MRE

When we first got to this post, one of the things that impressed me was the command's focus on family. There was even special time set aside each week to encourage soldiers to build stronger bonds with family members. I decided this year to try to use this time to really focus on relationships with the kids. One of my main goals was to provide memory making moments Nil and the kids could share. I am hoping these moments will serve as touchstones while he is away from us. I had a plan for our last family day, but then another opportunity presented itself.

Nil spent the morning at the range. Since he didn't get a chance to eat breakfast he was provided with an MRE (meal ready to eat). While I'm sure salsa chicken for breakfast is extra yummy, he had other options. (His wonderful wife knew he was going to the range and had fixed him a box of goodies to take along.)  So he brought the MRE home.  We spent the afternoon exploring the MRE with the kids.


Nil told Princess Little this was her dinner. She really wasn't sure whether to take him seriously or not.

We opened it up and Super Tater was very excited to see there were M&M's inside. He wanted to skip right to the dessert part.  In fact it was difficult to get this picture because curious little hands kept removing different components.

Princess Little helped mix up the tea. The kiddos liked both the drinks that were included, so much so that Nil and I barely tried them.

Before we even opened the MRE Nil kept saying, "We need a boot or something."  When we got the MRE open, I understood. He finds the  heater directions, complete with picture (click to enlarge), quite amusing.




Beara did not like the smell of the chemical reaction used to heat the food. He refused to even taste the chicken when it was done cooking. He enjoyed the veggie crackers and cheese though, and of course the sugar cookie and M&M's.

 

Super Tater really liked everything...especially the M&M's.  

It was a fun afternoon. Nil spent time telling us which of the MRE's he liked and which he didn't. He shared some of the history of rations. He told us stories about guys in basic training using the heaters as bed warmers when they were out in the field. He even told us that during basic he sold a bag of skittles from his MRE for $20! I might pay that for chocolate, but skittles?