Sawyers Family News

Which one, Which one?

noreply@blogger.com (Sawyers Family) — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 00:25:00 +0000

The other day, my friend, Toni, took some pictures of my family. She said she wanted "practice" for a family shoot she has over Christmas, and I jumped at the chance...now I just have to choose which one I like the most!!

He's 4--I can't believe he's 4!!

noreply@blogger.com (Sawyers Family) — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 02:08:00 +0000

Today was an extra fun day at our house! We got to celebrate Isaac's 4th Birthday.
Birthday's get better for him every year...
At one, he had NO clue what was going on...
At two, he got a tricycle and had NO clue how to ride it...
At three, Chick-fil-A was all he wanted...
But at four...we've hit the BIG time. He knew that we sing on his Birthday and that he gets to pick what he wants to eat (honey bun cake for breakfast) and that pretty much the whole day is dedicated to him.
So for those of you who asked me to take lots of pictures...here you go!

The festivities started off yesterday when I made him his Mickey Mouse Birthday Cake...it's a chocolate cake with Butter cream icing... (more picts here)

I was super panicked to make it for him, but when I finished I was so proud of myself! It was so much easier than I ever imagined and turned out better than I ever thought it would have!
And the best part, Isaac LOVED it!

Isaac got to open up a present before church this morning...

He got a new tie and belt...I love that Kevin had to tie it for him. (Makes me love him even more when he's so darn sweet with our kids!)

Then tonight we had the Sawyers clan over for cake and ice cream...we got a fun family shot...only Maylee refused to look at the camera...

The birthday boy with his cake...

And him opening his presents...he got a TON of gifts...but for some reason I didn't get very many pictures of him opening them...bummer!

Yes, we did cake AFTER the gifts...he was so excited to open the presents!
All in all his day was a happy one and I am so glad to have him in my family. He makes each day a little brighter and a little funnier. He is so smart and talented. I love him more than words can explain!

Happy Birthday Isaac-man!
I love you!
Mom

Isaac's Hallelujah Chorus

noreply@blogger.com (Sawyers Family) — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 00:20:00 +0000

Just Isaac

noreply@blogger.com (Sawyers Family) — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 08:00:00 +0000

Isaac has mastered his "s"...he just has to say "squiggle, squiggle, squiggle" to get it right!

Maylee had bit Isaac earlier today and I thought she was going to attack again...so I told her no biting...she put an arm around Isaac and he looked at me and said, "She just loves me, Mom."

Our Terrible Three's are FAR WORSE than Terrible Two's EVER WERE! He throws crying, screaming fits...and tries to talk while he's crying...we've even had fits in public. This is all new to me and I don't know if I'm dealing with it very well at all!

While I was working on my Christmas decorations (seen here), Isaac and Kevin were busy themselves making paper snowflakes!

The other day Isaac surprised us and wrote his whole name...in the correct order! I'm pretty proud of my boy! He can write his name and he's not even 4 years old. I guess now it's time to start on the last name!!

Just Maylee

noreply@blogger.com (Sawyers Family) — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 08:00:00 +0000

Maylee got a black eye this month. We were all wrestling around...I tickled Kevin, his foot jerked and hit Isaac, and Isaac's head hit Maylee's face...resulting in a goose egg that we put ice on immediately which turned into a black eye.

Maylee has also really gotten into make believe. The other day she was washing daddy's hair...

He doesn't have much to wash, but what he does have was really dirty! :)

Isaac and Maylee were in the back seat of the car having a "conversation"
Maylee: "Nasty"
Isaac: **squeal** "stop"
Maylee: **laugh** "fu--yee" (funny)
Maylee: "Nasty"
Isaac: **squeal** "stop"
Maylee: **laugh** "fu--yee" (funny)
rinse and repeat for a full five minutes...it was all I could do to keep from laughing out loud it was so cute!

Maylee went to school with Isaac today at the Burbridges house. They have a beautiful dog named Mocha. We've been hearing about Mocha for days!!

Maylee has discovered that she loves to dance! Now, I just need to capture it on video!

Maylee refuses to wear anything but a dress...we have to convince her to put pants on under them to help keep her little legs warm! She's such a princess!

