Pumpkin Patch

Saturday we took Laney to a pumpkin patch! She had so much fun walking around and checking out all of the pumpkins. She was adorable, trying to pick them up and trying to carefully check out each pumpkin to see which one would be the one we should bring home. We picked out a good one, and Laney also got to pick out a small one just for her. She was sad when it was time to go and cried "puuummmmkiiiiiiinnnns" as we pulled the car away. She was happy though when we let her hold her little pumpkin in the car and she hugged it the whole way home!

Happy Birthday Sarah!

On Friday we celebrated Sarah's 9th birthday. Delaney had fun helping me put up balloons, make cookies and clean up the house. When Sarah, Granny, and Papa arrived it was PARTY TIME! Laney had a blast and even sang Happy Birthday to Sarah (over and over again!) We hope Sarah had a great birthday celebration, hard to believe she is 9 already!!!

Fun at Grandma's

Grandma Carpenter is on vacation from work this week so we had some fun with her today. First we met Grandma at the mall and rode the carousel! Then we did some shopping and went back to her house for dinner. Daddy met us there after work. We had so much fun playing in the back yard, reading books, and playing with the piano and all the toys. What a fun day we had! We wish Grandma was off work all the time! Here are some pics from our day:


Riding the carousel


































Posing in front of Grandpa's pretty purple flowers















"Smell the flower Grandma"














Mommy and Laney











































Daddy!



















Laney LOVES to pick flowers!












































































Mowing the lawn



















Hanging out in the great big tree in Grandma's back yard




















































Playing the piano with Daddy.



















All ready for bed after a fun day!

Magic Pasta!

No pics to share right now, but I just had to share that I've found a special magic pasta recipe! Why is it magic you ask? Because when I made it for Laney today she gobbled up the whole bowl and then asked for more! Midway through her first helping she stopped, looked up at me and said "delicious!" After she got done eating she said "Ready for nap". I cleaned her up, took her in her room, and sure enough she went to sleep. This truly is MAGIC PASTA!!! For all you moms out there I will share the recipe, hopefully it will cast a spell on your little ones too! Enjoy!

Miranda's Magic Pasta

Whole wheat rotini
1 small can organic tomato sauce (I use the publix brand)
about 2/3 cup of pureed peas (any puree would do, I happened to have peas on hand so that is what I used)
pinch of garlic
Italian seasoning
Sprinkle parmesan and romano cheese

Cook the pasta, combine sauce with other ingredients, mix together and Voila! I served it with half a piece of buttered whole wheat bread and milk.

Fun at the park!

We just had to be outside today. The weather is SO gorgeous here, cool and breezy, so after breakfast we got ready, went through Starbucks for an apple chai tea, and spent the morning at the park. I was amazed at the way Delaney plays now! She can climb the stairs on her own, go down the slide, and crawl through the tunnel with ease. She talks to the other kids, and even sang "Happy Birthday" without being prompted to a little girl who was celebrating her 2nd birthday there today. I am really proud of the little girl that she is becoming. She is polite, kind, happy and so much fun to be around! She had a ball running around and playing, and I had just as much fun watching her! Here are some pics from our morning:

Cooler Weather...

The cooler weather has FINALLY made it's way down to Florida! We celebrated by opening all the windows today and airing out the house. I have been sick for the past few days and couped up inside, so opening up the house was a nice treat. We had planned to take Delaney to a pumpkin patch today, but since I am still sick Cory took Laney to the park to enjoy the beautiful weather while I stayed home to rest. Here are a few pics from their outing. Enjoy!

Oh No...

So, Delaney comes running up to me today, points to my stomach and says "Baby in your tummy?". Ugh. Time for a diet maybe? I had to laugh though, how can you be offended at the brutally honest observations of a 21 month old? I'm just glad it was me, and not a stranger out somewhere. I'm just waiting for the day she says something like that, and trying to think of how I'm going to work my way out of that situation! I guess it will make for a good blog posting when that day comes. Anyway, guess I should put my snack down and go do some crunches...

