72 Hour kits - the food

Back in April and October, around the first week (General Conference time), we rotate our 72 hour kits. Mostly just the food. (The other things don't need much rotation - occasionally, we'll update the medicines and the kids clothes get rotated down as they grow.)

Usually, my husband and I handle the rotation and the figuring out what I need to buy. Then, I do the shopping (trying to think of ideas for the things we rotated out and no one would eat). We work together to unload all 7 bags (with 3 food bags each) and reload those 21 food bags back into the 7 backpacks. We've tried to include the kids before, but instead of it being a learning experience, it was just chaos.

This year, I decided to do that with the kids...results would be uncertain. But they are older (ages 6 to 13) and hopefully could handle following directions this time?

How it went:
My husband and I had already distributed each person's bags around the table and evaluated what needed to be replaced. (I purchased these things and and had them available before the kids and I did the rotation.)

• Everyone sat around our big table and unloaded their food bags in front of them.
• We pulled out all food that was already expired or that would expire before our next rotation (6 months later). Some things get rotated every 6 months, other things last longer.
• These soon to be expired foods went to the center of the table.
• Then we went through each type of item (poptarts, crackers, fruit, "main dish", etc) that I had bought and replenished each person's piles.
• We checked the dates of each item in their kits and each child wrote on a notecard what would need to be replaced next time. (This will make creating a shopping list easier - I can shop without having to unload all the bags first.)
• Everyone loaded into bags and containers what was supposed to be in each.
• Bags and containers went back into the backpacks, zipped up, and done.

Our menu: (for each day)
Breakfast - 1 pack of (2) poptarts
Snack - 1 can of fruit (canned, plastic containers sometimes spoil before 6 months is up)
Lunch -  vienna sausages (for my kids. We have soup), crackers* & PB (no PB for me)
(*sometimes I buy those filled crackers, "nabs" by dad used to call them, lance is a popular brand now)
Snack - granola bar or fruit/grain bar or rice krispie treat
Supper - Canned dinner (pasta, beef stew, spaghttiOs, etc)

I list 2 snacks, but in the actual time of eating, those could be eaten as part of one of the 3 meals instead. We change the food from time to time depending on what the kids are willing to eat and how much things cost and what "convenience foods" there are available that season.

----I've never done anything that couldn't be eaten right out of the bag before (because I wanted to be prepared for being in an evacuation facility without the ability to cook), but I decided to throw in ramen this time because it's something I know my kids will eat, and if nothing else, maybe I could convince them to eat it like a crunchy snack?

----The biggest thing in selecting food that will last at least 6 months and is something I know my family will eat! Not only for if it's needed, but also for when it's rotated in 6 months.

Rotate every time: poptarts, granola bars, cereal bars, rice krispie treats, crackers (ritz, nabs/lance, any kind)

Everything else rotates at date. (If it expires in March and my next rotation is in April, it gets pulled out and replaced. If it lasts until May, I'll rotate it out in April.)

 And we all get a big water bottle per day. (Also have a canopener in each bag, spoons, and wet wipes.) I won't go into all the other non-food, but these are related to food items.

Right now, this is how we pack it. Things that squish easily are put into old containers (like yogurt containers, sour cream containers, anything that holds its shape). Things that have a hard container (like a metal can) or like ramen that is better smashed anyways just go in a bag by day. (Day 1, 2, and 3) The things packed in yogurt containers have 3 of each item, so we just know it's 1 per day of these things.

I've bought a gallon plastic container with a twist on lid and I'm going to see if I can fit everything squishable into that and if it is better for space.

There are hundreds of ways to do 72 hour kits and hundreds of opinions on what to include. I'm posting this to be another idea out there that might help someone trying to find ideas on what to buy or how to store it.

Kids craft area - will it stay organized?

 I'd like to add some non-carpet mat under the craft area. I was also hoping to turn the table coming out the wall vertically, but the table was too shaky that way. (It would have fit 4 at a time instead of 2) - at least this way all the stuff attached to the wall is closer to the table.

Craft stuff that needs some effort required to get down. (hopefully this will deter it getting into the wrong hands)

Desk Area

The kids got all the old stamps my mom and I collected from the 1990s through current...which neither of us use anymore. After the kids got ink stains in the carpet right after they brought all the stamps home, I UNauthorized them until I give them a "stamp class" to learn how to properly use stamps and ink....and maybe until after I protect the carpet too!

Baskets from dollar tree - with laminated printed labels tied on with ribbon

Buckets from IKEA labeled with return address labels printed on and stuck on the inside of containers

Our "re-purpose box" (Where old cans, boxes, paper towel tubes, etc go to be used for whatever)...

There is no guarantee the craft made from these will survive more than a month!

The oldest 3 got this for Christmas a year and a half ago and barely got to use it before we packed it up to list the (previous) house, so when they kept coming into my room and using my  machine (and leaving my sewing table a complete wreck), I decided it was time to unpack theirs and set it up officially. Not the most comfortable table...but we'll work on that. I haven't found anything I like yet for their sewing table.