What am I Thankful for?

noreply@blogger.com (Sawyers Family) — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 00:53:00 +0000

As I sit here, I am listening to Christmas music...that's right...I've been listening to it for a week now. For some reason, I have been wanting to feel the "spirit" of the season for a long time!

But I have also been thinking about all of the things I am thankful for...I have lots to be thankful for this year!

I am thankful for my husband...a hard working man who does everything in his power to let me stay home and take care of our kids. What a huge blessing that is in my life to be home with my kids.

I am also thankful that he is so willing to help around the house. He folds laundry, washes dishes, makes dinner, and mops the floor without a second thought.

I am also thankful he holds the Priesthood worthily and blesses my home with it each and every day.

I am thankful for my sweet children. I love when they play together. You can just feel the love in our house.

I am thankful for Isaac being such a good big brother and Maylee being a great sister.

And of course, I love when my kids are helping me work around the house! That's a total bonus in my book!

I am thankful for goodly parents who taught (and still teach) me very important things. I love them more than I can express and I grow more appreciative of them each day.

(missing one brother, Josh. Sorry I don't have a pic of you!) LtoR Austin, Mark, Grandmother, and Samuel.)

I am thankful for brothers who protected me and teased me--it made me stronger!! I am thankful for a sister, who I prayed would come to our family, who is now one of my best friends!

I am thankful for in-laws who are kind and generous. I love them and I wouldn't change them for the world!

I am also thankful for sisters-in-law (Suzanne, Jenilee, Hanaga and Heather) who are some of my best friends...women whom I would call sisters. I am thankful for wonderful brothers-in-law who love these ladies (and my sister) with all their hearts!

I am thankful for Grandmothers and Grandfathers, Aunts and Uncles and cousins.

I am thankful for WIS international for hiring my husband during the greatest economic turmoil our country has seen in YEARS!

I am thankful for friends, both mine and my kids.

I am thankful for our Soldiers, past and present. I am thankful for the pioneers who walked across the plains. I am thankful for Joseph Smith. I am thankful for The Book of Mormon.

But most of all, I am thankful for my Savior, Jesus Christ, for the atoning sacrifice he made for me and for all of us. For his selfless act in the Garden of Gethsemane. For his undying love for each of us. And that because of him my family can be together forever.

I hope each and every one of you have a Thankful Thanksgiving. Remember all of the people who have made sacrifices so we could enjoy the freedoms we have.

Happy Thanksgiving!
-Jennie

Jenga

noreply@blogger.com (Sawyers Family) — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 19:19:00 +0000

Ever played Jenga with a 2 year old and an almost 4 year old?

Well, it results in a lot of this...

The kind of mom I want to be...

noreply@blogger.com (Sawyers Family) — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 19:51:00 +0000

I hope that 30 years from now, my kids remember me being a fun, happy, playful mom. I hope they have fond memories from their childhood. I do.
I remember my mom jumping on our trampoline.
I remember helping my mom cook.
I remember playing tether ball in the backyard with my mom.
I remember gardening with my mom.
I remember swimming with my mom.
I remember my mom eating ice like it was chocolate when she was pregnant with my youngest brother.
I remember lots of fun things I did as a child with my mom.
There are 6 kids in my family...my mom had to devote time to them all, yet I don't think any of us ever felt slighted in her love or attention.
I want to be this kind of mom.
I want to be the mom who's kids talk about her with love, admiration, and fondness.
I want to be the mom who gets dirty with her kids in the muddy back yard.
I want to be the mom who sits on the sidewalk and draws Mickey Mouse--and Minnie--for hours on end.
I hope I am always this mom...

(we're playing Donald Duck Space Ship...putting on our seat belts)

(we can't forget to talk to Professor Vondrake, so we know where to go!)

(Here we are blasting off to find Pluto's bouncy ball)

I read in a Nicholas Sparks book one time about how (when you become a parent) and it's time to get to church on time, you're always late. When you're trying to get dinner on the table, you never have enough time. But when it comes to playing with your kids, time ticks by so slowly. You can play dolls, dress-up, space ships, trucks, blocks, anything...and it only takes 10 minutes off the clock. So true, but those few minutes are priceless--and I love them!

