Ben and Elena: Ryan's Birthday and Jamie's Birthday and Everything in Between

Our little man Ryan turned one year old in July! Since we were traveling back from Grant and Hailey's wedding on his actual birthday, the flight attendants on our Southwest Airlines flight let Ryan sit in the cockpit with the Captain! That was super cool. I think I enjoyed it even more then Ryan did.

When we got back home the next day we did the whole cake-and-presents thing. Ryan loved his cake. But to be honest, there's really no food this kid doesn't devour in two seconds!

Grami and Grampi Garcia got Ryan a basketball, football, and soccer ball. He hasn't played with anything else in an entire month! He loves carrying them all around the house.

Eating cake. 'Nuff said.

Our boy sure loves to share! Hahaha.

Ben finished the kid's playscape! They love it and play on it all the time when it's not 150 degrees outside.

Jamie finished her swim lessons! She did two weeks through the city with one of her friends from our mom Meetup group. She is much more confident in the water now and likes trying to swim without her floaties.

Jamie with her swim lesson teacher, Mr. Spencer.

We went on a super fun day trip to Mansfield Dam out on Lake Travis. We got there nice and early so we got a great picnic table spot to put all our stuff on. Ryan LOVES being outside.

April ready to swim.

Enjoying the beachy part of the lake.

For playgroup on Jamie's actual birthday, we went to New Braunfels to the Animal World and Snake Farm Zoo. You get to go up close to the animals and they also have roaming chickens and peacocks. The kids loved it!

April enjoyed looking at the jaguars.

Here is the adorable Fennec Fox that the kids got to pet.

They had a petting zoo with sheep and goats and pigs, and those animals were CRAZY!! They loved their food.

Jamie enjoyed chasing the baby chicks around and holding them.

Jamie with her friend Annabelle.

Touching the huge python. This is about as close as I got.

Jamie was a very lucky girl this year, because not only did she get to go to the zoo on her actual birthday, but then she had an amazing Birthday party two days afterwards with tons of friends and family! We played backyard water games and ate watermelon, pizza, and cake. The kids had such a fun time!

The colorful cupcakes Grami Garcia made for the party.

The cake! Grami made this one too.

I got a slip n' slide from WalMart for under $10. Totally worth it! Took the kids a little while to figure it out.

April enjoying the kiddie pool.

Ryan loved being a part of the action.

This was the biggest hit of the party. I put a sprinkler on the slide and then a tarp at the end and the kids took turns going down. Jamie wouldn't because she said, "I'm terrified!" But a lot of the other kids did!