January 2011

Trying to survive one last winter on the East Coast!!

Pennsylvania Farm Show

You can't claim that you are from Pennsylvania unless you have fully experienced the Farm Show. Every January thousands come from near and far to the Farm Show Complex. One week full of farm fun. The most popular event, Sheep to Shawl. Several teams race to shear their sheep, spin the wool and loom a shawl. Incredible, and kind of twisted! Selah held her nose for the entire hour we were viewing the animals. I guess I have a city girl.



Neighborhood's largest snowman!

The kids did an amazing job building a giant snowman. Kids from left: Kenyon, Damon, Charlie, David and Sydney.




New York City!

Kids first trip to NYC. Visited Time Square, Top of the Empire State Building, Giant Toys R Us, Ground Zero, Statue of Liberty (though, we missed the ferry by a few minutes!) and the American Indian Museum. Although, the highlight was riding the subway and watching the street performers.

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