We like to party!

noreply@blogger.com (Sawyers Family) — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 19:45:00 +0000

I have that song stuck in my head...

we like...we like to party...don't know who sings it...but I do know it was probably from the mid to late 90's when it hit the airwaves...

Anyway, you're probably wondering why I'm even talking about this song...but my kids and I like to party.
On Wednesday's, Kevin is gone to work all day and then gone all evening at Scouts. We don't mind that he's gone because we like to party!

I pop popcorn and the kids and I watch a movie...my kids love to snuggle me while we watch! It's so much fun.

Too bad Kevin was home for this party and the kids wanted nothing to do with him...just wanted to snuggle mom! Love it!

Fun, cheap, easy craft

noreply@blogger.com (Sawyers Family) — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 19:46:00 +0000

I was in need of a Relief Society Activity for November and saw this craft on this blog and thought it would work well.

So I made it...and Maylee looks adorable in it!

Yes, she has a black eye...long story...she's better now...nuf said!
We're making them at my house this Tuesday...bring 1/3 yard of fleece and matching thread...it so simple a toddler could make it!

Joy School

noreply@blogger.com (Sawyers Family) — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 19:46:00 +0000

My kids love joy school...and when I say love...I mean Isaac jumps up and down Tuesday night so excited for school the next day. Maylee gets so excited she wants to go to school with Isaac! She calls it..shool.

This week I was blessed to teach both Isaac's class and Maylee's class. Isaac's class consists of 5 kids...3 adorable girls and 2 boys who are best buddies. At my house we practice letters. I spend the night before class making each kids name out of dotted lines, so they can practice writing their names by connecting the dots. I try to have some sort of snack and craft. This week I went all out!

Not only did we practice our names, but we wrote out our phone numbers. One of the little girls is a rock star at this! (she does have 3 older sisters) Isaac did pretty well. All week long we have been focusing on how to make an "s". Up until now the "s" has eluded us. So for his letters, he only want to do his "s". He would write the "s" while saying, "squiggle, squiggle"

For our snack we had homemade Maraschino Cherry Cookies. They were very yummy.

Then for our craft...we made turkey hats. Thanks to Family Fun, we did this...

Isaac loves his so much, he wore it the whole afternoon, evening, and even this morning!

Maylee enjoyed her's, but not as much...

(he looks like he's being tortured in this picture!)

I feel bad. The younger class did not get to do something this fun!

Maylee's class consists of 3 girls and 2 boys (twins). Ranging in age from 13 months to 27 months. (the teacher has her hands full!) We each try to focus on something these little kids need to learn, I try to teach them their colors. We worked on flash cards...played with blocks, colored turkey pictures, eat yummy popcorn and cookies, sang songs, and read books about colors.

I guess I was just too burnt out after the big kid class yesterday to do anything to stellar! I guess that just proves that there is no way I could homeschool.

Mickey, Minnie, Goofy...and friends!

noreply@blogger.com (Sawyers Family) — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 21:45:00 +0000

Mickey and Minnie's Friends: bottom row (L-R) Addie the Ladybug, Clara aka Annie, Shaelyn aka Cinderella, Maylee aka Minnie, Caroline aka Cinderella, and Isaac aka Mickey. Yes, he is a stud with all those ladies!

Just Maylee

noreply@blogger.com (Sawyers Family) — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 15:00:00 +0000

I have always wanted to try curling Maylee's stick straight hair. She actually sat still one morning and let me curl it...

I think it turned out pretty well.

Then, Kevin got a hold of her one evening. Maylee has a problem keeping her bangs out of her face and I am constantly pushing her hair out of her eyes...here was his solution...

Not bad for his first ponytail...

Maylee's vocabulary is increasing rapidly. She now yells at me from the potty, "Mommy, I done!" She has also said she needs to go potty on a consistent basis! I think we've finally turned a corner!

When we were up in Mt. Airy for the Autumn Leaves Festival, we spent the night with Grandma Hiatt. We got up for church on Sunday morning thinking we would only last for Sacrament Meeting, but little did we know Maylee had other plans. After the closing prayer was said, she looked up at me and said, "class." She went to class in a ward she didn't know with people she didn't know. She sure is a good example to all of us!

