72 Hour Kit Dinner Night

Tonight for Family Home Evening, we re-stocked our 72 Hour Kits.  We sorted out the snacks that were past the expiration date and will munch on them for the next few days.  We then replenished with new snacks and took an inventory of what we still need to add to make our kits complete.  We found we had grown out of some of the clothes we packed as well, so we brought them current. 

Daddy decided to put on a cooking demonstration with some of the Mountain House dehydrated meals.  The kids were soooo excited to try them for dinner.  Matt did a great job preparing the food and we all tried them.  Then the kids each made their package of expired Ramen Noodle Soup and used boiling water to prepare their meals.  It was lots of fun, or as the kids would say, "The BEST Family Home Evening EVER!"

 I love how Matt can always capture their every attention.

 Carter can't wait to cook his own package of Ramen Noodles.

 We set out all the snacks and had the kids help assemble them.  They really did a great job helping.

Now that we are all prepared, once again, we hope for some reason to use these kits.  We don't wish for any major disaster, but the kids are just so anxious to have a reason to break open the backpacks, sleeping bags and games.  We plan on having a suprise "practice" weekend soon where Daddy will come home from work and tell us that we have a "pretend" emergency and we only have enough time to get our 72 Hour Kits and get to the car.  Then we will go overnight camping somewhere and see how well we are prepared.  We hope we are prepared well enough in case of a real emergency!

Doctrine & Covenants 38:30  "If ye are prepared ye shall not fear."

2nd Annual Pinewood Derby Race

It's that Cub Scout Time of year again...Pinewood Derby Races!

This year we are in a different troop, a different state, and a whole different race atmosphere.  If you remember last year, we were on a Pinewood Derby Racer's Dream Racetrack.  It was all computerized and decorated to the maximum.  Well, this year is a little bit, well a whole-lot different.  Here is the old wood track, I think it might be the same one my grandpa raced on a few years ago, propped up on the stage.  It is held up by a 5 gallon bucket in the middle and I believe it was a brief case at the bottom.

 Then there was a really fancy starting line-up with a ruler, I believe to "start your engines..."  I hope he lifts that ruler level, just to make sure both cars enter the race at the exact same time and all.  You know, for those derby die-hards. 

 The suspense is just intense with these boys!  Look at their faces...

 They made bags of flavored popcorn just to keep all the participants and fans mouths busy.  It was a really great idea.  I was glad to have popcorn instead of resorting to my nails!

 The boys really made some creative looking cars, I loved the hotdog, and

I believe that is a yellow piece of cheese.

 Carter's car is the blue hot-rod in the middle.  His own design of course!

 Now, it is time for the awards.  I must preface by saying that they put a whole lot of emphasis on the Sportsmanship Award.  There was a little trophy that they showed the boys in the beginning to get them all excited to cheer each other on.  Well, as the awards were given, Carter received his award very last.  He received the "Fastest Car" Award.  Well, as we were leaving, he seemed disappointed.  When I asked him why, he said that he really tried hard to encourage all the boys and be a good sport.  I reassured him that he did a fabulous job of cheering on his friends.  Then I reminded him, or had to explain to him, that he had won the "Fasted Car" Award which meant that he won 1st Place and literally had the fastest car there.  I asked him how the other boys might have felt if he had won the "Fastest Car" and the "Sportsmanship" Trophy.  As the reality made sense to him, he smiled and decided to be happy with his award.  Later, I told his leader that he was disappointed in not getting the trophy.  She laughed and was pleased to know that their scheme to distract the boys from the competative nature of the Derby Races, had literally worked. 

Carter, you are a great kid!  Congratulations on winning another round of Pinewood Derby Races!



Josie's 1st Haircut

It is sad to say that Josie has had her first haircut.  No, it wasn't by mom's choice, but by Mason's.  He found the scissors and decided that Josie would look a little cuter with a bob.  He took a nice chunk off of the right side of her head.  In looking for something to be grateful for, I found that I am grateful Josie has curly hair , which really hides the damage, and that Mason did leave some length so that it goes below her ears.  I have some friends daughters who got a trim right up to the scalp.  I eventually trimmed up the rest so it is above her shoulders.  She still looks cute.  Oh, what little princess doesn't? 

Faux Painting

Matt went to New Mexico to finish up some work there.  One of his projects was to take

this...

 and do that...

Pretty amazing, huh!?!