Day 152

My little spidermen, with Tegan "reading" to Preston. 

Day 151

Vegetables that are growing wild on the bank of the Xianjiang River. Thats the main river that runs through Changsha, and is part of the Yangzhe River.

day 150

Renee standing in front of the bullet train that will take us to Guangzhou

Day 149

Sticks of incense offered to the god of Fire.

Day 148

Poster celebrating the Year of The Rabbit, which is this years sign. 

day 147

Chairman Mao's favorite dish. Its a fatty pork that is supposed to be good for your health. Chairman Mao's hometown is really close to Changsha, so this type of food was what he grew up on. 

Day 146

The entrance to the Fire Temple decorated with lanterns for Lantern Festival

Day 145

Stinky tofu. Its a considered a special treat here in Changsha. Its horrible, but a special thing!

Day 144

Hundred of little lanterns were released into the air on the final night of Spring Festival

Day 143

Angel and her Dad at the "Fire Pit" at the Temple of Fire! This temple was established over 400 years ago to the god of fire. People still bowed down to it, and offered it incense. 

Day 142

Renee in the seat of honor at the Lantern Festival dinner. She was sitting here, because its was her students family who treated us to dinner. Renee is an amazing teacher, and the family truly appreciates her

Lantern Festival

Tonight was the final night of Spring Festival (Chinese New Year) and it is called Lantern Festival. You celebrate by light lanterns and letting them go. You eat a special meal with your family, and just enjoy the final night before real life starts again.

We had the privilege of being invited to eat a special meal with a Chinese family. This is the family of the girl Renee tutors, so it was a big deal. They took us to an old part of the city, to a restaurant that has been operating for over 400 years. It was like you stepped back in time, and the whole area around this place was amazing!

The food was traditional CHangsha food however. It was fatty pork, stinky tofu, and big blood soup. But again, this is the food of this city and province so we had to enjoy it!

But overall, it was a great night and a fitting end to Chinese New Year. Every day I love this city more and more!

The pictures are of stinky tofu and Chairman Mao's favorite fatty pork. 

Day 141

Day 140

The Chinese like to use lanterns as decoration for Chinese New Year..well anything really, but especially New Year!

Day 139

This is the bathroom at the vets. Notice the meat drying outside!

Day 138

This was taken at the vets office. Our dog needed some stuff done, and this is the room where the helpers in the office live. It really cuts down on the commute!

Day 137

Day 136

Day 135

Happy Birthday Tegan

Happy birthday to our little man! You are five today, and what an amazing five year old you are. You are constantly showing us just how special, creative, caring and grown up you are. Last year, we talked about how much your life has changed in the previous year. How you handled it with grace and maturity. Well, once again your life had a massive change in it, and once again you did well.

As your Mother and I looked back over this year, we noticed one thing over and over. You experienced a lot of firsts!

Your first trip to China

Your first train ride

Your first dog

Your first bike

Your first visit to Disneyland

Your first visit to Hong Kong

You were baptized

Your first trip to Thailand

Your first day at school

Your first snow

Lost your first tooth, and 2^nd, 3^rd, 4^th and 5^th!

Your first time using chopsticks!

Honestly, my little man, the list is endless. But through it all one thing remained the same-- your sense of adventure, and your ability to adapt to any situation, and handle it better than any other person I know. You grew up a lot and had a few growing pains, but still did better than your Mom or I would have done.

We love you so much, and are so proud of you. For such a little man, you are a shining example of how someone should live their life. People see something in you that they don't have, and they want it! It is a privilege to be your Mom and Dad, to get to love you everyday, and watch you as you experience this adventure we call life. Happy Birthday Tegan Mesfin! Always remember... “We love you forever, we like you for always. As long as we're living, our baby you'll be”

Happy Anniversary My Princess!

Happy Anniversary

Another year, another move, another country, and another life changing decision. One thing you can say for sure, our life together is not boring. This past year has gone by incredibly fast, and our life has changed so much that it seems like we are constantly rediscovering who we are as a family and as a couple. But the one thing that remains the same, is the simple fact that I love you, and am so honored that you choose to marry me.  You feel in love with this sad excuse of a man, well below your station, and decided that you wanted me. Why, I will never understand but an so thankful you did.

I truly love you more every day, and hope that I show you just how special and amazing you are. You mean more to me than I can possibly express in mere words, and look forward to the rest of our life.

As we begin our 4th year of marriage, always remember that its you and only you. Thank you for everything you do for me, my beautiful, special and amazing princess. I Love you!

Day 134

Day 133

The next 6 or 7 days worth pf pictures come from things we saw on the street during Chinese New Year! 

Milestone

Today is a milestone of sorts. Today, our boys have lived in China longer than that did in America. I make that statement with mixed emotions. They are doing amazing, and like China and our life here, but at times I know they miss America and their friends.
But they have adjusted well, and are doing great as far as language and culture goes! They love school, and eggplant, and riding the bus. In their short lives, they have:
Lived in 3 countries, on three continents.
Been to 8 countries
Spoken four of five languages.

In others words, they have an amazing life. Below is the first picture we took of them in China, as well as the latest!

Day 132

This just happened this morning. He lost another tooth, and he no longer has his two front teeth!

Day 131

The remnants of a massive firework show put on by our complex at midnight on New Years Eve

day 130

Enjoying their first fireworks

Day 129

The boys and their New Year fireworks. 

Day 128

Chinese mail box. Went to the post office to buy some stamps, they sent me outside to mail it. I dont know how it gets to where it needs to go, but somehow it does!

Day 127

The whole downtown area is undergoing massive construction. They actually tore down our favorite pizza place! That only leaves one other truly Western food restaurant in town!

Day 126

Our family in Guangzhou.

Day 125

                                                I have heard of lawn bowling, but had never seen it until we were in                 Guangzhou. It was really interesting to watch.