Introducing Mike and Lizzy's Blog....

Welcome to the Nelson's Blog....After long debate and deliberation, we finally have decided (I am actually still trying to convince Lizzy) to make the plunge and create a blog. We feel this will be a good forum to help keep our family and friends up to speed with all the great experiences we are having.

Life in the District is wonderful! Lizzy and I keep ourselves overbooked with activities, work, school, and church. Lizzy is well despite a little slip she had yesterday on our back steps. She was carrying in some groceries and hit a patch of ice and down she went. She walked away with a bruiser of a mark on her lower back, and dirt all over her clothes. She is okay, but definitely banged up. I think she was more upset that she got dirt on her jeans that she wanted to wear to her "Shade" clothing party later in the day. Lizzy has transferred her knitting energy into the latest craze for "Shade" clothing. She hosted a ragging party last night with friends on the hill, people from work, and I think she may have invited a few people off the street. I was late coming home from work, walked in the door to a bunch of women running wild and screaming because a man had entered. Lizzy had fun hosting the party, and was grateful so many of her friends came. I got to spend the night eating "5 Guys" burgers, playing guitar and watching the office at Mike Q's, which is always a joy.

Work for me is great! Our Nations health care issues fascinate me, and I am enjoying the front row seat I have as we face them. I am constantly inspired by Secretary Leavitt's leadership. He is a brilliant, compassionate man who is tirelessly working to resolve problems such as: providing access to insurance for the uninsured Americans, making health care more affordable, ensuring the quality of health care, implementing Health IT, preparing the country for a pandemic, combating childhood obesity, and other related health problems. I am learning a lot and having great experiences in the process.

Suffice it to say, we are loving our time in the District! I am posting some pictures of activities we have been involved in to give you a flavor for what we have been up to! We love y'all! Hope you will log on to our blog from time to time to see what we are up to... Love

Mike and Lizzy

Super Bowl Party at the Nelsons....

Here we are obviously engaged in the game...

John, Lizzy (my favorite DC baby), and I watching the game

Scott P, Mike Q and Chris, some random BYU fan that I didn't want to let in, enjoying the game.

Lizzy "the beautiful" takes a minute away from her knitting and the game to pose for the camera.

Our delicious food, or what is left of it...

The following link takes you to a great Birthday Cheer that Lizzy came up with for her friend Lindsay Workman. She put all of her best writing and cheering energies into this.

We have a new Niece and a new Nephew!!!

Lizzy and I are thrilled to be the aunt and uncle of two beautiful new babies, Ava Nelson and Colton Richards. This brings our total to 8. Congratulations Matt and Vanessa and Patrique and Julie!

Baby Ava Nelson

Matt with Baby Ava

Baby Colton Richards

Two little Richards Studs, Preston and Colton

Christmas Break Fishing

When we were home for the Holidays, I got out with my buddies and did what I love! I spent 3 days on the river. I went up with Adam B the first day, Todd G and Bobby H the second, and Dave Gray and Andrew N the final day. I caught my best fish the first day on a streamer. It was so great to get back on the river. The final day was somewhat rough for me. We got up to the river and I realized I had forgotten my waders. I had hung them in the garage to dry and forgot to put them back in my bag. So we went to the fly shop in Heber and I rented some. We finally got out on the river and I was trying to cross the river to get to a spot I wanted to fish and I slipped and drenched myself! It was freezing, but I was lucky I had some quick dry stuff on. My phone got soaked and is now bugging out. It was still fun to get out and be with Dave. Here are some pictures from my days on the river.

A beautiful brown trout on the Middle Provo

Adam B and I ready to go hog hunting

Adam wolfing down some Dairy Keen, a fishing tradition...mmm train burger..

Todd and I getting ready to get some lunkers

Enjoying a beautiful day on the river. It started snowing really hard and as the snow came down the trout started sipping flies off the surface. There were trout everywhere, it was a beautiful sight!

Bobby H and I bundled up for a great day on the river

Bobby, Todd and I after a great day on the river

Once again, Dairy Keen. This time we decided not to take it in the car. You have to love the train burger at Dairy Keen.

Dave G and I with the waders I rented! This is right before I slipped and fell into the river.

White House Christmas 2006

Lizzy and I were lucky enough to be able to go to the White House to see the Christmas decorations. It is always fun to go there, and they do a beautiful job decorating during the holidays.

Lizzy and I at the White House

White House Ginger Bread House

Lizzy and I in front of the White House Christmas Tree

We ran into my friend Andrew C. while we were there. He was kind enough to strike a pose for us!

Lizzy in front of one of her favorite pictures in the White House...Blah...

Here we are with the friends in the scheduling and advance office that we went with. The Toronto family, Martha L., and John P.

We'll be Home for Christmas

The Holiday Season is here and our cozy basement apartment smells like evergreen pine. What great memories surround this time of year. Elizabeth and I began the Holidays with a trip over to Eastern Market to get our Christmas tree. It was fun watching Lizzy's face light up as we found the perfect little tree (for the perfect little price). They even delivered the tree to our home which made the deal even more attractive. We quickly put the lights and decorations on the tree as we listened to my favorite Christmas album: Kenny G Christmas. Mike Q and Scott P were there to help us out and ended up doing more dancing to the music than tree decorating, but it was fun having them there. The unfortunate thing is our beautiful tree didn't take water and dried out. So after a few weeks of no water, we decided to take action. So on Saturday Lizzy and I returned to Eastern Market and were given a brand new beautiful tree! It wasn't quite as small as our first, and even sticks out into our hallway, but it's scent is incredible, and it drinks water!

Mike Q. and I decorating our 2nd Christmas Tree!

Life in the District is great! Work continues to provide me great joy despite the long hours. The health care issues our nation is facing are fascinating and I feel incredibly lucky to be in the position I am. I have been spending a lot of time over the last few months playing guitar with Mike Q. We have been learning some great songs, including Christmas music, with the goal of playing at our local coffee shop, Ebenezer's, that has an open mic night.

Lizzy studies constantly. Her schooling has been demanding, but she is doing well and has even found time to knit, her newly found hobby. She has already completed several items including leg warmers, glove (it is only glove because the second isn't complete), and a scarf. She is quite the little knitter.

We are so excited for our return to Salt Lake for Christmas!