Cute Pictures of Cute Kids

I finally got this in a picture- this is such a classic Samuel smile.
Playing outside in the water- finally a sunny day!
Wants to do it himself

Samuel tries rice cereal. Mmmmmm- not so good huh?

Summer Time

It has been awhile since I last posted (for me anyway). We haven't really been that busy. We've been painting the downstairs, doing yard work, seeing friends and family, enjoying the kids- the usual stuff. One thing I haven't been doing is laundry. I can't remember a time I had so much laundry to do. Around 12 loads or so. It seems to daunting. Instead of doing laundry- I have been reading a lot again. I am almost done with my third book for the week. With nothing good on the tely in the summer I seem to just consume books. Here is a mini review.
1. Stiff: The Curious Life of Human Cadavers. Roach.- A strange informative read. A history of death and burial mostly. Not what I expected- but perfectly dark for the morbid part of my psyche. 3 stars
2. Austenland. Hale.- The closest thing to a romance I have ever read. A successful LDS author always peaks my interest but her storyline failed to do so. 3 stars
3. The Last Lecture. Pausch.- Promises to change your life, and only slightly falls short of its promises. Any book that brings real tears to my eyes repeatedly deserves 5 stars.

Project Prepared Part 3

Disaster Survival Kit and contents

Project 3 is a 72 hour kid- or really a natural disaster survival kit. I used the space for other things instead of putting all the diapers and clothes we would need for 72 hours because I have an emergency diaper bag for the kids in my car at all times with wipes, diapers, socks, clothes, drinks and kid food. I also have blankets, the first aid kit, and flares in my car as well instead of in this kit.

I had made us a 72 hour kit a few years ago when Hurricane Katrina came. At the time I was not working and had all day to watch the news coverage. It prompted me to make the 1st version of this which we kept next to our front door. We wanted to be ready- but mostly because we had no choice- our house was very small after all. I packaged everything in this great soft backpacking backpack I purchase from Out N Back before I went to China. It works perfectly and cost me $25 at one of their super sales. I like the large backpack for storing everything in because although it is heavy- it is the most portable it could be.

I decided to re-evaluate the kit and our needs in my current preparedness obsession. Then we were two healthy hardly twenty year olds who could have likely survived without shelter or food for three days regardless of the kit. Now we have to small children. I had a ton of stuff already- including all the first aid stuff and most the disaster supplies, but I added a few new things- mostly kid stuff, and all new food since the other stuff had all expired. This ended up costing me more than the other projects so far. About $100 and about two hours of time. I think if you had to start from scratch the project would take double the money and time.
All the items barely fit inside the backpack. I just used freezer bags to pack everything and keep it water proof. I talked about adding a survival guide and Jake came back with some comment about how he is a scout. It is true that now we have all the supplies and as long as Scoutmaster Jake is with me I think I will feel very capable of survival.

Resources
http://www.ready.gov/america/index.html
http://www.providentliving.org/channel/0,11677,8033-1,00.html

Food and Cooking
One Mess Kit
Plastic spoons
dish soap
1 gal water
dehydrated apples
Large Beef jerky
3 sevings instant pasta
Large Trail Mix
3 pediasure ready made drinks
6 servings dehydrated chili
6 serving dehydrated soup
6 servings instant oatmeal
4 servings hot chocolate
2 cans soup
crystal light packet- for water flavoring
water purification tablets aprox 4 quarts (should get some more)
I would also like to get some high calorie energy bars

Personal Hygiene
sunscreen
bug repellent
contact case and solution
razor
shampoo
hand soap
lotion
chapstick
toothbrushes and paste
hair bands
comb
maxi pads
nursing pads
diapers and wipes for both kids
Lysol spray
toilet paper
Clorox wipes
Germ- x

First Aid
packet distilled water
80 band aids various sizes
8 gauze dressings
large wound dressing
6 butterfly band aids
20 alcohol prep pads
20 antiseptic towelettes
3 iodine prep pads
3 insect relief pads
tape
4 finger splints
splinter removers
neosporin
blistex
4 doses antacid
3 electrolyte tablets
4 non aspirin tablets
instant cold pack
q-tips
10 latex gloves
tweezers
scissors
blessing oil
first aid guide
thermometer
super glue
respirator masks
sting/bite relief stick
Most of this came in a ready made kit I purchased, I am debating whether or not I should take it out and give the space to something else, since I have an even better kit in my car already.
I should probably add some infant fever reducer too