Tonight (Wednesday) when I was tucking Maylee in bed, I asked her if she knew what tomorrow is and she looked at me and said, "church?" I love that she loves to go to church.

Maylee has slept at nap time twice with no diaper...just her panties! It's hard to believe how quickly she's done this potty training thing.

Maylee watched Beauty and the Beast this last week for the first time, she loves Belle. Last night we were watching the ending of it and she started singing along with Mrs. Potts. Except she can't quite say all of the words, so she just kept repeating "beast".

I love the way my kids sleep. This is how I found Maylee...too funny!

Just Isaac

noreply@blogger.com (Sawyers Family) — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 14:54:00 +0000

During this past session of General Conference, the kids were playing pretty well together. I hear Isaac pushing this toy box into the front room and Maylee crying. (this toy box is Maylee's and the toys in it were her's) I told him he had to share with her, and instead he climbed inside the box!

"These are my toys I got from her room." he said. hum...

So I guess this is how Isaac shares!

I walked in to Isaac's room today and he and Maylee were playing at the foot of his bed. I asked him what they were doing, and he replied, "We're playing General Conference." He then asked me to bear my testimony.

Today in Sacrament Meeting we sang "Families Can Be Together Forever" for the closing song. This happens to also be one of the songs on Isaac's Primary CD. He heard the organ start to play and looked at me with a BIG grin on his face and said, "It's Families can be forgether forever!" Then he made my heart leap with joy when he sang just about every word to both verses!!

Isaac has learned to wink. He even winked at me during the Primary Program!

Isaac got into bed with Kevin and me this morning. I put his arm around my neck and snuggled in the crook of his arm. I said, "Do you like to snuggle like this?" He replied, "This is how I snuggle with Maylee."

I was working on Isaac's costume today and he was sitting at the table next to Kevin with his hand on Kevin's knee and a big grin on his face!

To kill time when we're in the car, I have been counting to ten in Spanish. Isaac is having fun learning this and recently has started counting on his own. "Uno, dos, siete, ocho, dies." Maybe he needs a little more practice?

We go out walkin'

noreply@blogger.com (Sawyers Family) — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 15:56:00 +0000

The kids and I have started going walking in the mornings. For those of you who have never been to my house, there is a HUGE hill you have to climb up to get to the main road. I have loving deemed this hill Mt. Vesuvius.
There is no way I could push Isaac and Maylee up that hill in a double stroller...I would be pushing almost 100 extra pounds! I know I'm buff, but not that buff!

So we get all bundled up...

and I make Isaac walk...

after he climbed this hill he was only half way done...

He was such a trooper and climbed this hill! (I think he liked being out walking on his own!)
Then, we turned to walk around behind the Food Lion close to our house and this is what we saw...

So we've discovered a new walking route...no train tracks involved, but also not much to see. We enjoy our walks...the kids get out and mom gets some exercise! I had been doing really well until I came down with this cold...but Monday I'm back at it!
PS. if you're trying to get to our house, call first for directions around the detour!

I heart old family pictures!

noreply@blogger.com (Sawyers Family) — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 18:27:00 +0000

My dad sends me forwards on a regular basis, most of them I just delete without even looking at them, but for some reason I decided I would open these emails.

And I am so glad I did! I opened up family treasures! Old family pictures that someone had scanned onto the computer and sent my dad, and he felt the need to share them with me. And I am so glad he did. I guess I will open all of his emails from now on!

This is Eliza Roxy Bond Pew. She is my dad's maternal grandmother. She's also the woman we are naming our next little girl after.

This is her and her father, Joseph William Bond.

Eliza is the one on the far right.

This is my Grandma O. She is my dad's mom. She looks a lot like her mom, huh?

My Grandma O is the second from the right. That's her brother next to her and her dad, Ellis Harvey Pew is on the far left.

There is something about old family pictures that I love. I love to see the faces that go with the names I have heard all of my life. I love to hear stories about my family members who have passed beyond the veil. Maybe it's all a part of "turning the hearts of the fathers to their children and the hearts of the children to their fathers."

