Yes, I'm still here...

Where ever would I go? I haven't blogged because I have been living life or at least dealing with it. Christmas was lovely and simple. Christmas evening brought a dead refrigerator and below freezing temps to the area, which was a blessing because the back porch became the refrigerator/freezer. Dan and I went out on the 26th and purchased a new fridge and a new dishwasher. Oh did I mention that we have been doing dishes by hand for many, many, many months. We picked up and hauled this massive fridge into the house during a snowstorm. Yeah that was fun. But, we have a working refrigerator that is totally cool, or as Kiah would say "it's totes cool". During all of this the car needed some major work and a new drive shaft. Is that one word? So that took time and money of which we have none now. Why does it always seem that when one thing breaks everything breaks?

So here we are at the start of another new year (of course by the time I actually post this it will be valentine's day), and the beginning of new resolutions. I have no plans of listing any of my new goals or family goals or any such silliness. We will be continuing our prep plans but that is all I'm givin' you. I will instead just wrap last year up and maybe give you a little insight of what is on the list for this year.

Dan- Spent most of last year traveling and working crazy long hours. He has been home for a few months which is totes weird. Has installed a dishwasher and refrigerator, worked on many little needs to be done projects at home. For which I am very grateful.

Stefanie- has been called to work in the nursery at church (again). Will miss working with the activity day girls. Has continued to homeschool four girls, lead projects to completion and failed at blogging. Has expanded her tutoring business (if you know of anyone who needs reading help let me know). Is expanding into teaching moms and kids (girls ages 10-12, will work with other ages) basic sewing skills. Thinking about doing a more widely based homemaking course and not just sewing.

Micah- going to school and working at the bank. Beyond that you will have to ask him.

Anique- working, serving in the library at church (my other favorite calling), helping at home and with homeschooling, coming up with way cool hair styles for her sisters. Cooking way yummy treats that we swear we won't eat and then eat them all. Preparing to put papers in to serve a mission for the Lord. We will let you know when we know.

Kiah- serving as the first counselor in the beehive class presidency, finding a whole new confidence, working on perfecting her cooking skills, becoming a decorator and master childcare provider.

Tessa- makes doll clothes (all of the time), loves to craft, is very excited to turn 12 and enter the young women's program at church. Has finish her Faith in God requirements and is trying to do it over again for fun. Reads everything and loves the library.

Kali- growing her hair out for locks of love. Loves piano, activity days, friends, pink, sparkly and treats. Has read every book on her reading list and is working on next years reading list.

Toran- learning to read, making lapbooks, has spent a lot of time playing and discovering the world outside.

Things we are looking forward to:
Summer science with the O's
Homeschool conference in April
birthdays
girls camp (both Kiah and Tessa will go this year)
global warming (also known as summer)

Happy Thanksgiving

Tuesday we made our way to the library to stock up on books and movies before the holiday. The objective was to make sure that both Tessa and Kali had enough to read for the whole weekend. I think we came close. Kiah of course found some interesting cookbooks and Toran got a couple of Cam Jansen books, so overall I think we are good. With Tessa and Kali it is all about quantity, yes quality is important but if you don't have enough, these two can become a problem. They will begin with the nothing to do whine and head right into the can you craft something plead, and it just generally is not good. So the solution is to make sure we have plenty to read all weekend.

a weekend of reading

Wednesday we bake, we are baking pies, rolls and starting a couple of side dishes. This is Kiah's favorite holiday, mine too. We made two pumpkin, one apple and two chocolate cream. Sounds yummy. Anique made aunt Stacey's rolls, these have become a favorite. They can't be good for you because you just want to eat a 100 of them but boy are they fabulous.

Thursday or Turkey day we are crafting, watching Christmas movies, putting a puzzle together, smelling the turkey cook, setting the table and generally having an easy going family day. Later we will make a list of the many things we are thankful for and eat until we can't move. We will share scriptures of thankfulness and stories of pilgrims looking for religious freedoms, we will share accounts of God's hand in our lives and be grateful for His love.

Doctrine and Covenants 98: 1-3
1) Verily I say unto you my friends, fear not, let your hearts be comforted; yea, rejoice evermore, and in everything give thanks;
2)Waiting patiently on the Lord, for your prayers have entered into the ears of the Lord,
3)Therefore, he giveth this promise unto you, with an immutable covenant that they shall be fulfilled; and all things wherewith you have been afflicted shall work together for your good, and to my name's glory, saith the Lord.

When we give thanks for everything we are promised that the things we ask for will be granted if it is for God's glory. We find joy when we give thanks to God for all He does in our lives.
May everyone have a very Happy Thanksgiving.

Mormon Helping Hands in the Aftermath of Hurricane Sandy

Mormon Helping Hands in the Aftermath of Hurricane Sandy

About 150 people from our stake went to New York this past weekend. Some of whom are in this video.

