Hot Weekend

Several months ago, we bought two forty pound boxes of chicken breast to put in the freezer.  Unfortunately for us, the day we brought them home our power was out.  And when we have no power, we have no water.  If we have no water, we have no way of cleaning up a raw chicken mess.  So these two boxes went straight into the freezer without being processed into separate meals.

Yesterday I pulled one of the boxes out.  If the weather is going to be in the upper 80's to mid 90's, that is a perfect time to defrost a forty pound block of chicken.  I've been cooking this chicken off in large batches in the crockpot and repackaging the meat in sauces to use on the crazy days I have coming up this autumn.

In addition to The Homeschool and The Activities, I'm adding a new MOPS group to my list of things to do in September.  MOPS is a group that provides support for Mothers of Preschoolers, but any mom with kids from birth to kindergarten can join.  One of my newer friends is starting this group out here as an outreach to the KP moms.  I'm technically the treasurer and a table hostess, but everyone knows that I may be unreliable, depending on how this next baby treats us.  Mom groups are interesting things... Women groups are interesting as well... I've been pondering the whole idea of image and the cult of personality in the church and how I can apply that knowledge to making this new MOPS group successful.  KP moms aren't going to be like the suburban Gig Harbor moms, the Bellingham moms, or the Ferndale moms.  Pinterest-type activities will be a no-go with this group...

...like the posts I keep seeing on Facebook about how to keep your kids happy during the summer without the TV.  All of the activities require trips to the dollar store for affordable junk: 28.4 miles one way from my house times two divided by 16 miles to the gallon times $3.25 per gallon of gas equals $12.60 just to buy cheap stuff to entertain my kids?  No thanks.  Here is a list of actual ideas and supplies from the Dollar Store.

Here is my Not Pinterest Worthy list of ways to keep your kid happy on the KP with no TV:

•  Fill up a bucket with water and wash yard toys
•  Dig a hole in your yard and then fill it back up
•  Hang a blue tarp over your window and pretend you are on Pandora
•  Throw rocks at trees
•  Count helicopters (we are just across the water from Joint Base Lewis-McChord)
•  Make a Scotchbroom broom and sweep the sidewalk/carport/dirt path 
•  Sing into the oscillating fan (or just shout, "Is that MY voice?" and laugh.)
•  Have an ant squishing contest

And how about some Not Pinterest Worthy KP snacks?

•  Blackberries
• Or.... blackberries?

I think the heat may be affecting my sense of humor...