Disaster Supplies
firestart
lighter
6 boxes of matches
leather work gloves
collapsible shovel
compass
magnifying glass
whistle
leatherman
8 glow light sticks
reflective tape
duct tape
citronella candles
two flashlights battery operated
4 D batteries 8 AA batteries
crank flashlight
4 rain ponchos
4 emergency blankets
50 ft poly cord
pocket knife
pen
paper
trash bags
tarp
I haven't been able to find a crank radio so I ordered this one from Amazon today.

Comfort Items
money- bills and quarters
Book of Mormon
Playing Cards
Bubbles
Small stuffed animals
crayons
candies
hot wheels cars
army men
toy whistle

Again if you have any ideas for something you think I left out leave a comment.



Closer Look 72 hour kit contents

Project Prepared Part 2

Being motivated by my church group I have been making great strides in preparing my home and family for anything. Perhaps you remember this post: http://jakeandcrystal.blogspot.com/2009/04/project-prepared.html- then you are familiar with what I am talking about and why it is again midnight while I type this. I have felt a new weight of responsibility in protecting and preparing my family lately. Perhaps it is because my family has grown recently. Tonight the project was first aid. Although I am still anxious to take a refresher CERT class at least having and organizing all the supplies to respond in an emergency makes me feel a bit more ready.

Tonight I made two car first aid kit and a large one for our home. I had most all of this stuff already in my home- just not organized. I did purchase a few things totaling under $30. It took me a total of 1.5 hours- which includes a trip to the store. I am starting to see that it really does not take that much time or money to prepare ever needful thing.

Car Kits
Tupperware container- red of course
infant tylenol- I seem to always buy when we still have 1/3 a bottle left- all the car needs
IBuprofen
Benadryl
tweezers
latex gloves
gauze
tape
bandaids of all sizes
ace bandaid
tums
alcohol wipes
alka seltzer
iodine wipes
germ x wipes
saftey pins
Immodium
vaseline
neosporin wipes
maxi- pads -use to stop bleeding from large cuts as well
Tic Tacs- diabetics or keeping kids quiet in an emergency
Lighter
Fingernail clippers
super glue
Benadryl cream
eye drops
Emergency/ contact phone numbers
Basic first aid fact sheet
Allergy/ medication family information
I am still hoping to get some kinds of sting kit for the car kit as well

For our home first aid kid-
I had this great red cooler that we just don't use that often- perfect. I zips shut- where I could easily put a combo lock through it to make it more child proof. For now I just have it on the top shelf on the linen closet with a child proof handle
I went through our medicine cabinet and threw away everything that was expired- half of what was in there was
What was included
Infant fever reducer
children fever reducer
Ibuprofen
children's bendadryl
rubbing alcohol
hydrogen peroxide
cotton
ear thermometer
traditional thermometer- I had four. I guess I never need to buy another one
Immodium
Children's immodium
Pepto
Children's Pepto
bandaids of all sizes
ace bandaids
gauze
tape
super glue
icy hot
hot pack
surgical masks
latex gloves
eye drops
Tums
Vaseline
milk of magnesia
cold medicine
night time cold medicine
pain antiseptic
cold sore medicine
Tucks
Itch Cream
Cold Compress
Large Neosporin
Emergency/ contact phone numbers
Basic first aid fact sheet
Allergy/ medication family information
I am still also hoping to get an epi pen and/or sting kit

I also went online and ordered some more surgical masks and am going to get some more gloves since I only had a few of each. Knowing me the next time I am at the store I will make a quick sweep of the pharmacy to see what else I am lacking.
If you have an idea of things I should add- based on experience or need leave a comment.

Car First Aid Kit contents picture
Home First Aid Kit Contents

family scrapbook stuff

Hey Little Sister

My youngest sibling Ali graduated this past weekend. We are so proud of her. We had a lot of fun with her this year as she stayed with us off and on while my parents were gone. She is awesome. She seriously rocks. She let me take her graduation pictures which was really fun. I know she will love Utah State next year. Congrats Ali!

I could look at these all day

I am using my blog to upload straight into a scrapbook now. Instead of printing any pictures. So you will likely see more pictures than usual for a while on my blog. I realize that not everyone has the same fascination with my children that I do.

