A Cookie Cutter Diva's Life

I did a blog on this awhile back but can't find it and recently have had some people ask me about them when I've mentioned them so I thought I'd post one again!

We encourage our kids to do chores early on! Peyton of course is a little young and is 19 months old but we do encourage her to pick up her toys, put her laundry in the dirty clothes, little things like that which make her feel big! Plus she loves doing things like unloading the dishwasher with mommy!

Now for the other 3 kids who are 4, 6 and 8 we have what we call Naughty or Nice Jars that was a spin off of some things a few of our homeschooled friends did and articles we read. We started doing these about a year ago and they have worked wonderfully for encouraging them to do their chores and keep up good behavior! We do them as a joint jars so that it's like team work and they will encourage each other to all pitch in on the work around the house and behave because in the end if one of them acts up and they loose their reward they could all suffer if the jar runs out!





So we have cards with random things on them ..

"get a sonic drink"
"get a new toy from the dollar store"
"stay up an hour late"
"get out of chores for a day"
"go to the park"
"movie night, kids pick"
"pizza night"
"family game night"
"go to wazoos"
"go bowling"
"earn $5"
"have a sleepover"
"camp out with home made tent in living room"
"visit the candy store"
"go get ice cream"

when they have been good for the day and they have done all of their chores and acted in a good manner they will get to each put one card from the deck in the "nice jar"

if they are bad at the end of the day and didn't do their chores, faught a lot, got a color change at school, back talked, dirty mouth, anything that is out of line the kid who did bad will have to draw one of the cards out of the "nice jar" and stick it in the "naughty jar"

at the end of the week on Friday they get to pick one card from what is left in the "nice jar" if there is anything left. What they draw will be their treat for being good for the week and a joint treat. If they don't have any cards left they don't get anything (this has actually happened lol)

They get really excited about getting to put in the "nice jar" and really upset over the "naughty jar" so it works great for us for now!

I'm not happy with how our summer has gone! I feel like we could've done so much more with it and waisted the first month of summer! Though we did get to catch up on some much needed rest and relax a bit I just feel we should've done so much more as a family and more outtings!
My oldest did go to church camp and my 2 boys went to visit their grandma for a few days and spend it out at the lake. We went to Oklahoma a week to visit family but stayed in most of the time. But I want to do more!
I got a stack of note cards, cut them in half and I'm placing a fun activity on each one to do for the rest of the summer! Each day we will pick one and that will be our fun exciting activity for the day!

So far I have..

Go to the spray park
Go Bowling (this will be used more then once with the free summer bowling!)
Water Balloon Fight
Host an Ice Cream Social
Get Ice Cream from the Ice Cream Truck (used more then once)
Go to the Lake (use more then once)
Go Out for Ice Cream
Go to the Movies in the Park
Go to the Water Park
Go for a Bike Ride
Go to the Races
Chalk and Bubbles Day
Tye Dye Day
Go to a Baseball Game
Go to Wazoos (bounce house place)
Bake Cookies
Family Game Night
Balloon Party (room filled with several blown up balloons!)
Host a Just Dance Party on Wii
Go to Snow Cone Shop
Scavenger Hunt
Chucky Cheese
Go Skating
Go to Local Pool (used more then once)
Go to Pool on Post with Diving Boards (used once then once)
See New Transformers Movie
Go to the Zoo
Water Gun Fight


Hopefully we can get the best out of what's left of this summer!!

let the potty training begin!!! We do elimination communication around the house so my youngest runs around undressed and has showed interest in the potty since a little before 1yrs old and we keep the potty out for her but haven't started potty training just yet. My oldest was trained at 14 months but regressed when he went to daycare when I went back to work. My other 2 were trained around their 2nd birthdays so I figure she will be about the same but let her go at her own pace of course.
She HATES having diapers on and pulls them off all the time and now pulls them off when they are wet and tells you "ewwww"
We got home from Oklahoma and she has been using her potty non stop everytime she goes with out us asking or telling her! I guess I missed the memo that it was time! haha
So we are still running around undressed or now in underwear at home and encouraging it to see if she wants to train!

Don't miss out on this great back to school sale at Toys R Us!

Right now buy any back pack $12.99 or more and get a FREE lunch box!!

All crayola crayons and markers are B1G1 FREE!

Lots of school supplies B1G1 50% off!!

25% off Thermos, food and drink containers!!

Ends July 9th!!


http://toysrus.shoplocal.com/toysrus/default.aspx?action=entryflash&ab=Tru_homepage_aspot:bottom:Find-these-SUPER-DEALS-and-more-in-this-weeks-ad

We kept it pretty low key this year since the boys were not here and they are the ones that are really into the bigger things and Brooklyn still shows a lot of fears. The festival here is just so big the lines are so long that it's not really worth it for her and we decided to stay out of the heat. Not much fun this year with the burn bans in effect! We wanted to see the fire works but the traffic is just ridiculous to even get to see that!

