Mathy's Farm

It's crazy that it's been more than a month since we headed to this Pumpkin Patch with petting zoo and hay ride to pick out your own pumpkin. I guess it's a real comment on how crazy the last month has been!

I think Megan's favorite part was picking out her pumpkin. Miranda loved being around all the people. Veronica loved standing at the pumpkins and bouncing on the hay ride. We were so glad that many of our friends could join us!

Veronica was enamored with this field of Pumpkins.

The Hay Ride back, with the three girls holding their precious "punkins" and tossing hay.

Veronica saw another field of pumpkins after the hay ride, and she was excited to see even MORE of those fun "toys".

Happy Third Birthday, Third Daughter!

The Birthday Girl!

She was so happy that it was her birthday and she shared that with everyone! She invited people over to come have birthday cake (although, sadly, they couldn't make it). She was dancing around everywhere when she told people about her birthday. She even would hold up her fingers and say "cover the pinkie" and only respond with verbal answer after much questioning of how old she was. So proud that she can hold up her hand, that was more important than saying "f-ree!"

It was a fun birthday, and we enjoyed talking with grandparents on skype, dancing (lots of dancing!) and being with family.



Travis said the cake was "over the top". But it was so fun to see Miranda's excitement over her "Princess Jen-a-Beeb" with Twila (the cat). I loved putting it together with Miranda at my elbow every step of the way... except when she kept bumping the said body part while I tried to pipe frosting on the dress.

Here is a slide show of more pics of the cake:




Miranda did not hesitate a moment in knowing what to do with the singing and the candle. She was eager to finally be able to eat Twila. She'd been asking for a week to eat the cat! (I made the cat far in advance of the cake).

Finally Walking

Her three sisters, almost to the very day, took their first steps at 11 months. Veronica is definitely her own person and not one to "follow in their footsteps"; she decided to wait until she was 14 months to take her first steps, and two weeks later she walked without help.

I don't remember having to "encourage" or "practice" as much with the others. Maybe because it came naturally. I spend a lot more time now running after the bigger kids. Maybe I just didn't give 'Nica the opportunity to walk as much.

The two days before she took off, I remember telling myself I needed to make her walk holding my hand (which she would gladly do). I was walking from the van to the grocery store, Miranda's hand in one of mine and 'Nica's hand in the other. Miranda was dragging us behind her! She was walking so fast, I had to ask her to slow down for 'Nica. Thankfully, she complied, and even better, Veronica is walking!





I love that she can walk! It's so nice to see her up and moving around. And, now I can finally put her in cute jumpers without worrying about her face-planting when she crawls on the hem.

Although she doesn't do so in this video, often when she's walking, Veronica will "talk" as she moves her feet. Maybe the two are connected? She certainly works a lot on her vocabulary: What's this? Uh Oh; Ooooo; Bye,bye, Dada; M'randa; Meegan; Mama; Num-num; Whar-ar-yuuuu? &tc.

Megan's Cake

I know today is Miranda's birthday, but I wanted to post pictures of Megan's birthday cake before I do anything for Miranda's.


The cake was still HOT when I tried to frost it. This made the mermaid's tail continue to melt and I'd try to build it up, but it would just settle and melt again. Megan said "I love it!" when she first saw it. She was happy with it.


After a few minutes she got a thoughtful look on her face and said, "Her bum is a little big, though." That was an UNDERSTATEMENT!

It was still a yummy cake.

And we enjoyed sharing it at a potluck with friends.


I just need to remind myself to bake the cake 3 days before, frost 1 or 2 days before, and put the final touches on after that. I made Megan's cake at 10pm the night before her Sunday birthday, knowing I'd not have time after church to work on frosting/decorating it.

Megan hugging her Lewis, the husband of her other webkinz, a lioness named Linga.

I LOVE FOOTBALL!

I don't have much time. It IS Miranda's third birthday, and although the cake is finished (pics later), and we're only having spaghetti for dinner, I've still got a million things to do this afternoon- the most pressing is to change a dirty diaper and then clean up after 4 little girls.

But, I digress.

Travis and I had an AWESOME date on Saturday afternoon. I got a sitter for the younger two, and the older two went bowling with some friends for a birthday party. Travis and I walked in a cool drizzle over to the football stadium, walked up the ramp, climbed over red poncho-clad Ute fans and sat in our seats at the south end zone. If the scoreboard hadn't been in the way, I would have had a PERFECT few of Touchdown Jesus!

It rained for the first half and through the half-time show. It didn't get above 62, but thankfully didn't drop below 55, either.

And, Notre Dame STOMPED on Utah! Did you see the score? 28-3! The first time in something like 20 years that an unranked team has beaten a ranked (Utah was 15th on the BCS before Saturday's game). Wow. I don't know what happened to poor Utah, but I was sure happy that ND did so well. Not that I wouldn't have been happy if Utah won, too (which was what I was expecting).

I loved being around good people- our bench neighbors were courteous and fun (no matter which team they were cheering for), and there was LOTS of enthusiasm on the Irish's side. Poor Utes.

I wish we could go to more games. But, the price is a bit exhorbitant. By the time we paid for tickets, a sitter, etc. we will be limiting our date nights to our living room for quite some time. But it was worth EVERY PENNY!

I probably won't go to another game... unless we're still here in 2012 when ND plays BYU. That will be a SUPER fun game. Although, I might just have to cheer for my Cougars. Mostly cuz I know their fight song, and have yet to learn the Irish songs (their fight song or their alma matter song).

Ahhh, I love football!

Oh, and as a side note, I'm also doing REALLY well in a Fantasy Pro Football league. I'm ranked 4th, but I have more points than anybody in the 20-person league! It's been so much fun!

PS No, I didn't take any pictures. I didn't think my camera could handle anything at the stadium, and I didn't want to lug anything more than my wool socks, two blankets, hoodie jacket, parka, rain poncho, and 10 hand/feet warmer packs. And, although I got WET, I stayed warm enough!