As you may have read, the entire Hectic Clan was here at Hectic Manor last weekend. It’s been a while since I’ve had everybody home, so my meal planning, shopping, and preparation skills have gotten rusty. Here’s a list of things that we had to have on hand at all times during the five day weekend. This may look like I spoil my kids…and in truth I do. But only to a point. Food serves two purposes for the Hectic Clan: Fuel and Fun. When we eat together, we have conversations. The better the food, the better the conversation…so I stock up with what everybody likes.

• Bananas
• Strawberries
• Blueberries
• Blackberries
• Raspberries
• Cantaloupe
• Watermelon
• Sliced Sharp Cheddar Cheese
• Sliced Swiss Cheese
• Sliced Pepper-Jack Cheese
• Sliced Colby-Jack Cheese
• Beef Summer Sausage
• Garlic Summer Sausage
• Block Sharp Cheddar Cheese
• Block Swiss Cheese
• Block Colby-Jack Cheese
• Townhouse Crackers
• Ritz Crackers (because the shape matters)
• Cheez-its (in four varieties)
• Triscuits (not that gross kind with sweet potatoes in them)
• Triscuits (the kind with sweet potatoes as a base)
• Plain M&Ms
• Peanut M&Ms
• Peanut Butter M&Ms
• Crispy M&Ms (I put my foot down after four types of M&Ms)
• Creamy peanut butter
• Crunchy peanut butter
• 59 different kinds of coffee K-cups
• Bottles of Water (or at least bottles for water)
• Powerade in four flavors
• Gatorade in three flavors
• Powerade Zero in two flavors
• Eggs
• Bacon
• Turkey Bacon
• Pork Sausage links
• Turkey Sausage links
• Ingredients for waffles
• Sliced turkey
• Sliced ham
• Wheat bread
• Rye bread
• Pumpernickel bread
• Onion rolls
• Milk (omg so much milk)
• Mountain Dew
• Diet Dr. Pepper
• Hawaiian Punch
• Apple Juice
• White Zinfandel Wine
• Moscato Wine
• White Zinfandel-Moscato Blended Wine (because you can’t blend it yourself)

Honestly, that’s not the entire must have on-hand at all times list. I just got tired of trying to remember everything we had on hand and/or went out to purchase. It was a fantastic weekend and we all had a blast. We play hard, so we eat a lot. But look closely at the photos…I’m the only overweight one of the bunch. I’m also the only one who took over 28 minutes to finish the 5k. I came in at 42 minutes. The rest, including Hectic Grandson and his Mom, finished under that 28 minute mark. Damned impressive if you ask me.

Hectic 19 and his girlfriend are both college athletes. He competes in the 110 High Hurdles, 400m Hurdles, and the Decathlon. She competes in pretty much anything the coaches sign her up for, starting with the Heptathlon and working her way through all the events on the track.

It’s important to me that my crew exercises, eats, and gets out there to compete. Just for that I’m willing to make a dozen trips to the grocery store over one weekend to keep them fueled!