Austin's Birthday, July 2013

Our little buddy turned five the week after school started.

He requested his cake have "a picture of a boy taking a garbage can to jail."  He is always making up funny stories to entertain us.

Grandma and Grandpa Luke came up to celebrate with us.  

The kids have fun every day helping him build with his small Legos.

 

We love you, Austin!!

Back to School, July 2013

The kids were very excited to go to school.  Mary has the same teachers this year, so she knew exactly what to expect.  Anna and Austin have wonderful teachers and are having a great year so far.  Sarah ran and got her lunchbox when she saw the kids getting ready.

The girls requested "lots of ponytails" in their hair for the first day.

 

Austin was ecstatic to finally take his turn as a kindergartner.

Our school had "Back to School Morning" on the first day of school.  Usually, this event is hosted in the evenings.  This year, I got a run for my money trying to attend three different orientations in one hour.  This is Anna's English classroom.

The kids' school was featured in the Deseret News on the first day of school.  The two women on the right are Anna's teachers, Madame Millward and Mrs. Wilcox.

Sarah was happy to see the kids come home.  This poor sweetie was a little bored with just Mommy.

Anna helped me make tacos the weekend after school started.  She decided to make her own taco stand to raise money for Austin to buy her a sewing machine (I have been sewing a lot lately, and Austin could tell Anna is excited to learn).  Miss Fleur and Mr. Fleur were her only customers, but they said the tacos were delicious.  Here is Davey Fleur trying to buy a taco with his British credit card.

 And some other card.  In the end, he gave Anna an IOU since he didn't have any American money.

Austin had his first full day of school the next week, the day after he turned five.

Sarah loves picking him up from school.  Her kitty cat came along for the ride this time.

Summer Vacation, July 2013

We had three and a half weeks of summer break before we went back on track for the new school year.  We tried to make every day count.

On the first day of summer break, Austin graduated from Rusty and Rosy.  Good timing, kid!

Look at these expressions!

 

We had a bagel picnic in the park for the Fourth of July.  The kids love this holiday.  Sarah sang, "Happy Birthday, America!" for weeks.

Still not sure how much the kids like sparklers....

 

 

We caught a couple fun presentations at the library.

Anna taught school to prepare Austin for kindergarten.

We made sock bubble blowers.

 

Mary bought a stuffed hamster with her allowance.  Helena often joins us at mealtime.

This girl gets more beautiful every day.

Sarah loves to be outside.

Mom loves to give her baby hugs.

The kids took classes in the park.  Sarah's class was swinging and sliding.

Mary and Anna took an art class.

Austin's class was called "Balls of Fun."  He had a lot of fun with soccer balls, baseballs, basketballs, bowling balls, tennis balls, bouncy balls, and water balloons.

 

Patio art:

Self-photography:

Grandma Joy and Grandpa Wolf came to visit.

Sarah had lots of fun at the park with Grandpa.

We went to the Edstrom family reunion.

 

 

 Grandpa told the kids about the pet hamster he had as a kid.

Sarah decided she wanted to be a big girl!

We finally figured out how to make homemade Gak.  Third time was the charm.

 

 

Guess who won "Pretty, Pretty Princess?"

We love having amateur photographers in the house!

 

A trip to the splash pad:  

We finally made it to the 24th of July Parade in Bountiful:

 

 

A trip to Temple Square and City Creek:

 

Okay, back to school we go!