"Happy, Happy Birthday Children Dear"

After reading my Oregon Right to Life newspaper I recently received, I'd like to share a bit of it with you.

The president of Oregon Right to Life says: "...The total of all U.S. service-related deaths in all wars from the Revolutionary War until today is about 750,000. This war-deaths total is just over one-half of the 1.2 million babies killed each and every year in this country by abortion... More Americans are aborted in one day than have been killed in Iraq in five years."

At least those who have sacrificed their lives for our (and other country's) freedom in Iraq had the privilege of living 20+ years and being aware of the risks, made the choice to serve in the military.

Pro-life or pro-choice? I really don't like the phrase "pro-choice." More accurately, it is pro-"I made-a-dumb-choice-and-now-I-want-to-choose-my-own-consequence."

So if I were to title this post with the words to a song, what would you choose?

Frosting!

This morning I was holding Brooke while standing on the porch waving to Nicholas as he walked to the bus stop and Brooke said, "Oh, no!" What's wrong, Brooke? "There's frosting again on the grass!"

Frosting, frost, it's all the same to an almost-3-year-old.

"We are Chinese if You Please"

(The song is "Siamese" not "Chinese," but it works!)

Here's Brooke modeling her Chinese coat and purse:


And Zach about to chomp off a bite of a pre-packaged chicken foot:


This beautiful wall hanging says "The Nelsons." Then the first line says "Mike" the next line says "Kate" followed by each of our children's names:


A Chinese New Year decoration:

David with his Papa who he is named after:

My little sister and I followed my parents to Spokane to visit my 94-year-old Grandad. Left to right: Emily, Ginger (aka GRaSSE), Grandad, my mom, me, and David.

I wanted our picture taken in front of this picture of Bryce Canyon at Grandad's house since I've seen pictures of my parents standing in this same spot when they cut their cake during their wedding reception 40 years ago. (And then it would be cool to have that wedding reception picture posted right here, but I'm just not that computer literate.)

Six Week Chinese New Year Break

My parents had a 6 week break from teaching in China so they came back to the States and made the rounds of visiting all 9 of us kids. Here is Nicholas with a bracelet he made out of some funky magnets my parents brought us.


Nicholas demonstrating his version of eating with chopsticks:

Brooke gave it her best shot too:

My dad's bread making trademark:

Each of his visits includes a homemade batch of bread!

Brooke got to help this time.

My mom with David:

Thanks for coming to visit mom and dad! They'll go back to China and teach until June.