September

Sayonara September

Now that it is mid-October it is probably time to wrap up September. What a wild ride it has been...all the back to school and accompanying hoopla. Finally we are settled into a nice routine and it feels good. So...back to September.

Let's start with Labor Day weekend. I participated in The Funky Junk Antiques show in Sandpoint, Idaho. This is a fun show put on by my friend, Jennifer, every Labor Day weekend. This is one of our bigger shows and one of our favorites. It is always crazy scrambling to get things done for this show while doing all the back-to-school shopping and trying to squeeze in the last bit of summer fun. But...we did it!!

A few pictures:

All done setting up. It was a beautiful night out in the country.

Sisters Creed Day One...all ready to go!!

We had a fantastic first day!! We sold a lot and had a great time visiting with customers and friends.

After our first day of the show we had dinner at The Dish on Dover Bay on Lake Pend Oreille. It is my new favorite restaurant. It is fantastic. We had a truly epic culinary experience...second only to eating at Decarli in Portland where my cousin Paul is a chef. It was fabulous.

Seriously!! How gorgeous is that?

Tyler was there helping us with our show and Kelley came up to shop and hangout. All of our kids were at my mom's playing with my her new darling dog...Maggie Mae. More on her later.

It was a fantastic night and a wonderful way to relax after our busy day at Funky Junk. It was such a gorgeous night on Lake Pend Oreille.

Day Two at Funky Junk was just as fun and profitable. Here I am hanging out with my friend Rebecca.

She has the most fabulous apparel line called Peace Within. My family LIVES in her clothes. They are wonderful. Here we are in her booth dressing up to be twinners. I ended up buying both the scarf and the sweater. You can buy her stuff online too. Here's the link: peacewithincda.com

Loading up post show is never fun. Luckily Reilly was there for some comic relief.

After the show was over we headed to our lake for some much needed R&R. The weather was gorgeous. Sunny and hot. Just how I like things. Why can't summer stay forever?

Does it get better than this?? The answer is no.

You may notice from our selfies that I have finally figured out where to look for pictures. Tyler not so much.

Me in my happy place

They were in their happy place too!!

Now onto Maggie Mae... the newest member of the McClellan family. Over the summer, once my mom's divorce from Ken was final...Hallelujah...no one was sad about that happening...she got a dog. The cutest dog ever. Maggie Mae is a Newfypoo. Half Newfoundland and half Poodle. She is adorable and adored by the entire family.

She has pretty much tripled in size since these pictures were taken. She will be a big dog.

These kids have been having the greatest time with her especially since we won't let them get a dog of their own right now. I feel like I live in a house full of puppies as it is!!

Here is a picture of Maggie Mae a little bigger...from Reilly's Instagram:

We also  went to the fair as a family...including Reilly's boyfriend Justin. It was a memorable experience as usual. Love the fair: the food, the people, the weird stuff. It is an all around good time.

Kameron slurping the melted ice cream off of his deep fried peach pie. It took some serious strong arming of Tyler (stent boy) to stay away from the deep fried lasagna but he did it!!

Waiting in line for the flying ride

Ailey and Reilly on the flying ride...just getting started. Our little Ailey has come so far. She  has a huge fear of heights so we were very proud that she braved this ride and ...liked it!!

Justin and Kam waiting for the ride to start

The BF was off at the ATM. The fair is an expensive date!! Luckily he thought Reilly was worth it. They then ditched us to do their own thing. Oh well.

Here's what I did:

Ate enormous corn dogs!! Why have I NEVER thought to smear mustard all over the corn dog before? Genius fair food people! Genius. I will never dip my dog again!!

Moving on to Asian Stir fry...that's health food at the fair!!

Now we are onto cotton candy. I ate two bags all by myself...hence my crazy eyes. I couldn't help it. It is my all time favorite treat!!

Just helped the kids polish off a brick of fries and Mt. Dews. It was getting late and  we still weren't done so it was caffeine for everyone!

