What To Do To Prepare For A Zombie Attack!

Some of my favorite movies are the Resident Evil Series. Now, I know those aren't exactly zombie movies, but they are about the undead. They are two very similar creatures. I don't know exactly why I like these movies so much, I just know I do. They are very exciting and suspenseful. I also like the idea of surviving against all odds. These movies are very violent and gory so they are definitely not movies for kids. 

The topic of survival against zombies and/or the undead has been floating around my family for a little while. I decided to compile some of the ideas we came up with and put them in a list for us!

1.  Practice on Playstation 3.

2.  Get a Zombie Gun. (Pie Pie's suggestion. Before anyone asks, no my children do not believe in Zombies) 



3. Don't buy Christmas presents, buy Ammo.

4. Stock up on Water, Batteries, and Flashlights.

5. Stay indoors, preferably in a Gun Shop next to a MiniMart/Gas Station. This was my husband's suggestion. If you find one we are probably already in it!

6. Head Shots Only. Everything else is a waste of Ammo.

7. Learn Martial Arts, in the movies people with that skill live the longest.

8. Get a machete for when you will run out of Ammo. It could happen, be prepared!

9. Eat Raw Meat so you are used to it when you turn. Sorry folks this is probably a last resort. This was my dad's suggestion.

10. Buy lots of Zombie Repellent. I make it in my basement for only a dollar a can. Unfortunately it has never been tested.

I just want to add a small disclaimer.  If you follow all of my tips here and you still get turned into a Zombie that does not give you the right to come after me! I will however understand if you do because you are a Zombie! Besides then we can be friends again. Zombie Friends!

I couldn't find any real Zombies so I had to make my own. It's only Pie Pie. Sorry if I scared anybody! I hope you got a laugh out of this, if you don't at least I tried.



Farm Living at it's Finest

Animals + Fresh Air + Hayride + Movie = Farm Tour and Movie Night!

We were invited to Deep Roots Valley Farm for all of those things and more.

We started off by meeting their horse Tom. Pie Pie was very excited because she is anxiously awaiting horseback riding lessons. Everyone who wanted to, got a chance to feed him a carrot.

We moved onto the Happy Hens.  These hens have wheels. They are moved frequently for fresh bugs and pasture. They also love watermelon! The kids got a chance to feed them some. I don't know who was more excited the chickens or the kids.

The fish were next on the list of animals to feed. There were a lot of animals with full tummies that evening.

We got to visit their garden with beautiful flowers and many different fruits and vegetables.

A tractor pulled up with a load of  hay. Time for the Hayride! We got a chance to tour their fields of corn and other crops.

After the hayride everyone had a chance to visit the cows. Some of them were very friendly and let you pet them. Pants was a big fan.

A fire was started so everyone could enjoy S'MORES. My girls love roasting marshmallows.You just have to smush them in between two graham crackers with a chunk of melting chocolate. Then the marshmallow oozes out. (Am I making you hungry?! I know I am!)

As the sun set our evening wasn't quite over. When it was finally dark enough, the movie was started. They projected it on a big wall so everyone could enjoy it. Popcorn was popped just in case anyone was still hungry.

This was a great way to spend a Summer evening. I'm highly considering trying to move in, but I'm not sure I'm cut out for the lifestyle. Let's see early mornings, heat, bugs................... Oh Well, I did enjoy the visit. We are looking forward to going back again soon. Thank you so much to Will, Kelly and their family for their hospitality. 

While we were there I got a chance to talk with Kelly's mom and she told me this farm has been in their family for generations. If you would like to help support their farm please visit their Facebook Page: Deep Roots Valley Farm. There is more information waiting for you there.



Flavorful Friday

Pumpkin Spice Muffins

2 cups of flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
1/4 tsp ground ginger
2 eggs
1/3 cup of milk
1/4 cup of oil (I used grape seed oil)
1/2 cup agave nectar
(if using white sugar use 1/3 instead of 1/4 cup of oil)
1Tbsp of molasses
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1 cup canned pumpkin
optional: 1/2 cup chocolate chips and/or 1/2 cup nuts

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Put muffin liners in muffin tins or grease muffin cups.
3. Stir together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg and ginger.
4. Beat together the eggs, milk, oil, molasses, vanilla, agave nectar (sugar) and pumpkin in a large bowl.
5. Stir in all of the dry ingredients just until moistened.
6. Fold in the chocolate chip or nuts (optional)
7. Spoon into prepared muffin pans.
8. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center of a muffin comes out clean.
9. Remove the muffins from the cups and cool on a wire rack.
10. Eat them all! Okay, try to share some with others. That's up to you. I would eat them all!

