A Cookie Cutter Diva's Life

Homeschooling has been fun this week since my internet went down on Saturday and the last few days I've spent trying to get in contact with customer service and either get disconnected or a "this number is no longer in service" when transfered! I'm able to pick up my neighbors net by the window and pull up things they need to read at least lol they are finally sending out a tech though!

My 3rd grader was studying on tornados this week and today he made a homemade tornado using

1tsp vinegar
1tsp dish soap
3/4 jar water
pinch of glitter

all the kids loved this, even the daycare kiddos!!




He also drew his own tornado



My 1st grader is working on the different parts of the skeleton for science and he made a macaroni skeleton


he also did a print out of a toddler size skeleton that you put together on the floor which was a lot of fun!!

new recipe being tried tonight! In the crock pot as we speak!


Slow-Cooker Chicken and Dumplings
adapted from Bubble Crumb

Ingredients:
1lb of Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts (3-5)
2 Tablespoons Unsalted Butter
2 cans (10.5oz) Condensed Cream of Chicken Soup
1 can (14oz) Chicken Broth
1 medium White Onion, diced
4 Large Flaky Refrigerator Biscuits

Place chicken in crock pot and top with butter. Add cream of chicken soup, chicken broth and diced onions. Cook on High for 4-6 hours.

Remove chicken from crock pot and use a fork to shred. Return chicken to the crock pot. Cut each uncooked biscuit into 9 pieces and stir into the chicken mixture. Continue to cook on High for 30 minutes. Serve hot.

Makes about 6-8 servings.

I'm cooking Ham-It-Up Spaghetti tonight! I haven't cooked this one in awhile!
Ingredients:
1 package 16oz spaghetti noodles
2 cans condensed garlic cream of mushroom soup -undiluted
1 3/4 cups milk
1 tbs dried minced onion (I also add diced to mine)
2 tsp dried parsley flakes
2 tsp dried parsley flakes
1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
2 cups cubed cooked ham
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
Cook spaghetti. Mean while, in a large bowl, combine soup, milk, onion, parsley and Worcestershire sauce. Drain spaghetti, add to soup mixture with ham. Transfer to lightly greased 2- 1/2qt baking dish. Sprinkle with cheese. Cover and bake at 375 for 15 minutes. Uncover and bake 5 minutes longer.

Well we are back to school from our Christmas break! Got started back yesterday and it was a crazy day getting back into the routine and still trying to get back into our regular one but none the less back in session!

This week we are working on the letter G with my preschool student!



She made a giraffe out of a cut out G which really looks more like a snake but she had fun lol

My 1st grader has been working on measurements this week! He did some fun activities measuring items with paper clips, measuring things around the home with different items other than a ruler such as a pencil, his hand, etc!
You can print out these fun little sheets that he used at

http://www.sparklebox.co.uk/maths/shape-space-measures/measuring-and-comparing/measuring.html#.TwTdLtRSQ_c



He's also studying about slavery right now, Animal Classification and reading about Little Red Riding Hood.

He did some fun activities for Little Red Riding Hood. Played a game online

http://www.gamezarena.com/kids/games/lrrh/


Worked on how he would end the story differently, making wanted posters

http://www.teachingenglish.org.uk/sites/teacheng/files/wanted.pdf

and a lot of other fun things to tie into the lesson plan!

My 3rd grader is working studying more about Ancient Greece and Greek Art, Forest Plants and Estimating Sums and Differences!

Some fun games we found for him

"http://www.mrnussbaum.com/estimationvalley.htm




Aidan also started his guitar lessons online today! We will be getting him private lessons when we get moved and settled again!

http://www.guitarlessons.com/

Ingredients

6 cloves garlic, crushed
1 onion, chopped
4 habanero peppers, seeded and minced
2 (15 ounce) cans chili beans in spicy sauce
1 (15 ounce) can dark red kidney beans
1 (15 ounce) can black beans
4 (10 ounce) cans diced tomatoes with green chile peppers
1 (16 ounce) jar hot salsa
1 can corn
1/8 cup chili powder
1/8 cup coarsely ground black pepper
1/8 cup red pepper flakes
1/8 cup ground cumin
1 (1.25 ounce) package taco seasoning mix
2 pounds ground beef
Directions

In a large pot over medium heat, combine garlic, onion, habanero peppers, chili beans, kidney beans, black beans, diced tomatoes with green chiles, salsa, chili powder, black pepper, red pepper flakes, cumin and taco seasoning. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat, cover and simmer.
While soup is heating, cook beef in a large skillet over medium heat until brown. Drain excess fat, then stir beef into soup pot. Simmer, covered, until flavors are well blended, about 1 hour.

My family looved this recipe!!!


Pizza Casserole


Ingredients:
1 bag of Egg Noodles
1 extra large can of Ragu sauce {or any tamato sauce you prefer}
3 cups shredded mozzarella cheese {or more depending on how much you ♥ cheese!}
1 1/2 lbs hamburger meat
1 package pepperonis


Brown the meat, & drain

And boil noodles until soft. Drain.


**Don't forget to preheat the oven @ 350!

Now the layering starts!
Spread a thin layer of tomato sauce on the bottom



Second layer, half of the noodles

3} half of the meat
4} half of the sauce
5} rest of the noodles
6} half the cheese
7} rest of the meat
8} rest of the sauce
9} rest of the cheese
10} pepperonis {I only used half the package. saved the rest for next time}

It should look a little something like this...


Now cover with foil, and bake for 30 minutes

After 30 minutes, remove the foil & bake for another 15 minutes


http://formamas.blogspot.com/2011/08/pizza-casserole.html

I had a wonderful New Years Eve this year! We spent it with the kids the first part of it and headed off to a good friend of mine's house to have a little party but left early to drop the kids back to my mom's house since we were in town to have the luxury of grandparents to watch them.

My husband and I got a hotel for the night to spend some time alone since we haven't done that since we have had our baby Peyton so it's been almost 3yrs!! We got a local hotel room and went to the local casino and spent some much needed time together and rang in the New Year alone!

My husband surprised me by checking into the hotel early and putting rose pedals everywhere! I really really needed that! He always puts so much extra thought into things, I love him for that!