A Cookie Cutter Diva's Life

not something we saw very often living in Texas or Oklahoma but this year we had a beautiful white Christmas not only in Kansas but when we went home to visit Oklahoma!! It was a rough Christmas with out Bryan's mother and her passing last month but she was still there in presence and I think it was still a blessed one. Brooklyn also had her first school play this month!! She was an angel!

Aidan requested to have a combined birthday party with his sister since she is born the day before him! What kind of big brother still does that at his age? I love that little guy!! So they had a combined bowling party together with friends from school/playgroup and had an awesome turn out! Peyton had elmo and Aidan had sports!

1 lb smoked sausage, sliced

1 1/2 cups Progresso® chicken broth (from 32-oz carton)

1 large onion, chopped (1 cup)

1 tablespoon chopped fresh rosemary leaves

1/2 teaspoon salt

2 cans (19 oz each) Progresso® cannellini beans, drained, rinsed

1 can (14.5 oz) Muir Glen® organic diced tomatoes with garlic and onion, undrained
2 cups shredded cooked chicken Fresh rosemary sprigs, if desired
1 Spray 5-quart slow cooker with cooking spray. Spray 12-inch skillet with cooking spray; heat over medium-high heat. Add sausage; cook about 3 minutes, stirring occasionally, until browned. Place sausage in slow cooker. Add remaining ingredients except chicken and rosemary sprigs; mix well.
2 Cover; cook on Low heat setting 7 hours 30 minutes.
3 Stir chicken into stew. Cover; cook 30 minutes longer. Garnish with rosemary sprigs.

my 3rd child Brooklyn is officially 6yrs old!! She's getting more and more beautiful every day! She had a wonderful costume party in a Monster High theme with friends from school and in town

Today we had our Nut-rition house party!! I love love love doing house parties because we get to try new products or new ways to use products we love! We had a playdate today and the kids and parents each got a water bottle and got peanut butter to try out! I tried out some fun new recipes too! Love this new extra twist to the original taste!

So a few updates around here.. Aidan - we now think that the possibility that they thought he had a vocal tic form of turrets isn't that. I originally thought personally that it was asthma related and then they thought e didn't have asthma and blew me off for that and told me it was turrets possibly. Then he finally got diagnosed with asthma like I thought and it has continued to stay a "vocal" thing. I thought I noticed that it was increasing at bad allergy times. Finally in Oklahoma it flared up really bad. He had to be in a house where cats had been to say good bye to my mother in law in case she passed. If not given the situation I wouldn't have taken him there knowing he's severely allergic. Normally he just gets a really bad reaction in his eyes, etc. Not long after he starts the vocal tic up and it increased. It got really bad and I thought maybe I shoudl take him to the ER while he's doing it to see if there's something they could see. Suddenly he starts having problems breathing. I take him in at this point and they checked hima nd rushed him back and his oxygen level had mostly been in 80's but got down as low as 70's! Said his tonsil area was very swollen as well! They wound up giving him an epi pen there and sending us home with one and an increased dose of steroids and said that it made sense that he was doing it because it was so irritated so I'm going to see about getting a referal to an ENT. He has an apt with his allergy specialist Friday. The kids also went back to scool about the middle of September because I was concerned about a few things like the fact I think he may have dyslexia and tht personally is just over my head since math is one of my weaker subjects. Along with some other things on the other 2 kids. One being the curriculum from k12 was just not giving them what they needed at all. Keagan was way to advanced for it and they were way to slow about helping Aidan. Aidan has his test to be looked at for the possibility of dyslexia I belive the 14th of October. He is still mixing up letters and numbers and it runs on his bio dads side. We met with the school councelor prior to putting them in and voiced all of our concerns and rather than blowing us off they told us about a special reading program they have for dyslexic kids or kids failing reading and had him in it after a week and after doing their own testing with him! So the fact they were listening to me before putting them in made me even more confident wtih the choice! He's already starting to do better on a few things with math just from his teacher actually giving a crap and not being like the one the year we pulled him out to call him "stupid" Keagan - Keagan is still showing very high intellegence at school and on the gifted side. I was having a lot of problems with him and his over stimulation for awhile which is then in return a huge attitude and we were going to put him back in ABA but I think he's starting to adjust a little more but still waiting on a referal. Brooklyn.. the newest part that has me upset right now. They were sitting on their butts about the referal for testing for autism and loosing things. I finally got her in with a specialist and she will be tested on the 9th. I'm also now Worried because she failed her hearing test at school! I've said for about a year I was concerned with her speech and got blown off. Calling ped first thing in morning. She was also still a little off on sight like she was at eye dr in feb so glasses may be coming. So that sums up the latest here.. how lets hope for more answers and help

Lot's of fun with Pumpkins the last few days! On Monday the tots had some fun painting pumpkins while the bigger kids were in school! Tonight the bigger kids carved pumpkins themselves (I can't believe they are big enough to do it themselves now!) And then we baked the seeds for a yummy snack!!