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

October 8th, 2005- I woke up to a house full of my best friends, all giddy, excited and bustling to get ready for the big day! We had memosa's, fruit, cheese, crackers, bagels, etc. while we did our make up and took our turns getting our hair done. The energy that morning was so exciting. We filed out in small groups and headed over to the church. While putting the finishing touches on the church decorations we had to sneak around trying to make sure the groom didn't see the bride before the ceremony. Before I knew it the time had come to put on my dress. The guests started filing in and taking their seats. Soon I heard the string quartet begin to play and it was time to take our places. My bridesmaids walked down the aisle one by one and then the double doors to the church closed. The wedding march began to play, the doors opened, and it was time to walk down the aisle towards the rest of my life. I saw Cory waiting there for me at the front of the church, tears welled up in both our eyes and our journey together as husband and wife began. We said our vows, we kissed, and off to the reception we went. We danced, we laughed, we cut the cake, we blinked and the day was over. Forward on to the rest of our lives we went, and have never looked back.

October 8, 2009- I woke up to singing and talking through a baby monitor. Was it really morning already? I felt like I had just went to sleep! I pry my eyes open one at a time and drag myself across the house to my daughter's room. There she is; wild curly hair and big toothy grin smiling at me ready to start the day. I change her diaper and go get ready to make breakfast. Delaney runs into the bedroom to wake up Daddy and smacks her head on the bed post. She screams and cries, immediatley Cory and I spring into action. Mommy scoops her up and heads to the fridge for the "boo, boo bear". Daddy gets her some juice and as we both stand there hugging her and calming her down at 7:30 in the morning we just look at each other over that wild, curly head of hair and smile. Man, how things have changed in 4 years! This morning was so very different from that morning 4 years ago, but this is what that day was all about. We're a team. We're a family. We had a wedding four years ago today, so that we could have a marriage for the rest of our lives. Would I trade this crazy morning in for anything in the world? Nope. It's amazing how our lives have changed since our wedding day. On October 8th, 2005 we were two people who were in love and decided to get married. On October 8th, 2009 we are two people who are in love and decide every day to be married. We are a family. We work at our marriage and some days it's easy, and some days it's hard. But when I go to bed each night I lay down next to my best friend, and when I wake up each morning he is there to greet me. We have comfort, laughter, friendship and love. I wouldn't change a thing about the last four years, and I can't wait to see how much our lives change over the next four. And the next four. And the next four. Happy Anniversary Cory, I still love you with all my heart!

Miranda

Cory and Miranda Fun Fact # 4

Two of Miranda's best friends married two of Cory's best friends!

Cory and Miranda fun fact #3

The first 4 months of our relationship was long distance. I went to school in TN and he was here in FL.

Cory and Miranda Fun Fact #2

We had our first two dates in the same day! We went to the park during the day, and had such a great time that Cory asked me if I'd like to go to a movie that night. Of course I said "yes"!

4 Wonderful Years

In honor of our 4th wedding anniversary this Thursday, I will be posting various pictures, and random "Cory and Miranda" facts on the blog this week. I am just so happy to be celebrating 4 years of marriage, I'd like to make our anniversary a week long event! :)

First "Cory and Miranda" fun fact: We met in our 11th grade English class.

Not Me Monday!

Well, trying to stay true to my word, here is this week's addition to the Not Me Monday files:

After putting Delaney's shoes back on in the car for about the 16th time during a busy day of errands I did NOT just give up completely and take her into Kohl's with only her socks on. I also most certainly did NOT let her walk around in the children's section like that after learning that there were no carts left to push her in! No way, I would never do that. That is just so totally gross and a mother with my high standards would NEVER do such a thing. Even if the child does weigh 28 lbs and I was carrying a diaper bag that weighs almost as much!

I also did NOT let her eat almost an entire container of puffs that same busy day just to keep her happy while I finished my shopping at Target. Nope, because my kid would NEVER put up a fuss after being out all morning long running boring errands, and I would NEVER resort to snacks as a way to keep her happy. Nope, not me! ;)

Hip Hip Horray for Happy Meals!

Delaney has been doing so well with potty training that we decided to create a reward chart for her to help encourage her to keep using the potty. We created a chart with several squares and told her that she could put a sticker on the chart every time she used the potty. After she gets 10 stickers in a row she will get a special reward. Her first reward is a McDonald's happy meal, and we are proud to announce that Delaney put up her 10th sticker today! So, tomorrow after church Laney will be treated to a special lunch at McDonald's with her very own happy meal! She was so thrilled about putting up her last sticker and getting to the goal that she was kissing the chart and asking to put her shoes on so we could go get her treat right then! She has already told me that the next goal is going to be ice cream. She's a girl who knows what she wants! Hip, Hip Horray for Laney, we are so proud of you!