Christmas Cheer!

This has been a wonderful season!! In fact, it has been an outstanding year. I decided I wanted to ease into the holidays this year. I have really concentrated on savoring the cheerful moments amid the chaos of all the holiday parties and rushing about. Here are some of my favorite moments so far...

Attending Derek's Ortho Christmas Party for the last time!

Derek being hazed by Dr. Lippe, he led the party in Happy Birthday.

Going to New York City with my dear friend Tara, whom I'm going to miss so much next year! We visited Time Square, The Rockefeller Center, Macy's, Broadway...but best of all we saw

The Rockettes Christmas Spectacular at Radio City!!
This was on the top of my bucket list!!
It was incredible!

Breakfast with Santa at Harrisburg Hospital

Ward Christmas Party, Selah as Mary and her best friend Jacie as the angel.

Visiting Chocolate World in Hershey with Selah and seeing the candy house.

Taking pictures for our Christmas cards. I love Christmas cards giving and receiving!!

Of course, decorating to kick off the season!

Damon carefully decorating the tree for his room.

Halloween 2010

Halloween

Mario, Princess Peach & Luigi

"Thars gonna be a weddin' tonight boys, we're gettin' hitched!"

Mask-less Avatar, Cleopatra and the Newleyweds

Back to Hawaii

Home Sweet Home!

In September we flew to Kauai for a job interview. Unlike the Big Island, Kauai felt very much like home! We spent the week exploring and getting reacquainted with the island (the last time we were on Kauai was for our honeymoon over 10 years ago)! It was better than I remember. After several days of interviews, Derek was offered a position at Wilcox Hospital in Lihue!!
Without any hesitation we accepted the position! We are thrilled to say that in eight months we will be Kauaians! We have prayed for years that the right job would fall into place and we would have no doubt that it is right for our family. Every other location and job we have looked into had some sort of road block, but with Kauai everything fell right into place! The kids are having so much fun telling everyone that we will be moving to Hawaii. Me and Derek are thrilled that we no longer have to wonder where we will be next year.

This was an informal interview with Dr. Rovinski, Director of Orthopedics. Can you believe that he was on call!! Hard to find a mainland Orthopod who is surfing and spear fishing with his boys while on call. This job suits us just fine!

Derek after his first attempt at spear fishing...
I don't think you are supposed to spear the aquarium fish!! OOPS!!

With Helene Oyama, minutes after the final interview!

Haiti Medical Mission

Me and Derek spent a week in Port-au-Prince Haiti. I published my journal and added some pictures. Here is the link: www.johnsonsinhaiti.blogspot.com

Ballerina

Selah is in ballet!! She loves it. I probably love it even more than she does. It is so fun to get her ready, she looks so cute in her little pink leotard. After class she always tells me what she learned. Watching her in the studio brings back memories of when I started ballet, I was also three.

Mother-Daughter Moments

Make that the Top Eleven

11- Lisde's Arepa!! I am going to miss my good friend when we go back to PA. You rock Lisde!

Top Ten of Atlanta - in random order

1- Listening to Selah cheer for "Milky" Cabrerra at the many Braves games

2- High Dive at Heckers Pool- love the belly flops and nasal rinsings

3- Damon's year end program at High Point...I'll never forget him singing "The World is a Rainbow"

4- Putting several years of wear and mostly tear on Selah's bike trailer at Blankets. Who says you can't take a toddler mountain biking?

5- Chastain Park BBQ's

6- Teaching Selah to swim and hoping no one calls the police! She went from hysteria to a wild fish in two weeks!

7- Derek's wonderful hours.

8- Being creative while cooking in our "furnished apartment"

9- Learning that a one bedroom apartment is sufficient for happiness.... simplicity truly is bliss!

10- Trader Joes, Trader Joes, Trader Joes!!

10th Anniversary

Hawaii

Rainbow Falls

Hilo

Black Sands Beach

Waimea

Of course no vacay is complete without some mtn biking

Performing surgery on himself after stepping on a sea urchin (AKA Wana)

One day of business... Alii Health

Oh Atlanta, I hear you callin'

Atlanta

Derek is spending three months doing a Pediatric Orthopaedic rotation at Children's of Atlanta. We decided to load up the van and tag along! We are staying in a one bedroom apartment owned by the hospital. We are cozy! It has been a wonderful adventure trip. The boys spent 6 weeks attending High Point Elementary in Sandy Springs. They had a great experience and made friends that they will be sad to leave. Selah has also made a wonderful friend, but I think she will miss her gymnastics coach (Coach Kathryn) the most! The kids have proven to be quite adaptable. This has been a very healing time for our family as Derek's schedule has been incredible. We have had him home for dinner every night except for call nights! I have been extremely content with our laid back lifestyle. We go to the park & pool almost everyday. Other than that, I enjoy watching gymnastics classes and soccer games. I have no complaints or regrets about coming along. Living simply is truly blissful!!

Braves Game

Batting Practice

Atlanta Aquarium

Selah's Bedroom (AKA Closet)

Family Fun

Thank goodness for daddy!

Derek in action

Nurturing his favorite patient

Girl Time

Laying out

Decorating our lovely apartment

Kenyon

Damon

Selah at Gymnastics

Selah 's class

Bus Stop

Mountain Biking at Blankets Park

The perfect nap!