And some (dollar tree) hooks on a nearby attic access door for aprons.

I really hope they keep it organized. And if they don't, I'll just take away the things that are most messy. One more look...

2013 - controlling the afternoon hurricane

Last year I nearly went into shock when I went from 2 kids in school to 4 kids in school.

(Yes, I had twins enter kindergarten.)

With 1 left at home, I thought life *might* be easier...but didn't expect it.

It wasn't. I was different and nice for her, but not easier....

Because every afternoon around 3pm the HURRICANE of papers and hungry whiny gripes came through the door. Then, as the madness settled, I would find a paper that didn't clearly say which class (or even grade) it pertained too. OR I would get 4 of the same sheet to fill out, someone wouldn't hand theirs to me and later after the other 3 had turned in papers, I would find a blank sheet and no one could remember who the blank paper belonged to. Plus various other paper confusions...

Well, this year I'm ready!

I saw some filing system on pinterest (didn't bother to pin it and didn't bother to try to find it again) - I just put together from last year's disorganized memories what I would need....I think!

I'm hoping to teach them to file it as the pull it from their folders, then I can work on one child's papers at a time once they're into their homework and the 3-year-old bottomless pit has a snack for entertainment.

So far, so good - and I have a place to those "hold on to for a while" papers - rather than a pile by the computer with the bills, etc.

Hoping for an organized year...

Lunch Box Tags

From past experience, I know that things dropped off at the front office at school either need a tag/label whose it is and where it's supposed to go (they'll write it down, but will it stay together? will it get delivered?)

I have had things not delivered before I had to go and pick up later (after I went to the trouble to drop it off...and then I had to pay for the lunch they gave him because the lunch box never got delivered...grr)

Anyways - I don't trust them to get it to them without a label and I don't like to write it down over and over again (I've had 2 in school for a few years, so I just knew having 4 in school last year would double my "I forgot" drop offs!)

Yes, they should remember, but they don't sometimes. 

And we have rules/organization to help them remember, but we all forget things sometimes - call my cell sometime - probably won't answer because I probably left it at home...again.

Like these?
Me too - I made more for this year - here's how...

They're easy to make. You need:
cardstock (or poster board or piece of cereal box...or anything with some weight to it)
clear packaging tape
ribbon
velcro or snap
hole puncher

I printed mine on cardstock. They survived the year. (I might make my son's out of posterboard...his looked a little rough...but doesn't everything of his?)


You could write it on paper and glue it to a cardboard rectangle cut out from a cereal box if you don't have heavy paper.

Punch a hole in the corner.

Cover with clear packaging tape (front/back/ all around). Re-punch hole through same place. (It's just hard to punch it through once, so I do it before I tape it, but you may not need to.)

Thread ribbon through the hole. (Yes, before you add snap/velcro.) Cut, leaving enough length on each end to put on snap/velcro.

Attach snap to each end. 

(I have kamsnaps - love them! and snap pliers, but you could sew on velcro if you don't have that or use a metal snap...anything that can attach and unattach - assuming you want to take this off.)

Done

*Alternately, you could just sew the ribbon ends together if you wanted it permanent. We didn't. (The kids didn't.)

An Attempt at Summer Productivity

I have realized that I barely keep up with the blog during the school year...

during the summer? yeah right :)

But we haven't been sitting around doing nothing...we also haven't gotten done my wonderful, well planned and thought out summer plans for fun.

Here's a sneak peak into some of our summer stuff this month:

To make hairstyle choices easier, I printed picture of hairstyles to make a "menu" with a $1 photo album.

(We don't do fancy hair every day - most days it's a pony tail, but when I have time/energy, they love to pick one from the book or request a new one from their own head or online.)

 My youngest wanted to make butterflies to hang from her ceiling. (At 3, I was impressed she could come up with her own idea for crafting. But in the end, we found cute butterflies at the dollar tree and hung those.)
I do have a limit to my how much kid-craft I decorate my house with.

My older girls (8 and 6) did make some of the same style with me (nylon over wire) - like the ones we bought with mostly supplies we already had - I only spent $1 on a pair of pantyhose.

 Cute - but they're not hanging from the girls' bedroom ceiling. :) What should we do with them?
(note - If you do this you need REALLY strong craft wire - flimsy wire does not hold its shape very well...hence the reason our nylons are not stretched tight)

In the end, I consider it a success because I learned how to dye tights with food coloring - a useful Halloween skill. :)

How to: dye tights with food coloring

I also made an attempt at a swim top. It was also a success (it's cute), but there are a few things I learned in the process that will make next time (yes, there will be a next time) :) a little smoother going.