Just a few saves this week on my normal every day trips.. nothing huge this week but none the less a deal is a deal and a $1 saved is better then none! Wednesday - went to the local good will in my home town and not only found some great deals on some clothing but got hooked up with a great discount! I got a pair of jeans for myself, 6 shirts for myself, and a bag of toys for $25! Thursday - free chickfila sandwhich with validation code gained from filling out an online survey! Just a few minutes of my time for a few bucks saved! Friday - free childcare (every month we get 16 free hours of childcare on post because of the type unit my husband is in), free movies (this technically was not free how ever it was from a raffle auction won that I gained a ton for my money and the money went to a great cause! So a simple donation gained some free date nights!) Saturday - $45 saved at Price Chopper on Groceries! 40% of my bill!

So this year I needed to come up with an idea for a costume for myself for a Scentsy Event I was doing...A table at the witches ball! So I decided to make a lego costume! This was a great inexpensive costume that cost no more then $3! I got a box from my garage and cut out arm holes and a hole for the head. Painted the box red ($1 paint) and Super Glued Red cups on the front for the lego pieces ($2 for glue and cups!) Of course my daughter later went into the garage and got the paint and painted my hallway wall red so I have more painting yet to do lol

I took the kids out and got some adorable pictures of them in their Halloween Costumes this afternoon before our playgroup Halloween Party! My youngest is Shirley Temple compliments of her Nana making the costume! My oldest daughter is Monster High and my boys are Batman and Gi Joe! After we took a few fun pictures we had some fun with some friends eating a lot of different Halloween snacks and then headed out to the Ranch for the evening and had hot dogs, chips, and caramel apples! Played some games, made some crafts and rode horses!! Great evening and lots of fun!

so far my savings for this week.. Monday Walgreens $4 off proglide razor and $5RR bringing it to $1! One Day Sale Price Chopper - $.29 peas, $.29 green beans, $.29 corn, $1lb strawberries, $1lb Apples, 1/2 off keebler snack cookies, $1.49 capri suns, and a few other great deals..wound up saving 33% on my bill! $60 saved! Tuesday Free chargrilled chicken sandwhich at chickfila Free $20 walmart gift card with Sam's Membership enrollement Wednesday happy hour drinks at Sonic Free movie at Redbox

Man I have really slacked off on my blog, especially this summer!! And boy oh boy do I need it to release some of those extra thoughts and compile all the favorite recipes, crafts, etc I find into one place so I've got to get back to it! So many things have changed over the summer!! We started out this school year with virtual school this year for homeschool to try things a little differently! It was a really awesome option through K12 that allowed us to get a lot of curriculum (18 boxes) for the kids with out paying anything! Helps coach you a long the way for those that might need that extra help with online virtual teachers. It also gives the option to be able to link into the school with testing and so much more too. However as the weeks passed by and having a few more problems with the kids that needed I think a little more experience with it we decided to put them back in Public School after doing a lot of research with the schools here on post. We were very pleased with what we saw on post and how at ease the staff made us feel when we met with them and went over the needs of our children from autism to possible dyslexia. I absolutely loved homeschooling them, learning with them and having the time with them but some things I think would be much better off in the hands of someone else for us personally as a family. The possible dyslexia is a little beyond me in my opinion and I want to ensure he gets the best help. They already have him in a special reading class to help him with his problems and he is already starting to pick up in some trouble areas all because this one teacher is working well with him and his last public school he was failing because she blew him off and called him a failure! So I am very happy to see what we are seeing so far! They have been back in public school about 2 weeks and though they were hesitant to go back after their last experience they are absolutely loving it and look forward to going back every day!! I feel they are in very good hands at this school! Of course sending them back doesn't mean I have lots of free time since I still stay very busy daily babysitting! And I still teach the little ones here the basic things! So I'm still having lots of fun here!

