Sawyer's First Day of kindergarten update

The first day of school went so well for my kids and Sawyer was especially adorable so I wanted to document it.  I went to pick them up and when Sawyer walked into the cafeteria he was beaming.  From head to toe, the kid was beaming.  He told me all about how they read the story about the gingerbread boy and then made a gingerbread boy but when they opened the oven, he was gone!  They went on a scavenger hunt to find him and he was excited the note the gingerbread boy left at the end of the day that said, "I'll see you tomorrow."  He was so proud of himself for eating his lunch all gone and he said his favorite part of Kindergarten was nap time.  Which is hilarious to me because he hasn't had a nap time in a long, long time.  I guess he must just love being wrapped up in my quilt!  We had some friends over the so they were busy playing after we got home, but later that night we went out to dinner to celebrate the first day of school and on the way home Sawyer asked if I wanted to hear the 2 stories his teacher had read him that day.  He has always been able to come home from church or preschool and tell me stories in detail and that night he went on for 45 minutes telling me the stories of the gingerbread boy and the little red engine.  The funniest part was in the middle of telling me the little red engine story he said, "Wait, I forgot something....I need to start over." And he totally did.  The whole time I was just sitting there and listening to his excitement as he told these stories and I was grateful for a sweet, cute little boy who loves school.  Even if I miss him like crazy.
He has popped out of bed in the mornings and come home every day this week with the same excitement as the day before, reporting on what he had for snack time and what his "special" was for the day (art, pe, music or library).  Yesterday he told me he spent most of recess "hoolie hooping" and I just thought it was the cutest thing I had ever heard.
His teacher has told me twice that he is just the sweetest boy in the world and, although she might be saying it to every parent she sees....I think it is so true.  Sawyer is really just the best.  Last night we were playing outside after dinner and I was laying in the hammock and he asked me if he could sit with me, "Like baby Sawyer used to."  And so we did.

First Day of school - 2013

Sawyer popped out of bed and ran into my bedroom like it was Christmas morning.  This boy was ready for Kindergarten!  Kate was ready too...but is getting old enough to drag herself out of bed with a yawn...she is learning to love sleeping in.  After a breakfast, as requested, of waffles, berries and cream and getting everything in order, we took a few pictures and headed off to school.  

 Kate with Mrs Connolly

 Sawyer with Mrs Minnucci

Now what are Clara and I going to do all day long by ourselves?

Summer Vacation - two weeks in Tucson

 Clara looking cool at the beginning of our LONG drive from Spanish Fork to Tucson

Clara coloring on her legs at the end of our LONG drive....sometimes a mommy just lets her do what makes her happy

Like give her Laffy Taffy

And glow sticks

A beautiful sunset as we drive in to Tucson

Papa reading the Chaldean Star to my kids...a book he read to me when I was little.  I think Kate would have stuck with it but Sawyer was a little antsy so they switched to Where's Waldo.  

Epic at the cheap theater.  This girl LOVES movie nights at home and she was loving it at the theater too

Culver's custard

Grammie and Papa have a little basketball court in their yard that the kids spent hours playing on.  One of Kate and Sawyer's favorite things to do was draw out a big city map.  Kate drew herself a nice Target.  Her house was right across the street from it.

They called it Sawkaterton

Our first, hot trip to the zoo

Feeding the giraffes

The elephants were swimming because even they thought it was just too hot!

After the zoo we ate lunch at our favorite place

More fun in the backyard after running through the sprinkler.  

An extra cute streaker

Dinner on the back porch

Grammie has this little house that Clara thought was the perfect size for her and she was always trying to climb into it.  She even got stuck a few times and had to yell for help...but it didn't stop her from trying again!

I couldn't resist these cute matching dresses just in case this next baby is a girl!  (Don't worry, they were way cheap!)

Kate got a hair cut...She went from way too long to just long

More eating outside...and Sawyer with crazy eyes

Picking peaches...they were so yummy!

I had a craving for some traditional Townsend food.  Usually its for Thanksgiving or New Year's Eve but a Saturday in July worked too.  

My first Sonoran hot dog

Swimming at my kid's favorite pool ever!  They LOVED the diving board!

Peter Piper Pizza....like Chuck E Cheese only every game ISN'T a quarter and they have a roller coaster and merry-go-round

Clara watching TV with Papa after the other kids were in bed

Our crazy attempt at a cousin picture!  

Corn on the cob with pretty nails

The kids loved having glow sticks in the dark outside on 2 of the nights

Monsters University with yummy snacks!

 Zoo trip #2

 Visiting Papa at work

Le Salsa!  OH MY

And one last MONSOON!!

My sisters and I took the kids to fro-yo one night while the others were napping

One last sunset before we headed home

Getting ready to board the airplane!

Hooray!  She naps!  

 It was such a great vacation in Tucson!  Although it was crazy my sisters and all our 8 kids staying in the same house, my kids had the most amazing time with their cousins and I loved getting to hang out with my mom, dad and sisters.  Always a good time!