Good Dadding

In an effort to stretch our family food budget, we have breakfast night at least once a week. We  ended up with 11 sausage links and 10 sausage patties at the table, because one link accidentally fell into my mouth. Red Ant got to the table and asked how many links he could have and I replied, "How many is 11 divided by 5?"  It took a minute, but the final answer was two!

We always like to take opportunities to have teachable moments. Well, Row doesn't really care for the sausage patties, which were also on the table, so we suggested that he trade for the items that he wanted. Row really wanted more than two links. I a stroke of brilliance I offered that the boys bid on the lone remaining sausage link. Red Ant said that he'd clean both both sides of the bathroom. Row countered with a 10 minute foot massage. Red Ant offered up another bid with cleaning the bathroom and vacuuming the living room, but Row was quick to counter with a 10 minute foot massage for both parents.

Red Ant got the remaining sausage on the plate, and Row got a link from my plate. Excuse me while I sit in my recliner, have my feet massaged, and watch our middle child clean the house.

Keep Right On Prepping - K

Rounding It Out

I can't believe it has been so long since my last post. I've finished up this crazy semester of eleven hours, working full time, rental house, and family life. I did fairly well academically. I got 100% in my Current Issues in Healthcare, which was an exercise in free-style ranting writing. I felt that it was wasted money for a three hour course, but it did help my GPA and I got to spew my thoughts on a whole new crew of people. My MRI procedures class is finished, and I'm waiting for her to grade my "senior thesis". My senior thesis was a twelve page APA-style paper on epilepsy. I've also extended my MRI practicum into the summer, since a few of the protocols we don't do at work such as: adrenals, MRA of venous system of brain, gallbladder, liver, and other abdominal organs. I'll need to provide slave labor at a university sponsored hospital to collect all of the necessary routines for the MRI class.

The boys are doing well. Red Ant has earned his door back. The Doctor is 9 months old and walking around the couch and coffee table....He'll be walking on his own before ten months! Row, my brilliant third grader, is reading on a seventh grade reading level, and doing math on a fifth grade level. It is kinda bitter sweet to think that my nine year old is reading above the national reading average.

Prepping has been on a stand still. No new progress to report or cool gear to review. The doctor's food, formula, and diaper budget has pretty much taken care of any extra money.

Sweetheart and I have been co-leading a Dave Ramsey class at church. I'm loving teaching other people to get prepared for financial emergencies. Let's face it. Everyone will have money trouble, and learning how to get out of debt, and stay on a budget is the best way to protect you and your family.

Enjoy the customary photo with each post....

Keep Right On Prepping - K

The Doctor Update

The Doctor has been pulling up for about a month, which means he'll be an early walker like Row. The Doc is teething like crazy, and on track to have a full set of teeth by his first birthday. The daycare workers have decided that the Doctor is a mash-up between both his brothers. No DNA test needed to determine that they are mine.

He is starting on solid foods, which gives me a sign of relief. We've been stockpiling food and formula for a while. We are buying extra every payday.

If for some reason there was an extended national emergency, we would probably lose a substantial chunk of the baby population. On my wilderness ramblings, I ran across quite a few graveyards, and I was always a little sad to see so many infant graves. A good reason to prepare....

Keep Right On Prepping - K

Infrequent Posts

How the time passes without a thought or care. It's been way too long since my last post, and a hat tip to those that are able to post every day! I certainly have good intentions to post every day....

 Row finished the Little Rock Half Marathon (13.1 miles) on Saturday through his school. They log 12.1 miles at school during PE and after school events to qualify for the last leg of the race. The Little Rockers have kids from all over the state finish there last mile on the actual Little Rock marathon course. Row was really pumped to finish course. The morning was very cold and sleet fell for about an hour while we were downtown.

After watching people at the event, and seeing how they acted and especially dressed for the weather. the first cold winter is going to be a major killing event. I'd say probably about 5% of the people at the race were properly prepared to be outside more than a day, let alone overnight. There were quite a few women that looked good shivering from hypothermia.

