Food Storage Update

We've been working on being prepared for anything. It is a lot of work. We now have our 72 hour kits, almost have the 72 hour food kits done (I'm still buying the rest), almost have a full years supply of wheat ( we need about 5 more buckets). My arms are sore from carrying the wheat buckets. We have a full 1 year supply of random things like salt, and powdered milk. In the next year I should be able to complete our supply and have a FULL years supply of food. We have a good solid 3 month supply, but I really want the full year.
I am excited to have finally kind of figured all this out. I have decided to stop thinking about it and worrying about tings going bad and to just DO IT!It is actually easier to just do then to think about. I am no expert and still have far to go, but I think I have a good start!
Any one know the best way to store rice and beans? Buckets? I am scared of storing beans. We really don't eat many beans, and I have never made dry beans- I've only used canned beans. Any ideas? Should I go to the Bishops store house to do the beans and rice? I just don't feel like the Costco plastic bags of rice would store very well.

Imagination

Have I mentioned that Olivia has a very active imagination? Well- she does. At first I was worried that she had skitzophrenia, but I'm realizing it is normal to have imaginary friends.
She tells people about her "daughters" often. She has a daughter that is a baby, and one that is 15! She is always telling them what to do and apologizing for her daughters bad behavior. It is pretty funny.
Her favorite friend is "Deanna". (Dee-Anna) is always around. She is 3- and her hair color is always changing. Today it is purple. The other day Deanna bumped her head and it was bleeding. Olivia was crying for her. She had Dad give her a blessing. Jesus healed her and she was fine.
The other day Olivia claimed that her kitty was outside and she needed to go save her. It was stormy outside. Dad let her out to get her cat. Liv came back in, but then said "I have to go back out! I didn't get her!" I was some what annoyed and didn't want Liv going back out, so I stupidly told Olivia "I think your cat died. You don't have to go get her" I don't know what I was thinking. Olivia bursts into tears and ran to her Dad. Brett says "What is the matter!?" Olivia still crying like a maniac says "MY CAT IS DEAD!" Then I told Brett I was the one who gave her the idea. Brett fixed it all and said "I don't think your kitty is dead- I think she just ran away with a friend, so mom thought she died." That made Olivia content.
Sometimes these imaginary friends cause too much trouble around here. I guess I can't really just get rid of them though. I wonder when she will stop talking to all her friends and taking care of imaginary babies. It is such a weird idea to me. I don't think I ever did that.

Mad Face

Claire gives us this face all the time. We usually just laugh! I think I know where she gets it. I'm pretty sure I make the same expression quite often...

The IPHONE and other updates

Brett got an IPHONE (that his work is paying for) the other week. We ALL love it! I never knew it would be so fun. We can check the weather, browse the internet, play games, browse and take pictures all at the touch of a finger! The girls LOVE to play with it. Claire likes to browse the pictures (since it is simple to do) and Liv likes to draw and play some games. I kinda like the wikkihow that tells you how to do random things.

Liv stole the phone out of Claires hands.

Britta (my sis-in-law) is in town this week. She is VERY good at baking and creating, so I asked her to help me learn to make a cake. I have to make one for RS next week, so I needed to learn. My last test run that I did by myself a few weeks ago looked AWFUL! So- Britta came and taught me all the tricks. The cake was pretty, and tasted even better ;) It is REALLY yummy chocolate cake!

Here is an update on my bangs. I just cut them straight across (not so different as I have done this a lot, but that's okay) I will hopefully be getting a haircut soon. Maybe I'll do something crazy then!

The girl is silly

Got Milk?

As I sit here-Olivia is chasing Claire around tickling her with a duster. They are both laughing. Sweet. Just this afternoon while I was doing laundry- in comes Claire with a frozen ball of cookie dough. then in pops Olivia with one too. Liv thought they should have a little treat! It is funny to me that she gave one to Claire too. Then- as I am folding the laundry I am hearing lots of laughter in Liv's bedroom. I go in to see what is going on- apparently Olivia had snuck her friend "Susan" in her bed under the covers (so Iwouldn't take her away) Susan is our MOP! She has spent many hours dancing with the mop telling her how beautiful her hair is. (it is a libman mop)
Olivia- you can be so mischievous, but SO funny!

Your Opinion

So- I've been wondering a few things lately. I'm very bad at making up my mind sometimes.
Here are my dilemmas:

1- What should I do with my bangs? They are much longer then I usually have them and I need to do something!

wear them like I have for the last I don' t know- 7 years?

maybe I could TRY sweeping them over more. Although- I just don't think it works with my hair and large fore-head. It looks like a comb-over.

I could try growing them out. This is hard for me. I feel like I look older in a bad way, and I have a big forehead. It feels weird, but I could try. There is also just cutting them in a new style too. Any suggestions!?

My next dilemma:
The color of my walls and the color of the hutch. I am thinking of maybe doing a blue/green gray color for the walls and either a green or white for the hutch. Or maybe something else. I don't really know. Here is a pretty blue and green room I like, but I'm not sure if it is the blue I am looking for.

Wedding Dress

Liv and I thought we should try on my wedding dress! It was fun! It still fits me, and Liv is convinced it fits her too! ;)

Girls Playing Together

note the jewelry- they BOTH love to wear necklaces and bracelets.
Olivia likes to wear things on her head and the other day said "Mom, I look like Jesus! No, actually I look like Mary. Yeah, Mary, she's pretty!"

A Daily Occurrence

A picure is worth a thousand words... or maybe I'll just write them in for you ;)