Watching Avery & Braylin Grow

Special Day

Mommy and the kids enjoyed a beautiful fall day at the FW Children's Zoo. Though it was a spontaneous trip we had a great time! We will definitely need to head back as we were short on time and didn't get to see everything.

Acting like a monkey.

The sea lions put on quite a show for the spectators.

Wee-man enjoyed watching the seals swim too.

Avery was cracking up watching the seals play with one another in the water.

This little guy was also very entertaining....

He was very interested in Avery too. Avery chose an otter stuffed toy at the end of the day after this little guy teasing and playing with her. They are quite playful creatures.

Peacocks walk around the grounds at will....Avery liked having the different birds coming up to her.

"Alligator Purse"....we did get some weird looks as we were singing the Alligator Purse nursery rhyme.

Wide awake taking in all the sounds, sights and smells!

Avery thought the penguins were cute. She didn't understand why they weren't swimming though. They were all huddled up in the shade in the grass.

Only thing better to this kid than a John Deere is a train.

This wild child was having a ball. She loves playing with other kids...especially on a little train!

Big Sis held on tight to brother while he enjoyed his first train ride.

Taking in all the sights...

While Avery was feeding this cute lil guy and mommy was busy taking pics of him, a goose came up behind Avery and attacked her from behind wanting the treats. She screamed "Nooo Noooo, not bite!!! It bit me! Bad birwd!!!". Good thing it was her and not mommy....mommy does NOT like geese of any kind!

Braylin was happy to be out in the fresh air and liked watching sis laughing & giggling all day.

Avery did much better with the statue's at the FW Zoo than she does at the Indy Zoo.

This guy is real...and he is WAY BIG!!!

Avery loves horses and ponies....hmmmm,wonder where she might get that from???

Meet Sandy and her baby Chester. Sandy brought back so many childhood memories for mommy. She so resembled mommy and Aunt Ashley's palomino pony, Ponch.

If the zoo would have let us leave with one animal....this girl would have been coming home to the Haselby Farm for sure! Avery loved her and had to give her a kiss goodbye.

Another hit,yet again, the goats. Especially when they "talked" to Avery!

Double Trouble....this might be the next addition to H4 Farms. Goats are too much fun!!!

Goofing around...

"RARRRRRR!!!!"...the egg hatched an Avery!

She gave the orangutan a fist bump and said "whaz up"

She thought this was pretty funny to be sitting on his lap.

So the only tears shed...can't say I blame her. An elephant skeleton is pretty scary looking!

The size of these things was ridiculous!!!! And doesn't he look like Harry from Harry and the Hendersons?

"WHOOOAAAA"

Checking out the jungle...

The kiddies rode the carousal too :)

The wallaby's and kangaroos were so darn cute. Avery really wanted to hug one....

They had a really cool "Kangaroo Walk" that the kangaroos were just out loose and you walked along a path and saw them in their environment. They could come up to you if they like and you had to watch out for them crossing the path. It was pretty cool.

Mommy and Aunt Ashley have a similar picture when they were little in this same kangaroo.

We all went on a log ride through the Australian Outback.

Braylin was very relaxed listening to the sound of the moving water.

Another look at monkey island before we head out....

"Tada! I did it..take a picture pease!!!!"

Time to go home...the natives are getting very restless!!!! All in all, we had a very good day. We are trying to make the most of the remaining days of mommy's maternity leave and this was a great day doing just that. A perfect day for mommy and her kiddos.

Welcome to MY house!

Excitement does not even describe Avery's reaction when she saw her new playhouse.

She could not stop smiling....

"C'mon in and see my house!"

Her spirit is so addicting.

Didn't take long to start moving things into her house to make it nice and comfy!

She even talked mommy and daddy into spending a little time in there with her while is rained outside a bit.

"Now it looks like our big house!"

Daddy did good! Avery had a lot of fun playing in the playhouse at Menards so when Daddy ran across this at an auction he knew he'd make a little girl very happy if he brought it home....he was so right! "Thank you daddy, thank you, thank you. You so sweet!" :) (her exact words).

Visit from Aunt Ashley!

Aunt Ashley came from Charlotte to spend the weekend with the Haselby kids.

Of course Avery is playing with her phone.....this kid and phones-we are in trouble.

Braylin is quite content just chilling with his Aunt Ash

A very deep conversation is taking place.....he is telling her all about his first 7 weeks of life :)

Aunt Ashley ate up all the cuddle time she could get with little man.

The Haselbys took Aunt Ashley to the Francesville Fall Festival for a fish fry. This is the excitement when you live in rural America vs large city life. And in normal Avery fashion...she found a John Deere.

"C'mon Ashee.....let's go. You got your phone?" ;)

Ashley also met the other new addition to our family since her last trip home almost a year ago....her and Ajax hit it off too.

Having fun with the kids while mommy went to work for a couple hours....nothing like putting Aunt Ashley on babysitting duty as soon as she flies in!!!!

Braylin really enjoyed meeting his Aunt Ashley. It is obvious he is going to love his Auntie as much as his sister does. We are very fortunate for the relationship our kids have with their Aunt & Uncle. We all wish they lived closer but cherish the times/visits we do have with them. Thanks for coming to see us Ash!!!

Toddler=Trouble

This fabulous piece of art happened in the amount of time it took mom to walk up the stairs and bring down a storage tub

And notice the amount of sand OUTSIDE the sandbox....

Ajax is not exempt from Avery's mischievous ways....

Smart dog....he realizes that if he wants his water he had better hold on to it because it won't last long around Avery.

Well...at least it isn't the dogs dish.....although she did give my a panic attack since all of a sudden she wasn't in the garage but this is where she

Pretty sure Avery was trying to be nice and give brother his presents from Aunt Ashley however she stacked them on him in his swing as he slept....

Just a cutie....

Baby Braylin is such a joy. He is just the sweetest little boy. We can tell already that he is going to wear his heart on his sleeve as he has quite the sensitive side to him. He has a smile that lights up the room and melts your heart at the same time. We are so lucky to have such a sweet, special little boy.