Danielle & Johnny {turtle doves}

Danielle and Johnny had a sweet wedding amongst family and friends from all around the world. It was the perfect summer day that complimented the colorful wedding party so sweetly. The bridesmaids were like a happy little pack of skittles- so cute and colorful! It was a blast to spend the day with these two turtle doves. I am so excited about these photos and the picturesque sunset the capped a perfect wedding day! Congrats to Dannielle and Johnny!

Danielle's parents had the very first look at her as a Bride! It was such a sweet moment!


The anticipation of the FIRST LOOK! I love when couples choose to see each other before the ceremony. It allows for more natural emotions to show and an intimate time for them to make a memory of their wedding day! Plus, from a photographers stand point, it gives me WAY more time for photos!

Then Johnny saw her and I got this little beauty of a first kiss on their wedding day!


















On our way to the ceremony, Danielle wanted to stop for ice cream! It was so funny to see the looks and hear the comments people made when Danielle walked into McDonald's in her wedding dress! But I must say, you gotta love a bride who does what she wants! Especially if that includes buying me an ice cream cone too!

They were so cute the way that they held each other's eyes as they walked down the aisle to each other!



The reception was just as colorful as the wedding party!




We popped back outside for some really fun sunset photos!




A groommans favorite job!

First Dance!

Moving...

A little over a year ago, Bluejay and I moved into my parents home, as they had moved to California and their house was still for sale. It was a sweet deal! We took care of the house and cleaned it for numerous showings and in return we got really REALLY cheap rent! (Thanks mom & dad!) Well, the house sold about a month ago. So in the middle raising support and going to staff training, we have also been packing up everything we own and frantically searching for a place to live! Slowly but surely we have checked things off our "to-do" list. We found a place to live that is with-in walking distance to Northwestern College Campus. We'll be renting in the house of some friends who are building a studio loft above their garage. It's really tiny, but cute. It has HUGE windows and tall ceilings! Way better than an apartment! We're calling it the Johnson Dorm on account of it's size. I'm learning all sorts of space saving tricks. For instance, we traded our queen size bed for my parents nice kitchen table and then we got a sofa bed from IKEA to serve as both our couch and our bed. I'm sure I'll post pictures of our new place once we're in and settled. But it won't be done being built until Oct. So off to California we go with my parents so that we aren't homeless and because one of my dear friends is getting married and I wouldn't miss her wedding for the world! It's going to be adorable!

I was quite a nostalgic morning as we said goodbye to the house and drove away. I thought of all the memories made there. My parents bought the house just before Bluejay and I started dating almost 5 years ago. We had our first kiss in the living room. I remembered the countless movie nights in the basement. I thought about family Thanksgiving's Christmas'. Where will we celebrate this year? I reminisced about coffee chats with my mom in the kitchen and board games at the table. I thought about all the parties that my sister and I used to have. While it's strange the have my parents OFFICIALLY moved and the house sold, I am excited to get back in our own place with our own furniture and decorations. I am going to have to find all those old DOMINO magazines that I saved for inspiration! Fun! So for now, Bluejay and I are homeless and living out of a suitcase moving from place to place for the next month or so...

Lake City, Mn- part II

More photos from our time in Lake City, Mn.

We spent lots of time at the lake beach.

We played sand volleyball each day.

Bluejay played a lot of "bags". And just like Scotland, there is rumored to be a lake monster called Pepie.

Remember the staff kids I told you about in the last post? How adorable are these little girls?!?! And how cute is it that they are all around the same age and are best friends! Love it!

Little Callie. Remember her from this post? She's getting so big, so fast!



This is Evelyn. She has the biggest most adorable blue eyes! I got so many hugs and snuggles from her his week. Gotta love that!



This is Annie. She has so much energy and is always moving or laughing. She cracks me up every time she runs because like Phoebe runs in this episode of FRIENDS. So funny!


This is Maddox. She is so sweet. She spend most of the week asking what everyone's name is and did a surprisingly great job and remembering! She also has amazingly "wise eyes" for being only two years old! She'll be such a great big sister come November!

I found this fabulous rusty bike when walking around the town! I so wanted to take it home and give it some tender love and care! You know me and vintage bikes/cars!

One night be went on a paddle boat cruise at sunset. It was fun to be out on the lake and play cards on the deck of the boat.

Our CO Minneapolis team. 

Jack and Steve wanted a photo... They make me laugh! Especially the next one.


The Stromwalls: our buddies and "roomies" for the week.

Emilie and Lydia.

Bluejay was cold and didn't bring a sweatshirt to Lake City, so I let him borrow my big comfy one, haha. He's so cute in pink. Plus it's his favorite color! I love the sunset in the sunglasses!

Austin used binoculars to watch the sunset.




Gotta love a full moon rising over a lake!