Love was in the air in May!! The month got off to a great start with Tyler and I celebrating our 29th wedding anniversary!! We had a lot going on this month but we managed to squeeze in a little romantic getaway and I am so glad that we did because we had such a great time! We started the day by ditching church and heading to Coeur d' Alene for Sunday Brunch. We tried a new place called Belle's Brunch House.
It was fantastic!!
I love going out to brunch. It is my favorite! I dined on some delectable chicken and waffles (the best I've had since Charleston) and Tyler got his beloved Eggs Benedict and he was thrilled with his meal too. I can't wait to go back! I heard that the owner used to work at The Cottage in Spokane and they had the same strawberry jam situation which was delightful!
While we were at brunch we got a text that our cabin on Lake Coeur d' Alene was ready if we wanted to check in early. We sure did! Tyler found us the cutest little A frame cabin on the lake. We LOVED it!
I can sit and look out at water for HOURS. It is so relaxing to me. I love it!
We had a great view of our favorite Tubbs Hill.
The vibe was romantic and cozy. I also had a book and a box of chocolates and my man. What more could you ask for?!
Also I will ALWAYS get in the water. I don't care if it is January. If the water is ice free I will somehow manage to be in it!
When we got there we saw a bald eagle flying over us. A sign of good luck to our family. We also saw a loon. Another sign of good luck!
Also right in front of our cabin was a large silver painted rock. That was the third sign of serendipity. My great-grandpa painted a rock on Echo Beach silver. It was a reference point. How fun that this place had one too.
We spent the loveliest two days in our little A-frame cabin on the lake. It was just what we needed! Our location was so beautiful. The biking trail was nearby and our cabin had bikes that we could use.
It wasn't too far from downtown so we just ordered food. No need to lug groceries or a cooler. It also had a giant hot tub. It was heavenly!! It was the perfect way to celebrate 29 years of marriage without going too far from home. We are looking forward to a return visit in the fall!
This month Hunter turned 29! Happy Birthday to our Bonus Boy!
After Hunter's birthday...Mother's Day weekend rolled around and it was WONDERFUL!! Reilly stopped by the day before Mother's Day so that we could exchange our Mother's Day gifts.
They brought me pastries from my favorite French Bakery.
I got some snuggles from my little sweetheart! I also I got a Mother's Day Crumbl Cookie delivery from Luke! Erin and Kam sent me a gift card to See’s chocolates! My favorite! How lucky am I to be shown such thoughtfulness!!
On actual Mother's Day I went to church with Tyler and Bryn. We were all able to go to our own ward together. LOL.
I heard from all of the kids including Hunter, Luke, and Erin which was so sweet! The kids did the sweetest social media posts too. I am a very lucky mom!
At church I wore all my special jewelry. My mom's silver bracelet that I gave her that she wore every single day and all of my Alex and Ani bracelets that my kids have given me over the years plus the necklace that Kameron gave me. It made me feel close to all of them. After church I opened up all of my Mother's Day gifts. I have the sweetest and most thoughtful family! Ailey sent me a big package to open while she facetimed me.
After talking to the kids and to my mother-in-law; we headed to Coeur d' Alene. For Mother's Day I wanted to go on a bike ride on one of our favorite trails. The weather was absolute perfection!
Then after dinner I had to get into that sparkling water!! It felt so good!
My Mother's Day was so fun! This was one happy mama!
Mother's Day weekend also gave me a chance to see something that I have been chasing for YEARS! The Northern Lights. I can't tell you how many times Tyler and I have loaded up the kids and driven out into the country on nights that we've been told that they might be visible. I've done it with my mom too. I grew up hearing my grandma and my mom talk about how they used to be able to see the Northern Lights quite often out at the lake. I've never ever seen them before...until NOW!!
Friday night Ailey called us saying that the Northern Lights were supposed to be really strong and visible even in Rexburg and that she and her roommate were going to go see if they could see them. I had heard that they might be visible in Spokane too but we didn't even care to attempt looking for them. We've been disappointed so many times. All the sudden we were getting texts and pictures from Ailey in Rexburg that were beautiful!! She said that if they looked at the sky through their phones they could see the beautiful colors. Tyler and I immediately headed out into the country. WOW!! We saw them and with our naked eyes too! One of the most amazing experiences that I have ever had!! We will never forget it!
