Happy Birthday MICHAEL!!

(Left) Michael - Hospital picture - weighing in at 4295 grams!






(Right) Michael 2 hours old.

Today is Michael's 15th Birthday!

Michael was born in Taipei, Taiwan on July 13, 1993 at 8:40 p.m. He weighed in at a mere 9 lbs. 7 oz. I remember looking over at him when they were weighing and measuring him and seeing his little (big-little) fist and saying to Matthew "How big is he?" Matthew laughed because the nurses kept calling him "Little Giant" in Chinese---they hadn't seen a baby born this big!

After delivery, I was famished and really needed something to eat. I was told, "Too bad. There is no food available..." (It was after 8:00 p.m. after all!) They took no pity on me.....





March, 1994 - 7 1/2 months old

Michael was a wonderful baby. He was so content and happy. I think he smiled at the earliest age of any of our children and smiled all the way through his childhood.











October, 1995 - Beijing, China - 2 1/2 years old

When Michael was little, his favorite things were playing baseball with this ball and bat, his pacifiers, and READING.

He talked everyone and anyone into playing baseball with him. He would "run" the bases in our family room.

He loved his pacifiers. He felt most comfortable when he had one on every finger of both hands and two in his mouth.

Michael has always loved reading. I remember the first word he read to me. We were sitting in the Chapel in Menlo Park, California. He looked at the sign above one of the doors and said, "Mom, that says EXIT." He was right! And he was 3.




July 13, 1998 - 5 years old



By the time he was about 2 years old, Michael became fascinated with dinosaurs. He could not get enough of them. When we moved back to the U.S., I think we read about every book there was to read on dinosaurs in the Springville, UT library.

By the time this picture was taken, he was determined that Paleontology was the career path for him. He could spew off more facts and figures about dinosaurs than a Jeopardy champ.



(Left) July, 2001 - 8 years old

(Right) July 13, 2003 - 10 years old

Michael has always been very sweet, kind and thoughtful. I don't think there has been more than a handful of dinners in his lifetime that he hasn't told me they were good and thank you! (And even if he didn't like the food all that much, he still ate it!)

He has always had an immense curiousity that has kept me on my toes.



September, 2007 - 14 years old

The last few years have been a real challenge with the development of his Crohn's Disease. However, I have seen Michael grow and mature because of it. He has learned to stick things out even when they are really hard and to endure to the end.

One of the positive outcomes of this whole ordeal is it has peaked Michael's interest in possibly becoming a Gastroentrologist. With his great compassion and keen mind, he'd be a great one!






June 2, 2008



Here's to another great 15 years!


Happy Birthday Michael!!

Happy Birthday, Elizabeth!!!

Today is Elizabeth's 18th Birthday. I know all parents say this, but I can't believe it's been 18 years. I remember, so well, WAITING for her to be born and thinking it was NEVER going to happen. (She was 2 weeks over due.)

July 7, 2000 - Elizabeth - One day old - in hospital in Taipei, Taiwan

I remember being paranoid about the medical staff (not trusting what they would do) and not letting her out of my sight---and for good reason to--she got impetigo in the hospital even with my hawk eyes. Elizabeth was extremely alert from the moment she was born. I remember her looking around at everything in the hospital room even at 9 hours old. She has always had an inquisitive nature that has served her well. I remember looking at Elizabeth and wondering what was in store for her and what she would be like. We so wanted to create an environment where she could grow and learn and become what Heavenly Father wanted her to become.

October, 1991

October, 1993

In our apartment in Tien Mu, Taipei, Taiwan

Elizabeth has always had alot of gumption and tenacity. She developed a keen sense of humor very young. I remember finding a "Junie B. Jones" book at a bookstore in Taiwan when she was 3 years old. I read it to her everyday and she laughed at everything funny in the book.

High School Graduation, May, 2008
Plainfield, Illinois

First day of Kindergarten, Sept., 1995
Beijing, China



















June 18, 2008 - Moving to college
Moving into the dorms



Elizabeth, you have done a wonderful job of "growing up." You have developed so many talents and abilities, I know Heavenly Father would be pleased with what you have done with your life. Dad and I are!

And so Elizabeth, on this day, we wish you a VERY Happy Birthday. We are so thankful Heavenly Father sent you to us. We can't wait to see what the next 18 years brings you!!! Have a wonderful day.

A Birthday to Remember

Matthew is now the ripe, old age of 44 years and 6 days old. (He looks pretty good for his age, doesn't he?) His birthday was last Tuesday. I would like to say we had a rip-roaring party.....I guess we were lucky to have birthday cake together with the way the day went.

I wanted to try to make a nice dinner for his birthday. I knew that was something he would like. So I chose a new recipe, Citrus Chicken with rice, and then cake. As I was trying to decide what time I needed to get everything started to get it done on time, I realized he wasn't even going to be home to eat it before we had to go to Ryan's baseball game. He had to work late! So....we all (minus Matthew) ate the birthday citrus-chicken dinner (which didn't end up tasting very citrussy) and went to Ryan's game.

Ryan had a baseball game at 5:45 p.m. (which meant leaving the house by 4:45 p.m.). We got started on the first inning right at 5:45 p.m; however, as Chicago weather would have it, we got two batters up, and lightning strikes. The game was then put "on hold" until we had 30 minutes without any lightning. So we wait...15 minutes...more lightning....10 more minutes...more lightning and then they ended up calling the game. We got home at 7:00 p.m., no game played.

Matthew got home about 7:30 p.m.---earlier than expected, and he got to eat his re-warmed, non-citrussy Citrus Chicken, Then we had cake together.

It's probably not exactly what he imagined his 44th birthday to be like when he pondered it as a boy! ...Oh, wait, he probably never pondered it as a boy.....

Kristen's 10th Birthday

On April 2nd, we celebrated Kristen's 10th birthday. It's hard to believe she is that old. I remember so distinctly, the day she was born. I remember holding her the first time. I remember, even in the hospital room, how she just looked and looked at everything--trying to take it all in. That trait has stayed with her. Her curiousity and inquisitiveness about life and what is going on around her is boundless. She desires to know and understand not only the things around her, but the people around her. These attributes will serve her well throughout her life. We are so thankful to have Kristen in our home.
Here are ten wonderful things about Kristen for her 10th birthday:
1. Inquisitive 2. Organized 3. Competitive 4. Intelligent 5. Funny
6. Soccer star 7. Good friend/social 8. Creative 9. Caring 10.Compassionate