Out with the Old........

2007 wasn't a bad year at all for our family! We had a LOT of good times and a whole lot of change, too...change for the better. I thought with all the "year in review" and "a look back" specials on the internet and tv, our blog should celebrate, too. So, here is "the Johnson's Year in Review - 2007":

• We have a teenager! Clay turned 13!!!
• Clay earned his Eagle Scout and his OA Brotherhood
• Clay transferred troops, twice, and has gone on several camping trips, kayaking and rock climbing
• Clay was accepted into the TWO Academy, a single-gender magnet program
• Ben turned 8!
• Ben played soccer for Columbia United.
• He had a singing part in the 2nd grades spring program.
• Maggie turned 2!
• Melanie turned 34!
• Melanie spent a week at Converse College to study the Revolutionary War with an NEH grant.
• Melanie spent two weeks with the SC Dept of Archives studying SC history from Reconstruction to 1919 and was able to see many cool sites around the midlands --- Kennsington Plantation, the SC Railroad Museum and the Woodrow Wilson house.
• Melanie was named VFW Post 4262's "Teacher of the Year".
• Ron had a BIG birthday --- he turned 40!!
• Ron was awarded Scouting Mentor pins at 2 ceremonies --- Clay's and another scout/friend, Ryan's.
• Ron took a new job with Wilbur Smith.
• We took several spring trips to Columbia --- for spring break, for the USC spring game/Hootie and the Blowfish concert and house hunting.
• I got a new job teaching a multi-age class at a charter school
• WE MOVED TO COLUMBIA!!!!!
• We used our zoo, museum and EdVenture memberships A LOT! (we also went to HalloWonka, Boo in the Zoo, Lights Before Christmas, Alien Day and Halloween at the museum)
• We went camping for the weekend and hiked at Kings Mountain State Park.
• We went to Myrtle Beach for a November day trip.
• We adopted Dobby in July and he died in December.
• We made a lot of new friends.
• We travelled home to Spartanburg for Veterans Day (to put flags on Papa Walker's grave), Thanksgiving, to see Ryan and Miriam at the beginning of December and to celebrate Christmas with the Johnson's at the end of December
• My parents came down here several times for "grand tours" of Columbia, for Grandparents breakfast at Ben's school, to shop at the Village at Sandhill and to celebrate Christmas with us