While we were in the Little Rock area, I got to try out the Arkansas Armory . I give this place my stamp of approval. I got to talk to the owners,a husband and wife team, and they have done an excellent job on running their range. The store is well stocked and reasonably priced. The male to female ratio was about 50-50, which is nice to see. Actually, the female market is probably an under served gun market in most areas of the United States. The range is small, with six lanes and 25 yards long. As a reloader, I was very happy that I could collect my brass, and any other that happened to roll my way. Heck, next time I show up, I'm bringing my dustpan and small broom.  Revolver, we gotta make the time and go soon!

Keep Right On Prepping - K

  

Secrets

I picked up Red Ant With Pincers early today so that we could go shopping for his brother's birthday. Row is actually getting two presents from his brother, and they are safely stored in Daddy's closet.

Yes, this is really Row, the soon to be 8 y/o

K: You can't tell Row that we went shopping for him today, okay?
Red Ant: Yeah, I know. I'll distract him when he gets home.
K: Alright, don't tell him.
Red Ant: I won't.

(Two hours later....about 5 minutes after Row gets home)

Row: So, Daddy...
K: Yes?
Row: I was wondering, where's this present in the Target bag that I not supposed to know about? Can we open it?
K: (laughing) Nope, it's for your birthday.
Row: Oh, okay.

I'll have to make sure that the youngest doesn't know too many secrets, I sense that he can be easily fooled with a Jedi mind trick.

Keep Right On Prepping - K

Range Day

After a quick search of Google maps of the area that we usually go shooting, I found a new spot to shoot. We took the boys out for some gun safety training, and trigger time. The Four Gun Safety Rules ( refresher by e.IA.ft. ) were drilled into the boys even before touching a rifle.

We also have the golden rule at our house: They can touch a gun whenever they want, all they have to do is ask Mommy or Daddy. The guns are off limits without an adult. If they find a gun without an adult present they are to leave it alone, and immediately tell an adult.

BB, pellets, and 22 shorts for both of them. Red Ant with Spikes wanted to shoot Mommy's little gun (Ruger LCP), and he did once. He didn't care for the long trigger pull.

Sweetheart got some much needed trigger time behind the SR556E and enjoyed it.

The camera was a tad too slow, but you can see the dust-up from the hit.

The motley collection of guns for the range day. We finished the day running 9mm pistol drills.

Keep Right On Prepping - K

I Deserve It

Row and I were getting ready for Scout Night, so he could earn his recruiter patch a few Thursdays ago. Thursday is also Row's cooking class that he really wanted to take in his after-school care, and it ends at 5:30pm. The scout night started at 7:00pm, and he had to be there to help open the door, answer questions, carry the flag, and lead the Pledge of Allegiance.

We finally got home about 5:45, and Sweetheart and I made a quick dinner while Row did his schoolwork. We ate the quick dinner, but Row piddled around, which didn't help with the time crunch. So, here it is at 6:40 and I get Row into the tub for a quick bath.

We get Row out of the bath, and I'm putting on his neckerchief  while he tucks in his shirt. By this time, Row is dressed, it's 6:54, and it takes 7 minutes to get to his school. "Let's roll.", as I head out the side door to the car. I get to the driver's door and Row is nowhere in sight. "Are you serious?", as I storm back into the house to get Row motivated. He's standing on his head in the middle of the living room when I ask, "What are you doing?!" He does a forward somersault, and looks at me kind of puzzled and says, "You told me to roll."

As I said, I couldn't get mad, and I deserved it!!!

Keep Right On Prepping - K

A Reason to Keep A Variety of Kool-aid on Hand

K: What kind of Kool-aid do you boys want with dinner?

Row: You pick, because I love you.

What other reason could you possibly need?

Keep Right On Prepping - K