JESSICA Brooke Scholl - TEXAS

We haven't seen Jessica in like 6 years!!!  It was such a wonderful day when she arrived and it was like we had never parted.  The girls had a blast catching up with her and while they visited I did what I do best...MAKE COOKIES with the cutest set of cousins/nieces/nephews ever.

ELDER PALFREYMAN

We were SO lucky that our trip just happened to be the same weekend Jason's farewell was being held.  We are SO excited for him to serve the people of Pocatello, Idaho.  He is Leanna's dear friend and like a son to us.  We traveled from Vidor to Houston to hear him speak and to catch up with his family and our friends in Sugarland before he left.  It was a memorable day.

TEXAS TRIP 2012

Leanna, Krista, and I traveled by car to Texas.  It seems like a good idea until we get started!  haha  It really is a long drive.  About 26 hours.  The good news is there is a lot of things to stop and look at.  The best sign of the day is always WELCOME TO TEXAS.

We stayed at Aunt Patrice's and we love seeing the "Vidor car" to welcome us home.  We are so excited to be seeing our family.

The best things happen on vacation.  Bluebell Ice Cream, Seeing Elder Parker Olsen (Wade's friend he graduated with serving in Texas, Shipley's Donuts, torrential rain storm (SO miss that sound), and doing a Geneology project at Grandpa Wade Hayes' home where I get help from nieces and loads of advice from the sweetest man on the plant...my Gpa.

DUNNING VISIT

My cousin Natalie Hayes Dunning and her sweet kids came and stayed with us!  It was so fun.  Little Ty Marshall loved Leanna and Leanna loved him.  It's so great to visit with family.

ELDER DANIEL HANCOCK

WE LOVE ELDER HANCOCK!!! 

Michael Ruesch, Krista, Zach Colemere, Johnny Ruesch, and Jesse Pyne

Elder Hancock is such a great friend of ours.  He's headed to the MTC and then to FIJI!!!  He will be missed but we know he will change lives.  GOD SPEED Elder Hancock.

DATE NIGHT with my Love

SUCH a beautiful, windy day...

Rob and I went to the movie and then had Malawi's Pizza

Rob had never had it and thought it was great!  

We headed across the way to BlueBell (Provo Beach Resort) for dessert.

I look HIDEOUS but it is the moment.  I love spending time with my sweetheart.

New Hair cut and BUTTER Target

Well, in preparation to going home to Texas I got my hair trimmed.  I was demanding about the style and it looks good straight but looks like a sort of mullet when curly.  Bleh.  I guess I'll never find the replacement for Mevleah in Sugarland.  I miss her masterful haircuts.  Anyway, it's ok.

After the cut I decided to find the Orem Target.  I've never been there and I've heard its a SUPER Target so I made my way there.  Found it and discovered what we now call "BUTTER TARGET" because these beauties...The carts are so smooth it's like soft butter.  I mean, they are the best carts I've ever pushed around a store!  haha  Really!  Now every time I can I go to this Target to shop.

STEWART FALLS - Hike #6

 LAST hike of the season with our group.  Leanna survived all 6 hikes this summer.  SHE MET HER GOAL and kept her promise to hike with me each week.  Today's hike was tough.  We both have never hiked Sundance/Stewart Falls but really was excited about it.  The hike was easy on the way DOWN to the falls (probably why it was easy...DOWN) and we relished in the fact that we made it to this most magnificent spot with such a wonderful view.

We got wet under the falls and soaked our tired feet in the very cold water before heading back.  Little did we realize it was in the middle of the day and we had to hike UP to where we started.  Leanna and I dragged behind our group once again, but made it back safe and sound.  Basically the sun was shinning down on us and we thought we were gonna die a few times but we did make it back.  Not sure I'll do this hike again unless I'm in better shape and its early in the morning.  :)

My Leanna is moving out!

Leanna has chosen Wolverine Crossing to live next semester of UVU.  She really loves being home but wants the interaction of a Student Ward.  We are really excited for her but will miss the daily interaction with her.  Lexie came along to check the apartments out.  Then we got a free snow cone for taking the tour.  Leanna is the best.  Always knows what she should do.

TRANSFER OFF ISLAND

Wade was transferred from the BIG Island, Hilo, to Laie (Oahu) on July 11, 2012.  He really loved the people in Hilo and this family shared this photo with him before he left.  He was made a Zone Leader in Laie.  With the transfer he sent home a few items for good keeping...

He obviously has found the "DI" in Hawaii.  That boy is hilarious.  Always finding the BEST deals.  

NINTENDO DS with two games for $5!  

Some things never change.  I love that he wrote "Don't worry, I didn't play it!"

YASE - Showcase (Krista's Performance)

Krista was SO gorgeous and sang her little heart out for the Showcase on Tuesday night of YASE week.  She choose the song from the musical Chess "Someone Else's Story".  She was amazing and really proved she is a wonderful performer.  Mama was VERY proud.

YASE 2012

Krista was in one of her favorite songs "ZERO TO HERO" number.  She had a BLAST.

Instead of heading to EFY Krista had the opportunity to attend the Young Ambassador Singing Entertainers Workshop at BYU-Provo (Better known as YASE).  She had a week full of dance, muscle pain, music, broadway songs, showcasing with her song "Someone Else's Story", spiritual music fireside, new friends who love theatre, and a major performance at the end of the week that we were able to attend.  She LOVED it and will never forget the spirit she felt and the wonderful friendships and experience she had.  YASE 2012 was AWESOME!

