My 25th Birthday!

For not wanting this birthday day to really come, it turned out great and being 25 is not that bad! I was a little apprehensive about turning 25, don't ask me why. :) But, what an awesome quarter of the century birthday I had! :) Alivia actually slept in til 8:30 a.m. That was a pleasant birthday gift to her momma, as I was able to enjoy a very long shower and actually get ready for the day in the morning and not during one of her naps. I did a quiet time before Layla came because she usually comes at 7:30 a.m. but her grandpa dropped her off closer to 8:00 a.m. I watched Layla til 1:00 p.m. and Ben got off work early and arrived home at 1:00 p.m. so we could go to the Denver Zoo. The zoo just so happen to have a free day on my birthday! We have never been, so we thought it was a perfect opportunity to go. We enjoyed the zoo and compared to the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, it was a pleasant scenery change. It was more like a large park with animals to roam around then how the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is set up. After the zoo, we went to a Mexican restaurant that my friend Laura recommended called "Bennys." :)It was terribly hard to find a parking spot. We almost went searching for another place, but we finally found one and it allowed Alivia to get in a little snooze in before dinner. It was just OK to me, which was kind of a bummer since we don't eat out too often (limited budget for eating out) but Ben enjoyed it so that was a positive. We then proceeded to Laura's house hung out with the newly married couple for a little while in Denver before going home. It was a very awesome day with friends and family. Cute sleeping polar bear! One of the ugliest animals I've seen in person! haha Mama tiger with her cubs (There were actually 4 cubs but the other one was playing elsewhere, while these little guys were eating meat out of a pumpkin for Halloween) One big elephant! We had to get a picture of a camel for Ben! Alivia clapping, happy to watch the animals! Alivia pointing at a monkey! I think she wanted to go play with him/her (just her size :) Aliva and mommy! Alivia and daddy! I also celebrated my birthday with 2 different family parties and thoroughly enjoyed both days with family! :) Luke in front of all the gifts (We had a fall birthday party, celebrating Luke, Ben, and me) Jo and Grandma at the birthday party! Alivia and Joel playing together! Alivia loves this play horse! Alivia on a play horse with her cousin Janelle. So cute to watch them interact!