Ailey's 12th Birthday

Happy Birthday Ailey!!

This cute girl is twelve!! I can't wrap my mind around the fact that we are already to this milestone. Little Ailey is already a tween and all that comes with it. She has been anxiously awaiting this birthday because she gets to *graduate* from Primary and join Young Womens. She has been looking forward to this day for forever!! Ailey was kind of partied out by the time her birthday rolled around. She had been to quite a few end of school and 6th grade parties. She wanted a trip for her birthday (we went to Montana) and to spend the day in Coeur d' Alene doing all the things that she wanted to do. No problem!!

First up was donuts and Starbuck's hazelnut hot chocolate for breakfast.

Next a little pampering at the nail salon.

Then we were off to Lake Coeur d' Alene. (Kameron was out of town at youth conference for three days of white water rafting.) We were planning on a day of hiking and paddle boarding. (Ailey got a paddle board for her birthday too!) But the weather was cold and rainy so that was out. Boo. Luckily Lake CDA is gorgeous no matter what the weather is like and we still had a great day!! We walked around the boardwalk and all over downtown CDA and ate and shopped and ate and shopped some more.

Ailey's big birthday request were these bad boys from the Coeur d' Alene Resort. They are called Gooeys and they are enourmous. They come in all kinds of flavors. They are also unbelievably delicious!! Ailey did not want us to let the wait staff know that it was her birthday so we had to keep it on the down low. Ha!

Ailey and Tyler shared the Chocolate Obsession. It had chocolate ice cream, vanilla ice cream, hot fudge, chocolate mousse, huge chunks of brownie, and big chunks of about three different kinds of candy bars. One bite and I was done. It was too rich. Ailey ate 90% of that thing and some of the one that Bryn and I split too!!

We ordered the Strawberry Shortcake one. Ours had vanilla ice cream, strawberry ice cream, chunks of cake, lots of huge strawberries, strawberry mousse, piles of whipped cream, and chunks of white chocolate. It was unbelievable!! It took Tyler, Ailey, and Bryn and I to polish that thing off. This is also the restaurant that has my very favorite coconut cake. It was hard to not order it this time but the Gooeys were worth it. The gorgeous views of the lake out of the windows weren't too bad either. :)

 Then it was back outside to walk some of that off!!

A little rain won't stop us!!

We had a great day in Coeur d' Alene and finished it up with dinner at what is called "The Best Food Court" which is a big parking lot filled with all kinds of food trucks. We were in heaven. We ate crepes from the french food truck.

Then back to our house late that night. Ailey still had to make a wish and not one of us could think of eating anything. We stopped and got her a little personal bundt cake and birthday wishes were made.

We had a fantastic day celebrating this fantastic girl!! But the fun wasn't over yet... The next day was sunny and warm. We met Kelley and her boyfriend, Chris, and my mom out at the lake for a day of paddle boarding, kayaking, and swimming. Kameron was back in town and the fun resumed.

Looking good!

Kameron gave my mom's new kayak a whirl. It is was also so much fun!! We had a great day playing in the water.

The day was absolute perfection!!

But it still wasn't over yet... The next day we had Ailey's family birthday dinner. She picked Over-the-Rainbow Mac and Cheese, Strawberries, Strawberry Crush, and Ice Cream Cake. Remember when I talked about Tyler's family's birthday ice cream cake tradition HERE? Well, we gave the Johnson Ice Cream Birthday Cake a whirl. It turned out pretty tasty.

Ailey selected her ice cream flavors...mint chocolate chip, world class chocolate, and snickers.

The finished product!!

The highlight of her birthday week though was this... being picked up from Primary by several of the YW and being escorted to Young Womens. They took good care of her. She got a crown and a sash and felt very special all day. I was conducting in Primary that day which was extra fun so I got to give her a special send off and cried my eyes out too. Tyler was in there too sitting with his class and he was a little weepy as well. Kids grow up too darn fast!!

Happy Birthday Ailey!! You make us laugh and take such good care of us. Thank you for being such a little nurturer and for being so darn fun. All the baked goods that you keep us in aren't too bad either. :)

We love you very much!!