The kids rode more rides and went down the big slide. We saw sinister looking vegetables. So large. So creepy. Don't even get me started on the giant sunflowers. SPOOKY. We saw all the animals. Bryn was fascinated. We do not get up close and personal to farm animals much...which is sad...but she did learn a lot. Mainly that farm animals stink and that she does not want to get up close and personal to them. But she can now tell a goat from a sheep. Success!! We also paid to see the world's smallest horse...rip off...and to see the world's largest and clearly angriest pig...worth every cent!! I paid twice just to go back and get another look at that crazy beast. Oh the fair was glorious!! Can't wait for next year.

Tyler and I also managed to sneak off to Lake Coeur d' Alene one day and it was fabulous. Every time I say to Tyler to get me the heck out of Fargo... which is all winter, spring, and most of fall... I remember days like this and living here is worth it.

This was a beautiful ending to a beautiful day. My very favorite coconut cake and huckleberry sorbet at the Coeur d' Alene resort.

So while I have had to look at an awful lot of this...

September has been pretty grand!!

Oh yeah...

Kameron made jazz band, has been running cross country, and earned a bunch of stuff in scouts.

Kam's XC cheerleaders!!

Ailey was nominated as an ASB representative (student council) for the 5th grade and decided to do choir instead of play an instrument. (No tears were shed on my part.) She is really following in Reilly's elementary school footsteps at least activity wise.

Reilly got a new job. What up, Shopko?

Action shot!!

We also get to spend more time with this cutie who gets to hang out with us for a little bit before and after school. Elle and Bryn are loving Kindergarten and all the fun that comes with it. I am doing another fitness challenge with my friends and you can see from the above photos that I am clearly losing...the contest.

September I miss you already!!

Two Fun Celebrations!

Celebrations x 2

We've been celebrating all kinds of festivities these days. Last weekend was Homecoming!! This has been a MUCH anticipated event at our house. Reilly was really excited to go...for once. I think it helps when you have a boyfriend and you know that you are going to have a good time. Plus, it's her senior year and that always adds some extra excitement.

This is how Justin asked her to the dance:

The girl has a freakish love of Jimmy Johns and their tuna fish sub in a particular. Ew! You couldn't pay me a million dollars to touch that thing with a ten foot pole but Reilly loves them. Justin picked her up from work and had dinner waiting for her. She was THRILLED.

Then it was time to find a dress. I was dreading it. If you regularly read this blog you will recall how much I dislike shopping with teenage girls. Anyone recall the Easter dress debacle or the Christmas dress shopping trip from hell? We have been super busy lately so I ended up having to check Reilly out of school early one day and head to the mall.  Glory Be! A dress was found fairly quickly and with only minimal drama.

See? We  are actually smiling.

Finally the big day arrived. Our niece, Elle, was staying with us for the weekend and so Reilly had quite the group of little girls squealing over how beautiful she looked and how she was "just like a princess" when she did her big reveal. Justin was suitably impressed and even Kameron told her that she looked "really nice" and she did!

Pinning the boutonniere...much more difficult than one would think. How many Johnsons did it take to pin that blasted thing on? THREE.  I wish had a picture of when Tyler was doing the honors. Ha ha!

Justin had a much easier time of it. (That was the first attempt at pinning the boutonniere...don't worry...we fixed it.)

The cute couple!

Justin even brought her a dozen red roses too. Pretty sweet!!

They left our house and headed to his mom's house so his parents could take pictures too. Then they went to dinner downtown and to the dance. They had a great time!! Reilly came home with stars in her eyes!! I'm so glad that they both had fun.

Then...the weekend before that Tyler and I got to head out of town for a little romantic getaway and to attend this fun event.

My cousin Jen's wedding to Aaron

You have never seen two happier people to be heading out of town!! We left as soon as possible. It had been awhile since Tyler and I had gotten away together...especially a getaway that wasn't work (Sisters Creed) related. It was PERFECTION. When can we go again?!

See ya suckers!! And by "suckers" I mean our beloved children. Ha Ha!! Sometimes parents just need a little vacay. You know? Plus, I think our kids enjoyed the break just as much.

