I’m sooooo sorry. I’ve really had some bloggy blues lately. I haven’t written about the promised love story or the zoo trip, I haven’t been visiting your blogs diligently, and I’ve hardly had anything interesting to write about here on this blog. I’ve been hoping for a few months that I’d get back into this blogging thing, but I haven’t. I think the warm, beautiful weather is to blame! But isn’t it so much fun to spend these warmer months having fun rather than typing away on a computer? Forgive me for my inconsistency…

We’ve just planned our first family vacation since we went to NC/SC when Noah was a couple of months old. I’m so excited about it! We’re heading to Florida at the end of September. I bought our tickets recently which makes it sooooo real! My best friend, Stacey, really hooked us up. Her father owns a private hotel on a small island outside of Tampa, and we get to stay there for free. So now I’m just saving up for our Disney tickets, spending money, food cash. What’s more is that Stacey and Justin are going to be there too! Jeremy and Justin are going deep sea fishing too; which Jeremy is so stoked about!

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I’m still preggers, though I’m still not feeling like it. I have no nausea, tiredness, etc. I have my last blood test tomorrow to see if those numbers are going to indicate anything. The doctor won’t say it, but I’m pretty sure he just ordered this last test to see if the numbers are finally dropping since they aren’t rising at the rate they should be. I’ll probably know more by the end of the week…

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We’re having another yard sale this weekend. One of my neighbors organized the neighborhood yard sale this year. I don’t have too much to sell, but I need to make some room because we’re finally going to start that emergency closet. Everything I’m reading in the news, behind the scenes, etc. says that we’re headed towards another Depression. I’d rather just be safe than sorry. I have too many mouths to feed to ignore my responsibility to be prepared. I’ve found the LDS Church’s information to be very helpful for planning for emergency situations. A blog I found that belongs to a mormon mother says that she lives by the, “Eat what you store; store what you eat” philosophy. It makes too much sense! Your food won’t go bad from not using it if nothing goes awry (depression, emergencies, etc.), but if it does (go awry), you’ll always have a nice fresh stash to grab from. We’re going to aim for storing a year’s worth, ultimately. And quickly. I want to have our emergency closet filled by winter. I’m going to make a huge head start this week– grabbing 20+pounds each of beans, rice, grains and a huge stash of sugar, flour, powdered milk, etc. You can click here if you are interested in using a calculator that determines how much to store for your family’s size. It’s unbelievable how much you need. And since it is heavily predicted that money won’t be doing you any good real soon (wheelbarrow of cash=1 loaf of bread), you might invest that money now into stocking up on the necessities. Some might think it paranoia. I consider it being the smart Little Red Mommy Hen.

I’ve also considered the problem of losing our home if things got bad. I mean, what good is a truck load of supplies if you have no where to live and no gas to drive the truck to greener pastures? But then I read a quote from the Depression era: “You better come take my guns before you try to come take my house.” Can the banks take all of our homes? If it got bad enough that we’re all losing our homes, can the banks really come and foreclose on you and all of your neighbors too? Yeesh. America is the most heavily armed nation in the world. I’m hatin’ it for those repo guys. I’m a real Priss Pot as you know, but I’d get down right GI Jane on some mofos trying to kick my babies onto the street. No!

So, while I’m excited about the potential changes with the upcoming elections, I’m also a bit skeptical of the times we’re in. What a mess we’ve made!

Use your economic stimulus checks to visit Disney World one more time. Buy beans with what’s left over. Be good to your friends.  And, lastly, don’t be afraid. Be prepared. Going back to nature is going to be a good thing. Mother Earth said so.

Here’s some more links for you to ponder:

X Waves

Countdown to Crisis

Economic Outlook

Emergency Stash Info

Emergency Preparedness Blog (I really like this one!)

Meal Recipes

3 day food supply 

Soooo, tell me. I’m interested… Are you totally rolling your eyes at me? Or are you a Little Red Mommy Hen too?

We went camping for the first time in two years last weekend and had a blast of a time. We went with our friends Amy and Steve, who have kiddos that are Bella and Noah’s age.

We set up camp in the lovely spot next to the lake. We brought the weed whacker to help clear a nice spot for us. This was also the place we went camping at a few years ago and there was a rattler just feet from our tent. So I thought that clearing a spot was the smart thing to do so we could watch where we were treading.

We got all set up– shade tents, bbq grill, tent city, etc. The kids were having a great time. But the Park Rangers came around and told us we had to move because we were camping in a prohibited area and we were breaking the rules by even stepping on the grass. Good thing she wasn’t there to see us when we were weed whacking it down. Oops.