Most of my tips for figuring it out came from here (lots of tips)

and here (bra cups)

and here (video for sewing in elastic)

My son has been working on his artist badge  (and various others all summer) for Webelos

 And my husband armed the 8 year old with a hand saw to make my request for bathroom drawer dividers

 (I'll post the complete details later...maybe...) :)

 And I just liked this picture from our beach trip of a random bird on the beach. :)

Happy summer! Enjoy the kids. 

(and save the great ideas for the school year) :)

summer chart 2013

And so our summer vacation begins (school ended last week around here)...

Last year I made a calendar for June and July out of posterboards. Each day was labelled with an activity (handwritten) on a little piece of cardstock - with a hand drawn picture to match. (Some were rough...working on my art skills here!) :)

First, we had a countdown to summer chain - each day was labelled with the date and what was going on that day. They took turns cutting them off.

 off to the side of the calendar were posted these: (I think the drive in movie got added on the 27th later - I'd have to go back and check my calendar?)

But by July I was getting tired and the house was getting awful....

By August, I was DONE. 

They still asked every day, "What's the activity for today?" 

The activity is getting ready for school later this month!

I really liked the idea of a daily activity, but when the weather was too hot or we were tired or the house needed cleaning or errands needed to be run or I felt obligated to show up at the gym I was still paying for (well, I still am this year, but I don't care this summer)....the 'daily activity' sometimes got pushed to the next day and it would stress me until we completed it.

.     .     .        

Long story short - 

This year, I knew I needed to plan the fun but also list our 'normal life' along side it with room for more organization and planning. 

We'll see at the end of summer if this is over planning and what parts I want to keep for next summer! (Every summer I try something new - I had a few rejected ideas this year I may try next year.)

This year's summer chart:

I started with posterboard and cut three bright SUMMER IS HERE kind of colors to make it about 24x36 

(I relocated this later - which was a pain, but don't let the pictures confuse you.)

I stapled it right to the wall. (They're easy to take out and the holes are tiny that they leave.)

I covered the "seams" with ribbon and the border - the ribbon got glued down since the posterboards are temporary, unlike the wall. :)

I decided to use frames for two of my charts so I could write/erase as needed.

I did hang them "through" the poster, but when I relocated it, I also just hot glued them in place. (They're from the dollar tree...it was worth the $2 not to have them move all summer.)

And my months are smaller, but labelled with a weekly THEME rather than daily activities and the details of the week will be determined the week of.

That way if I'm busy or something comes up, I can alter the activities around that. If I have more time than we thought, I'll add something in.

I have activities in mind (some pinned on Pinterest, some in my head, some the kids have requested)...I just listed them on notecards under the heading for each week so I can remember my ideas when we get there.

And then, I added that to the board under the calendars so I don't lose them!

A closer look at my stuff....just in case anyone wants to use it too.

 I doubt this one will help anyone as it's got my kid's name on it, but the general idea might help someone...or you can just laugh at my over scheduling (which already failed on the first day as shopping for our 2-week grocery run took well past 11 am.) Ah, the joys of grocery shopping with 5 kids at multiple stores. :)

 It's not a super strict schedule, but more of an outline...and if we get behind, then something will have to be dropped...something fun.
"Choose a room sticks" means all the common areas will be on jumbo popsicle sticks and they randomly choose one and that is the room they have to straighten before Dad gets home from work. The 3 year old will get automatically assigned the hallway/foyer because it's the only one she's capable of doing without step by step instructions.

 Here's hoping this altered summer chore plan will work out better than last year's. :)
Chore sticks are jumbo popsicle sticks on the chore chart (pockets for each child) and labelled with specific chores that need to be done each week - like "vacuum girls room" or "organize dress up" or "clean playroom floor"...some are gender specific - like only the girls will have to vacuum their room - most are generic.

And just to make this even more longer :)

My themes this year:

One with Nature

(cub scout camp, nature crafts, whittling, pool time)

Head over Heals

(cartwheels and other acrobatics, hair flips/twists/braids, etc)

Framed

(photography basic lessons with my point-and-shoot)

Freedom Fun

(anything 4th of July related, red/white/blue - food, incl making homemade pvc weapons, outdoor movie)

Just beachy

(trip to visit my parents...at the beach)

Please pass the peas

(lessons in the kitchen on basics like homemade bread without machines, etiquette, making aprons, finishing in a dinner party to have a game about the Word of Wisdom - our law of health - and practice good manners...this passes off a requirement in my kids' booklets to earn their Faith in God award at church)

a stitch in time

(quilting, family history field trip)

Game on!

(classic indoor/outdoor games - marbles, checkers, hopskotch, cards, etc)

A day in the life of a kid

(good old kid stuff - learning to blow bubble gum, sleepovers, water fun, etc...last fling)

Reliving the memories

(scrapbooking, journals, video, maybe even a game of charades based on things we did...etc.)

Not all of those ideas will happen I'm sure and I may think of more...but that's why I didn't ink them on cardstock on use permanent scrapbook tape this year for my calendar! :)