Ezra's Birthday and the Zoo

Ezra's Birthday Party!

So I know you already saw a little bit from the last post, but Ezra had his very first birthday, along with his very first birthday party! It was so much fun! We combined Brock's and Ezra's parties for a double party: double the cake, double the treats, double the presents, and literally, double the fun. It was so cute to see both babies eat their very own cakes, then sharing with each other, unwrapping presents by each other and trying to steal them from each other, etc. etc. Here are the pics! 

Ezra was excited about his party even before he knew what was coming. He loves parties and all the happy people!

Kendra made these adorable cupcakes for the festa! She was also our official photographer, which was SO nice, because Star, Trent, Tanner, and I could focus on the babies and keeping the party going. I am so grateful for good friends like her! 

For a long time, Ezra just looked at his cake. Then he poked it with one finger. Then a hand. Then two!

Two hands = a definite good thing

After Ezra played in his cake for a while, Tanner decided to pop a piece in Ezra's mouth. He loved it!

Even with all the chocolate on it, I just wanna give that little grin a big, fat smooch!

Can you spot the photobomb?

Ezra taste-testing a little bit of Brock's cake.

Brock taste-testing a little bit of Ezra's cake.

Best frenemies. Ezra looks like a little goofball here but this pic is still too cute not to put up. 

And all the other kids were very willing to help Ezra open his gifts!

And here's the rest of the party:

Tammy Boo with Baby Emmett.

Atticus enjoying his treats.

Roxy looking beautiful in her golden princess crown.

Baby Henry being a doll as always.

The Simmons having a super-duper good time.

The general ambience. 

 

The Zoo!

Since Tanner is on break, we are able to do so many fun things! We have been spending a lot more time at the pool, beach, and splashpad, and last week we were even able to go to the zoo! It was a blast. We went with our friends Dave and Lauren and their three kids, Roxy, Atticus, and Sayer, and with Trent, Star, and Brock. We got this great deal on Groupon where we paid less than the price of a normal ticket and got to feed giraffes and parrots, an all-day monorail pass, and free zoo cups. Yay for Groupon!

Ezra's favorite animals were the otters. He loved how active they were. They were nonstop running and swimming around their little cage.

Ezra riding a Komodo Dragon. 

The real Komodo Dragon looked just about as alive as the bronze one. 

An Asiatic Bear.
While we were watching it, Ezra began pointing and saying, "Beh! Beh!" We were amazed. We were asking ourselves, "Is 'bear' his first word? He is so smart! Such an early talker!" Then we got to the elephants, and he pointed, "Beh! Beh!" and the antelopes, and he said, "Beh! Beh!" and the Capyburas, "Beh! Beh! Beh!" Okay, well, it was worth hoping.

Ezra riding the bear. 

The kids all enjoying the meerkats.

Minature horses

In the petting zoo, Ezra was more intrigued with this pole than the goats. Brock agreed that it was, indeed, a very interesting pole. 

Going for the horns.

Loving the fake water buffalo!

Ezra loved the tiger. It was pretty active and he just watched it walk back and forth, back and forth in its exhibit.

He was proud to be wearing his tiger shirt while watching the tiger itself.

Watching Daddy feed the giraffe.

This picture makes Ezra look way more confident than he was! I gave him the lettuce just to hold, then put him next to the giraffe. Then the giraffe reached out his long tongue and wrapped it around the lettuce in Ezra's hand. As soon as the giraffe took it, Ezra whipped back his hand to his chest, like, "What the heck was that?!" It was so funny!

You don't normally see pictures of me laughing like this, but with Ezra's reaction, I couldn't help it.

I could not convince him to take the lettuce again, nor get close to the giraffe.

He loved this elephant.

As you can see.

Basically every animal I picture is an animal Ezra loved.

We were so close up to the jaguar. Ezra pressed his face up against the glass and watched it until it left.

Ezra wants to be a jaguar when he grows up.

Parrot feeding!

Ezra loved being in the middle of all the birds. He got to practice his new pointing skills.

He didn't ever notice the bird on Dad's shoulder though.

Three babies in a jaguar cut-out board. This is the best we got.

Other Fun Things!

We went to the splashpad with Daddy for the first time! Ezra only cried a couple times. He was in heaven for the rest of it, running around all on his own through and around the water.

I got a haircut! Thank you, Lauren! As you can see, I got bangs, and I am loving them. 

This was Ezra this morning. We love waking up to this baby.

And that's all the cuteness for now!

 This post was a little early because Tanner's family is coming in tomorrow! I want to give all my time and attention to them while they are here! We can't wait!