We arrived in Boise (yes, Boise counts as a romantic getaway) in time to shop, eat, and enjoy our luxury suite at our hotel on Friday. Saturday we had a leisurely breakfast and got ready for the main event. We had such a fun time at Jen and Aaron's wedding. It was so great to see family that we love and we enjoyed every minute. We laughed and danced and then laughed a lot more. It was wonderful and so special to see Jen (and her son Jackson) get all the happiness that they deserve.

Waiting for the ceremony to begin. We are selfie challenged.

Cutting the cake

One of my very favorite moments from that day...Jennifer dancing with her dad...my amazing Uncle Mike. There wasn't a dry eye in the place. So special.

Another one of my favorite moments...Ha ha!! My cousin Justin and his wife Hannah coaching their children on how to do the Macarena. Who knew that Justin had such moves? The man can dance and not just the Macarena!! He has been hiding that light under a bushel all these years. Dance Justin! Dance! Ben and Tyler are pretty sweet dancers too. ;)

Since our whole family has no shame...we all ended up on there on the stage dancing the Macarena and a whole slew of other dances too. We had the fever!! The Dance Fever!! Yes, there is all kinds of video to prove it. Such fun! I love my family. My uncle Mike was up there dancing away too. It was awesome.

Part of our crazy group!!

And...when it is time to tear down it is helpful to have a cousin who is a scientist that studies trees in the rain forests of the world and has experience climbing coconut trees. Go Tania!!

Late that night we had a fabulous Thai dinner at Chiang Mai House. So delish!! It came highly recommended by my Uncle Mike and Aunt Bonnie and it didn't disappoint. Can't wait to go back another time. The next morning we had a family brunch at my Aunt and Uncle's house and got to hang out with family and eat and laugh. Is there anything better? Then it was time to head for home. It was a wonderful and much needed weekend away. We came home relaxed and happy.

Growing Pains

Growing Pains

The past few months have caused me to have some serious growing pains. I am stretching, growing, changing, and evolving. It is, at times, painful and occasionally sweet. Usually a combination of the two.

1.) Back-To-School

This year I have a senior (bittersweet), an 8th grader (last year of middle school...bittersweet), a 5th grader (sweet), and my baby is in all day Kindergarten (mostly sweet). The day finally arrived that all of our children are in school.

Bryn has been SO READY for kindergarten. It has been exciting to watch her go to school and blossom. She and my niece, Elle, ended up in the same class and that has been a huge blessing and a relief to know that they have each other during the day. 

Kameron is kicking butt being an 8th grader. He is busy with friends, jazz band, scouts, and  running cross country. He is in all Honors classes and is kicking butt academically too. I am slowly adjusting to his being an 8th grader because I know how fast the time will fly once he gets into high school next year...gulp.

Ailey is loving 5th grade. She has the same teacher that Kameron had in 5th grade...Mrs. Antonio...his very favorite teacher. Ailey just adores her as well. Ailey ran for ASB (aka Student Council) and was nominated by her classmates. This was huge. Ailey is a little shy and she really put herself out there for this. She even had to write and give a speech about why the kids should vote for her. She did a spectacular job. We are so proud of her.

Reilly is loving her Senior year. Fun classes, cute boyfriend, exciting opportunities, decisions to be made, and planning for the the future. This is what I am having the most trouble adjusting to...a SENIOR. It's real people. My child is a senior and will soon head out into the world on her own. Ouch.

Tears. Deep breaths. Worry. Love. Joy. Excitement. Faith. Prayers. Love. Tears. Worry. Deep breaths. Concern. Prayers. Comfort. Joy. Excitement. Faith. Tears. Love. Deep breaths.

(You know all those well meaning ladies who used to annoy you when you were up to your eyeballs in diapers, bottles, and babies. The ones who would tell you "enjoy this time, it will go by so quickly" ...yeah...they were right. It sure has.)

