Homemade uncrustable sandwiches

So yesterday I made uncrustable sandwiches for the kiddos school lunches. I use WowButter instead of peanut butter since my daughter is allergic to peanuts. All the store bought uncrustable sandwiches contain peanuts and she loves uncrustable sandwiches. We were both excited when we found the Wonder bread uncrustable sandwich cutter a few years ago and it is still in great shape.

The great thing about WowButter is it also comes with little stickers that say it's 100% peanuts free. Which is great since we have had in the past a teacher tell my daughter she couldn't eat something that we packed in her lunch bag. The teacher wasn't sure it was safe for my daughter to eat, so she told her that she would have to eat it at home. Honestly great my daughter's teachers are looking out for her but we would never give her something that could harm her. When you have a child with food allergies you learn to check the ingredients list since that is the only place it will definitely say if it has peanuts or whatever else you or your child is allergic to.

So back on topic. Yesterday I made 6 Nutella, 6 jelly, 6 WowButter, and 6 WowButter & jelly. Put them into ziploc baggies then into the freezer they go. Crates make finding them in the deep freezer so much easier for the kiddos.

Life has changed

So life has changed a lot in two years. We were donated a house through Military Warriors Support Foundation. A mortgage free home. It's a three year program were we send in budgets, learn about finances, and keep a eye on our credit reports. We also try to pay down on any debts we might have. You pay a deposit monthly along with property tax monthly. After three years they use the deposit money to pay for the transfer of the deed and once the deed is transferred the house officially becomes ours. Such a wonderful  opportunity for Veterans.

I also got pregnant with baby number three. Who was a complete surprise. Who is now a running and screaming 16 month old little boy. It's been quite the adventure. Having three kids ages 10, 6, and 1 has made life crazy.  My oldest I tell you has been the biggest help.

Connor has been doing great playing basketball, soccer, and this year he is in gifted and talented. This is also his final year in speech hopefully. Its also his final year in elementary school. He has been doing great being a big brother. He was so excited to be having a baby brother.

Jazzy is in kindergarten this year. Let me tell you she is the complete opposite of my sweet natured oldest. She loves and hates school at the same time. When she found out she was gonna have a baby brother she argued with us for days on how she wanted a sister not another bubba. We still have days were she says she wishes Jacoby was a sister not a brother. Or she will ask if I can have another baby a sister this time.

Then we have Jacoby my 16 month old. Who wears 2t- 3t, trust me he isn't fat he has just always been I'm the top 97-98% in weight and height. Connor was and has always been 25% while Jazzy was 50%. I swear as I have these kids they get bigger each time.

Back to Jacoby who is my big boy. Already running in socks on tile and hard wood floors. Who when I change his diapers you can usually hear me yelling come back here because he does a alligator roll and runs as fast as he can from me naked laughing the whole time. All while Matt is laughing his butt off at me. Matt will save me a lot and grab the running naked toddler who will lay there for him no problem to get his diaper changed. I swear Jacoby is the splitting image and personality of his father, they are so alike.

So Matt is also officially medically retired. So we applied for VA caregiver program since Matt has days where he has no idea who me or the kids are. Well we were denied twice for the program also told Matt needed to be in their fat program. Well VA caregiver program I guess you didn't look in his file. Since yeah he was 323 lbs when we first got to VA two years ago from all the steroids and surgeries where we couldn't do anything. But hey guess what he now weighs 237, that's about 90lbs he has lost in two years. Which is a healthy weigh lost, so you can take your fat program and shove it.

Yes life is hard and it would have helped to be on the VA Caregiver program that is supposed to be there to help allow for someone to be with a veteran like Matt. Who has PTSD, TBI, and who need assistance. Matt lives with constant migraines, black outs, memory loss, constant pain in his shoulders, hip, and neck. I could go on and on about what he lives with. But we have learned to cope with his injuries and learned to live our lives to the best of our abilities. That is all that really matters.

We also got to go on a marriage retreat with Operation Heal our Patriots. It was amazing in Alaska. We made some new friends, learn helpful tips about our marriage, fun activities for couples, and had some amazing food. The kiddos got to have our amazing friend Maria come and watch them with her kids while we were gone for a week in June this year.

Matt then got to go on a fishing trip to Montana with Warriors and Quiet Waters Foundation. Matt went in July and had so much fun. He had a great time fishing and meeting other Veterans. He caught quite a bit of fish. 

Connor got to go to Camp Corral in August right before school started. Camp Corral was at Camp Weaver in Greensboro, NC. He had fun riding horses, playing in the pool and pond, learning to shoot a bow and arrow, and making new friends. 

Connor at Camp Corral 

Awarded home through Military Warriors Support Foundation.

Kids enjoying popsicles on a hot day.