Second Favorite Time of Year

Can you believe January is almost over? This is always the longest coldest month of the year. And it always drags for me. But not this year. I think because I'm pregnant, and dreading getting to the end. I foresee misery and uncomfortable nights.
It is also one of my favorites. It's tax season. It seems that everyone has a different opinion on the subject. Most people claim few exemptions so they can get more per paycheck, and less at the end of the year. I don't get this. I mean I understand the concept, but do you really save any of that money, to actually claim the interest you don't want the fed's to claim? We're on the other end of the spectrum. We claim all of our little deductions, and (since we are so poor) get everything back. To me, it's a wonderful system. We wouldn't be able to remodel our home with out that once a year chuck. We wouldn't be able to stock our food storage once a year ( I hope when the world starts to end, it happens in Feb. We'll be prepared) And it's always nice to be able to buy something extra, you couldn't otherwise afford (because someone ALWAYS needs new shoes or someone breaks something, or you have a baby, or 2). Like that under mounted microwave I've been coveting for about 2 years now. Or the dishwasher that just went out. There is no way we could have put the flooring in our house, or bought the kitchen floor, with out it. Maybe it's the mentality we forced ourselves to have. We will not go into debt for any of these things. If we don't have the cash for it, we don't buy it.
Plus, we are doing our part to stimulate the economy. SO after the dentist is paid, and the money to have these babies is set aside, I may get my bathroom this year. And if nothing else, the kitchen floor (last years tax return) will finally get installed. Now THAT, would make me happy.

Our House

This is what we have been doing. You should sit, it's super exciting. (I'm sorry sarcasm doesn't radiate from the computer)
first we are in the middle of science fair projects. I am ready to be done with them, I am tired of food rotting on my back counter. 1 of 6 fermented grapefruit juice. She decided to see where it fermented faster. We had one in the fridge, one on the counter and one on a heater vent. The problem with this experiment was that was the week our heater didn't work very well/at all. And 4 of 6 kept finding the one on the vent. Then she lost the piece of paper, the day before it was due, with her results on it. 2 of 6 is molding cheese. He is trying to find out what molds faster. Sharp, American, String, or Cream cheese. So far cream cheese is winning. He figured out that keeping it in a box, on the counter with papers included, will keep it safe. I decided that conducting the experiment inside Ziploc bags would keep me from throwing up.
The kids are all off track for the next 3 weeks. Well, 4 of 6 still goes, but that's for my sanity. I did just realize she will be done with school the same week I will have babies. We may have to finegel something. But we'll cross that bridge later. They are already asking me what we are going to be doing, and they are bored. I would love to plan some off track activities like I used to, but no one seems to have the time anymore. And I feel so blah, and unmotivated. Taking 6 kids someplace feels like huge undertaking.
We did accomplish something big. trent filed out taxes last night. That will be nice to get those back and to be able to pick up on some of our projects. We are having our kitchen floor delivered on Wed, I hope that is one of the projects, soon. I am getting excited for the weather to warm up, and put peas in the ground in about 5 weeks. I hope we have an early warm up. I would love to get somethings done around the yard, before I can't. I am measureing 24 weeks, and just under 20 weeks. I feel like I'm 30. And I ended up with an umbilical hernia. Not fun.
And last, we are preparing for 5 of 6's 3rd birthday. Right now, she is a thumb sucker. We have told her that a 3 yr old doesn't suck their thumb, and we are prepared to take drastic measures to 'help' her stop. It is already reeking havoc on her teeth.
That's our family.

How To Prepare. And For What?

I am just going to put this out there. Shovel your walks people. This is the business next to us, a week after the storm.
I am going to share with you a bit of my thought process from the past few weeks. I tend to be a little pessimistic. But, I tend to call it realistic. I am not a doom and gloom type person. But, if you look at things realistically, things are not as tough right now as they will be. Does that worry me? No, not really. And maybe because I know what's next. My beliefs keep me from panicking. Fear and faith can not reside together.
Here's why I have been thinking about this. Trent has been busy at his work. Usually, they spend the first part of their year, stocking shelves. Basically, they make more than they need, so they will have excess for the end of the year, when welfare needs tend to go up. 2009 was really busy, 2010 was even busier. SO at the end of 2009, after their shelves were empty, and that lull never came so they could restock their shelves, Their cupboards stayed empty, and they couldn't and still can't keep up with demand. He has been working from 5:30 am until 3:30 pm, sometimes later. Still just keeping up (sometimes not) with demand. Yes, it's a good thing. it means the Church is helping people. Yes, he has job security. And if it were just this one thing, there would be no cause for concern. But you see, the food industry is having the same problem.
I was reading yesterday, that even food suppliers are in that "cupboards are bare, barely keeping up to demand" mode also. So what happens when they can no longer keep up? What then? Do you have your shelves stocked? Have you learned to grow a garden? DO you have water? Are you working on getting your finances in order? While interest rates are down, did you refinance your home to a 10 15 or even 5 year mortgage? Or is your house payment already too big, that a 15 yr would be impossible? None of my business, but something for you to think about personally. If we own our homes, we will have a roof over our heads, if there is a job loss.
I have always felt a sense of needing to be prepared. Sometimes it's an urgency. How do we know what to prepare for? Will we have electricity? Will gasoline even be accessible? Is your job within biking distance? I'm not sure what is to come. Maybe this is as bad as it will get. But I am not going to go with that optimism. So, if you can do nothing else. Or if you are way more optimistic than I am, at least learn to plant and preserve a garden. I heard Glen Beck say yesterday, I wont quote word for word, but something to the effect of the people in New Orleans that had money and gold, ended up in the same boat as everyone else. The people with toilet paper and water were the richest.

My Cool Family: The results show

Our family dinner is in 3 hrs, so I'm betting none of the members of this party are going to be checking my blog. That being said, I feel safe it letting you know the results of our 18 week anatomy scan.
So, as of right now, baby A is a boy. And baby B is a girl. We are getting one of each. I was a little anxious that they were both girls. I would have been tickled with 2 girls. I have a few of those already. But I have had this constant nagging that we were supposed to get another boy. The past 3 kids, I thought they were boys. What a relief to see the first baby was a boy. After she told me what he was, I didn't really care what the other baby was. Boy, girl, I'll take whatever. But I am genuinely excited.
We were also set a few days back. Baby A was measuring 17 weeks 1 day, and baby B 17 weeks 5 days. Or the other way around. That was at what we thought 18 weeks even.
There was a bit of a scare when the tech said she saw an echogenic bowel, which is usually a bad thing. Then the dr. came in and turned the resolution down and said it wasn't there. I didn't hear the 'it wasn't there' part, but Trent did, so I am sticking with that. She said that was a sign of CF, Trisomy 21, 13, or 18, the later 2, being incompatible with life, or sometimes babies get it when the mom bleeds a lot during the first trimester, and the baby swallows some. And I did, so I would guess that was what it would be.
So, there you are. We will have a baby boy and girl. Most likely he will be 7 of 8, and she will be 8 of 8. I guess it's safe to start talking names. BUT, if you know us personally, that is the hardest part. Maybe Trent would say living with me in the last 4 weeks is the hardest part.....
The down side, this will really complicate sleeping arrangements. I may have to give up my canning kitchen so we can build a bedroom. I will fight. But, 5 girls and 3 boys in a 4 bdroom house, we made need to move a few things around.