Family trip to the NC Zoo

We've been wanting to take the kids to the zoo forever and it just seemed like Sunday morning was the perfect time to go.  We were up early and out the door, as a neighbor had mentioned to be there when the gates opened and the zoo's about 1 hr 15 mins from us...  So we loaded up, (SO glad I had pre-packed all the essentials the night before!) and we were on our way.

We headed in through Africa first and we were able to make it across the entire zoo and saw all of the animals with the exception of the giraffes and that was because the ground was wet and they are prone to incidents.  The kids had a really great time and the entire way there Naylor kept saying he wanted to see the Lion King!

We had a 'picnic' of sorts and got to ride the carousel - the kids loved it, even Whitley Ann got to ride.  I'm so happy we took the kids - it was fun for the entire family and definitely a trip we'll make again.  Once we were loaded up, we were in the car about 2 minutes before everyone was asleep in the back of the car.

It was funny to me the looks we'd get as we were walking through the zoo... folks were always asking, "are they twins?" "are they all yours?" and sometimes the questionable looks on their faces was enough and I'd just say, "yeah, we're our own little zoo"!

Here's a link to the pictures - what a fun day!  For the pictures in the link, I put all the ones of us in them at the front of the album, so once you reach animals, that's what's left is just animals.

NC Zoo Trip 9.25.11

Old School Playgroup

When Naylor was around 7-8 months, we started hanging out with a few other new moms / boys on our street.  It all started with our closest neighbor Stacy and her son Luke who is just 2 weeks younger than Naylor.  Both Naylor and Luke were premature, so there was a commonality, along with being first time mothers and having no idea what we were doing!  So it was comforting to bounce ideas off of each other and learn from one another's trial and error.  Shortly after, Meghan and Hayden and Rikki and Noah joined us and we had lots of fun watching the boys all grow together.

A little over a year ago, Stacy and her family moved to Washington, DC, but were here over the weekend for a quick visit.  It was fun to see the boys play together - although they really don't remember each other the way we moms remember it all!  So fun to catch up with Stacy and see her newest little guy Max who just started walking!  Stacy and her family are slated for one more move next summer back to their home in Indiana.

 Stacy and Max

 Whitley Ann and Brian 

 Naylor, Bennet, Luke, Lalon, Max, Noah and Hayden

Whitley Ann didn't get out of the swing fast enough... 

once the Shackelford twins show up, we'll need a bigger bench!

 Naylor, Luke, Lalon, Noah and Hayden

the group as it was when the Foggs moved away

 Naylor, Luke, Noah and Hayden

the original gang!

 Bennet and Whitley Ann

 Stacy, Max and Rikki

 Luke

 Hayden

 Luke and Naylor

 Max

 Luke and Naylor

 Noah

 Noah and Lalon

Hayden, Noah and Naylor

Happy Birthday Carson

Carson is one of our bestest of buddies and he turned 3 just a few days before Naylor.  This past Saturday we were able to go to his house for a fun party with an awesome bounce house!  The kids had a great time bouncing around, we all ate very well and what's a party without cake?!

Carson and Naylor played a little rough in the bounce house and we kept breaking them up; it was like WWE Raw in there... funny thing is, they were really just trying to wrestle I think, they weren't fighting, but still too rough for my taste!

Whitley Ann showed off her new mobility skills to Harrison (Carson's baby brother) and played nicely with Mary-Clare (Carson's first cousin).  I used to think Lalon and Mary-Clare looked a lot a like and they certainly have some similarities still, but since Lalon's hair has gotten some curl to it, that thought is fading.  The girls are just 2 months apart in age though.

It was a fun, fun time and Naylor kept asking to play with Carson all night!

Here's a link to Carson's party pictures - enjoy!

Carson's 3rd Birthday Party 9.24.11

Another milestone!

Seems like we're hitting them weekly now... I keep thinking Whitley Ann is just brilliant (and she may be), but then I'm also realizing this is my first child that is full term, so she's not working so hard just to catch up like Naylor and Lalon did.