So we had to move but there were no camping spots left except at an RV park, which totally defeats the purpose of camping, don’t ya think? We went anyways and made the best of it. There were older folks there, so we were the youngsters. Everyone was quiet and in bed by 9 pm! We surely weren’t. We sang by the fire, chased the kids around until they finally zonked (which was after 10, as they were all wired up on marshmallows), and then broke out the drinks and adult laughs. I haven’t gotten tipsy in a long time, but I sure did that night. I was all giggly and stupid, but feeling youthful and funloving! We had a steep hill right by our campsite and we all rolled down the hill, did sommersaults, made silly dares. Amy dared me and Jeremy to roll down the hill together and when we did, I knocked my head into a rock really hard! I knew if I weren’t tipsy that it would have been super painful but I just jumped right up like nothing happened and went for another roll. The next morning I woke with sticks and twigs all tangled in my hair, red wine splattered all over my white shirt, and the worst headache ever. I don’t know if it was from the wine or the concussion I probably gave myself by hitting my head on that rock. What goof-balls! Amy and I went for a walk once we got up to go brush our teeth in the restroom and went past the hill we had so much fun playing on the night before. She said, “Steph, do you remember how big that hill looked last night?” It was microscopic with sober eyes! I couldn’t believe how we had acted like we were brave cliffhangers, doing our drunken acrobatics on this wee, tiny little hill. I guess this is what happens when you don’t get out of the house much!

The kids made quick work of our tent. I slept with toys as pillows, hotdog pieces and marshmallows stuck to my cheeks and hair, and crumbs from goodness knows what in my sheets. But I slept sooooo good with all my kiddos curled under the comforter like little pigs in a blanket. They snuggled and nuzzled warmly all night, hiding from mosquitos and the desert cold.

Here’s Bella and Maggie coming down from their smores high…

Steve played us some Oh Brother Where Art Thou folk music on his guitar. Made me close my eyes and remember how wonderful the South sounds…

I can also close my eyes and thank God for Colorado, no matter how homesick I get. This is a beautiful and amazing place to call home, and goodness knows we’re havin’ fun!

We had the greatest time in Albuquerque last week. You have to get out of a small town once in awhile or you start going crazy. I need a mall once in awhile, maybe a new place to eat out, some interestingness in new faces. Albuquerque is a really neat place to visit and I’m so glad we got to get away.

The babies did really well sleeping in a new place, which I worried about. The first day we wore the kids out so much that Noah wouldn’t fall asleep– cried hysterically. I finally got him to sleep and he was conked for the night. The next 2 nights we all slept like babies. We stayed at a nice suite and it had two seperate areas, so Austin even had his own bedroom and tv. It was wonderful. The hotel cooked a beautiful breakfast for free, complete with anything the heart could desire. They also had a happy hour from 5-7 pm where we could get free drinks while a clown entertained the kiddos– painting faces, being silly, blowing balloon animals. The hotel also had an indoor pool and an arcade for Austin. Fun for all!

We ate at the most amazing buffetts (I gained 2 pounds. Yes, I weighed myself to see what vacation(s) had done to me), went to Old Navy where we stocked up on clothes for the kids, ate at this awesome place called “Itz” where the kids (and us old farts) all had a blast! (Click on photos for larger view)

 I kicked Austin’s butt in some horse racing…

I also managed to get my butt kicked by the tweenaged girls and Austin during a round of bumber cars…

Jeremy and Bella had a blast on the roller coaster. It moved surprisingly fast for a toddler coaster and Bella was such a sport! She loved it and made me ride it too. Between the bumper cars and the roller coaster, I was struggling to hold on to my over-indulged pizza buffet dinner.

We went to the Zoo on Saturday and made great memories there. You should totally check out my Flickr pics because I got some great pictures of some of the animals.

Nooskers loved the Aquarium…

 Jeremy was all romantic and picked me a rose for my hair.

But, OMGoodness, this is the best part:

This mommy monkey brought her baby right up to the window and showed us her baby. She held the baby up to show us! She nursed her baby just 2 feet in front of us. She watched Bella and showed her the baby. Finally I leaned into her (the momma monkey) while puckering my lips and… WHAP… She smacked me in the face! I guess she doesn’t like kisses from other women. She then left us, laughing, and with a great memory to last a lifetime! Bella tells EVERYONE how the “Momma monkey smacked mommy in the face!” So cute. But the momma monkey was just trying to let me know I was getting to close for comfort, protecting her baby. And you can see why she’s so protective. I mean, LOOK at this face!

Anyways, it was an amazing trip. I’m so happy that I got to have 2 wonderful vacations– one with my birth family, one with my created family. I’m in awe of how blessed I am. Life is beautiful.