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1. Peter just interviewed for a detachment commander job at Eielson Air Force Base (near Fairbanks, Alaska). His commander came to him and specifically asked him to apply for the job and we will be finding out this week or next if he got the job! He told me that he felt pretty confident during the interview that his commander had already picked him for the job but she still has to check off all the boxes and finish the process for selection.

2. If the job to Alaska falls through for some reason Peter will be applying for a job that is somewhere in the world. He just can’t tell me where it is; but apparently it is a place that families can go. What an adventure that would be…

3. The third possibility is in Reston, Virginia; I don’t know any specifics of this job (nor would I ever) but Peter already has someone there waiting for his reply on a job.  If we don’t go to job #1 or #2 then we will be going to Virginia.

I’m trying not to get all worked up and excited about the job in Alaska like I did with the job that fell through in England, but it has been hard to curb my enthusiasm. As soon as we find out our next local, I will be sure to post it here on our blog! Stay tuned…

The Arctic conditions that have taken a hold of the country have left a stamp even here in Florida. We have been enjoying temperatures in the low 40’s for a couple of weeks and this morning I woke up to see the thermostat sitting at 32 degrees! Most everyone around us has been freezing their little tushies off but I have been in heaven! Hot chocolate, hot soup, flannel pajamas, house slippers and snuggling up close to Peter in bed at night are just a few of the delights that I have been enjoying. Too bad all this cold weather can’t bring in a good snow storm; then my bliss would be complete. In Tampa, a couple of days ago, there were delays at the airport because of ice! A local Floridian told me that there has not been weather like this since about 1972.

This morning when we got to church the thermostat in my mini van said it was 37 degrees. When we got inside the church building it wasn’t much warmer than that. Apparently the heater was not working so the bishop decided to cut the three hour block short and sent us all home right after the sacrament. I don’t think I’ve ever heard so much teeth-chattering in my life!

Of course the climatologists are claiming that global warming is to blame; apparently it is so hot that is cold (that is according to some scientists in China)!

Here are some things that Santa brought the Johnson family:

Isaac: Magnetix, Legos, Sum Swamp board game (learn how to add and subtract while having fun), Transformers (Thanks Aunt Debbie!), etc.

Sydney: Knitting needles, knitting books, yarn, scrap-booking and card making supplies, Egyptian board game, etc.

(Grandma Johnson got a subscription to National Geographic for Kids – thanks grandma!)

Liz: The only official Christmas Day present for me were the books The Real George Washington and The Real Benjamin Franklin from my mommy. But some “early” Christmas presents of mine include my Glock 23 (a handgun), Spanish Rosetta Stone software, and my iTouch. Janice also got me a subscription to Family Fun magazine – that should come in handy with coming up with activities and crafts for homeschool!

Peter: The kids picked out a tie for Peter that has all of the books from the New Testament on it. I picked out a plaid button-down shirt for him. He also got a lump of coal in his stocking. But that’s not all – his “early” Christmas gifts include a new Canon digital camera, a notebook laptop, an AR-15 (a scary looking rifle that gun-banners think should be banned simply because it looks scary), and a Ford F150 truck.

Well, it’s 12:19 AM EST here in Florida on January 1, 2010. Why I am still awake is beyond me; the rest of my family went to bed long ago. I don’t usually stay awake on New Year’s Eve but I think the brownie sundae I ate earlier (you know – that last delicious something before the New Year weight loss goal?) has left me with a less-than-desirous feeling to lay down and develop indigestion.

I thought I would just take a minute to share my goals for this year. Last year I spent time each month reviewing my goals and checking my progress and hope to do the same this year; this method was helpful in keeping on track. This year I have several goals, but plan to make reasonable steps that can be accomplished in 1-3 months at a time so they are not overwhelming.

Here are my goals for 2010 by category:

Spiritual

• Finish Book of Mormon by March/April (I am already more than half-way through)

• Take about 30 minutes each week for quiet meditation (what’s that?)

• Write down promptings and follow up on them

Physical

• Lose 10 pounds (it wouldn’t feel like New Year’s without adding this – however, I am going to make reasonable month by month goals to make this possible). I hate adding this to the list every year… Anyone have any good suggestions?

• Plan dinner menus in advance

Personal

• No over-spending on my allowance (although I am a budget FREAK and I know where every cent is spent, I ALWAYS spend way over my personal allowance budget – the first thing I am doing is simply raising my allowance budget – unlike congress who raises the debt ceiling by trillions of dollars at a time, I am simply raising a budgeted line item within our family’s income possibilities…)

• Journal entry and blog writing each week. Even if it’s just something quick and simple.

Skills/Crafts

• Begin knitting (I’m really excited about this one. So far I have learned how to cast on and do a regular knit stitch.) I just spent my allowance (don’t worry – I came in about $10 UNDER my allowance limit) ordering some bamboo knitting needles and instructional knitting books. I have also found some excellent demos online. I have to learn how to knit because I got Sydney some knitting supplies for Christmas – all in an effort to force myself how to learn – she can’t wait for me to show her how! Wish me luck…

• Finish levels 1-2 of Spanish Rosetta Stone program. Yes. We are the crazy new homeschooling family. I feel the need to teach my kids a foreign language. But one that is useful in the great USA. So far I can say things in Spanish like “The women swim” and “The boy does not have an apple.” I have a feeling I am going to need to get beyond this point to speak with the Spanish-speaking members of our ward. So far I am LOVING the software we bought!

• Make a new quilt top for our bed. I’m going to be reasonable on this goal. It may simply find it’s way to my 2011 goal list. I have picked out a pattern that was approved by Peter (not that it would stop me from making one that he didn’t put his stamp of approval on).