A little media review

I've been reading and watching and listening to a lot lately, and enjoying it a lot. I thought I would leave a review for my readers.

Movies
Doubt- 3 stars. Beautiful with intense actors, but the plot had me expecting a big finish and then it let me down.
Australia- 5 stars. You know me and anything based on fact. I don't even usually like Kidman.
Twilight- 2 stars. Visually pleasing, but darker than expected, The cannibalism really bothered me strangely when Silence of the Lambs it one of my all time favorites.

Books
To kill a Mockingbird. 4 stars. I have read this before, but we listened to it on our AZ drive and I loved it this time. Such a part of our culture.
The Hobbit. 3 stars. Not my cup of tea fantasy.
The Hiding Place. 5 stars. Not just another WWII autobiography.

Just the two of us.

Jake and I don't have a picture of just the two of us since last August- almost one year ago. Funny enough that too is a snapshot we took of ourselves. Yesterday when I was taking picts of the kids all ready for church I had us snap a shot since it has been almost a year. I thought it was nice too because Jake subconsciously matches whatever I am wearing all the time. Looking at this picture I think it is so true that the longer you live with someone the more you look alike.

Chumby

Chumby is pretty sure this muscle tee is going to impress the ladies at church today.

On the Stranger Side of Springville

I have mentioned before how I have a tracker on my blog. It is always interesting to see where my traffic comes from. For instance, I get a lot of traffic for people searching for nicknames for Kate and all variations of the name. I get a lot of traffic from people googling my husband's name. ( He has a stalker as well I guess or someone of his name sake). And I don't care who looks at our lives, who marvels and the lighthearted things I have to say each day. That is what it is there for after all.
Recently I updated my tracker and found that I have a lot more friends in Springville Utah than I thought. Or one very interested one. Every four to six hours it seems on most days some one from Springville or Utah County (Springville could just be where the server is located) logs on. They are direct traffic, meaning they are not hopping to me from their own or another blog. They are usuing a Mac as well. But that is all I can tell. It is a little strange to me to think that I could possibly be that interesting. After all, I don't even post everyday, but they look sometimes up to four times in one day. And they don't hop off most of the time to other blogs either- I mean they are not usuing my blog as a menu for their blog viewing or something like that.
Does this sound like you? Is it you? Maybe you just aren't aquainted with the feed feature blogger provides? Maybe somebody should show you google reader? Maybe you should leave a comment so I am not so weirded out, or a personal email if you prefer to be discret.

AHHHHHH

More coloring

It is amazing how Kate's drawing is coming. She is barely two. This is a picture of her and a picture of Dad. Jake and I laughed at how mean he looks. But she even picks the right colors now for hair and lips.

Phoneix and the Carpenters

Our family had the opportunity to visit Amy and Jeff and Kaylie this long Memorial Day Weekend. We enjoyed so many things about our trip. We left home in the afternoon hoping that with afternoon naps and bedtime that the kids would sleep most the time there and we were right. Except for a 45 stop for running around and dinner we didn't have to stop except for gas one other time. Jake and I really enjoyed the road trip. We stocked the car with treats and drinks, and a few books on tape. Now that we often seem to have to travel 12 or more hours to visit family we try to have the philosphy to make the journey part of the trip as well. It was our first time driving through Kanab/ Page area and we thought it was one of the most beautiful parts of the country we couldn't believe was only a few hours away. We listened to "To Kill a Mocking Bird" and "The Seven Habits of Highly Effective Families" as books on tape since I don't have a CD player in my car. And it seems we always spend at least a little time while we are on a road trip talking about how things are going for our family and making new goals the make us even stronger as a family unit. In the end road trips always give me time to think and a small sence of renewal. Of course I usually only drive 1/8 of the time so perhaps Jake doesn't fell as positive about the driving as I do.
One thing that was really fun for me, was that even though Amy and I constantly talk to one another, seeing her life and home in Arizona was still different than I had imagined it. They have a beautiful home with a pool in the backyard and Amy is both a wonderful decorator and hostess. She has been in her home for less than 6 months and it still looks more put together than mine that I have lived in for 2.5 years. She also kept us well fed with tons of wonderful meals. Jake enjoyed golfing at the Truen North course with Jeff- his first golfing of the year where what amazed him most were the hundreds of bunnies roaming the course. And we had as many chances as we wanted to get Kate to swim. I had purchased Kate some new water wings before the trip and been talking about a swimming pool for days to get her excited. When we got there however not only did she think that water wings were what a swimming pool is, she screamed when we put her in the water. Three days later she was warmer to the idea, but still did not want to get in. This was strange to us since she has always loved the pool in Kamas. Their one year old however is going to be the next Michael Phelps. We spent time eating out, watching movies, at the awesome children's museum geared for kids under five and just relaxing. Just being away from the house is a vacation. I didn't think about cleaning or yard work or life.
We also had the chance to visit Jake's brother Joe and all four of his kids. He lives about 30 minutes from Amy, and it is always nice to get more than one visiting done on a trip. His children are growing up quickly and it was fun to see them if only for an evening.
We thought the Phoenix area seemed a wonderful place to live except for it was only May and I was melting. In fact I am pretty sure Kate had a mild case of heat stoke on Sunday until we pumped her full of popciles and gatorade. Here are some pictures from the trip.
The had an awesome noodle forest. Kate couldn't get enough of it.
Kate crawling through a play area at the museum
Kate and Kaylie painting the house at the museum
Sam slept most of the time at the museum but was happy when he woke up
Sam ready for swimming though he never got in.
Kate would point at pool toys and shout " a swimming poo"