My adjustment to being home without kids has been an easy one. Thank goodness. I had several people ask me what I was doing now with "all that time"?  I liken it to when you get a raise. You think all that extra money is going to be so amazing and then your spending increases and your financial obligations increase and you end up just about the same financially. It's kind of like that for me time wise. My days just fill up and I am just as busy, actually busier, than I was before. Funny huh? Yesterday was my first day at home that I didn't have to go ANYWHERE or do ANYTHING but to get it I had to say no to a few things. So I guess it still wasn't a free, do nothing, kind of day.

Here are some more pictures from the first day of school...you have to have pictures of the full outfit, right? And the the obligatory sitting at their desk pics. Kids don't let you take those for very long. Boohoo.

In Reilly's picture you can see her full outfit so I won't repost. Here are the rest...

Checkerboard Vans are the BEST!! Kam has been rocking those since he was a baby. Those were the first pair of shoes we bought for him after we found out that we were having a boy. The tiniest little pair of black and white checkerboard Vans. He wore a little pair of red and white checkerboard Vans on his first day of kindergarten too and has had so many pairs in between. Kam has Vans that he wears to school and Vans that are his church Vans. These are actually his "Church Shoes". Love that kid.

Ailey was super stoked about her chevron dress, new jean jacket, and her favorite blingy sandals that she wore everywhere this summer. This year was also momentous in that she requested a carrier bag rather than a backpack this year.

She also let me take a picture of her at her desk in FIFTH GRADE!! That is a family record. It was a no go for both Reilly and Kameron by 5th grade. Thanks Ailey!!

We were even able to have our traditional back to school breakfast at the Cottage with Brynnie because Kindergarten didn't start until a few days later (they had to do all kinds of assessments this year.)

Finally the big day arrived!! Love her cute outfit and blingy sandals too. She also had a blingy backpack and a blingy lunchbox. Such a cutie.

Heading to school with her big sis. I love that they will have two years of elementary school together.

I also love that Tyler is the kind of dad who likes to be there on the first day of school. How lucky are we?

Cousins!! Watch out Kindergarten here they come.

We did it!! The old pros and the first timer. 

2.) Reilly has a boyfriend.
.
A real one. A serious one. It is so weird. There is something completely unnerving about watching your nearly grown daughter run out of the house, yell good-bye, and jump into the truck of a cute boy, and take off without so much as a backward glance at her two parents who are standing on the porch waving. How did we get here? It wasn't that long ago that I was the one running out of the house, yelling good-bye, and jumping into the truck of  a cute boy without so much as a backward glance. It's so weird when life comes full circle, isn't it? So.Weird. It's like teenage Reilly ran past teenage Kristin and teenage Kristin ran past my 40 year old mother and then turned into her. Time slips and slides.  The good news is that we really like the BF (his name is Justin). We actually REALLY like him and he appears to like us due to the large amount of time he spends hanging out at our house. He is cute, kind, helpful, sweet, funny, treats our daughter well, and is extremely respectful and responsible. He is enjoyable to have around and fits in well with our family so things could be a lot worse.

3.) I found my first true gray hair.

Coarse, wiry, and nearly white. I couldn't believe my eyes. I mean I know that I am 42 and that hair does go gray but really nothing prepared me for the shock of seeing it on my own head in all it's terrible elderly glory. It's proof that I am aging. As if the universe isn't already telling me that at every.single.turn. these days. I blame it on Tyler's heart surgery. The shock of it and all. Tyler suddenly sprouted a whole patch grays on one of his temples after all that business. On Tyler I think it looks sexy...on me it reminds me of my grandma...not sexy.

4.) Tyler's Heart Issues

First off, I am so beyond grateful for that stent. I am so grateful that Tyler is doing spectacularly. I am so grateful to have him here healthy and happy. But...I am so mad that this happened in the first place. The man already has one life threatening disease that somewhat controls every thing we do... do we really need to throw in another? (I realize how lame that sounds and in light of a family member who is going through something so much worse it  doesn't even compare...but still.) Life isn't fair and it really really sucks. It seems like if you already have one terrible thing that you shouldn't get another, or even a third, like my beloved family member. That said...Tyler is doing great and has had such a good recovery. We are truly blessed but it also changed us. How could it not? We aren't as carefree as we used to be. We aren't as lackadaisical about things as we used to be. We don't just throw caution to the wind anymore. We are more serious. We are more deliberate now in many ways. We are adults. We have arrived. We arrived on August 13, 2014. I miss those goofy carefree kids sometimes.

