Help, I need sleep!

My little 7 month old, Keeley, has gone on strike and I don't know what to do about it. From 3 to 6 months she slept through the night. But right before Thanksgiving she quite. I didn't think much about it at first assuming she was going through a growth spurt or cutting teeth. But a month and a half later its driving me mad!! So, after doing a little reading most things I found said you have to let them cry. I had done that in the past and thought we would just do it again. However, she won't fall asleep. For the last two nights she has screamed for 45 minuets at which point I go in and pick her up. She shows no signs of giving up at that point. I have hear don't let them scream beyond 20 is that true? 45 minuets is a long time and I feel really bad making her cry for that long and then to ruin it by picking her up, Aggh! I'm sure many of you have had this problem any suggestion on what to do? Do I still need to let her cry? Is 45 minuets of crying too long?

Thanks, A Tired Mom

Expecting

Bonnie Weber-February-It's a Boy!!
Allison Roundy-March-It's a Boy!!
Laci Caraway -March-It's a Girl!!!! (at least there is one girl coming this year!)
Maria Staley-May-It's a Boy!!
Carrie Bergloff-May-It's a Boy
Rebecca Newcomer-JUST KIDDING

Food Storage

I've been asked about some links for food storage from time to time and thought I'd post them here for everyone.


Most sites either have the prices online or you can download an order form. Not all have the best prices on certain items so it will take a bit of comparison to get the best deals. The cannery has great deals on some things but not on others. Heck, Sam's Club has some pretty sweet deals too.


What we've been doing lately to store goods is using a 5-6 gallon mylar bag (with a ziploc top so it can be used and filled over and over again) in a 5 gallon bucket (from Home Depot) which has helped make things a little more efficient and easy to move. You can also get boxes from the cannery which work well with the mylar pouches. We've not got any food storage in cans other than some vegetables we've bought extra's of here and there at the store. I think you can mail order the oxygen absorbers from the church site or just pick them up with your next bulk order and package foodstuffs at home.

If you're picking up things from the cannery, do note that you'll need an appointment to can, bag or even pick up items. Last I checked availability was three weeks out for pick-up only and nearly two months for packaging.


Anyway, here's the links.


Be Prepared - Most foodstuffs listed are pretty pricey but it's fun to get ideas and browse the site.

Pleasant Hill Grain - This place has great ideas and prices for equipment, baking needs, grinders and water purification systems. They also provide fantastic customer service. We've been really pleased.

Homegrown Harvest - We've used this site for some grain orders and to try out new grains like buckwheat, amaranth and spelt.

Walton Feed - You can download their order form and do cost comparisons for the things your family enjoys. SP denotes a SuperPail which is a 5-gallon bucket with a liner and RB is a Regular Bucket without a liner. We've not made an order with them yet but will soon.

USA Emergency Supply - This is where we order the 5-6 gallon bucket liners. The more you order, the more you save.

Honeyville Grain - This is a great place to get started. They have super deals on dehydrated eggs, fruits and vegetables. We need to compare their deals with Walton Feed a little more though.

Nutiva - Bulk vegetable oils don't seem to last more than nine months in the NC (and VA) climate and we've made the switch to coconut oil. It's a better source of good fats and is shelf stable for 5-6 years.

Nuts Online - Just one more resource for organic grains.

LDS Home Storage - Here's the Church's order form.

Sam's Club - Here's where you can compare Sam's prices with others.

I hope all of the links work. Please add any you've found helpful.

Happy storing!

Open Invitation

Micah and I attended a Christmas open house at a friend's home last night. There was food, good company, lots of laughter and good conversation topped off by loads and loads of yummy goodies.

True to my own personal fashion, I unabashedly ate way too much; too much for my personal dietary guidelines and far too much for what my poor jeans could handle. The holidays are always chock full of social occasions and I am finding that after each event my belt becomes just a little tougher to cinch and my pants a little more snug than just the day before.

I love to run but have found that I'm getting a little burned out. I'm back on the proverbial horse now but would like to mix things up with a little cross-training. I've got a nifty trailer to hitch on the back of my bicycle for rides with the girls but would like to add just a little something more.

My "something"....swimming. I've been toying with the idea of maybe going for a short triathlon sometime in future when I get the guts enough or, heck, time enough to adequately train and would like to take it a step further by actually having a go at a little pool time.

I've checked around and the Fayetteville YMCA seems to fit the bill. Free child care (for those with family memberships), a racquetball court for my boys to enjoy together and a free weight / circuit training option for those interested. I'm totally in it for the pool.

Next month they're holding a special on registration. Bring in a blanket and the fee is waived (normally $50-$90). After that there's a monthly family membership fee of $59 or, if you prefer the one adult only membership, $29 (but there's no child care option without the family membership). There's no contract so you can cancel at any time. Also, the kids are welcome to join their parents in the pool which would be a blast for my girls.

Anyhoo...just thought I'd put it out there and see if anyone else is interested. It would do me a lot of good to get out and try some new - albeit scary - things next year and I've found there's strength in numbers.

Cookie Swap

Everyone is invited and welcomed to our 1st Annual Cookie Swap!
Friday December 19 @ 7:30

How it works is every person (or couple the guys are invited too) will bring 6 dozen cookies of one variety. Then we will all swap and take home 6 dozen cookies in hopefully a wide variety. Anything goes even candy counts as cookies just as long as it is homemade. Please feel free to send this on to whomever you like. If you would like to come please leave a comment (or call) and I'll send you an evite with our address and information. I have done them in the past and they are the greatest! We will play some games after we swap cookies if you want to stay and make it a night!

Christ in Christmas

I feel a little bad that Meg is the only one that is updating this great idea of a blog.  So here is my attempt to give a good tip.

Laurie over at Tip Junkie is having people post about ways they keep Christ in their Christmas.  I thought it was something we all might want to try to do a little more of.  I know I could use less of the commercialized materialistic Christmas, my wallet could too.

So go check out other's ideas and maybe add your ideas to the blog and then to the list.

Joseph B. Wirthlin

Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin, the oldest living apostle of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, died Monday night, age 91.

Elder Wirthlin had gone to bed at his Salt Lake City home, and died peacefully at about 11:30 pm of causes incident to age. His oldest daughter, Jane Wirthlin Parker, was present. A member of the family had been staying and caring for Elder Wirthlin, whose wife, Elisa Young Rogers Wirthlin, died in 2006.

He had continued to work at his office right up until the Thanksgiving holiday.

Funeral services will be held at noon on Friday, December 5, at the Tabernacle on Temple Square.