Our sad Sam. He is actually laughing and smiling a lot now, but his normal face is this sad or a serious one. I think he is happy though his face doesn't show it. If he looks huge in the picture that is because he is. He is already in some 9 month clothing. I think he looks like a rugby player today with that shirt and those cheeks.

Here is a picture of the finished floor. Wheeew. Last night after I finished sealing and cleaning it I asked Jake if he thought it was worth all the money and all the work and all the hours and all the stress. He was quick to answer "no". Regardless of that, it is done now and we can just enjoy the kitchen. We added a few finishing touches too like the new light and handles for the cabinets. I am now looking for some new accessories- I am thinking burnt orange, to spruce up just that much more.

One Saturday Morn

Hanging out with the family, Kate ate spagetti for lunch and loved it. And she wasn't trying to get messy, she just ended up this way.

* I wanted to add that Kate has been eating this left over pasta ever since. Except that Kate has a book about opossums. When ever I say "pasta" she thinks I am saying "opossums". She goes to the fridge and asks for "opossums", then recites a line from the book "friendly opossums hanging in the trees" . I see how she could confuse these words, what disturbs me is that she has no qualms about eating opossums, her fuzzy friends.

Funny Little Things

I was talking to a dear friend on the phone this week and she asked for a funny thing Kate has said or done lately. I know there are several everyday, but I drew a blank and couldn't think of anything. I resolve to write down more of these funny things, and of course share them here.

Today
k: Kate is happy
me: Kate is happy?
k:No Mommy happy, Kate is pretty.

Jake tore up the floor in the entry way to start the tile work there. Kate started to get upset yelling "time out, time out". She normally has time out in the corner of this entry way and she was worried that time out was going away. Then Jake laid down the new sub floor. Kate went over to it, danced on it and said "cute floor"

Bedtime
me: tell me about playing with Cola today
k: play green ball
me: yes and what else
k: and bowling balls (kate has been talking about bowling since we took her a few weeks ago)
me: what about bowling?
k: and sour cream

what her thought process was there I have no idea.

Guess who slept last night from 10:00 pm until 5:59 am. He is a little sick, but here is to hoping that is not a fluke. We can't even get the Katerade to sleep this long sometimes. Go Chumby!
Here is a sneak peek at the nightmare that has eventually turned into a kitchen floor. For those of you who haven't heard me already complain, we decided to re do the kitchen. Coming soon (hopefully) is a full picture before and after. We have been working on this floor for weeks now. And I feel pretty bad about it because when I say "we" decided to re do the kitchen floor, I mean "I". Jake tried to convince me to buy new furniture instead with some of the money we have been saving to put towards the house... and I picked new floor.
I say it was a nightmare because nothing worked out, we had to put in new sub flooring, than when we were almost done with laying the whole tiles our cement didn't adhere and we had to start all over. Me and the kids even went and stayed at my parents for a few days because the stress and dust was making me sick. We were able to finish the dinning room and kitchen.... we still have three more rooms to go, but at least I have appliances in the kitchen and not the living room again. I am sure I will make a great dinner to celebrate the fact that I can make dinner again. We are getting pretty tired of sandwiches and hot pockets.
Also a note, that my husband is not only a handyman genius who can fix or build anything I dream up, but he somehow stayed happy and positive the entire time.