It's Thursday and we have a plan

After a very disappointing Tuesday night and a Wednesday of feeling hopeless and wanting a change. We have made a plan to put ourselves into a better place come the high water and the hot place we know is coming. We have decided we are going to become preppers. It is true, we will do most things with the thought of how does this help us 1) pay off debt, 2) add to the food/product stockpile, 3) make our home more energy efficient, 4) in a disaster. Disaster defined as anything that makes life more difficult to deal with.
The plan is obviously in the early stages and we still have a lot to decide and figure out but for Christmas we are all getting 72 hr. kits and we are drawing out the plans for the food storage room. I am going through all of the lists and figuring out what we need to add to our food storage so we are not as affected by rising food costs. The girls are planning the garden for this spring and we are making plans to butcher chickens and order baby chicks. I wish I could get a milk cow or goat. That would be so cool. The Lord has said, if you are prepared ye shall not fear. I think that means physically and spiritually, so we are doubling our efforts in the spiritual realm as well. We are stepping up our scripture study and understanding, scripture memorization, more meaningful prayer and looking for ways to have meaningful family service.
This week I am making the master plan for the year and we will start the prep. I hope to have a years worth of food and supplies by this time next year. I will be adding to our skills list as well. We already make our own laundry soap and would like to add bar soap, shampoo, chapstick, lotion as well as learning to can. This is a skill that I believe will be very important to have and the girls will be much better off if they learn it young. I hope to receive canning jars and a canning pot for Christmas. I am thinking about a pressure cooker as well but that may take some time to get my nerve up.
I also hope to stockpile fabric, patterns, school curriculum/supplies, cleaning supplies, first aid and paper products. This will take time but we have a new determination and zeal to follow the Lord and the prophet in being prepared for whatever comes.

Peace be unto thy soul; thine adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a small moment.
Doctrine and Covenants 121:7

The Pumpkins are finished and...

they look good!

Anique, Kiah, Tessa and Kali all carved a pumpkin by themselves. I carved three. Every year we get comments on our pumpkins, this year was the first year that people asked to take  pictures of them. I find it fun that the little kids stop and look at the pumpkins and loose track of the fact that they are there for free candy. I even heard many kids say things as they walked away like "why don't our pumpkins look like that?", "when are we going to carve our pumpkins?". It makes one feel pretty good about one's pumpkin carving skills. As a side note, does anyone else think it is funny that for 364 days of the year we tell our kids don't take candy from strangers and once a year we march them around in silly clothes and tell them to take the candy and say thank you? It just feels wrong(as I eat peanut butter m&m's).



I carved the two at the top, Kiah the one in the middle, Kali the one on the bottom. That tree took 3 hours to carve.

Tessa carved the one on top, Anique the one in the middle and I did the one you can't see.

Here is the one you can't see up top. I loved how simple it was to carve.

Sandy update

The day after...

Monday started like most Mondays, with a few exceptions. The governor cancelled all schools so Micah had a day off. I still went to tutor and we had piano earlier that day but still we went. By three o'clock we were all home for the day. It was about that time that the wind was picking up and the rain was getting heavier. We had rain and wind. Imagine that, it was a herdacane (hurricane in Toran) and we had rain and wind. Thankfully we did not have it to bad. We spent the evening carving pumpkins and waiting for the power to go out but it never did, not even so much as a flicker. Movies, pumpkin carving and chocolate chip cookies, that is my idea of riding out a storm. After 3 hours of pumpkin carving the kids went to bed and I followed closely behind them. Tuesday morning we woke up to life as usual, school, orthodontist appointments and the like. Nothing and nobody floated away, at least not from our neighborhood. I will post pictures of the pumpkins later tonight when they are a light and glowing.


Sandy is coming to visit

Thanks to all who have called in preparation of this storm to make sure we are ready. We are as ready as one can be without a bunker. We have spent the last couple of days grocery shopping ( I would like to note that this was regular grocery shopping, we have plenty of stores at home to get through this storm), laundry and dishes catch up, leaf clean up (note that it no longer looks like we have done anything because of the leaves still on the tree or should I say the ground now), putting away all objects that could become a flying missile, cleaning up decks and all sort of other jobs. Today (Monday) we will be cleaning up the house and getting all jobs that require electricity, done. All activities (except school at our house, yes my kids still have school today) have been canceled and we will be home to ride it out over the next two days. The kids are hopeful that trick or treating will continue as scheduled. I will post after the storm with any updates. I hope and pray there will not be any pictures of snow in that update. www.myfoxboston.com for local updates and news.

                 I will leave you with a picture of the proper use of trunk or treat candy.

Tessa's breakfast oatmeal