Whitley Ann is now mobile at 6.5 months old!!  I'm not quite sure that you can really say she's crawling, but she is absolutely mobile.  I had her on the floor in the kitchen while I was cooking the other day, Naylor and Lalon playing in the play room, and when I look over she's gone.  Wait.  Whitley Ann's gone.  Ummm.... I'm pretty sure I left her right there.  Oh, there she is in the play room.  Wait a minute... how'd she get in there??  Well she just wiggled her little self right on in there to get in on the action!  It's a mixture of army crawling, pulling, pushing off - it is absolutely not the prettiest, nor the smoothest movement you've ever laid eyes on, but she's absolutely going - there's no doubt about that!

Imagine my surprise when I'm pacing her on the same track as Naylor and Lalon that both crawled (and got their first tooth) at 9 months...  maybe she'll be pulling up at 9 months, who knows!

Whitley Ann 6 month photos

The proofs are up for just a few more days; check them out!

www.MichelleStudios.com

click Client Slideshow and password is: whitley (all lowercase)

Happy 3rd Birthday Naylor!

Our sweet boy is now 3 and I'm looking back at pictures remembering all the fun we've had.  I'm torn between the feelings of it's gone by so fast, but it's also hard to remember what we did before we had Naylor!  We celebrated all weekend and well into the week and I believe he had a great time and certainly was well taken care of in the gift department!

Sunday afternoon we had the family over to celebrate with a Toy Story themed party, aka Woody party.  Toy Story (1, 2 and 3) are all family favorites at the Higgins' home these days.  About a month ago I asked Naylor what kind of party he wanted (John Deere, NC State or Woody) and he quickly decided Woody.  He also told me that Lalon wanted a princess party, she concurred, so that's her theme next month!

Grandpa, Grandma T and Aunt Kerri had sent a wonderful package stuffed full of the Toy Story gang as well as an official Woody uniform.  Brian and I had gotten him some John Deere cowboy boots and after getting all of this gear on, he did not want to take it off - he was loving it!

So, everyone came over to play and eat dinner with us and we had a good time.  Naylor and Lalon had a lot of fun playing in the back yard with cousins Ava James and Anna (Ella and Whitley Ann were here too, but just not as interactive yet - I'm sure next year will be a different story!).  After eating some chili and baked potatoes, we had some Woody and Buzz cake and more presents!  I didn't think that was possible after the morning round, but it was and everyone had gotten the note about Toy Story.  Naylor now has an awesome collection of Toy Story garb; while it's our favorite, he really didn't have any 'stuff', but we have since remedied that.

Monday was Naylor's actual birthday and his second favorite these days is the Lion King.  Randomly enough it has been re-released in theaters, so Brian met us and we took all the kids to see it on the big screen.  Luckily we were thinking and going on a Monday at 5pm was perfect - only two other folks in the theater.  Naylor and Lalon did great, sitting in their booster seats eating popcorn.  When there was about 30 minutes left, Lalon and Whitley Ann got a bit restless, but since the theater was practically empty, they were able to walk around without causing distractions.

Oh!  How could I forget!!  Monday morning, Naylor wanted birthday cake for breakfast... and I let him have it - I'm getting weak and these kids are wearing me down - ha!

It was a great weekend of celebration.  Brian and I realize every day how blessed we have been to have Naylor in our lives; to have all of our children - that does not go unnoticed by any means.  I'm so grateful for these beautiful blessings and doing my best not to mess them up - I'll get back to you in about 25 years to let you know how that worked out...  :)

Happy Birthday Naylor - we love you more than you'll ever know (until you have your own kids of course).

   - Mama and Daddy

Some pics below as well as a link to lots of party pics - hope the link works!

Naylor's 3rd Birthday

 Birthday cake for breakfast!

 Last night as a 2 yr old - with all his buddies of course.

 partying with Mama and Whitley Ann

 He blew out the candles right on cue!

 Woody, Jessie and Buzz Lightyear

Howdy, howdy, howdy!

Lalon and Naylor eating popcorn at the movies (taken with my phone)

Just another day

and loving every minute of it!

 Game day ready!  Naylor loves his new NCSU 'hip hops' (flip flops)

 Lalon and Naylor made pigs in a blanket for dinner - some are rolled, tucked, cocooned - it was fun!

 a little teamwork 

 First meal with all 5 of us sitting at the table

Whitley Ann going for seconds!