Wednesday, October 26, 2011

Days 11-16: Consumerism & Tradition

Wow, we had a very busy few days here around Chez Stoneford! So I bring you 5 days rolled up into 1 post!

Mr. Bacon Bringer Homer and I had this wonderful talk the other day about the terms of reference that "We" use when "we" describe decisions that "We" make involving everyday life. Sometimes those decisions that "We" make 1/2 of the "we" has no idea that "We" have made these decisions yet all have to live with them.

So here they are:
I = only when it involves taking credit for the success of a project
You = All By Yourself typically when some project is an epic failure
We = I decided or you throw it back at me for the good of everybody whether it's a success or failure

The grand "We" is like the all encompassing "They", as in "They" say you should, so "We" have 10 days to go to meet our 30 day goal.

How our Anniversary Creatives got the best of us:
We didn't go all out, especially with our Consumerism goal in mind, so we each sweetly made a creative card for each other. I received a card, that had 2 puppies on it and though we ain't got no money we gots each other... and Mr. Bacon Bringer Homer received a photo card of us just as the preacher pronounced us married...the married kiss...how we still like kissing each other X# years later! No gifts were exchanged but together we cooked a great meal. It really was a nice night!

How our Challenge is going:
So far going strong in the not spending any $$$, but the gas crisis is where we are going to have to bend the rules a little bit. After careful consideration, it is just not safe for me to be at home with 2 children and less than 1/4 tank of gas in the car. If we have an emergency, "We" don't want to have to worry about getting to the E.R. or the pediatrician without having to stop and fill-up. So lesson learned, for the next time we try a no-gas allowance for a Consumerism Challenge.

Over the course of the last few days, we have had numerous people come and visit. Since it is the start of the Fall/Winter season, we have had many traditions that we have started with our kids and some of our closest friends.

Friday:
We do a lot of events with our children through our city's parks and recreation department. You'd be surprised at some of the creativity these people come up with and 9 times out of 10 it's all FREE! Cha Ching! But Friday we had a prepaid for Halloween Trail event. So for a family of 5, because we had Nana to, $20 for a fun filled family night! Hayrides, Hallowed Walk, Play & skits oh and not to mention crafts galore! Total Score!

Saturday:
Nana always comes for the visit to the pumpkin patch and this time graciously paid for us to go. An awesome time was had by all. It was just the 11 of us. Yep 11. 11 people leaving our house on time, 11 people getting through the gate without anyone getting lost or left behind and 11 people crammed into a caboose on the little train ride!

Opening the pantry and freezer on Friday morning, we realized how much we had actually made a dent in our stockpile. What were we going to do for lunch for 10 people & a baby out at the farm, since we were obliging our Consumerism Challenge on our guests? One sack of potatoes...check! Mr. Bacon Bringer Homer is a meat and potato man, so we never have a shortage of fresh or frozen!

Disclosure: We have 5 bags of frozen potatoes left!!! Yay, by the time we are done with this Challenge I am going to be potatoed out!

Potato salad it was, all the ingredients and more were found in the pantry. Boy, I hoped that everyone was going to love potato salad, because I looked at our bread rations and well we had 4 slices of bread and that just wasn't going to cut it! No bread was left in the freezer. One of our dogs had confiscated a freshly pulled loaf from the freezer and demolished it. Apparently the dogs didn't get the memo about our challenge! Nana to the rescue again! She had arrived at our house with some Pepperidge Farm goldfish shaped pita bread packs. Woo Hoo! Monk has fallen in love with "Fish" sandwiches and little did Nana know that this bread arrived at the right time. Throw in some apples and voila lunch for 10!

At the farm, for every admission, you get a free pumpkin to take home...Score for not having to bust our Challenge to get pumpkins or go without on Halloween! Saturday Family fun day came to a close with us carving pumpkins!

Sunday:
An Oldie but Goody was resurrected for a completion to our Fall Fest Weekend, we went to a Corn Maze and had alot of fun! It was a great teaching day for Monk and The Gator got his first wagon ride! We had to navigate through a labyrinth of corn to find the numbers 1-10 and answer trivia questions to hint which was the right way to go. If you have never taken your kids, I highly recommend this!

So as for Monday nothing spent, nothing pitched.

Totals:
Thurs: Consumerism 0, Us:1
Fri: Consumerism 0, Us: 1
Sat: Consumerism 0, Us: 1
Sun: Consumerism 0, Us:1
Monday: Consumerism 0, Us:1


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