In the Thick of Things

First Day of School Ice Cream Celebration

School is back in session along with all the extracurricular activities. Needless to say things are still a bit crazy as we attempt to get back onto some sort of schedule.

This year we have...early morning seminary, piano, ballet, jazz, hip hop (Tyler finally caved and is allowing Reilly to take this class), cross country through the elementary school and cross country-SYSA, swim team, trumpet...not to mention scouts and YW. Every day is packed but our kids really like it this way and thrive being busy. Not to mention, they are learning some great time management skills and I am enjoying zero TV and Wii time at our house.

On a high note...on the first day of high school Reilly came home very excited and eager to chat...about ACADEMICS!! Can you fathom my joy? No cute boys were even mentioned. Sweet.

We had a busy weekend...or should I say Saturday. Here are some pictures to prove it.

Two bored sisters waiting for Kameron's Cross Country Meet to begin. Reilly lucked out and headed to the lake early with Aunt Kelley and Elle. Ailey had stinking ballet. (Ballet on Saturday for little girls is ridiculous..in my jaded opinion.)

Still waiting....for Kam to run

And waiting...in 90 heat...with the lake calling to us.

Finally the boy runs!! He is in the blue shirt.

FINALLY around 3:30pm we made it to the lake!! Woohoo. Time for some boating fun. Ailey and Dane mere moments before they capsized and caused three adults to leap into the water and race to their aid only to find them...LAUGHING!!

After that Aunt Kelley went with them!!

Even Bryn went. SHE LOVED IT!! She was waving and saying "Whee!!" the entire time. The girl is fearless just like her big sister Reilly. They are two of a kind. Frightening.

After that the adults got some wake boarding time. Sweet!! The water was fabulous. I wish summer could stay all year long!! We had a great dinner with everyone. Stacey's in laws were in town as well. The kids got to fish and play with their cousins. Reilly, Kam and A all caught fish to their great delight. Thank goodness for Uncle John Sykes who is a champ for assisting them all with their fishing activities.

Bryn in all her lakey glory

It was a perfectly delightful day. We've got to squeeze all the summer fun in that we can because I can feel winter breathing down my neck and I don't like it!!

Fall Funky Junk Show 2011


Over Labor Day Weekend we (Sisters Creed) had the pleasure of being vendors in the Funky Junk Antiques and Craft Show in Sandpoint, Idaho. We had an absolute blast and an extremely successful sale!! You can read about it here.

Where Did the Summer Go?

Yes, it is here already. The First Day of School. Our summer has been utter chaos and so in that respect I am happy that school is here again to bring some order to our lives. But on the other hand, I really do enjoy having my kids home (Yes, Reilly I did just actually write that) and find them amusing most of the time...exasperating but amusing. How do people survive who have humorless kids? These Johnson kids might drive me a little (or a lot) crazy but they do have me laughing non-stop. Today seems quiet.

Behold the Freshman...

It was a little like dropping her off at Kindergarten all over again. Me wanting to linger and make sure that she is okay and her looking at me like...Are you still here? Tyler came with me to take all the kids to school which was a first and so nice that he was able to do it. This high school business is hitting us hard. We had a moment yesterday afternoon where we just looked at each other and teared up. We have a high schooler...sigh.

Reilly was very nervous and yet very excited this morning. As we drove her to school I was trying to rattle off all my many instructions and warnings...such as "Hang out with good friends this year, don't get behind, get to know your teachers, be on time to class, don't let boys hug you (side hugs only please), no cleavage, no short shorts, no smoking, don't skip school, don't do drugs, don't let any boys "hit that", no pregnancies, no eating disorders etc. Reilly was like "Mom!! You are KILLING ME!! Do you see any other parents lecturing right now?" And I said, "This is what I do. I am a mother. It is my job!!" But I did look around at all the other parents dropping off their kids...who were zoned out on their phones, or with head phones on and their parents not speaking to them or on the phone themselves. It was sad. But then...I saw her...another mother...kindred spirit...rambling off last minute instructions and warnings. Her child annoyed and begging her to stop talking. How I loved her...another mother doing her job...and what do you know...she is in our stake!! :) Go Mormon Mamas!!

Then onto the elementary school...much less anxiety producing.

The Fifth Grader

Rad Shoes!! (We finally got a Vans store in this town and I am beside myself with joy. We did some serious damage in there for the whole family.)

Kameron's teacher sent home a note for the kids to write down a word that describes themselves that they can share with the class today. Kam picked charismatic. Very appropriate!!

The 2nd Grader

Ailey kills me with her fashionista ways. She has had this outfit picked out for weeks. Cute dress, paired Converse, topped with a girly headband and "wavy" hair. She just knew that this outfit would be fabulous. She was right!!

Don't even think of leaving Bryn out of the action!! Here she is showing us that she is 2 years old. Then it was off to school. I was given strict instructions from Kameron "absolutely no pictures in the classroom!!" Darn it.

Ailey wasn't super thrilled either but she obliged.

Ailey and her good friend Sophia. Stacey, remember you asking me how do you get your kids to smile normally in pictures? I clearly am not the one to ask. Misty Alger has her work cut out for her with Ailey on Saturday when they get their "Better Than School Pictures" taken. Wow.

Then Tyler and I took Bryn out for breakfast. She was okay with being left behind today because she had Daddy home and all to herself. Tomorrow will be a different story.

Summer has been interesting and eventful. Maybe some day I will finally catch up or at least attempt to...Until then I hope my sister Stacey is satisfied since she told me this weekend that she is "sick and tired of seeing that summer reading list post!!" :)

And so it begins.