You Must Be the Oldest!

I do have a love for organizing but it is something I did not enjoy until adulthood. My daughter however, is obviously the true oldest child in our family and takes after her Aunt Amy ( I remember some story about pencils lined up in a desk). I often come to an area Kate has been playing to find something like this. Today she was particularly particular about having all of her toys categorized, and lined up. I just hope all this cleaning and organizing sticks around till she is at least ten or so.

Wellness Checks

I took both Kate and Samuel in for Wellness Checks today. Note to self- don't ever schedule both children for appointments at the same time without knowing for sure that Jake can come too. He would have easily been able to come normally, except he goes to trial maybe five times a year, and today just happened to be one of them. Just my luck. I got to wrestle two naked, apprehensive children in a pediatrician's office. (Pediatrician's office is code for germ loaded hot zone). The office we go to is a great practice, but you just know sick kids have been there. No amount of hand sanitizer can keep Kate germ free. Especially when she lays her face on the floor while I am holding Sam for his shots and can do nothing to stop her. The OCD in me is about to vomit just thinking about it. We made it out successfully in the end. It only took 75 minutes. My favorite thing is how the pediatrician gives you all sorts of advice about parenting unsolicited. Not really though. There is part of me that does enjoy taking the kids in however. It is the confirmation that my kids really are as smart and ahead of the game as I think they are. They got a "perfect as can be" from the kid experts minus some weight concerns for Kate (no shocker there). Also the confirmation that my daughter's toenails will someday grow in a manner that is not alien looking. It is also commicle to see my children are night and day difference. In size I mean, not just in that Sam screamed bloody murder when he got his shots and Kate ( at that age) hardly made a peep.

Kate 2 year stats
22 lbs 5%
32.5 in 25% putting her final growth potential at 5ft 3 inches- that sounds about right
19.5 in head - 90% looking more like a Freeman every day

Samuel's 2 month stats
13.6 lb 75% I thought he was a little more "chumby" that this
25 in 95% I am sure this "tallness" will decrease like Kate's did. She was in the 90% forever and now look at her.
16 in head- 50%

H1N1.... it is coming, I told you so

When I was in the 7th grade I saw the movie Outbreak. It became my favorite film. Then I read the Hot Zone around that same time, and I became interested in being an epidemiologist. What 12 year old knows what an epidemiologist is anyways? Somewhere inside of me this interests has remained, only to be rediscovered this week as the media pours out information about the swine flu. I think it is a lot of the worrier in me as well, that has me knowing the latest and most up to date info about the pandemic.

Here is a great link to track it. http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/147716.php
Here is another interesting map to see what other possible outbreaks are in your area.
http://healthmap.org/en
If you are somehow living in a bubble and don't know what I am talking about. Link here
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swine_influenza

Yesterday I went to Wal-mart to make sure we had everything the CDC recommends you have in your home in case the swine flu comes to your area. Here is that link http://www.pandemicflu.gov/plan/individual/checklist.html .
I must admit, I am a little wary even though I am most likely more informed and more prepared than anyone else in town.
I am all for a stay-at-home government sponsored week starting Monday to prevent further spreading of the illness... not to mention that would mean Jake wouldn't have to go to work and could finish the kitchen remodel.:)

Kate's Family

Today Kate and I were coloring as we are bound to do each and every single day. She often asks me to draw things and dictates how they should be drawn. She will say what I am to draw, and then something like " and eyes... and nose... and hair" until she is satisfied with the final product. Today she started talking and dictating her family. Here is what she came up with.
"Daddy Jake", "Mommy Crysa", "Kate", "Baby Sam", "Grandpas"," Grammy", "Ali", "Amy", "Kaylie Baby", "Cola" with a "bone", "home", and then "Ariel"... yes the Little Mermaid. She even dictated that she have a green tail. I think the princess obsession has gone too far. She hasn't even watched that movie in a month I think. Whatever.