Last Day of school

Last Day of School

The last day of school FINALLY arrived on the 16th of June. Summer is getting shorter and shorter. We go back to school at the end of August now rather than after Labor Day. Boo. Not a fan. The weather was also pretty chilly so the kids went to school in jackets. So crazy.

The last day of school is always a little sad. It's sad to say goodbye to friends for a few months and to say goodbye to teachers.

Bryn had team teachers this year. Mrs. Beal on the left and Mrs. Johnson on the right. Mrs. Beal was there in the morning and then Mrs. Johnson would come in the afternoon. My 1st grade teacher was also named Mrs. Beal. Crazy.  Bryn had a great year with both of them!!

Elle, Bryn, and their good friend Berkley.

This girl had a much harder time saying goodbye. The tears were flowing. 

Ailey and Gabbi

Ailey and Taylor both crying.

Saying goodbye to our beloved Mrs. Antonio. They were both crying. She is our family's VERY favorite teacher. She has promised not to retire until she has Bryn in her class and I am holding her to that!! Good teachers are worth their weight in gold; this one in particular!!

Ailey with the 6th grade teachers. Her teacher was Mrs. Sellend (the one on the right in the pink shirt) but she rotated into Mrs. Carrick's class (the one on the left) for several subjects. Reilly and Kameron have both been taught by these wonderful ladies as well. Kam had Mrs. Carrick for 6th grade and rotated into Mrs. Sellend's class. Reilly had Mr. Nye for 6th grade (he is now at another school) but rotated into both Mrs. Carrick's and Mrs. Sellend's class for different subjects. I love the family history that we have at this school!!

Then it was time to jump for joy that summer was finally here!!

Brynnie

Elle

Ailey refused to jump because she said that she was too sad. Kameron was off with his friends the minute the bell rang at the high school and I didn't see him until his curfew that night. So no pictures of him. He ended his freshman year on a high note and had a great year. Whew. Freshman year is always dicey.

Then it was ice cream for everyone!!

BRING ON SUMMER...AND NICE WEATHER!!

Ailey's 6th Grade Promotion

Ailey's 6th Grade Promotion

I can't believe that Ailey is already graduating from elementary school and moving onto middle school. It truly feels like she just started Kindergarten. We have a fantastic elementary school that we have LOVED throughout the years and it will be crazy to only have one of our children attending there next year.

6th Grade Promotion Day

Our school's 6th grade promotion is kind of a big deal. They have a graduation and awards ceremony. They walk across the stage to get their certificate and shake the hands with of all the 6th grade teachers and the principal. They play the cutest movie of all the kids with their baby pictures, kindergarten pictures, sixth grade pictures, and pictures of all of them at various school events throughout the years. I cry every time. Grandparents and older siblings all attend. There is a reception afterward with refreshments. I love it! The kids all dress up in their finery. Girls usually purchase a special dress to wear. Boys wear khakis and button downs. No jeans are allowed. We found Ailey's dress when we were in Utah over spring break. She was excited to finally be able to wear it. I am all about celebrating these milestones and I love that our school does it in a big and special way. The 6th graders leave our school feeling loved and that they have truly been a part of an amazing community over the years. Both Kameron and Reilly loved attending our elementary school and it holds a special place in their hearts. They love coming back and seeing all their old teachers. It is a special community for sure.

We checked Kameron out of school early to attend. He was happy to be there but not thrilled to be taking pictures. 15 year olds.

Ailey waiting for her name to be called.

Kameron had fun going around and saying hello to all of his old teachers. On the last day of school I talked to all of them and they LOVED seeing him and giving him hugs. We have some awesome teachers at our school!!

These girls move too fast!! 

Kameron trying to assist Ailey in smiling normally...kindergarten and 6th grade problems. Ha ha!!

Photobombers

Then it was time to make a wish for next year with her balloon:

Off it goes!!

Then it was time to change and go grab some ice cream for even more of a celebration!!

After that Ailey was off to a 6th grade party at her friend Zoe's house for their class. Many of these kids have been together since kindergarten and even preschool. They are an awesome bunch of kids and I look forward to seeing all that they accomplish throughout the years. 

First day of kindergarten. Sniff.

Good-bye elementary school...hello middle school.