Right now I feel like my 2010 goals are reasonable – most requiring very little work; just a consistent effort and some sheer will-power (remember that allowance thing?

Happy New Year!

Well, the holidays have come and gone. We’ve had a good time, but are ready for a slower January.

We were glad to have the Cooks (our friends from Kentucky) down for Thanksgiving. We spent time at the beach, looking a manatees, and exposing young boys and nervous moms to firearms.

J, Spencer, and Brig had a great time. All the kids turned out to be a pretty good shot, and we didn’t even kill anyone or send anyone to the hospital.

Kara wasn’t too sure about shooting when we got there. She’d never shot before, and was kinda uneasy about it. Turns out, with only a little coaching, she’s a pretty good shot with both the rifle and a handgun.

There’s something fundamentally cool about being able to play in the ocean in November. The Cook boys jumped right in and couldn’t get enough. Apparently November in Florida is quite warm to folks used to real winters.

Isaac’s blood however, has apparently thinned out some. He got so cold he had to sit in the sand and warm up while the northerners played in the waves.

Isaac also had a good time having other rambunctious boys to wrestle with. He finally got a taste of his own medicine, and apparently didn’t mind the taste at all.

We also had the Watsons and the Colemans over for Thanksgiving.

Liz once again proved she’s the most accomplished liar in the bunch by trouncing us at Balderdash, followed closely by J.

Along the way, we got a short concert from the Coleman’s youngest. I doubt you’ll be seeing him on the touring circuit any time soon, but Liz and Amanda got a kick out of it.

Christmas was equally busy and fun. We had the Hennessy family over for dinner on Christmas Eve to share our tradition of cooking up middle-eastern Souvlaki and home-made pita bread. The next day my uncle Ben, aunt Debbi and all their family came over along with friends Steve and Nancy. We had such a nice time that I forgot to pull the camera out and take pictures.

Even Roger got into the Christmas spirit this year. Although getting him to hold still for the camera took some serious bribery.

Liz just liked this picture. She says it looks like it belongs on a Hallmark card. I took it! Maybe I should switch day-jobs. Err… maybe not.

Sydney got a huge bucket of craft paper, cards, and random stamps, punches and the like to keep her creative side occupied for the next year. She also was quite happy with her new pajamas. They have owls on them, and since she’s started reading the Harry Potter series (she’s on book 5 at the moment) she’s been facinated by owls.

This year, Liz decided Santa would bring everyone new pajamas the night before Christmas. Here she is sporting hers. She looks beautiful in anything, but I can’t understand her desire to sleep in something that sticks to the sheets like velcro.

The only thing nearly as cool as the Bakugon pajamas Isaac got was the traditional Whoopie Cushion. The best thing about them is that they are great fun for a while, and about the time you can’t stand it any longer, they blow-up and get thrown away. Good, clean, cheap fun.

As usual, I got a lump of coal from Santa. Funny thing is that it’s been in my stocking since it got hung. I suppose Santa knew I wouldn’t redeem myself before Christmas.

The kids are only smiling because I wouldn’t get out of the way and let them go downstairs until after I had a decent picture.

It’s amazing how the prospect of presents can help them get along together…

Liz even stuck me with flannel pajamas this year. I hope she doesn’t expect me to actually sleep in them… It feels like I’m being strangled by my own clothes. Oh well, they’re comfy for lounging around the house in.

Syd isn’t too happy about her new bangs. She was attempting to style her own hair when she wrapped a comb in them until it was completely stuck. Liz had no option except to cut it out. Oh well, they’ll grow back in a year or so.

Getting Isaac to smile a normal smile is kind of a challenge. You almost have to surprise him. I remember when Sydney had the same issue. I guess it goes with being a five-year-old.

Well, that’s it for now. Merry Christmas from the Johnsons.

We made four of these. Four. It took about three hours of my life. I sometimes wish that I enjoyed doing more of these kinds of crafty things. They did turn out very cute and we later wrote on the feathers some things we are thankful for.

• Peter got another job offer in Washington D.C. while he was there this last week so we are hoping that it goes through. Yesterday was Peter’s promotion ceremony – as of Tuesday, Dec. 1st he will be Major Johnson, USAF. He is loving his new truck, a silver Ford F150, that I will post pictures of later (right now it is at work with Peter).
• Home school is totally awesome; I think it is one of the best kept secrets around. Sydney and Isaac are completing school work and piano by 3:30 or 4:00 PM and then they are playing with friends nearly every afternoon.
• Sydney continues to enjoy tennis lessons. A favorite historical person that she read about recently is Florence Nightingale; she made a lovely notebook page about “The Lady with the Lamp” complete with pop-up pictures! She has greatly improved her addition and multiplication facts being able to recall them much quicker.
• Isaac LOVES basketball and has been spending HOURS dribbling on the back porch! He gave a talk in primary this last Sunday that he wrote himself (with a little direction from mom). Here is his talk: “Adam and Eve were the first family. Adam and Eve taught their children the gospel. Adam and Eve loved their children.  I also have a family. We learn the gospel at home. My mom and dad love me. We can be together forever because of the temple.”
• Liz finished reading The 5000 Year Leap: A Miracle that Changed the World by W. Cleon Skousen (which she HIGHLY recommends) and is now reading Sarah Palin: Going Rogue. She has been busy calling and writing senators, her congressman, and President Obama and intends to single-handedly improve the war in Afghanistan and the United States economy (well, with a LOT of help from other common-sense folks).