Fun, Family, Friends

August and September were fun and busy months for us. Eric and Alahna went to Colorado for 2 1/2 weeks to visit all our families out there. Unfortunately I had to work, so I wasn't able to go. They had a great time with all the grandmas and grandpas playing, hiking, going to the children's museum, balloon festival and many other fun things. Alahna loves spending time with all her grandparents (and I'm sure they had fun too).





It was hard for me to be home a lone, but I made the most of it and had some fun myself. One of my best (and longest)friend came out to visit me for a girls weekend. We did lots of girly things that we don't get to do with our husbands and kids...chick flicks with ice cream, shopping, wine bar, a spontaneous trip to the beach! It was a really great time! Unfortunately as many of you know, Pennsylvania has a large population of ticks that harbor Lyme Disease. Jennifer unknowingly got bite on our walk in the woods and came down with a bad case of Lyme Disease!! She is going better now that she is on the proper treatment. Boo!!




Once Eric and Alahna got back, September was filled with lots of family fun. We went to our first Philly's game! Alahna LOVED it! She was dancing and swinging the towel, yelling yay and giving "knuckles" to everyone around us! It was quite the event =)



We also got to enjoy the Ephrata town fair with my family. Grandma and Grandpa spoiled all the grandkids and we got to go on a lot of rides and eat good food. It was really fun.




The church we go to turned 2 today. It is so good to be a part of a growing and lively church. God is good and has been very good to us! We got to celebrate the church's aniversary today out at Bud's farm. We had a blast. There were tractors, jeeps, a jumping castle with a slide and lots of great friends. We are excited to see what God has in store for us in the this coming year!

Phone snaps

Running after a busy toddler doesn't lend itself to having much time to grab the camera when the opportunity for a great photo occurs. Eric recently downloaded a bunch of pictures from his phone, so I thought I would share some with you. It will give you an idea of what our days are like =) It is such a blessing that he is able to stay home with her while I'm embarking on this crazy doctor journey!

Car wash fun:





I scream, you scream, we all scream for Ice Cream!




We rode our bikes to the ice cream shop and Alahna insisted on having Elmo ride with her =)

Potty time? I don't think it's supposed to go on your head!




Shoes and strollers are definitely Alahna's favorite things! She loves to wear our shoes around the house. Sometimes she gets a little more than she bargined for.





They are both actually in Colorado right now visiting all our family (before Alahna turns 2 and we have to pay for a plane ticket)! It's really hard not having them here. It's so quiet and lonely. Atleast I have our dogs to keep me company! Its amazing how just a little time away makes you so THANKFUL for your amazing family. We are truely blessed. Alahna is the sweetest little girl that lights up my life and Eric is a steady torch that leads me though the tough times and carries our family throughout the days. I miss them a ton! I do have some pretty fun things lined up for when they are gone that I haven't gotten to do in a long time. Lots of girl time with some friends. I went out in the city for only the second time last night so that was really fun. I also have a ton of organizing and work to do, so all in all I will keep myself busy and enjoy my little talks with my family on the phone. Alahna can actually say hi, love you mama and bye, which is all the conversation I need to bring a smile to my face =)

Back it up

I feel terrible, but keep forgetting to post about our ever so exciting trip to Chicago and Des Moines for Easter!! I got 1 week vacation during internship and it was so much fun to go see our friends and family in Chicago and then Alahna and I took a side trip to Des Moines to see our friends and all their growing children (Alahna's friends)! Alahna had a great time with her cousins! Here are some pictures of them all enjoying eachother... (Donny 10, Allison 8, Annalisa 5, James 2)




A trip to the Brookfield Zoo


Alahna had a great time with the girls. She loved all the necklaces!

Alahna got new rainboots for Easter and had to "try" them out =)

Easter is always a very special time of year. We have had the pleasure of attending the easter vigil at the church that Eric grew up in the past few years. It is an amazing composition of acting, singing, worship, scripture, and pure love/joy for what Christ did for us. It brings me goosebumps every year. We love it and were so glad to be able to come out. We didn't get many pictures, but Eric snapped this one of Alahna and I dancing in the aisle to celebrate the Risen King. This was Alahna's favorite part! We also got a good one of all the kids Easter morning. (Mind you this was after they were up until 1130 the night before at the vigil, pretty good!) Also a couple good ones of just Alahna and the easter bunny, of course...







Some of our great friends, Guy and Lisa Merker, bought a gym and are starting a power tumbling and cheerleading buisness! We had a great time letting the kids play at their gym one of the days. I have a feeling Alahna is going to want to be a gymnast like her daddy!


We got a chance to spend some time with the newest Phantavong. John and Christy's precious Jacquelline was 4 months old and sooo cute!



I got away for a few days and went to stay with Adam, Nichole and Haven Cline. Nichole and I were pregnant at the same time (Haven and Alahna are 2 months apart). I developed a wonderful friendship with her. It is so hard moving to a new place where you don't know anyone. I was very thankful for the opportunity to spend time with some of my good friends in Des Moines. Haven and Alahna had a great time playing together. We went to a music class that a lot of the moms/kids from The Downtown Church go to and then our friend Tammy was nice enough to host a little lunch play date so we could all catch up. I truely miss this fellowship that I had with these girls. Unfortunately the East coast has a quite different attitude toward having children (in general) and there aren't as many younger couples with kids. We are starting to develop some friends through a new church that we are going to and I am thankful for that. I'm excited to see the changes in my life and whom God places in my life over the next 3 years while in Philly. I am also excited to stay in touch with the Des Moines crew and see our kids grow up together! Here are a few pics from that trip...






