It's Monday, Let's have pumpkin pancakes!

Here is a super easy and super yummy recipe for pumpkin pancakes. I think I found it online, but I can't remember where and it was so long ago that I can't give the proper credit. So, we will pretend that I came up with these absolutely delicious pancakes!

Here is what you need:

2 Cups dry pancake mix

1 egg beaten

1 1/2 Cups milk

1/2 Cup pumpkin

1/2 tsp cinnamon

Mix the above ingredients until all are wet. Very important- do not over mix pancake batter. According to Alton Brown on the Food Network this breaks down something very important and the pancakes will not be fluffy. I use and ice cream scoop to make uniform pancakes. My kids love them with vanilla yogurt instead of syrup. Hope you enjoy them as much as we do!

Goodbye Passy, Hello Big Girl

This week marks the end of an era- or 3 1/2 years really. Clara gave up her passy. It was really by default. Wednesday evening it was nowhere to be found. She made it to sleep after a few tears. So today we celebrated what a big girl she was. I had promised to take her to Build-A-Bear for being such a big girl.This tradition was started when Benton gave up his passy at almost the exact same age. I know what you are thinking- She is 3 1/2, you are a dental hygienist, how could you let this go on?? Well the real answer is, I need peace and quite. Three kids under five- enough said. Back to the celebrating! Anyone who knows her won't be surprised to find out she picked a Hello Kitty out as her new friend. Hooray for Clara!

John Michael

Happy Birthday John Michael

Only nine months after we had our little girl we found out that God had decided to expand our family once again. The thought of having two 'babies' - one 17 months and one a newborn- left me a little nervous. God gave us the perfect ball of love, cuddles and laughs rolled up in one. The last two years have been busy, crazy, exciting and exhausting all at the same time. Now my baby is turning into a true toddler. Mommy is not so sure about this. To celebrate his day, I thought you might want to know more about the baby of our family.

- John Michael is named after both of his grandfathers.

- He was born at 36 weeks, 6 days, and 20 hours- which meant he got to go to the NICU because he was under 37 weeks. So at 6lbs 14 oz he looked like a giant.

- He loves baked beans- probably his most favorite food in the world!

- He could care less about stuffed animals- his only true attachment is the tag on his blanket.

- He has outweighed his sister for months, but she still bosses him around and he listens!

- He loves his big brother.

- He loves being my baby!

- He is definitely the clown of our family!

It's Monday, Let's go on a picnic

Normally our Monday evenings are crazy. I rush home from work, we eat, Mark goes to play basketball and I get the kiddos to bed. Tonight we decided to head to the park as a family. It was great! The weather was perfect. And everyone was ready for a bath and bed when we got home.