Isaiah's 2nd Birthday x 3

On Isaiah's Birthday...we were going to be driving up the Ohio.  So we decided to celebrate early.  On Sunday, we got Grams and Grandpa to Skype with us and they were able to sing Happy Birthday with us and watch Isaiah open his presents.  Technology is SO COOL!!!

We stopped at Michelle and Ryan's house on our way up to Michigan.  When we arrived, we discovered that Ryan had made cupcakes for us!!!  The kids LOVED decorating the cupcakes.  We sang Happy Birthday to Isaiah again and he got to open more presents.

In Michigan, Isaiah had yet another party.  Isaiah's birthday is the day before his cousin Nai'a.  So we invaded the local Chuck-E-Cheese and had a joint birthday.  Isaiah heard another round of Happy Birthday.  Instead of presents, everyone gave the tickets they earned to Nai'a and she got to pick out her prize from Chuck-E-Cheese.  Isaiah picked a little ball and loves it!

That boy sure is LOVED!!!

Spencer's China Trip: The Great Wall

Spencer's China Trip: Tiananmen Square and Silk

Tiananmen Square.  No tanks today, but lots of propaganda signs.

The stages of the silk worm.  The picture is blurry...but it's the only one we have.

The silk cacoons...the machine is unraveling the strands of silk from each cocoon.

Here a worker is opening a cocoon and stretching it out.

Here the workers each grab a corner and slowly stretch the silk.  Then they lay the thin layer down and add another and another.  This makes pure silk comforters!!!

Spencer bough the girls matching dresses and shoes here.  For me, he bought 4 different 1/2 yard cuts of silk fabric.  I LOVE a man that knows what a quilter wants!!!

Spencer's China Trip: The Forbidden Palace

Spencer had ONE free day in Bejing, China...and he saw ALOT!!!  He took a cab to the Forbidden Palace and hired a tour guide to show him around.  The palace is HUGE.

This is a picture of the last emporer of China.

This is Spencer meeting the nephew of the emperor!!!!  He is a caligraphy artist.  The piece of artwork on the table is the Chinese symbol for marriage, with Spencer's name on the left and my name on the right! 





Spencer's China Trip: Working

Spencer spent most of his 2 weeks in a town called "Da-King".  I don't know the correct spelling, but that is how you pronounce it.

Here is the building where he spent his waking hours.

Here is how they had to get to the building!!!  It was crazy at night...with no street lights...and sometimes the man-hole cover was off!!!!

Here is one of the pilot plants they were working with...they all pretty much look alike: lots of tubes and gadgets and such.

Here is the food...definately NOT "American Chinese Food"...Spencer was very thankful to get home.

Strangely enough...no one tried the "Snake Water"???!!!

Spencer's China Trip: Getting There

Spencer left Tuesday morning to fly to Bejing, CHINA!!!

He flew OVER the North Pole.

Hi SANTA!!!