Trick or Treat

This year Halloween was so much fun! Harper was able to pick out what she wanted to be and really understood what was going on. She decided she wanted to be Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz. We're not really sure where she got this idea because she had never seen the movie, but she was dead set on being Dorothy. She was so cute with her pigtails and "ruby slippers". Grammie and Nanny got her The Wizard of Oz movie and it has now become one of her favorites. Riley, Stacie and Randy came and trick-or-treated with us around our neighborhood. It was a fun night for us all.

Dorothy and the mouse trick or treating.

Checking out the loot.

Randy, Stacie and Riley

Harper's Three Year Pictures

We only have professional family pictures made once a year, and we usually try to get them done around Harper's birthday. The past couple of years we've used Lauren Tuggle, a wonderful local photographer. She has an amazing eye and is incredibly patient with our less than cooperative daughter. If your in need of a great photographer in the Birmingham area, I would highly recommend her! We decided to have the pictures made downtown on Morris Avenue, let us know what you think! I'm going to apologize in advance for the crazy amount of pictures I've posted, they were just so good I couldn't decided which ones to post!

Harper's Three Year Pictures

Harper's Three Year Pictures

Harper's Three Year Pictures

Harper's Three Year Pictures

Harper's Third Birthday

Harper is three! We can't believe how fast these past few years have flown by! It seems like only yesterday we brought this tiny baby girl home and now look at her! Harper has really grown into a smart, sweet, loving child. She's moved from being a baby to becoming a little girl. Each day brings us new changes and fun experiences with her, we are loving every minute (well almost...she is three!).

To celebrate Harper's birthday we had a small party at our house. We all had so much fun! Grammie and Nanny made the trip from Naples and Atlanta, Dat-Dat, Dylan, Nana, Pop, Anslea, and Adyson all came from Talladega, Andy, Erin and Luke came up from Auburn, we also had our friends Casey, Jason and Connor and Amy with baby Delaney and Madison come to help us celebrate this exciting milestone. It was so nice to have all of our family and friends here.
Harper got tons of wonderful gifts and had so much fun playing with all of the other kids. Thanks guys for making her third birthday so special.

These past few years have been so wonderful. Each day is a new adventure. Michael and I can't wait for what the next year brings us! Happy Birthday Harper! We love you!!

Beach Zoo

Yes, that's a gorilla sitting on top of what looks like a telephone pole! I have no idea how he got up there!

Harper feeding a horse.

Huge lion!

Harper hanging out, notice the huge lion in the background!

Beach Zoo

Harper feeding a goat.

Harper petting a wolf. I was really surprised at how large it was! Huge!!

Harper and Peerli feeding a duck. Harper was afraid the duck was going to bite her.

We didn't use zoom for this picture...we really were able to get this close to the birds. They weren't in cages!

This was so much fun for all of us! I would recommend it to anyone looking for something different to do at the beach.

Beach Fun

Okay, so I'm more than a little late with this post, but things have been really busy at the Carter house! We took a trip to the beach in early October. My parent's, Caitlin, and her boyfriend Dylan joined us for the beginning of the week and our friends, Peerli and Brent came at the end. We had so much fun! Honestly, October is my favorite time of the year to go to the beach. The water is crystal clear and usually calm, there are no crowds, and by that time of year we all can use a little fun in the sun! Harper LOVES the beach! It's especially fun when she's got people like my Mom, Dylan, and Dat-Dat to keep her entertained! She spent hours playing in the sand and water with them. We all went and hunted crabs one night, Harper was afraid of and amazed by the crabs. She would chase them with her little flash light until they got to close to her, then

she would take of running in the opposite direction. Every time she saw a hole in the sand she would ask "Is that a crab house?" So cute!! We took her to an Alvin's Island and let her pick out a hermit crab to take home, she was so excited but hides in a chair when ever we let it wander around on the carpet.

While Brent and Peerli were there we decided to go to a zoo. I was a little hesitant to visit a zoo at the beach, but I'm so glad we did! It was wonderful. All of the animals were really close up and Harper got to feed ducks and other birds and pet a wolf! She thought this was the best thing! It was pretty fun for the adults as well...how often do you get the opportunity to pet a wolf?!?

Overall, this was a wonderful and much needed vacation for us all! Each year is more and more fun with Harper. I can't wait to see what next is like!

Bathing Beauty! This is Harper's first little two-piece bathing suit! Thanks Grammie!!

All ready for crab hunting!