"O" is for Octopus!

This week is "O" week.  We have been learning about the ocean and the octopus.  After making some octopus critters to hang on my already overly decorated fridge, and reading stories about the ocean, I decided to try something special for lunch.  It was an idea I found online and thought was too great not to try!  I'd like to share it with you!

Boiled Octopus!

Yes, I know!  My boys were a little freaked out too.  But, just like I told them, TRUST ME!

Here goes.  Step by step.  Are you ready?

Start with regular hot dogs.  The bun-length ones would be great too!

Slice through the hot dog, leaving an inch or so at the top.  Then rotate the hot dog 1/4 turn and repeat.  You will now have four sections.  Cut each section one more time so you have 8 legs.

Your octopi (that sounds so weird!  Why can't we just say "octopuses"?  Who makes these rules, anyway?) are now ready to be boiled.

Drop them in the boiling water.  Don't worry, they won't feel a thing!

The legs begin to curl up as they cook.  Honestly, I don't know how long I cooked them for.  I was making mac n cheese at the same time, so you get the idea.

TA-DA!  Boiled octopus, and if your kids are like mine, they will LOVE it!  I wish I had that green ketchup (do they still make that?) for them to dip it in because it would have looked like algae.

Brave octopus eating boy.

And look, here's another one!  Of course, it helps to always have chocolate milk to wash your octopus down with!


Their dinner conversation was almost as entertaining for me as the octopus was for them!

Jared:  I don't know if I'd eat REAL octopus.

Me:  Shawna has eaten it.  She liked it.

Jay:  I ate alligator before!

Jared:  What did it taste like?

Jay:  (pause)...  ALLIGATOR!

Jared just gave him a look.

A few minutes later:

Jay:  They're gooder with ketchup!

Jared:  You mean BETTER!

Jay:  NO...  GOODER!

What can I say?  I always have a reason to smile!

Splinters In My Forehead

As you may or may not have noticed, I changed my address on my blog.  I did this for two reasons.  One, I saw that someone else had my previous address as a twitter address.  I wanted to avoid confusion.  Second, I wanted something unique.  As it turns out, there is a pretty funny story leading up to the title/address of my blog.

So, about a year ago, my little boy wanted to take a bath in my jetted tub.  No problem, I knew that would keep him busy and happy for at least half an hour, so I hooked him up, bubbles and all.  You would not believe the amount of bubbles jets create!  Well, look at the picture, you'll see.

I was walking out of the bathroom, and evidently wasn't paying much attention to where I was going and KICKED the wall next to the tub.  OH MY GOSH!  I thought I was going to pass out, it hurt so bad!  I hopped to my bed and examined my foot.  My poor pinky toe was totally crooked.  It bruised and swelled almost immediately.  Really, I wanted to cry.   I could not put ANY weight on it whatsoever without shrieking.  Of course the fact that I had to drive my husband's STICK SHIFT car to go pick up my daughter from school in less than an hour, and it was my clutch foot that was injured, made me want to pass out for sure! 

Anyway, since I lived to tell about it, I'll shorten the story and just say:  NO, I didn't go to the doctor, because I'm STUPID.  I know my toe and the foot bone below said toe were broken.  My foot was black and blue for WEEKS, every other step was painful, and people at church were stunned to see me NOT wearing heels.  Seriously, my ego in flats was almost as pained as my toe.

Anyway, back to the point.  A couple of days later, I needed a few things from the store.  (I drove my automatic transmission truck, in case you were wondering.)  I sent my daughter in with my list and money and waited in the truck...  I didn't do anymore walking than a mother of six ABSOLUTELY has to do.  ha ha.  So, I sat when I could.  Well, I just happened to pull down the vanity mirror on the visor to check my hair and reapply my lip stick.  What?  I had no book, I was bored.  I noticed that my eyebrows were out of control.  Again.  (Jared had climbed up in the front seat next to me to play with everything he wasn't supposed to touch.)  I pulled out my tweezers and began pruning my eyebrows.  Jared, bless his heart, had such a look of concern on his face.  He touched my arm and said, "You okay?  You got splinters in your forehead?"  I could not help but burst out laughing!  He began laughing too, though he didn't know why.  Poor baby probably thought I'd lost my mind.  I didn't even know what to say or how to explain.  I just laughed.  And hugged him for being concerned.  So, the moral of this story is:  They are watching even when you don't think you are doing anything for them TO be watching!

And NO, I'm not gonna post pictures of my eyebrows.  Aren't you lucky?

Wendy Dewitt -- Food Storage Seminar, Part 1 of 9. "Top 10 Reasons"

Here it is! There are 9 parts. Take a few minutes and watch!

It wasn't raining when Noah built the Ark...

...but today I see the clouds forming.



We, as members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, have been counseled for 80 years to have food storage.  We can't rely on the government or church or anyone else to "save" us in an emergency.  We need to be prepared to take care of ourselves and our families.  I hate the thought of not being able to provide for the needs of my children.

Recently, I was able to attend a seminar by Wendy Dewitt.  Her system for planning, organizing and implementing a one year food supply is awesome!  She has videos of her seminar on YouTube, but for the life of me, I can't figure out how to put up the link.  Just type in her name and I'm sure you'll find her.  :0)

She also has a website where you can read all about her system.  You can email her and she will send you (FREE!) 2 booklets with detailed information on how her system works.  I'll type the address in case my link doesn't work like I think it will and you can copy and paste it if you want to.  http://everythingunderthesunblog.blogspot.com/

I am so excited to organize my storage and be prepared for whatever emergencies life my inflict upon my family.  Go check it out!  Hurry up!