It was a wonderful trip and we hope that some of our friends/family will be able to make a trek out East sometime in the next 3 years so that we don't have to go too long without seeing everyone!

Changes

Lots of changes are going on in the Higginson household!
Change #1: I officially finished my internship on June 23. That was quite the exciting event!! I made lots of good friends and had a full year of testing my patience, compassion, determination, and time management. I would have to say that it was a tough year, but all in all, not as bad as I expected. I think what made it bareable was that Eric is able to stay home with Alahna and they came to visit me often! I don't know how I would have made it through all those sleepless nights without my wonderful family.

We went on a mini-tour of New England during my week break between internship and residency. It was a GREAT trip. We went up to Boston, Portland, New Harbor, Pemaquid, and Boothbay Harbor, Maine and then back down through Conneticut. My mom was able to come out to spend a portion of the trip with us, so that was a lot of fun. Alahna always loves spending time with her grammy and we sure do love the help. We stayed with my mom's cousins (that own a house in Pemaquid, Maine) for the first weekend and then were lucky enough to stay there the rest of the week. Making day trips here and there. They are wonderful people and great hosts. We actually stopped at their house in CT on the way back down too. Here are just a few pictures to capture what we did on our trip...

Boston Public Garden

Portland, Maine (Alahna was too busy wanting to run down the dock to pose)

Lobster picinic: You bring the sides and order the lobster right on the dock (caught that day)! It was our favorite part of the trip

Whale watching boat trip out of Boothbay Harbor. Yes we actually saw whales! And dolphins and seals!!

Pemaquid Point Lighthouse

A rainbow over the harbor after a light rain during our lobster picinic. Picture compliments of my talented mother

A stop at the beach in Conneticut before heading back home.

Change #2: July 1 I started my ophthalmology residency! I am finally doing what I want to do with my life and am so excited. It's very intense and intimating at this point but I feel blessed to be here in Philadelphia doing it. I couldn't ask for a better learning environment (Wills Eye lectures every day!) and my senior residents and attendings are very helpful. I know it's going to be a tough year, but I'm excited to continue toward my goal and learn as much as I can.

Change #3: Eric and I have become very fond of dessert and it is finally catching up to us! For about 2 years I was either pregnant or breastfeeding and my body (and me) was used to consuming more calories than normal to keep up with the demands for my baby. Well now that that's been over for 6 months now and my pants/shorts aren't fitting anymore, Eric and I decided to start a work out program together. We are going to walk and do the P90X videos along with 100 sit ups a night and only dessert once or twice a week! I think it will be a wonderful and encouraging way to strenghten our relationship. I'm excited to tone up and get back to the old me. (before another little one comes along and we have to go through the whole thing again =)

Change #4 (and 5,6,etc): Alahna is constantly changing so I should always include her. She is now 19 months and is growing up so fast. Everytime I look at her, I just can't believe how fast it has gone and wonder where my baby is. She runs, climbs, talks, plays, and loves lots. She is a constant joy (unless it's during the minute temper tantrum =) and we are so blessed to have her as our child. I thank God for giving me such a wonderful child and am excited to continue to see her grow!

I used to hate change. I was very black and white, but have allowed more grays in my life as changes continue to happen. I'm excited for all these changes in our lives and to begin to reset my priorities, including God, Family/Friends, Education,and Health/Fitness.

Camp Higginson

I have a lot to catch up on over the past few months! We finally went on a family vacation where Eric, Alahna and I could relax and enjoy eachothers company. Since we are not fortunate enough to live close to most of our friends and family, all our vacations have been spent visiting people. Those types of vacations are great too, but it is nice to spend undivided time as a family. We went up to Northeastern Pennsylvania to go camping at Digmans Ferry for Memorial Day weekend. It was SOOOO beautiful. Everyone had a GREAT time. Alahna actually slept really well on a mat next to us in the tent! She had a great time in the water, playing in the dirt, running around and enjoying God's beauty.

Here are some pictures:

Family picture! (Alahna 18 months, Isa 4, Malakai 3)


Beautiful Waterfall: Bushkill Falls


Alahna loved the dirt!


Alahna "flying"


The next champion rock skipper!


True family relaxation! The dogs we super tired from a long hike, so Eric and Alahna took advantage of that during the memorial day concert at the campground.


Fun in the river


Learning about fire


Happy camper.


Daredevil Alahna



Beauty in the ferns


Marshmello face


My mom upgraded us from the small 2 person tent that Eric had, to a huge family sized one. It is sooo nice. This is the front section that we zipped off for the dogs. They loved it!

We had a really wonderful time. Alahna is becoming so much fun. She's really got quite the personality! Its fun to see her growing and discovering. We hope to have a few more weekends this summer that we can go again! Who would have known that Pennsylvania was so pretty!!