Happy 5th Birthday Olivia Lynn!

Our beautiful baby girl turned 5 years old on June 12. When we got up that morning Daddy got a birthday donut for everyone (tradition) and Olivia opened her presents from us and Ethan. We gave her a PJ Sparkles set, Ariel shirt and Ariel nightgown. Ethan gave her an Ariel nightlight - so cute. Daddy went to work and as you can see from the previous post we spent the day at the zoo with Sasha, Aunt Anne & Liam, and Elly & boys. On Saturday we had a small birthday party for her. Grandpa, Grandma Mary, Papa, Grammy, Nana, Uncle Shaz, Aunt Andrea, Parker & Cobie, Josh, Melissa, Ellie & Natalie. Unfortunately a lot of other people we invited couldn't make it, but it's summer and everyone is busy. Olivia loved playing with Ellie and Natalie - by far her favorite part of the day! I really think that's all she wanted for the day! After everyone else left the Bensons stayed and Josh and Scott helped the kids get down the slip & slide. Olivia had the best time she said it was "the best birthday party ever!" So sweet.

Zoo Trips

We have recently taken several trips to the John Ball Zoo. Once I took the kids by myself and we had a good time, enjoyed beautiful weather and each other's company. We were entranced by one of the female lions. She was so close to the window playing with a rock like it was a ball. The rock kept rolling back into the water and the fact that we could hear it all and that she was so close was spellbinding.

















Another time we went after church with Daddy. The kids had a blast! Olivia and Daddy rode a camel (still can't believe it was Olivia who wanted to do that and not adventurous Ethan) and the three of them visited with the sting rays. I think Scott was the only one who actually touched them. Ethan had his hand in the water and while he was looking away a sting ray grazed his hand - boy did he jump! I think the most memorable part for the kids was when we entered the frog place and in one of the aquariums a worker was putting in a stick and we could only see her hand. It totally freaked them out! Ethan told that story a dozen times to anyone who would listen.













Finally, we went to the zoo on Olivia's 5th birthday. We met Sasha, Aunt Anne & Liam, and Elly & boys there. It was a lot of fun watching the kids run around together. Also, it was Liam's first time at the zoo and he really seemed to like checking out all of the animals. Here are a few pictures of Olivia's birthday morning and then at the zoo.

















I love that Ethan got an Ariel nightlight for Olivia.















Starting the day off right - with ice cream!













Olivia being a big helper with Robert.