TESTIMONY SUNDAY

SO today in Young Women the teacher had the girls write something they had a testimony of and explain why.  It was a wonderful lesson.  Krista wrote "WADE ROBERT JOHNSON" and emotionally bore her testimony about missions and her brother setting such a good example for her.  It was a very tender moment and it made me really proud.

THEN as I was getting a video ready for my brother Donny (his mission opening of his call) I was watching and saw this...  OH how this touched me.  Donny pointing to his mission Vina Del Mar CHILE and Travis crawls under the map and points to an area...LITTLE DID WE KNOW that was the EXACT mission he would be called to!  ARGENTINA!!  Freaky.  Tamra's pointing to her mission at the top Lithuania.  It made me realize that sometimes "From the mouth of babes" is VERY accurate.  Travis is currently serving in the area he is pointing to.  

The night Travis opened his call they pointed again...

SEE!!!  It is incredible to think about.  At the time they took this picture they had NO IDEA years before Travis pointed to the same area.  THE CHURCH IS TRUE!!!

July 4th celebration - NO FIREWORKS

SO, because of the FIRE in Alpine and the dry conditions we were under strict instructions with the city of Cedar Hills to NOT even do sparklers.  We decided to have a BIG Family Home Evening with family since Tamra and her family were coming back through Utah on their way home from Idaho, Morgan Johnson was in town for BYU Football camp, and our first cousins from Rob's side of the family (The Tyler Nelson family and Aunt Linda/Uncle Steve) were in town.  We played with the adorable kids at the park, talked about our freedoms and snacked on yummy cookies (ROMNEY STYLE) and mint brownies.  We loved spending time with everyone.  Quietest 4th ever.

ALPINE FIRE

This is how it started...

 View from our home.

AND the planes come in droves...

Made me remember this movie I loved growing up.  This fire was scary and we were under watch just in case the wind shifted.  Leanna was SO nervous about her journals she's kept since age 7.  She couldn't even sleep until I went to Walmart and got plastic containers to store her journals in just in case we had to leave quickly.  Most of the Alpine residents affected by the fire had less than 5 minutes to leave there homes and get out.  That put her in panic mode.  I am grateful we didn't have to escape in the middle in the night and Leanna's journals are safe.  

Made me realize all that I have I am so grateful for.

Scout Falls - Hike #5

Our hike today was the BEST.  It is my all time favorite hike.  Today it was cool and gorgeous.  We saw all kind of little animals like chipmunks and butterflies.

We love climbing the tree to the waterfall.  SO many beautiful sights.  I carved my name in a tree on my 40th birthday and I found it!  Memories then and memories made today.

At the top we hugged each other and enjoyed the magnificent view.  Krista found a heart rock for her collection and we got a little wet standing close to the falls.

On our way down the most wonderful sight...BAMBI!  We couldn't believe it!  She was in a small waterfall and no mama around.  We loved seeing this tiny miracle.  We also caught a butterfly.  WONDERFUL day together.

DISNEYLAND FUN

 Woke up bright and early to get into the park since Cars Land had just opened.  It was SO crowded and we quickly learned the FastPass was the way to go.  However, most of the Fast passes were gone so we were limited to the rides we could wait in line for (over an hour).  It was hot but we enjoyed California Adventure.  Then we headed next door to Disney Land...

 We were quickly shocked and full of laughter over the size of the CASTLE.  It was like a polly pocket sized castle.  We are spoiled with Disney World, to say the least.  It was a fun day and the food was fantastic.  The girls were giddy throughout our adventures and we all kept wishing Wade was with us.

 After the long day we headed back to California Adventure to watch the night time spectacular show Wonder of Color.  It was so awesome.  Then we headed back to DisneyLand to ride a few more rides before crashing at our hotel.  It was SUCH a long day filled with fun and excitement. 

After waving goodbye we headed to Rob's mother/family gravesides to pay our respects.  It was a beautiful day with magnificent views.  On our travels home we heard about all the forest fires in Utah because of the dry conditions.  We witnessed a HUGE fire as we were driving.  All in all it was a wonderful fast trip as a family.

DISNEYLAND - DAY 1

 DAY ONE we drove into Anehiem California and went straight to dinner at PF Changs.  It was WONDERFUL.  The weather was perfect and we loved every bite.

After dinner we headed to DOWNTOWN DISNEY for dessert and a little shopping before checking in to our hotel.  We are so excited to go to California Adventures and DisneyLand tomorrow.

Seven Peaks with Baylee

 We bought Seven Peaks Pass of all Passes this year and we have enjoyed every minute of it!

 Krista's great friend, Baylee Dodge also has one so we brought her along for the fun day.

They supported their good friends Stephanie and Zach in the Alpine Community performance of ANNIE the musical.  Dominic went too.  It's so wonderful Krista has such amazing friends.

Little Women Rehearsal and Tobe

 I'm the musical director for Murray Arts Community play of Little Women the musical.  We have a great cast of wonderful actors and it's such a pleasure working with all of them.

 After this rehearsal Leanna and I just enjoyed playing with Toby.  He is the best dog anyone could ask for.  He always makes our day.