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!

 Playing Duck-Duck-Goose with water.

 I think we had about 20 kids total. I told them to eat their watermelon and pizza outside on the tarp. Totally cut down on the mess!

 The chaos with everyone inside.

 This is Ryan after two slices of pizza, countless grapes, and a cupcake.

 Getting the candles lit!

 Happy Birthday to Jamie! Can't believe she's 5 years old!

 Opening presents.

It was the BIGGEST, LOUDEST, CRAZIEST party ever!! So much fun. 

Grant and Hailey Get Hitched!

My brother Grant got married this last Friday! Ryan and I flew up to SLC and then drove with my family to Idaho Falls, ID. All of us stayed in this awesome Air BnB that had everything we needed. Here's Grant and my sister Alli being goofy. 

 Alli and Grant hanging out in the basement.

 Ryan trying out the Thomas the Tank Engine toys.

 The day of the wedding, all of us went over to Hailey's parent's house for pizza and fun. Their backyard is an amazing 14 acres and it was all green and gorgeous. Adrienne and I had to get a quick pic.

 The newlyweds. These two are the cutest. They've been married for 3 months now!

 Dad just chillin.

 Ryan got LOTS of attention with no older sisters around.

 Grant and Hailey!!!! This was just a few hours before they were sealed in the temple.

 Auntie Age and Ry Ry.

 Ryan and I got to bond even more!

Mom, me, and Adrienne waiting for Grant and Hailey to come out of the temple. The actual sealing was brief, but beautiful. 

 

My sister Natalie has a nice camera, so we used the time before Grant and Hailey came out of the temple to take some pics of us and the kids. Ryan hamming it up.

Yes, I got Maddie and Tanner to smile!! Ryan loved his cousins, and he loved Maddie's lollipop too! Lol

My fave shot of me and Ryan.

IDK why I am making such a weird face in this pic.

The happy couple! They're officially married now!!!

 Ryan hanging out after Grant and Hailey's reception.

 The next day we went to Kneader's for lunch with Age and David. 

 Ryan getting spoiled by Grami and Grampi.

 On the flight back, we were flying on Ryan's 1st Birthday, so the flight attendants at Southwest Airlines let me and Ryan go into the cockpit! We got to meet Captain Pat and Ryan got to push some buttons. It was so nice of them!

 Ryan and Captain Pat.

I think I enjoyed getting to sit in the co-pilot's seat even more than Ryan did! It was so cool! The whole trip would not have been possible without the help from my father-in-law Daniel! He watched the girls while Ben worked and we traveled. I missed Jamie and April so much while we were gone, but I knew they were in good hands. And when Ben, Ryan, and I traveled to SLC for David and Adrienne's wedding in March, my mother-in-law Cynthia watched the girls for us. I feel so blessed to have awesome in-laws who were able to help us out twice for my siblings' weddings.

Easter Sunday and the Many Egg Hunts

We had a wonderful Easter this year! Ben got Friday off, so we used it to go to a nearby park and play. The kids had a great time and it was perfect weather. We brought along some snacks and had a little mini-picnic. Ryan loved the little tunnel.

 Jamie and April like it when they can find a picnic table just their size.

 

 A roly-poly bug Daddy found! 

 We walked to this little pond nearby and watched the ducks swim around. It was a little bright outside. Hahaha.

 On Saturday our ward Primary threw an Easter egg hunt for the kiddos! Jamie and April had a blast.

 Ryan enjoyed being outside and sitting with me.

 On Easter Sunday the girls got all dolled up in the beautiful dresses Grandma Millie got for them. We had to do a mini-photo session because they just looked too cute.

 I think this one shows the girls' personalities the best. Hahaha.

 We had our home teacher literally take six different photos of our family, and this was the best of the batch. Hahaha. Hard to get everyone looking AND smiling at the same time.

 After church we headed over to my mom and dad's house for another Easter egg hunt!

I felt like this Easter was our best one yet! We had a nice Easter dinner together as a family and spent a lot of time reflecting and thinking about the resurrection of our Savior, Jesus Christ. I am so grateful for the Gospel and all the wonderful blessings we enjoy!