New Pictures

Sam is not too thrilled with a kiss from sis.

This is My Life.... and I like it.

This is the ultimate in "happy mom" blogging. My life is not always perfect, and I am far from it, but sometimes you just have days that pass and you can't think of anything that would make you happier despite the small upsets. Here is my day

6:45 am: wake up-feed Sam
7:00 am: shower, actually have time to dry hair, dress and make bed before Kate wakes
7:30 am: breakfast for Kate, laundry
8:00 am: bath the kids, feed Sam again
8:30 am: grocery's at Smiths- manage to spend under $100 for the week for the fourth week in a row. Kate has a meltdown in aisle 12 because I want her to sit down in the cart. She refuses so I make her walk, she runs away, I chase her down with cart in tow because Sam is in it still. Take all the groceries out, put Sam in the main part, buckle Kate in the top. Squish groceries around the kids. She cries for five minutes in the diary section. Some older woman tells me she is beautiful. Forgot three things because of all the crying.
9:30 am: feed Sam, 2nd load of laundry, clean kitchen
10:30 am: play date at the park. Visit with two great girls from the ward, notice Kate only plays with boys, sunburn my arms because we stay longer than expected. Kate eats picnic lunch with out argument.
12:00- visit with Jake who is home for lunch- discuss tile for the 8th time
12:30- 3rd load of laundry
1:00- feed Sam, mow lawns while Kate colors with chalk
2:00- put Kate down for nap- goes down without a fight after I sing Pinochio 8 times. Read 1 chapter in The Hobbit for book club. Its all a little "magical" for me.
2:30 pm: shovel dog poop from back yard. Play with dog- she is so neglected
2:50 pm: call Diamond Rental to rent a Jam Saw- chat with Jake on gmail
3:00 pm: Real estate agent calls "Can I show the house in 30 minutes?" - Clean house. Sweep, Mop, Vaccum, Beds, Showers, I am an amazing cleaner. Throw everything on the counters in the dryer to hide the mess
3:30 pm: wake Kate up, put kids in car, drive to Mom's to stall while the house is being shown.
5:00 pm: return home, make quick dinner. Kate throws a fit about coloring crayons. Jake pretends to throw them all away.
6:00 pm- Drop Kate off with Ali- When we took her on Sat. she threw a huge fit and I couldn't think straight.
6:45 pm: Realize I forgot the 10% off coupon. Drop Jake off at Home Depot- go home, get the coupon, return to Park City, feed Sam in car
8:00 pm: Pick out tile for the laundry, bath, entry, dinning and kitchen. Good luck Jake we are going to Phoenix this weekend.
8:30 pm: Realize after all that I forgot coupon in the car
9:00 pm: Have four gallons of paint mixed for the downstairs. Feeling ambitions
9:15 pm: Save $40 with coupon, glad I went all the way home to get it.
9:30 pm: Drive to get Kate. Jake and I have twenty minutes of uninterupted adult conversations on the ride home!
10:00 pm: Pick up Kate, get a summary about American Idol from Ali, come home, put kids to bed
10:30 pm: Clean up after dinner
11:00 pm: Decide to organize media cabinet- Wow we have a lot of music we NEVER listen too
12:15 pm: Finally go to bed.

It is funny that such a simple day could make me so happy. Tired... but Happy.

Hilarious Kate!

Kate makes me laugh everyday lately because of the things she understands and says.
I just pulled some brownies from the oven and she started singing Happy Birthday (no Kate you don't sing for every cake. Other things she has said this week that amaze me include....
"Mom, put more corn on the plate" yes she uses 'the' now, and
" He close his eyes cuz he's tired"... what are you five?
Another one is "he crying I poked his eyes". Well she understands that if you poke the baby in the eyes he cries...unfortunately she doesn't see the problem with this cause and effect.

