Look who Santa sent!

Meet Rufus....our Elf on the Shelf!

Santa sent one of his elf's in the mail to keep an eye on the kids this Christmas Season. The babes named him Rufus.

Rufus is always watching, noting if the kids are naughty or nice... then every night he goes to the North Pole to report to Santa. When he comes back to the house he returns to a different location each day. The Elf on the Shelf comes with an adorable book that explains what the elf does. The kids LOVE waking each morning to look for Rufus and see what he's been up to while they slept...sometimes he gets into mischief...

Happy Thanksgiving!!!! We had such a good day. Breakfast of eggnog french toast, a big walk in the beautiful sunshine and a turkey feast at Mike's Grandma's house where I ate WAY too much. The turkey and Cranberry sauce just tasted SO good. The kids are asleep, and we (I really mean Mike...I am blogging and am not into Zombie movies) are watching some weird movie called 'Super 8'.

I have alot to be Thankful for this year. 4 Healthy wonderful kids, amazing husband, loving family near and far away, warm house, food on the table and great friends.

Update and a good recipe

Leah is 3 weeks old, it feels like she has been around much longer than that.
It is cold and snowy outside and we don't really leave the house.
Our Christmas tree is up and online xmas shopping has begun. Kmart's buy one get one half off sale helped me get a good chunk of the kids stuff done!

Mike and his girls...

Little Cali is so funny, she is talking so well and says the cutest things!

Leah is mellow, she is already up to 10 pounds! We have seen a few good smiles but I can never capture them with my camera...

The best helper, Sadie will hold Leah forever.

Cali likes to try to hold and pick Leah up, she also likes to try to feed Leah...

Early Saturday morning I ran out with some girlfriends to do some xmas shopping and left Mike with the kids... he called with a screaming baby in the background, and kids yelling, telling me Cali is throwing up.... so all day Saturday this is what we did... I hope the others don't get it.

Perfect baby!

Yesterday we made a holiday breakfast treat. These were SO good... Here is the recipe
Gingerbread Pancakes

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 3 tablespoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
  
• 3 teaspoons unsweetened cocoa powder
• 2 tablespoons brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon white sugar
  
• 1 1/2 teaspoons ground ginger
• 2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 3/4 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1 teaspoon nutmeg
• 2 tsp vanilla
  
• 1 1/2 cups milk
• 2 eggs and 1 egg white
• 3 tablespoons dark molasses
• 4 tablespoons melted butter
  

Directions

Combine dry ingredients. Combine wet ingredients. Mix together and spoon onto griddle

We made cranberry sauce and whipped cream to go ontop and they were so yummy!!!!

Loving Leah

We just can't get enough of Leah! She is such a doll...

Leah is such a good baby, she doesn't cry much, she sleeps so well and is happiest in her wrap or swaddled in her bouncer (away from the other kids)

Cali is an excellent helper, always getting diapers, burp cloths and wipes! Whenever Leah cries, she is first on the scene and all of a sudden Calista seems so big!

David is being a good older brother, he loves it when Leah comes up to tuck him in and she listens to a book with him.

Sadie is the other mother, she is very careful and good with Leah.

I can't believe she has been around for a week already, I am enjoying my time at home with her and am glad I have a good excuse to stay indoors as I look out the window to the falling snow!

My mom has been here taking good care of us, She cleans, does the laundry, makes dinner and does the shopping and helps with the kids. She has made some new pillows, a cute blanket for Leah and about 30 freezer meals for me!!!!

4 kids!!! I can't believe they are all mine.... ahhhhh