The coolest thing was that we could see the Northern Lights with our naked eyes. Swirling curtains of light. Not quite this vibrant but I could easily see pinks and greens. That swirling was right over our heads and then felt like it was swirling all around us as it dripped down like fireworks. Tyler and I couldn't believe our eyes. Of course looking through our phones the colors were brighter but we still saw and experienced it all with our own eyes too. We drove home and got Bryn up and made her come out into the backyard. We could see some shimmering lights above our house too. The colors dancing above our house were purple! Her favorite color.
That's above our house and our trees! Magical!
The next day there was a possibility of seeing the Northern Lights again. Tyler and I went back out into the country but we couldn't see them. Ailey said that she saw them in Rexburg but they were very faint and only lasted a few minutes. I am so glad that we got the opportunity to see them the night before!!
My Aunt Bonnie came to town this month and we got together and had a long chatty and lingering lunch. I love these! We catch up on several months of happenings and laugh and cry and it is wonderful to spend time with her.
Bryn started life guard training and it has been very time consuming and intense. She is has been super busy and moved straight from track into this training. She has had to pass four different tests so far that have been pretty challenging and it still isn't her certification. She also had two different job interviews for life guarding positions. (Her first job interviews!) One with the city pools and one with the county pools. She got both jobs! She ultimately decided to work for an Aquatics center that is close to our house. Bryn also tried out for and made Advanced Orchestra. She was very excited about that!
Ailey started having some new weird health issues. This kid cannot get a break. She was having some severe bouts of tachycardia. We don't take heart issues lightly around here. Ailey called her doctor in Spokane with her symptoms and he wanted her seen immediately. He wanted her to have an EKG and a heart monitor. Worrisome. She made an appointment with a doctor in Rexburg. She went into her appointment and he got her on a heart monitor for two weeks. When her blood work results came back it showed that she was so severely anemic that she was actually categorized as dangerously anemic. Some of the symptoms of that are irregular heart beat, chest pain, and some of the other symptoms that she has been having. They put her on a prescription dose of iron. The doctor said that her iron levels were lower than they have seen in a long time.
Tyler also had laser surgery on his other eye. He checked in for surgery around 6:45 am. This eye took about two hours and the doctor was really happy with the results. Tyler is so glad to have this all over with now.
Did he want to go out for breakfast afterwards?
Of course he did!
The last surgery he got a cat's eye that lasted quite awhile. That didn't happen this time. This time he got a big ol' shiner! This is the pic he texted to our kids.
He makes me laugh.
Tyler also had his cardiology appointment this month. His EKG looked normal and his heart sounded normal. They upped his dose of medication and want him to lose a bit more weight. This appointment always stresses me out.
Around this same time Luke facetimed Tyler and I and asked for our permission/blessing to marry Ailey. We love Luke and all three of us were very teary-eyed. She's so young but she and Luke are a great couple! Luke then flew up to Southern Idaho to visit Ailey and they went ring shopping and a ring was purchased. Life is coming at us fast and furious! It is a little stressful but very exciting!
Luke wasn't the only one talking to their future bride's parents and asking for their blessing. Kameron was also in the hot seat talking to Erin's dad (and mom) but his was in person (they were visiting in Rexburg) and he was terrified. Luckily they gave him the thumbs up too. Kameron and Erin facetimed us to tell us how it went and that Kam had passed the dad test! LOL. The next day was the BIG DAY!! Kameron proposed to the lovely Erin and she said yes!
Our boy is engaged!! We are over the moon about this and so excited for them (and us!) Kameron hired a photographer and took Erin up in the Tetons to a beautiful pine forest area that reminded him of home. Erin is a big Twilight fan and Kameron is a big Pacific Northwest fan so the setting was perfect for both of them especially as the fog rolled in and it started to rain. It was the perfect vibe! I love Erin's ring! So pretty!
We were on pins and needles waiting to hear how it went. This was the picture that they sent to our family chat after the proposal. They called us immediately and we were screaming and crying with joy!! It was such a HAPPY DAY for the Johnsons!! Their wedding will be August 31st.
Erin's parents were still in town (her brother's wife had just given birth to their 2nd child) so they were able to celebrate with the kids. Erin's parents were going to be in town for a week so we decided to make an impromptu trip down to Rexburg so we could meet them and celebrate with them too! Ailey went over to the Airbnb where Erin's parents were staying and she got to meet them (and the new baby!!) and two of Erin's brothers and their wives. She played games with their family and got Froyo with them. She said they were very nice!
