August

August

I am not going to lie. August was rough. All the prepping to move Reilly to Utah took an emotional toll. It's hard launching children out into the world. It was extra hard because in the last three weeks that she was home she was quite enjoyable. There were lots of long talks, lots of laughs. It was nice. But then I would get the occasional screamed, "I can't wait to get out of here!!" and I would be thinking, "Yeah, me too!!" and then I would blink back tears because on the one hand it is definitely TIME and on the other hand it's SUPER HARD to let go.

My sister, Kelley posted this on my FB wall:

This is a sweet little saying that I have heard a million times before and never really thought too deeply about; probably because I was the one being given the roots and the wings. Well, believe me, this took on a much deeper significance as I read it on my FB wall now that I am the parent giving the roots and wings. The roots are easy...the wings are MUCH harder than I thought they would be. I don't feel like anyone really warned me about just how hard it would be...more like terrifying...and wrenching...to drop your kid off 700 + miles from home and just drive away. Just another parenting milestone that I was ill-prepared for...even though I had spent the previous month worrying and secretly crying trying to imagine what life would be like with all our kids not under one roof. I was just completely unprepared for how SHORT childhood is. It is so short. It goes by so fast. I just thought that by eighteen, kids would be more mature, smarter, wiser, have their lives together...yeah no...that didn't happen. I thought I would be sad but feel like "Yep! You are ready and prepared to go!" I never had that feeling. More like 18 year olds are giant irrational toddlers who think they know everything and really know nothing or just enough to get themselves into trouble.

A friend asked me what it was like trying to parent from 700 miles away...difficult. It is like Reilly is that giant irrational toddler with a blindfold on madly running on a winding mountain top with steep cliffs on either side. Tyler and I can see her toddling around as we yell warnings and instructions from below. "Stop!!" "Watch out for the edge!!" "DANGER!" "Rock slide!!" and she barely registers our voices on the wind. That is what parenting a young adult from 700 miles away feels like. Another friend described it to me this way...that anything you have to say to your child now becomes "advice". Ugh... it's true. Usually unheeded advice at that.

On the other hand it is exciting and wonderful because it's nice to see your child where they want to be and doing what they want to be doing. I certainly don't want Reilly staying in Spokane and living in our basement. But the whole family dynamic is a bit weird as we all find our way. We are finding a new normal now and it will all be okay, right?!

So back to August...

Our nephew was born!!

 This was us when we heard the news that Kirin was here safe and sound. We were all in a big group text with my siblings and here we are toasting his arrival. He is the CUTEST and sweetest boy too!!

That face!!
He is Kirk's mini-me and also looks a lot like his big brother Kaiden.

Kameron headed out for his first week long High Adventure Scout Trip in the mountains of Montana. This was also the first scout camp that Tyler has not attended with him and I fretted all week long worrying about him falling off a cliff, getting lost, or getting eaten by a bear. (A real worry as they had to bring bear bags, bear spray, bear bells and the leaders brought guns.) He survived...and had a great time. They got to go river boarding which looked AWESOME!! It is on my to-do list.

Pics from the Internet to give you an idea...

Tyler did go up for the last night and texted me photographic proof that Kameron was still alive and unmamed. (Is that a word?)

Ailey made two big batches of strawberry lime fruit leather and it was delicious!!

We did A LOT  of summer reading. The tent came in quite handy for lazy afternoons.

We had our last Girls Day for awhile...we did it up in style with shopping, dinner, and a movie...only to come home and have a major 80's movie marathon after that!! (The guys were in Montana.)

We went to church all together as a family and I made everyone take a million pictures.

Everyone was THRILLED!!

We had our annual Johnson Family picnic and croquet tournament at Manito Park. We usually do this on Father's Day, but since we were in California on Father's Day this year, we did it as a Bon Voyage for Reilly.

Our attempt at an Eight Is Enough homage...

Then it was game on!! Every Johnson for themselves.

This is our game of choice. There will be crying, yelling, swearing, and screams of cheating. There will be mocking and gloating and bragging... and much laughing. Wusses are not allowed to play. This is the Game of Kings in our family and we have one reigning gloating bragging undefeated Grand Poobah.

Here he is with his game face on...

The King

The Usurper

The Heir to the Throne

The Lady in Waiting

The Princess with a Heart of Gold

The Evil Queen

The realm

A bloody battle ensued.

A mallet was broken and blood WAS shed, The King was dethroned by the Usurper only to have him inform us that he let the Usurper win as she was about to be cast out from the Kingdom. He's a treacherous and wily King and, only he knows the truth, but I feel that we all gave him a darn good battle, perhaps our best, and he's undoubtedly full of it. I came in second and I was THRILLED.

Then we went to wander in our favorite garden as twilight was falling and took a few turns around it.

The place is magical!!
(My picture quality...not so much.)

And it's the lovely Johnson Sisters...

Wishes were made!!

As August wound to a close I tried to eat as many peaches as I possibly could...

This was my favorite go-to August meal: peaches and cream, corn on the cob, and homemade bread. No, I did not lose any weight this summer. Shocking.

My roses have been beyond splendid this year. I have 14 different rose bushes and they were all, and still are, amazing. Here is a sampling. I also read a fun novel about rosarians and it got me even more rose crazy. Hard to believe!

We celebrated the year mark of Tyler's heart surgery and are so grateful that things have gone well this past year. The state of Washington burned and we had so much smoke that it looked like thick fog was in our neighborhood. We could barely see our next door neighbor's house one day. Ash was falling from the sky. The air quality was horrendous. Our stake did a special fast for rain and low and behold it started raining before the next Sunday.