See...S-T-R-E-T-C-H-I-N-G....evolving...changing... and with it comes some growing pains.

Utah Day 3

Utah Day #3: FINALLY

I am finally finishing up this little trip because life is going at the speed of light and I am getting way behind on posting. So here it goes...

Day 3 we got up and met my brother Kirk for breakfast in Sugar House. We had been wanting to try one of the waffle places that seem to be the all rage in Utah these days. (No waffle craze in Spokane...shocking I know!) We met Kirk at Bruges Waffles and Frites and the place was PACKED!! Nowhere to sit...nowhere to stand. So we placed our order and took it back to Kirk's house. Meki and the kids were out of town so it was just Kirk and the dogs. The waffles were delicious... although I thought a tad expensive for a waffle. I still want to try the famed Waffle Love food truck though. I have since found one place here in Spokane that serves the Liege style waffles but they weren't even half as good as at Bruges.

It was so nice to have a few hours to kick back, chat, and catch up on all that is going on in Kirk's life. He wasn't able to come up to the lake this summer and he was SORELY missed. I love that brother of mine and loved seeing all the projects that he has been working on. Very cool.

Our kids loved playing with his enormous dogs...

Milo is Bryn's favorite!! She just adores that dog and doesn't let him out of her sight or clutches whenever we visit. We hear about "Sweet Milo" for weeks and weeks afterwards.

The newest addition to Kirk's family is Kuma a Landseer Newfoundland. He is gorgeous but an enormous beast of a puppy!!

The older kids like Kuma best but he kind of freaked out Ailey and Bryn with his gargantuan size.

All to soon it was time to go, but we made one more quick stop on our way out of town at the This Is
The Place Heritage Park. I sometimes forget that only our older kids have seen some of these sites.

It was fun to walk around and talk about church history. While we were there Reilly's YW leaders texted her a video of our Bishop opening up her envelope from our area mission president and reading  Reilly where she was called to serve for her Mini-Mission. (Spokane Valley, WA) Reilly was scheduled to head out on her mini- mission the VERY NEXT DAY which was the reason why our trip to Utah was so super speedy quick.

It was roasting hot and hazy and we were looking forward to getting back to the cooler temps of the Pacific Northwest. We bought a couple of these icy beverages for the road and headed out.

Sarsparilla!! You don't see those every day!!

On our way out of town we drove around the U of U campus for a little college tour. Lucky for us the U held no allure for any of the Johnson kids. Whew!

We made another stop in Rexburg, Idaho for another little college tour. It has been years since I have been in Rexburg and not much has changed. We drove to the temple so Reilly could add another temple picture to her collection and let the kids out of the car to run around for a bit. The wind is UNREAL. I am so not a fan...of wind...or of Rexburg.

Look at the at flag whipping in the wind!!

We walked around the grounds and took pictures. There were quite a few other families doing the same thing. The temple and grounds are really beautiful. Rexburg not so much.

Our attempt at a picture of the kids. Wind...it brings out a rage in me. Seriously.

Bryn and Ailey holding onto the doors of the temple...a la..."I Love To See the Temple....I'm going there someday..." To get those two girls to even touch the temple doors took some major cajoling and near threats on my part. They thought for sure they would go to jail...or maybe hell...for even TOUCHING those doors. So funny!! Finally they did it.

After that we booked it on towards home, arrived around 1 am, and headed straight for bed so we could get up early the next day and send Reilly off for a week to live and serve with the sister missionaries. That's a post all it's own. Perhaps now that the kids are all finally back in school I will have time to catch up on this long neglected blog. Until then...