Project Prepared

The ward that I live in is obsessed with Emergency Preparedness! Not that it is not a worthy cause.... they are just a little overboard, like learning to spin your own wool....ekkk! I think I would cut up my couch cushions to make clothing before learning to make a sweater from a sheep. Anyway each month the enrichment focuses on one piece of being prepared. Yesterday was on gathering and securing important documents. I came home and didn't think much of it. But apparently all the talk of crisis got me thinking, and when I get thinking I can't sleep due to small anxiety attacks. My mind would wander to an almost dream sleep, where my children were being abducted, quarantined, or our home was burning in a fire. So I started this project around 11:00 last night and am almost finished as I write this, except for a few loose ends. It took me about $50 and six hours, but the piece of mind I think it will bring was well worth it.
I am posting this partly for Amy, because she was interested in what I have been doing all day, partly for my Mom who wants to tackle the project with her ward, and anyone else who is interested. Might I suggest you do it for your family members sanity even.... I have been on the not to fortunate end of trying to handle emergencies in my family while my parents are out of the country.... lets just say almost every time they go out of the country, and I have spent hours searching their den trying to find insurance and medical information. In the end this information will be quick and easy for you to find, safe, and helpful to family members who may try to assist you in an emergency.

What you will need to start
2 4-5"" three ring binders
ABout 200- clear sheet protectors
20-30 dividers
CD's, DVD's or flashdrives with lost of space
Access to Copy Machine

What to gather

Contact
A contact list of friends and family, addresses, and phone numbers (copy your cell phone book)
Emergency contacts- a second list labeled as Emergency contact with who should be contacted in an Emergecny and your Doctor's etc.
Don't forget to add and label your bishop and R.S. President

Family ID
Indiviual Family Member info
Current pictures of each family member
Child ID, DNA and fingerprints
Adoption papers
Birth Certificates
Marriage certificate
Drivers License
Military Record
Passport
Social Security Cards

Auto and Rec Vehicles
Auto Policy, Insurance Card, Registration
Auto Loan Documents
Copy of Title or Leases

Church:
Important Church Certificates
Blessing certificate
Marriage certificate
Patriachial Blessing
Baptizm and Priesthood ordination info

Employment/ School
Diplomas
Resume and reference sheet
Employment Info and Contacts
Professional Licenses
Retirement Pension, Profit Sharin Plan
Wage Statement/ paycheck stub
Social Security Annual Statement

Estate Planning
Advanced Directive
Power of Attorney for Health Care
Financial Power of Attorney
Living Trust and Will
Final Instructions
Documentation of prepaid fees fo cemetery and funeral home

Financial
Bank Name, Account Number, deposit slip
Credit Card, Debit card be sure to write the customer service # on the copy
Investments- stock certificates, bonds, CD's IRA's
Mutual Funds, Money Markets
Safe Deposit box # and location and list of contents
Tax Returns for last 3 years
Book of Checks

Housing
Appraisal
Mortgage Statement
Deeds
Home Insurance and Coverage Info
Property Tax Bill
Land survey and Title Polity
Home Inventory (video, photo or list)
Receipts and Warranty of Expensive Items

Insurance
Disability Insurance
Life Insurance Policy
Long Term Care Insurance
Travel Insurance

Medical
Doctors, Hospital, and Vet contacts
Dental Records
Immunization Records
Prescription list including eyeglasses
allergies information
Copy of Health Insurance policy and cards
Pet vaccinations and license

Keepsake
Photo''s and home movies backed up on Disc
Important files from computer backed up on Disc

What to do
The process after the gathering is easy.
Copy everything (some things like credit cards, car registration, things you have to have in a wallet of car make two copies of)
Put all the copies in one binder
Put all the originals plus the copies of things you can't have in a binder in the other.
Put the "originals" binder in a safe deposit box or fire safe combonation lock box
Put the other somewhere in your home and tell key family members or a close neighbor where it is. I made my binder red so it is easy to find.

I can't say that I am great at tackling the food storage projects of emergency preparedness, I do all right I guess. This project was much more manageable for me. Something I could almost completely accomplish in one day. We previously had things in two different places in the house, and in a file cabinet mixed in with other not so important things. It feels good knowing that everything is safe and organized. Oh how I do love thing organized after all. I hope this post is helpful to you.

Is it Spring Yet?

We finally got to go outside today, it was above 50 degrees. Kate enjoyed coloring with chalk on the driveway, watching a cat across the street and just kicking back.


Easter Sunday- obviously- we haven't even put our candy eggs down from the Easter baskets in the morning.

Ilove Sam's reaction to his Easter Basket... well who knows what he was reacting to but the face is great either way. Everyone said he looked cute in his Easter sports coat.... I think he looks like a used car salesman.