My Grandmother Wright (my mom's mom) sent me a photocopied document in the mail all about her Grandmother, Martha Marilla Tryon Fuller. She is the grandmother we named Maylee after. Her nickname was Maley. I loved that name and it fit so well with Rose as a middle name that it stuck. Maylee Rose is named after two of my Great Grandmothers. (Maylee also happens to share my middle name) Now I feel as though I am more connected to her now that I know who she was and what she enjoyed doing.

After I got the pictures of my family, I started looking back in old emails for pictures of Kevin's family and came across a few gems, too. We can all see where Kevin gets his good looks!

This is a picture of the Hiatt family. My mother-in-law is the toddler. Her dad is Talmage (looks a lot like Kevin, just with hair!), Aunt Tama is on the far right, Aunt Sharon is the younger girl, Uncle Craig is on the far left, the taller boy is Uncle Kenny and Grandma Hiatt has her hands on Sharon's shoulders.

On the couch are Ethel Mene Puckett Hiatt and David Lafayette Hiatt. Kevin's grandpa is the second from the right. I know how Kevin will look as he gets older...and I'm okay with what I see!

This is Kevin's Great Grandpa David Hiatt 1973

This is my mother-in-law's Grandma Hiatt on the far right, and her mom's parents Grandma and Grandpa Williams on the far left.

I love old family pictures...and I can't wait to tell my kids the stories that go along with their family names. If only I could get my hands on a picture of Isaac Henry Bowman.

Trunk-or-treat

noreply@blogger.com (Sawyers Family) — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 01:39:00 +0000

For the last several months I have known what Isaac and Maylee would be for Halloween...did I get started then, NO...

I waited...

and waited...

Until yesterday when I finally decided to get out the fabric and make their costumes. After hours of cutting, sewing, more cutting, sewing even more, and the best part, not ripping one seam, their costumes were almost done...

I finished them today...with a few hours to spare...

And if I may say so myself...they turned out pretty darn cute! (darn good for no pattern, right?)

I knew Mickey would be pretty easy and after I saw a Minnie costume for $30 in the store, I opted for homemade...

But let's be honest, putting the dots on her dress was labor intensive, to say the least!

The Trunk-or-Treat was tonight and the kids were so excited for it. Our ward does a Fall Festival/Chili Cook-off each year. This year did not disappoint. I can't believe how many people were there!

Isaac loved his costume, and when I say loved, I mean LOVED! He walked up to everyone who even glanced his way and said, "I'm Mickey Mouse!" at the top of his lungs!

Maylee loved hers, too. She would hold her arms high in the air and say, "Mi-yee" If you didn't know what she was saying, it could be easily confused with the way she says her name!

This picture is classic Isaac...especially when he's in Mickey Mouse mode...it looks like he's saying "Mickey Mouse Club Hoooooooooooooooouse!"

This is my favorite picture of the night. It shows how much Isaac loves his daddy. If you notice, he has his arm around Kevin's neck. Too sweet!

I'm hoping to get a couple better pictures of the two of them together this Halloween! To see last year's Fall Festival click here.

The Job Front

noreply@blogger.com (Sawyers Family) — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 18:14:00 +0000

(This is a long post...but if you're not in the mood for some "light" reading...scroll to the bottom to see if he got the job...)

Let's go back about a month ago.

Thursday September 17th: He randomly applies to a company named WIS Intl.

Thursday afternoon: phone call from Recruiter for WIS Intl. telling Kevin they are really interested in him and his potential. He told Kevin it would be several days before he heard anything else, but that they don't have any Inventory Managers in Winston-Salem, so it might be sooner than we think.

Friday September 18th: Phone call from WIS Recruiter. Setting up a face-to-face interview in Charlotte!

Wednesday September 23rd: We travel down to Charlotte for interview with WIS Intl. Kevin felt really good about this company and how his interview went. At this point, I tell him I have felt good about this company the entire time!
At this interview, they tell him that if they like him, they will call him by the end of the week.

Thursday September 24th: Scheduled his meeting with the Director of Operations for the following Wednesday.

Wednesday September 30th: Kevin meets with Director of Operations in Charlotte. He is told that if they are interested, they will give him a call in a few days.