Pant's Upgrade

At our house you don't graduate to a big bed from a crib until you use the potty. Pants decided that she was ready for the challenge. When she started to get the hang of it we all decided she was ready for a new bed.

We were all so excited. Her Daddy took the time to put it together. We put the sheets on and all of her stuffed animals. Then she was ready to try it out. She snuggled right in and pretended to sleep. Throughout the day she kept checking to make sure it was still there!

I really love the fact that I can lay with her at night and cuddle. We say our prayers and give hugs and kisses. Sometimes I watch her at night after she is asleep. She looks so small in her BIG, new bed.

Pie Pie Makes A Pie

Whenever our family has a a get-together I always ask to make the dessert. It's my favorite part of the meal and it's what I'm good at making. I got into the habit of asking Pie Pie and Pants what we should make. Pie Pie's favorite dessert, so far, is a chocolate pudding pie. I know you're all jealous because that is probably the easiest dessert in the world to make. I don't think she realized how easy it is to make and I wasn't about to tell her. If you could make your kid happy that easily would you tell them?!

 This past holiday I decided she was going to make the dessert. At first she was nervous because she thought it was going to be too difficult, she realized quickly that she was wrong! Then she thought it was too easy.  I explained as long as something is tasty it can never be too easy to make.

I did give her the option to make something else, but that is what she wanted to eat. So that is what we made. We did switch it up a little this time and used Cookies and Cream pudding instead of chocolate. She made it by herself. I did pitch in with the pouring. It turned out delicious. She actually liked it better than the chocolate pudding pie!

So what will we be making next time? Only Pie Pie knows!

7/4ths of Fun

We didn't do anything spectacular for the 4th this year. We just had some good old-fashioned fun! I use this as a scrapbook for my family so I am posting some of my favorite pictures from the weekend.

We started off by making some glitter fireworks.  This was a craft I found in Family Fun magazine. I altered it a little and used glitter glue instead of glue and glitter. They turned out great!



This is my creation.





This is Pie Pie's Creation.

We had the chance to bake some delicious cupcakes.

We decorated them with frosting and sprinkles.

Pie Pie's Patriotic Confection.

We had lots of sunshine. We enjoyed the sun in the pool and................

.............with the hose!

Don't forget the fireworks! Family is also a big part in the enjoyment of our holiday weekend.

Some of our family enjoying fireworks.

Pants was a big Helper!

MMMMMmmmmm! Yummy Corn!

Sparklers

and Fireflies. If they were big they were named Big Bert

and if they were small they were Little Bert!

I hope you had a fun weekend too! Happy Independence Day!

P.S. I feel I must post a small disclaimer.  I conveniently left out all of the pictures that may or may not have contained crying, screaming, tantrums and /or accidents!

Malulani Dancers

ALOHA!

The other night we had the pleasure of viewing the Malulani Dancers. There are many different styles of dance, some are fast and some are slow. They also perform Praise Lyrical which I feel is particularly inspiring. Anything that brings glory to the Lord is a blessing. There was awe-inspiring costumes and creative headpieces. Each costume exceeded the last. Now keep in mind that the girls were dancing when I took these pictures, but I think I managed to get some beautiful ones
I also tried to get all of the different instruments they used during the show.





I thought these were really interesting.

They were lava rocks also known as Ili'ili.

The girls held the rocks in their hands and clicked them together to the beat. It looked really difficult, but

incredible!  

This is a type of drum. It is a hollowed out gourd that is called an Ipu. They would use their hands to pat the beat.

These are called Uli ulis. They are hollowed out gourds that are decorated with feathers. They would shake their uli ulis to the rhythm.

These are split bamboo sticks. They are called Puili. They would strike them together.

Originally the Polynesian dancers wore grass skirts. When the dancers started to perform on television, in the 1940s and 1950s, the grass skirts were not as visible in black and white. So the dancers started to wear the shiny cellophane skirts for those performances.

Pants was ready to join in with the dancers.

They also perform with drums and all other kinds of neat instruments. We are considering going to one of their bigger events next year. This was one of the free events I had planned to attend this summer. You can come too next year. We are all one big Ohana!    



  ALOHA!

(Just so you know Aloha means Hello and Goodbye.)