The day before we left a wonderful friend of mine brought over a college care package for ME. She is the absolute best and has already been through all of this before.  We stood laughing and crying in my garage. I was also in a frenzy to prepare for my big Funky Junk Antiques Show that was right after I got home and I had been painting and sanding like a mad woman when she came over and brought me this:

It definitely came in handy!!
 I am so grateful for good friends who have gone before and light my way.

I took random pictures of normal sights in our house...

The last night before we left for Utah we had the smoke blow out for one glorious day. We had the best family dinner out on our deck.

We were all eating and laughing and enjoying being together and Tyler and I looked around the table and had another moment...another how can we already be at this stage moment. It was a fantastic night and a sweet memory for all of us I think.

Then it was time to load the car and head to Utah...

July

July: We Swim. We Bike.

That can pretty much sum up our July...in between the 4th of July, our family reunion, and everything else. The days have been so hot...perfect for swimming and the nights have cooled down nicely...perfect for biking.

This month we have enjoyed the lake, our favorite swimming hole, and our local water park a couple of times:

Dane, Ailey, River, Bryn, Elle, and Kameron

.

We have also eaten a lot of ice cream!!

This summer all the Johnsons can ride bikes!! That is pretty exciting news. It's been great because we have been riding bikes a whole bunch. We love it.

Bryn learns to ride a bike!!

The Fish Lake trail is one of our favorites. It is perfect for a beginning rider and the scenery is beautiful!!

So pretty!!

And...there are frogs to catch!! Awesome!!

And check out that sky...Gorgeous!!

There is also a stream that runs along the trail full of watercress and water skeeters! Fun stuff!!

Aahhh...so peaceful.

We also like to get on the Centennial Trail and ride that all over. You can ride all the way to Idaho. The kids like to ride downtown to Riverfront Park and have dinner.

I appreciate that Kameron has taken over this job that used to be mine!!

Prior to Bryn's training wheel removal. 

That girl is a hardcore biker!! One day she rode 10 miles on TRAINING WHEELS!! Now she is an absolute speed demon on her two wheeler. Get out of her way!! She and Reilly are very similar in their fearlessness and gusto. Ailey and Kameron are/were more cautious.

Lovely downtown Spokane!

Reilly has been working like crazy and any spare moments are spent with the BF... Yes, he is still around.

Pretty much every week we ride somewhere.... It's been fun.

We have also been exploring and checking out different lakes in our area. It has been great!!

This beauty is Sullivan Lake up near Ione, WA.

Most nights Tyler and I go walking and look at the stars. We are getting much better at identifying different constellations and we see shooting stars nearly every night. We have been enjoying lounging on our deck and drinking Brazilian limeades nearly every night. Summer is delightful and we are soaking up every minute!!

Onto August!

We Interrupt July...

We Interrupt July for this Message

My child is moving away from home and out of state in 18 days. 18 days and her childhood is over and young adulthood begins. So many emotions. Last night she pretty much packed up her entire bedroom except for the clothes she will need for the next 18 days. She called me and Tyler to come downstairs and see. The three of us stood there, looked at each other, and had a moment. Then I went upstairs and cried. Change. Our family is changing and the change is good and necessary but... wow...is it bittersweet.

Kelley asked me the other day if Reilly heading to Utah for schooling made me feel old. No. I feel conflicted. I don't feel old. I feel 50% super excited for her. I remember this time in my life and it was awesome!! I feel 25% sad because I won't see her face every day. I love that face. I love our girl. Reilly has the talent of making me laugh hard; each and every day. It has saved her butt on MANY occasions. I will miss all the laughter and craziness that is Hurricane Reilly. She is loud and lives large. The other kids aren't like that. The house will be much quieter. I am 25% worried. She's 18 and Tyler and I still check on her at night. We like see that she is safe and sound in her bed. I worry that she will get abducted, fall while hiking, be cyber-stalked, or be lonely or...or... a million things. I wake up at night in a panic wondering if I have told her what to do and how to stay safe in various and random situations. I'm not the only one up in the night worrying. Tyler is too and he rarely worries. I can be tossing and turning all night about something and he will be sleeping soundly. Not these days.

I have rarely fretted over our parenting. I feel like we are good parents and have done a good job with our kids. They aren't perfect (nor are we) but they are loving, contributing, enjoyable human beings. Now it's time to see if we have actually done our job which is to prepare them to be independent and to live on their own. It reminds me of sending her off to kindergarten and the panic I felt wondering how she would do all day without me. (Just fine.) It actually reminds me more of when they sent her home from the hospital with us and Tyler and I were in a panic about keeping her alive. (She and we did just fine.) This is pretty much a combination of both of those terrors...sprinkled with joy that she is doing what she wants to be doing and living where she wants to be living and working toward her future. See... conflicted.

So while I am cheering her on and excited for her... I might cry at Walmart looking at the college supplies. I might cry in the shower when she gets a move in date for her apartment in Provo. I might cry when I see her life packed up in suitcases and bins. I might cry when I write this post and Tyler and I might hold each other close in the darkness of the night as we worry about our little girl heading out into the big world on her own.

So while some days are like this:

 and some days are like this:

Tyler and I are so proud of this girl and all her hard work to make her dreams come true. She'll be fine. I'll be fine; and Tyler and I will sleep through the night again.