Christmas in Canada
Greetings from the North Pole
Seasons Greetings from Santa Claus. I wonder if I might have your help for an urgent matter. Upon reviewing my list and itinerary for this Christmas Eve, it has come to my attention that I do not know where the Johnsons are.
I do know it has been a busy year for the Johnsons. During the first half of the year, Chris rotated through 5 time consuming 3rd year medical rotations … Family Practice in Georgia and OB/GYN and 3 months of Surgery in Maryland. After taking Step II of the Medical Board Examination, Chris finished 3rd year and the whole family took off on a 2 week vacation. The elves spotted them driving into the New England states to see Rhode Island, Boston, New Hampshire, Vermont, New York and Kirtland Ohio. Four weeks later, I received a memo that they moved all their stuff into a storage unit and started their ‘nomadic’ life as 4th year medical students. In August, they stayed in San Antonio while Chris studies Radiology in the mornings and golf in the afternoons. They also got season tickets to Sea World and enjoyed, as much as they could, the hot humid Texas weather. In September they drove up to Salt Lake City and spent the month with Chris’ family as he hung out with an orthopedic surgeon. The elves spotted them at numerous golf courses, scrapbook stores and concerts. After a quick trip to Las Vegas with the Christoffersons to see a fantastic BYU victory, they drove up to Vancouver Canada. Lisa and the kids stayed there with her parents while Chris did a Radiology rotation in Tacoma Washington and came up to Canada on the weekends. There they enjoyed Canadian Thanksgiving and a fun Halloween. This is where it gets even more confusing. In November, Chris completed a Military Medicine course in Maryland and San Antonio Texas. Then he met Lisa and the kids down in Las Vegas for a big family reunion over Thanksgiving. They spent December in Tacoma Washington while Chris worked in the Emergency Room. Rumor has it they may be spending the holidays with Lisa’s family in Canada.
Following is a list and description of each of the missing persons…
Missing Person #1: Chris
Chris can be found on golf courses, on basketball courts and watching BYU football games all over the country. He is highly competitive … or so I am told … and this presents itself especially when playing Risk, Ping Pong and Rook. Chris loves to be with his wife and kids and does anything to make them happy … even if it’s shopping. Chris has enjoyed all of his rotations this year but has chosen to specialize in Radiology. For Christmas he wants a preselect Radiology slot at Madigan Army Medical Center in Tacoma Washington.
Missing Person #2: Lisa
Lisa is a hard one to track down. She loves to shop and hide out in scrapbook stores, craft boutiques and malls. If she’s not there, she’s probably at home playing with her kids, scrapbooking or reading Harry Potter. She misses her Young Women calling back in Maryland. For Christmas she wants her own house again.
Missing Person #3: Ryan
Ryan is now 3 1/2 years old and thinks he is quite the big boy. He loves reading books, playing with his train, and telling the story of the 3 bears or the 3 pigs. His newest achievement is that he is finally potty trained. Ryan has loved being with his Grandparents but he misses his friends. While looking through some pictures, he recently said “I want my cute friends back”. For Christmas he wants … “a present”.
Missing Person #4: Katie
Katie, almost 18 months, might be getting coal in her stocking. She is quite the little monster although her parents think she is just about the cutest thing they’ve ever seen. If she’s not standing on the kitchen table or drawing on the walls, then she’s giving her big brother ‘iyan’ a hug or grabbing Grandpa’s finger to lead him to some unknown destination. Katie is talking lots now and loves to say ‘Data’, ‘ho ho ho’ (Santa) and ‘meman’ (snowman). She is also strong enough to open fridge and carry the jug of milk to her parents wherever they are in the house. Katie is often called ‘Boo’ (Monsters Inc. character), mostly by her Daddy, who she has wrapped around her little finger. She loves to give hugs and blow kisses. For Christmas, she wants a bobble (bottle) and a baby.
I’m sure you are all just as confused as I am about the Johnson schedule, but if anyone can verify the Johnson’s whereabouts please call the Emergency Christmas Eve Missing Persons hotline. Your efforts on their behalf are appreciated. May you all have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Joyfully yours,
Santa Claus
P.S. Chris received his Christmas present early this year. They just received word that he has been accepted for a preselect Radiology Internship and Residency at Madigan Army Medical Center in Tacoma Washington. He will graduate in May and start his internship in June.
Christmas Vacation
We had a great Christmas with my family in Canada. The last one we would have in my parents’ old house (11457 85A) although we didn’t know it at the time. I remember Christmas Eve being really fun. We ate dinner, sang songs and then spur of the moment started to act out the nativity with Ryan (3) as Joseph and Katie (18 months) as Mary. Everyone was so funny and we got the giggles trying to cast everyone and remember our ‘lines’. Dad was a donkey and poor ‘Mary’ fell off. Dan and Scott were shepherds, wise men and the angel. They were so funny. Then it took 4 cameramen to capture the whole thing on film. Good times.
Christmas Day
Christmas morning was fun. I got Chris a DVD player. He was pretty excited about that. He also got Bocce Balls, Star Wars Episode I and Gladiator DVDs. My great gifts were an Ann Taylor suit and a Sewing Machine. Ryan’s great gifts were a tent from Santa and a golf club from Daddy. Katie’s great gifts were her table and chairs from Santa, her dollhouse and fisher price people and her doll and doll bed from Grandma.
Lynn Canyon
One day over Christmas Break we spent the morning hiking around Lynn Canyon. After scenic photos on the suspension bridge we walked down to the river, up a ton of stairs, and hiked through the forest. It was fun to spend the day with everyone.
After Lynn Canyon, we decided to go up Seymore Mountain to find some snow. We found a crazy place to toboggan and watched Mike, Brian and Dad slide down the hill uncontrollably and crash at the end. It was fun to hike through the snow and then go home to hot chocolate.