An hour after he walked in the door after his interview, Kevin gets a phone call from WIS Recruiter and is asked for his DL # and SS # for a background check. They set up a time for Kevin to see what he will be doing as an Inventory Manager. He is also told that if they like him after this, he will have to take a drug test.

That night, Kevin meets with Area Manager at a Game Stop in Randalman to see what he will be doing as an Inventory Manager. When he's there, the AM says to Kevin, "You must have really impressed those guys, I have your drug test paperwork to give you."

Thursday October 1st: Kevin takes drug test

Monday October 5th: Drug test is back. Waiting on background check

Friday October 9th: HR Recruiter calls Kevin, tells him they will have an offer for him by the end of Friday or Monday at the latest.

Monday October 12: NO CALL

Tuesday October 13: Kevin calls HR Recruiter to see what's going on...and he's surprised that offer had not been communicated, yet.

Tuesday October 13: Kevin is called back by HR Recruiter to set up time to sign paper work for NEW JOB!!

Thursday October 15th: Kevin signs paperwork.

THAT'S RIGHT...HE GOT THE JOB!! My husband is no longer unemployed!

He was supposed to start work today, but they called and needed his information to be in the system first. So he's up to Winston to take care of paperwork.

We're very excited about how things have happened so quickly! There have been many prayers and tears shed on our behalf. At one point in this process, it felt like my prayers were just hitting the ceiling and bouncing back at me. But I testify that the windows to Heaven are open and that Heavenly Father does pour out his blessings upon those who are willing to ask for his blessing.
In the Bible Dictionary, it says this about prayer:
"The object of prayer is not to change the will of God, but to secure for ourselves and for others blessings that God is already willing to grant, but that are made conditional on our asking for them."
Heavenly Father was willing to bless Kevin with a job...we just needed to ask for it. And we did, along with countless others. I am sure I don't even know the number of people who prayed that Kevin would find a good job. But he's found it and we're so excited.
I now have a wonderful opportunity to teach my kids that Heavenly Father answers our prayers, for months Isaac has been praying "to help daddy find a new job", now he's got one and we can teach them that our prayers are answered! What a cool thing to teach to our 3 year old and 2 year old. That they can pray to Heavenly Father and he'll answer their prayers!

Now for questions I'm sure you all have:
1. Will we be moving to Charlotte? No, the interview was there, but where Kevin is working is in Winston-Salem, about 30 minutes from here. But really he's working all over our area and the office is in Winston.
2. I can't think of any more...so maybe I've already answered them? But if you do have more questions, just leave them in the comments!

Thanks again, for all of the prayers and thoughts for our family. We're truly being blessed right now!

Pumpkin Patch

noreply@blogger.com (Sawyers Family) — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 14:06:00 +0000

We went to a pumpkin patch yesterday with our friends. We had a great time.
The kids had a blast...when we first arrived, it was story time...

Isaac and our friend, Clara, really enjoyed the book. Maylee was having more fun staring at all of the other kids.

Then it was time for the hay ride...pulled by a BIG tractor!

Here are my cute kids waiting for the hay ride through the woods! There were ghosts and spiders and snakes put in the trees, but the most disconcerting thing there were the teenagers hanging from the trees! There was even a little 7 year old girl lying on the ground with her arms crossed like she was dead...it was very creepy even for us moms! Good thing we decided to laugh about it. I really think it helped the kids not be scared! It just seemed like too much for kids under 4!

After the hay ride...it was time to sing songs...

I think this is one of the actions to the song about a scarecrow...once again Maylee is too busy looking elsewhere!
But she got down to business when it was time to color!!

After they had finished their masterpieces, it was time to pick out their pumpkins!!

There were plenty to pick from...

Here are the cute kids with their pumpkins...doesn't Isaac look so proud?

I had a friend snap a picture of me with my cute kids!! I think I had just as much fun as they did, I think! I can't wait to do it again!

If you don't remember what my kids looked like last October, or just want to refresh your memory, click here.