Our first week back to school went wonderful!! We are doing the virtual school this year and I was a little nervous about this since it went through public school and would I have to be on their time line, could it be flexible, how many hours to put in, etc but it is just as flexible as what we were doing before where we are! I LOVE it!! And the kids are digging it too!
Very simple and easy to follow! We weren't due to start till Wen but we started back up on Monday and I'm glad we did since it took a few days to get used to the hang of things with what book was for what having 3 kids in school and 18 boxes full of supplies that I unpacked lol but we got the hang of things!
Even my 3yr old is really getting into it this year with her little back pack lol

This one was really really good!!
8 ounces of dried whole grain penne pasta
3 cups broccoli florets
4 skinless boneless chicken breast
1 tsp adobo seasoning
2 tbs olive oil
1 clove garlic, minced
1/4 cup light mayonnaise or salad dressing (I used mayo)
1/2 tsp pepper
2 tbs parmasan cheese
cook pasta according to package, adding broccoli in last 5 minutes
Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, combine chicken and adobo seasoning, toss gently
In a large skillet, heat oil over medium heat. Add garlic; cook for 30 seconds. Add chicken; cook until no longer pink.
Add chicken to pasta mixture in pan and stir in mayonnaise and pepper. Cook over low heat.
To serve, top pasta with with parmesan cheese.

1/2 cup quick-cooking or old-fashioned oats
1/4 cup Gold Medal® all-purpose flour
1/4 cup Gold Medal® whole wheat flour
1 tablespoon sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup buttermilk
1/4 cup fat-free (skim) milk
1/4 cup fat-free cholesterol-free egg product, thawed or 2 egg whites
2 tablespoons canola or soybean oil

Beat all ingredients with hand beater or whisk just until smooth. (For thinner pancakes, stir in additional 2 to 4 tablespoons milk.)
Spray griddle or 10-inch nonstick skillet with cooking spray; heat griddle to 375º or skillet over medium heat. (To test griddle, sprinkle with a few drops of water. If bubbles skitter around, heat is just right.)
For each pancake, pour 3 tablespoons batter onto hot griddle. Cook pancakes until puffed and dry around edges. Turn; cook other sides until golden brown.

water
white glue (like Elmer's™)
borax
food coloring (unless you want uncolored white slime)
There are two components to slime. There is a borax and water solution and a glue, water, and food coloring solution. Prepare them separately.
Mix 1 teaspoon borax in 1 cup of water. Stir until the borax is dissolved.
In a separate container, mix 1/2 cup (4 oz) white glue with 1/2 cup water. Add food coloring, if desired.
After you have dissolved the borax and diluted the glue, you are ready to combine the two solutions. Stir one slime solution into the other. Your slime will begin to polymerize immediately.

Our classroom has come a long way!! We're excited for the new year with all our curriculum here!!

the kids had a blast making these!

Made this for dinner tonight with a few exceptions! I didn't have white wine so I used red wine. I didn't have chicken broth so I didn't use it either. But it turned out EXCELLENT!!!
Ingredients
8 ounces packaged dried whole wheat or regular penne pasta
12 ounces skinless, boneless chicken breast halves, cut into bite-size strips
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
2 tablespoons olive oil or cooking oil, divided
3 large cloves garlic, minced
3 cups sliced fresh mushrooms
1 medium onion, thinly sliced
1/2 cup chicken broth
1/4 cup dry white wine
1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
1/4 cup shredded basil leaves
3 tablespoons snipped fresh oregano
1/4 cup shaved Parmesan cheese
1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Directions
Cook pasta in lightly salted boiling water according to package directions. Drain and return to saucepan; keep warm.
Meanwhile, season chicken with salt and pepper. Heat 1 tablespoon of the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken and garlic; cook and stir about 5 minutes or until chicken is tender and no longer pink. Remove from skillet; keep warm.
Add remaining olive oil to skillet. Cook mushrooms and onion in hot olive oil until just tender, stirring occasionally. Carefully add chicken broth and white wine. Bring to boiling; reduce heat. Boil gently, uncovered, about 2 minutes or until liquid is reduced by half. Remove skillet from heat.
Add cooked pasta, chicken, cherry tomatoes, basil, and oregano to mushroom mixture; toss to coat. Transfer to a serving dish; sprinkle with shaved Parmesan cheese and freshly ground pepper. Serve immediately.

Our clothing swap went absolutely WONDERFUL here!!!
I collected clothes from families for about 3 weeks! Kids clothes, adult, maternity, nursing, you name it!
Then everyone came together after I had it all set up for the event and went through and took what they and their kids could wear in exchange for what they couldn't! What is left is being donated to a local clothing closet and there is A LOT left!!! Some people were able to walk away with bags! I can't wait to do the next one here!

simple and easy and everyone loves it! 2 boxes of macaroni and cheese 1 can of cream of mushroom soup 1 can of tuna cook macaroni and cheese as box directs. Drain and mix. Add can of mushroom soup and can of tuna. Bake at 350 for 20 minutes.

the older 3 had a great week at their horse back riding camp! They learned how to take care of horse stalls, care for the horses and ride them!! My youngest started gymnastics for the first time too! She absolutely adored it