On the day that Tyler, Bryn, and I got to Rexburg we had Ailey get some supplies and we threw Kam and Erin a little surprise engagement party in our hotel room. Ailey did a great job! She bought flowers, balloons, food, party favors, and sparkling cider for a toast!
They are the cutest couple and it was so fun to celebrate with them!!
That night we went to dinner with Erin's family at the Hickory. It was nice to get to know each other and to celebrate the kids!
This was Bryn's first time meeting Erin and she LOVED her!!
The parents
One of Erin's brothers had to work so we didn't meet him until later and her younger brother is currently on a mission and, of course, Reilly, Hunter, and Karson weren't there and Luke since he was in CA. They were a fun group and we really liked Erin's parents. I think this will be a good second family for Kameron. Erin's is one of four siblings...she is the only girl with three brothers and Kameron is one of four and the only boy with three sisters (obviously). Kam will get brothers and Erin will get sisters. I love it!
We are so excited about this upcoming marriage!! We adore Erin!!
The next day Ailey came over to our hotel and we went exploring. We checked out Sugar City and St. Anthony. I have many memories of St. Anthony. My aunt and uncle used to live there and I remember playing at the park. The park still has all of the old school play equipment which our family absolutely loves. We will stop anytime and anywhere and jump on them if we find some.
Then we met Kameron and Erin back at our hotel and headed out on a little day trip to Jackson Hole. The drive was really pretty and it was fun chatting with the kids.
We walked all over, shopped, and did all the things! I LOVE getting unexpected time with our kids!
We grabbed dinner at Jackson Drug which was really cute!
This was a drug store that had been turned into a darling restaurant.
Then it was back to Rexburg. On our way back we stopped to see the area where the Teton Dam broke and flooded so much of Rexburg and the surrounding areas. Very interesting.
Everyone hung out at our hotel room until late.We hashed out a bunch of wedding details. Colors, flowers, wedding party, and all the things. We made a group chat with Erin's parents so that we could all discuss wedding plans over the next few months. I am so glad that we made this quick trip down! We had so much fun celebrating and planning this upcoming wedding! We said goodbye to Kam and Erin. I hate that part.
Ailey came over the next morning and went to breakfast in Idaho Falls at Kneaders with us. It was fun to get a little more time with her and Bryn can always use the extra sister time time too.
Then we were back on the road to Spokane. It's hard to leave the kids but it was so good to see them!! We stopped for a quick dinner in Missoula and then were home by 7:30pm. Not bad at all!
Bryn had her final lifeguard certification. It was NUTS! It went from 3:30pm to midnight!! Ridiculous. But she is officially a certified lifeguard and I am so proud of her. She worked so hard and has done so much to certify. I can't believe how rigorous the training is but I guess it has to be. She also had her track banquet for the JV track team. She is very glad that track is over. I'm not sure if she wants to do it next year. I guess we will see. Bryn's school had Spirit Week and one day was BBQ Dad. Bryn nailed it!!
Bryn also had her end of the year music concert. It seemed subdued this year. No real honoring of the seniors and it was weird not to have the previous choir teacher leading the choir. Bryn did a great job though and it has been fun to be orchestra parents this year. We love her orchestra teacher.
AND...early morning seminary FINALLY ended. Hallelujah!
Bryn performed with a youth choir at one of the many events that celebrated the 50th Anniversary of the World's Fair in Spokane. I attended the original fair as a 2 year old in a stroller. I wish I remembered it!
The weather has been nice so we've gotten a bunch of yard work done. We did a bunch of painting around the outside of the house, fence, and deck that needed to be done. Last fall I planted some Allium bulbs and it was very exciting to see them come up!
The lilacs have been so pretty this year. Tyler and I walked at the Lilac Garden and inhaled the blissful scent as much as possible.
He's a pretty happy guy right now and I am LOVING it!! He deserves all the joy and happiness in the world! This month has been a really exciting one and full of all kinds of amazing experiences!
I leave you with Karson...
In flip flops!!
It just doesn't get better than that!
P.S. I wrote this post in May and am just getting around to posting it in NOVEMBER. Where is the time going? It is legit full speed ahead and we are along for the ride!