The Autumn Leaves Festival

noreply@blogger.com (Sawyers Family) — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 17:29:00 +0000

If you have never been to the Autumn Leaves Festival in Mt. Airy, NC, it is worthy of a trip! We have been every year, except when last year when my brother Sam got married, and we have a BLAST every time we go!
For those of you who don't know, Mt. Airy is the home of Mayberry, from the Andy Griffith Show. Downtown Mt. Airy is home to Snappy Lunch and Floyd's Barber Shop. Snappy Lunch even serves the family Pork Chop Sandwich and when we were up there this last Saturday, the restaurant had a line out the door!

Mt. Airy closes down Main Street for 3 days...the streets are lined with people selling everything from Bloomin' Onions to Christmas decor! It's the most eclectic mix of crafts and food you have ever seen!

We got there and instantly found someone we just had to take a picture with!

that's right, a Barney Fife look-a-like! Isaac even got a high-5!

The Autumn Leaves Festival is also the place to taste your first ever Cotton Candy!!

Don't forget to read some of the signage...it will crack you up!!

Make sure you have a stranger take your picture--

And when we're in Mt. Airy, we have to stop by Grandma Hiatt's house (she's Kevin's Grandma) to let the kids use and abuse her backyard!!

Oh, how I wish I had a fence around my backyard!!

If anyone is up for going next year, let me know! We'll be there and would love for any and all to experience the Autumn Leaves Festival!!

PS. they have a candy store up there that will make your eyes bug out of your head!! (Just ask Isaac!)

Just Isaac

noreply@blogger.com (Sawyers Family) — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 07:00:00 +0000

Isaac started school this month...after one particularly fun class, he was getting into the car and looked at me and said, "Mom, I had the best time."

He loves to sing and his favorite song is "My Eternal Family" a.k.a "I am a Builder". I don't know the words, so I found them on the internet and we had to sing the song over and over...probably a DOZEN times. Isaac had so much fun!

We went to the Primary Activity today. The theme was Being Prepared. The Primary President asked the kids why we need to be prepared and Isaac raised his hand and said, "If you don't go to class, you might get sick."

One of the mini classes during the Primary Activity was about being spiritually prepared. Isaac was asked what he can do to be spiritually prepared and he said, "you need to close your eyes when you go under the water." The quick thinking teacher said, "that's right! BAPTISM!" Oh how I wish I was a fly on the wall in Primary!

That same afternoon as I was tucking Isaac in bed for his nap, he looked at me and said, "I had the BEST time!"

Kevin was headed out the door with his lunch in hand. This was the conversation:
I: Daddy, do you have your snack?
K: Yes, Isaac.
I: Don't lose it in your car. You might cry if you lose it.

I was told by one of Isaac's "teachers" at Joy School that her son had to be put in time-out and Isaac walked up to her and said, "He's my best friend and he just wanted to play with the toys!" too cute!

That night at dinner, Isaac was telling Kevin about what he had learned with his counting. Here is a video of our cute boy counting...

Isaac and Kevin had a converstation that went like this:
I: Come on people.
K: Are you people?
I: No, I'm just Isaac.

Isaac has a chore. He unloads the silverware. It's not hard, but it gives him some sort of work he has to do each day. I think it's good for him!

Just Maylee

noreply@blogger.com (Sawyers Family) — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 07:00:00 +0000

Maylee sleeps in a BIG girl bed...missed that post...go here.

Maylee has been wearing BIG girl panties for a couple of months now and has been waking up from naps and bed time with a DRY diaper! Maybe they're right when they say girls are easier to potty train. Maylee has been, ever since she got her Princess Panties! (but let's all remember it didn't start out easy!)

She started Joy School and has been walking around the house mooing like a cow...but today they talked about dogs at school, not cows! Maybe she's confused?

Her vocabulary is growing rapidly! She is constantly asking me "why?" even though we all know she doesn't care what the answer is...she just wants to ask "why".

Maylee stayed with Nana and Papa for 20 minutes...all by herself! I think they've figured out she's a pretty good kid and enjoyed having her there. She "helped" Papa with the laundry and then "helped" him make his bed.

Isaac had school today and learned about numbers. He was doing some counting for us. Maylee got in his chair and started counting what he was counting...we were so impressed...we had to record it!