So we decided to stay home this year and stay in and I printed out Brooklyn a free coloring sheet to decorate and made these as treats!






Ingredients
Mini ice-cream sandwiches
Sprinkles or nonpareils
Colorful cupcake liners

Instructions
First, skewer mini ice-cream sandwiches on popsicle sticks.

Then, press the exposed filling into a plate of sprinkles or nonpareils.

To keep mess to a minimum, serve the pops in colorful cupcake liners





Ingredients
12 ounces white chocolate chips (we melted marshmallows)
Strawberries
Blue sugar or edible glitter

Instructions
Melt 12 ounces of white chocolate chips in a microwave according to the package directions (make sure the container and the berries are dry; even a little moisture will alter the texture of the candy).

One at a time, dip strawberries into the chocolate and then into blue sugar or edible glitter.

Set them to harden on waxed paper.

Makes 35 to 45 decorated berries.

Our visit home to Oklahoma to see family this last week was a great one. Didn't get to see as many family members as I had hoped to see. I couldn't get a hold of a lot of the family and was very dissapointed in a lot of the family members who couldn't even take time to call and try to catch up with us while in town or even stop by. Especially given the fact that instead of us running all around town trying to visit all of the family this time I was at my moms just about the entire time so we were very easy to catch!
I've got to call the dr when they open back up from the holiday because I think my thyroid may be back off. I thought I was just over done from the trip at first but I slept most of my trip there and feel bad for it but it was also nice to get the chacne to get to catch up on the sleep and have the opportunity to do so with my mom helping. I slept around a full 8 hours every evening and then napped every day 3-4 hours and was still exhausted every day!!!
I was really excited to get to catch up with my old friend Sara who I haven't seen the last few trips and was long over due! I miss seeing and talking to her so much and her little boy is a cutie!
I also got to see one of my besties Misty while I was in town! I hoped to see her more but both of us had pretty off schedules between me being a lazy bum and her busy schedule lol Maybe that's why she divorced me? muuaaah j/k!








I got to see Bryan's parents a few times and a visit with Grandma Cleata and Bill as well as my brother Travis and sister in law.

The kids didn't want to go much of anywhere with the heat and just enjoyed the luxury of hanging out in my parents pool every day for hours at a time haha

I decided to come back early because Bryan was really wanting me to come home and was kinda down with some things going on. So I dropped the boys with my ex mother in law for her to keep a few days while in town visiting so they could see that side of the family and I'm going to meet up with her tomorrow half way between to get them back. They are really enjoying that and getting to get some time at the lake!

Yesterday I saved $48 and spent $62 at HEB for the few groceries I needed to get for this pay check.

My savings and deals today!!

Free Chickfila Chicken Sandwhich Coupon after completing receipt survey!

First stop Toys R Us!
3 back packs - $12.99 ea
3 lunch boxes - FREE
4 boxes of crayons - B1G1 FREE
4 boxes of markers - B1G1 FREE
4 expo marker packs - B1G1 FREE
1 Large popcicle - $.25
2 Pepsis - $.25

Saved $49 and spent $62!!

Took back crayons and markers I previously bought with school supplies
the other day and got $11 back for those. Came out to be about the same in
price BUT I came out with extra supplies with the free ones to use at home!

2nd Stop Target!!

Transaction #1

2 Tide Stain Release - $8.99 sale, $3 off coupon on ea, $5 target card = $3.49ea
2 Shick Womens Razors - $6.49 sale, b1g1 coupon, $1 coupon, $5 target card = $.25ea

Transaction #2 (applied the 2 Target cards issued above to 2nd transaction)

2 Aveno Baby - $4.49ea, $1 off coupon x2 = $3.49ea
2 Gerber Grad Meals - $1.79, $1 off coupon x2 = $.79ea
3 Venus Shavers - $4.99 sale, $2.00 off coupon x3 = $2.99ea
2 Oral B Kids Electric Toothebrushes - $5.09 sale, $3 off coupon, $2 off coup = $2.50ea
1 Notebook - $.99
2 Yoplait Gogurts - 2 for $4.50, $.75 off coupon x2 = $1.75ea
1 2pk Playtex Sippy Cups - $4.89, $1 off coupon, $2 off coupon = $1.89

Total Saved $55 and spent $38


3rd Stop Wallgreens!!

Transaction #1

1 Gillette Fusion Razor - $9.99, $4.00 off copon, $5 Register Reward = .$99
1 Glide Floss - $2.99, $.75 off coupon, $1 Register Reward = $1.25


Transaction #2 (applied register rewards from above)

2 Oral B Toothe Brushes - 2 for $2 sale, $2 off coupon = FREE
1 Crest Toothepaste - $2.99 sale, $2 off coupon = $.99
4 Sausage Link Packs - $.99ea sale
6 Ajax - $.33ea sale
1 Herbal Essence Shampoo - $3.00 sale, $3 off coupon = FREE

Total Saved $28 and spent $18