know you will be. Happy Birthday!

School Days

Well, the two oldest have finally started school. K started on 31st and E started on Sept. 1st.
They both ride the bus to and from school, so that has been an adjustment for all of us. They also moved the bus stop this year, so we walk the girls down for pick up and meet E in the afternoon for drop off. E and K ride the same bus to school, but end up on different buses coming home because their schools let out at different times.
K is in 5th grade this year and has a really nice teacher. She only changes classes for Reading and she like sthat a lot. She also had to choose between band and choir this year, so she picked band. We got her a clarinet the 2nd week of school. SO far she has only learned how to put it together. Hopefully tomorrow she will earn some notes. We'll post more on that later as she gets more into the year and practicing.
E started Kindergarten and absolutely loves it. The first few days were hard for her because she didn't know her way around, but now she's a pro. I was glad that they let K take her to her bldg and get her to the correct drop off room for the first 3 days of school. She loves riding the bus and her fave things at school are recess and snack.
E ready for Meet the Teacher

K first day of school

K first day pancake breakfast

E first day pancake breakfast

The Home

I have finally gotten around to re-starting/reading the book The Home Experience by Devi Titus. I am still on the 1st chapter b/c I went back to re-read it and highlight areas of importance. I am hopeful that this book will help me out with our "home". It does not feel like home, I am not relaxed in it and I would never want anyone to come over and see the hurricane I have let my children create b/c I'm just "blah" right now. So, I am hoping this will help me and my family create our "home".

Right now I am in the process of the 1st chapter pt.2. I am at the point where she talks about how Home is the basis for our society. I thought I'd share what I read b/c you may have never heard of this book or you may have but forgotten this part. I found it particularly interesting and pertinent to now.
So, here are some points from the book-
-One of the most widely read books of all time is "The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire"
-Edward Gibbon gives 5 reasons why great civilizations die (I found these very pertinent to now)
- the reasons:
1. undermining of the dignity and sanctity of the home, which is the basis for human society
2. higher and higher taxes
3. the mad craze for pleasure: sports becoming more and more brutal and immoral
4. the decay of individual responsibility- building of great armaments when the enemy was within
5. The decay of religion; faith fading into mere form, losing touch with life, losing power to guide the people


I don't know about you, but reading that scared me. It seems like we have all 5 of those things going on and they've been going on for awhile. So, my first thought was "holy crap, how much longer do we have before our great civilization dies".

So, what are your thoughts?-those few of you that read this


*as some of you know school started and we had a Bday and another one coming. I will be updating on those soon. I promise