Maylee has been saying the word Ice, but in all honesty it sounds like she saying the word a$$! She has also discovered how to say MESS! It's so fun to hear her vocabulary expand!

Maylee has a chore. She puts all of the tupperware away. She's pretty good at it, mostly because the cupboard is totally unorganized and right at her height!

On Being 29

noreply@blogger.com (Sawyers Family) — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 16:14:00 +0000

I am now in my last year of being a "Twenty Something"--life starts at 30, right?
I have often heard my mom say that she's still 23. That's the age in her life where she stopped aging and would really like to still be 23. I would have to say, so far up to this point in my life, my ideal age is 25. I loved being 25. A lot happened to me when I was 25!
I once had a friend tell me she couldn't wait to be 30, like life would finally start at 30. Not me, I have always thought 30 was OLD. That I would have gray hair (got that at 28) and that I would be well into my life...but now as I sit her typing and I am 11 months away from being 30, I'm thinking, being 30 might not be so bad!
Being in my 20's was a BIG deal...growing up you think about being 20 as a rite of passage, like you'll be older and wiser. Oh how that was not true! But I have to admit, I was excited not to be a teenager anymore!
Great things happened while I was a "20 something"!
I studied abroad in Spain while in college
I became an Aunt (now I have 3 nephews and 1 niece)
I graduated from college
I moved to Jacksonville, FL for my first REAL job
I met and married the man of my dreams
We traveled to Argentina...home of Kevin's 2 year mission
We moved to Utah
We were blessed with a sweet baby boy...who is one of the best things in my life still!
We moved to NC
We bought our first house
We were blessed with a beautiful and sassy baby girl...who is also one of the best things in my life still!
And now I am 29. Another milestone, but I'm not on the down slope of my life, not yet at least. As Oprah has said many times, "30 is the new 20!"
So on this my last year as a 20 something, I have some goals I want to accomplish. But instead of putting them out there for the entire blogging world to read, I will keep them to myself! Kind of like telling your wish when you blow out the candle, I want these goals to come true, so I can't tell!
Now the moment you've all be waiting for...my birthday pictures!
The post on my blog of my kids and Kevin singing to me, made me cry! I had just gotten home from Visiting Teaching. I was driving down the road and got pulled over for having expired tags, woops! I was an emotional mess, so that video was extra special.

For my birthday Kevin had some job interviews. We packed up the kids and went to Charlotte for the interviews. My mom and sister had given me money for my birthday and told me to spend it on myself. So that's just what I did. It's not easy for me to spend money on myself, but this time, I had no problems!

I found this cute quilting store and bought fabric. I am in the process of making a Christmas quilt, that will keep us warm through the holidays because I'm the kind of person who gets her tree out the day after Thanksgiving (unless I spend the whole day in Charlotte shopping, hint, hint)

Kevin and the kids sang Happy Birthday to me in the morning before breakfast and before I blew out the candles! It was a small party, but perfect. I got to spend the day with the 3 people I love the most!

(Kevin made this super yummy and moist cake!)

So here's to 29! I vow to be happier, healthier, a better friend, mother, sister, wife, daughter, daughter-in-law, and sister-in-law. I promise to be nicer to my kids and go out of my way to be friends with everyone--even if it's hard on me! I promise to make the best lemonade out of the lemons I am given--if anyone has a good recipe, please share!

29 is here and 30 is on her way! Here's to me!

FRUSTRATED!

noreply@blogger.com (Sawyers Family) — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 19:27:00 +0000

Why is it, when I feel TERRIBLE, that I can't get both of my kids to sleep at the same time?
Friday, Isaac slept, Maylee didn't
Today, Maylee sleeping, Isaac's not!
WHY?!?!?

Jennie's Birthday

noreply@blogger.com (Sawyers Family) — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 19:52:00 +0000

Happy Birthday Mommy, We Love You!!!!!!
So I have to admit that I have never created my own blog post but I thought I would make the effort to let Jennie know how I love and appreciate her. We are going to go out of town for a few days so I wanted to get it on her before her birthday. Thank you for being the best wife and mom. We are so lucky to have you in our lives. We hope you have a very special day and look forward to spending it with you. WE LOVE YOU.
KEVIN, ISAAC, and MAYLEE