More Halloween...

With much going on, I am playing catch up.

Ducky eating pumpkin guts. Is that normal?

The cutest pig around.

Little Santa Claus

A Time When Adults Can Dress Up!

Steve's Jack-o-lantern and my hissing cat

Since Steve was the only one to see my Halloween decorations this year, I wanted to share them with you.

I'm a big fan of black and white Halloween decor.

This year I got to dress up TWICE! For work, we went with the cowboy- western-1800's theme. My coworker Kathleen was the camp cook. I wore a dress that I played dress up in when I was little. I also had Steve's hat and my boots.

That night, Steve and I passed out candy at the Stake Trunk-or-Treat. Steve was a cowboy, and I changed into a "cute" witch.

I got this hat idea from Mummsie. Just spicing up the plain ole black hat with some ribbon and flowers. It didn't turn out as cute as hers, but I still LOVE it.

Girls' Weekend

We Johnson girls like getting together once in a while. Janelle suggested we meet together for the Relief Society Broadcast. Jen suggested we meet in St. George and go to Little Mermaid at Tuachan. The rest of us agreed. We made plans and arrangements. Jen couldn't come to the show because of a family funeral. We missed her a lot. So I showed up in Enterprise a little earlier and was able to spend time with Jen and her kids before they left town. We watched Charolette's Web and had some cookie dough shakes at Marv's. Jen gave her ticket to LaDawna, so I was able to have both of my Moms there. LaDawna and I met up with Mom, Janelle, and Janeen in St. George where we ate at Guns and Barrells. We then saw Little Mermaid. I just LOVED the production! And Tuachan in GORGEOUS! I wouldn't mind going there every year to see a show.

The next morning I went shopping with my mom and sisters in St. George. We got some cute clothes and yummy chocolate. We ate at one of my favorites: Mongolian BBQ. After a little bit more shopping, the Idaho clan headed back up north. That evening I went to the Enterprise to watch the Relief Society Broadcast with LaDawna and Grandma Darrington.

It was great to spend some time with the women I love! Thanks everyone for the great weekend!

La Playa '11

I love the beach. I love spending time with family. So, I obviously love this vacation that I get to have every year with the Pickerings. Steve and I got wetsuits this year, which made a huge difference (even if it isn't the most attractive thing to wear). We played hard on the beach, went to the Mormon Battalion Site, a Padres vs. Giants game, and ate yummy ice cream!
Fun Memories from 2011:

• On our way down, there was a huge fire on the interstate. We had to take a two hour detour up the mountains. If we weren't in a hurry to get to the shoreline, I think I would have enjoyed it more.


• Most of the week when I wasn't in the water, I read Mockingjay. I really don't read for leisure, but I sure did enjoy it.


• The only part of me that got sunburnt was my face. And it was BRIGHT red.


• We went downtown San Diego to visit the Mormon Battalion Site. While watching the presentation, the lights go down and the wall turned purple to portray nighttime. Trace started frantically whispering (loudly), "Jessica, Jessica, where are you? It's your favorite color!"


• I have always wanted to try a restaurant that was unique to San Diego. This year, Steve and I ate at a taco shop with REAL coca-cola.


• At the baseball game, we told Trace if he would dance, he would get on the big screen. Sadly, Trace was wearing red, which was too close to the opponents color, orange. But Trace danced his little heart out.


• The last night we were at the beach, there was a MAJOR power outage. It was interesting to cook dinner, take showers, and pack without electricity. Thankfully, it came back on after we all went to bed.


• We added one more person to the clan this year, Nixon! He was so fun to hold and watch.
  

Harvesting the Grain

All my post have been about a month late, but I'm getting further behind everytime. At the end of August, Steve and I try to make it up to Idaho for grain harvest. This year was short and sweet, but we had lots of fun.

Dad got a new combine, and Steve was all sorts of giddy about it.

Mummsie in her vegetable garden. She put me to work picking green beans.The new John Deere combine
Janeen and I made super yummy Pink Lemonade Cupcakes. It reminded me of our younger days when we made homemade oreo cookies.

I had lots of fun eating good food, exercising with my personal Zumba instructor and Mom, and visiting with my family. Steve had lots of fun driving a combine.

Cliff Bars and Gatorade

On the 30th of July, a small group of adventurers set out to conquer the great Wheeler Peak.

The party started Friday, when Mom, Dad, Janeen, Jen, Riley, and Hyrum arrived in Spring Valley. We had a fun hot dog roast with smores.

Smack that!

The next morning we set out to climb 4 miles (in distance) and 3,000 feet (in elevation).

This was the "easy" part of the hike.

No one really wanted to take pictures at this point.Part of the ranch where Steve works.

Stranger: "Where are you from?"

Steve: "See that house down there?"

Terrific view! And this isn't even the top!

We had so much fun hiking with my family. It is really an incredible experience to be so high. Thank you family for coming with Steve and me. We enjoyed being with you that weekend.

So if anyone wants to feel like a mountaineer one weekend, give us a call.

Pioneer Children Sang As They Walked....

... and Jessica gasps for air as she runs a 5K Fun Run in Enterprise, UT.

Steve and I celebrate Pioneer Day in Enterprise. We get up at the crack of dawn to RUN!!!! (Who does that?!?)

Then we soak up the morning rays to watch the parade.

Then we jump of cliffs (at some ridiculous heights) into some cold water.

Then Steve enjoys a refreshing beverage under the shade at the Pickering BBQ.

Then he decides to wrestle children at least 10 years younger than him.

In a few years, Reese is going to be able to whip up on Steve.

So we might do Pioneer Day a little differently than the actually pioneers, but we sure did have fun!