The Most Wonderful Time of the Year: Holiday Edition!

Christmas in New Zealand means summer.

Warm weather, packed beaches, Red blossoms blooming on the Pohutakawa Trees....

Dressing up in a Red Santa Suit, sunglasses, and sneakers...

 And joining 200 others dressed the same...

 For a run around the Mount!

As fun and as relaxed and as beautiful weather as Christmastime in NZ may be, it

 JUST DOESN'T FEEL LIKE CHRISTMAS.

I was fortunate enough to get three weeks off over the holidays to make my first trip back to the States, since leaving in July of 2010!

I came home for this.

(Christmas Eve with the Alaishuskis, 2011)

And this....

(Paige and Nora turn SIX YEARS OLD!  Happy Birthday, girls!)

And to go walking in the woods with my Daddio in the bitter cold and wind, and be silly and make tractor trailers honk at us on Route 81!

(oh and collect golf balls too :) )

And spend quality time (and pedicure pampering) with my Mommy dearest (who definitely misses me the most!)

And go for a run with my big brother---(and continue to be amazed by his commitment to health and fitness!)....

And see my friend (and former Sky Laker camper, haha) Jason excel in his music career in his band "My Hero Zero" in State College!

And spend New Years with my awesome med school friends Liz and Chris!

And be silly with my very pregnant cousin Nina...

(who has since become a Mom of a lovely healthy baby boy!-- Congrats, Neen and Erick!)

And to hike to the top of Camelback Mountain in Phoenix.

And to remember what a Saguaro Cactus looks like...

And to take in the beautiful desert landscapes...

And to meet this lovely lady, who wasn't even BORN the last time I was home!

(Hi Daphne!)

And to hike, eat, drink and laugh with this wonderful, happy family....

And to give a lecture at my old residency program, hopefully inspring some freshly trained family doctors to embark on an locums international adventure like mine!

And to see cousins, aunts, uncles, and friends new and old... in PA, NY, and AZ....all jam-packed into three short weeks! 

Eating, drinking, and being merry with those I love.....

Now THAT felt like Christmas.

 It was a fantastic trip home.  I truly felt like a rockstar, travelling/visiting somewhere and someone new every single day.  Thank you EVERYONE for making my visit home so wonderful and memorable!

Miss you all already, and you're always welcome to visit me here in NZ!