San Jose

This was our 10th roommate reunion since we graduated from BYU!  I love these gals. This time we spent the weekend in the San Jose area: at the beach, shopping at Santana Row and roaming Los Gatos.  We worked in some chick flicks and Shakespeare plays, too. These are inspiring women, and I'm so grateful we have stayed a part of each other's lives. L-R Lindsay, Stacey, Kellie, me and Mamie

Boise

This is the summer of reunions. We drove up to Boise, stopping at Shoshone Falls, and I got to spend the weekend with two high school friends, Carrie (on the left) and Jeneanne (on the far right), and a college roommate Sarah (in red). We really haven't changed a bit and spent a joyful evening doubled over in laughs and sharing tears.

Utah

While J is in training, he can't take vacation, so he had quite a bit stored up that we needed to use before we head to Taipei. After packing out in D.C., we decided to spend the month in Utah. We both have some family here and friends we haven't seen in a while. I feel like the kids are getting a "real" summer with road trips, swimming pools, running around in backyards, summer reading program at the library and Otter Pops, of course.  See more photos by clicking on the Photo Gallery above.

Bentonville

Since we decided to drive from D.C. to Utah this summer, we had to break up the trip. We stopped at my parents' in IN for two days and then in Bentonville, AR to see J's sister's family. Without Wal-Mart's presence, we're not sure it would be on the map, but with Wal-Mart, it boasts an amazing American art museum, a cute town square and beautiful trails. The highlight was the 3rd of July when the local (meaning neighborhood) fireworks display rivaled many municipal shows, followed on the 4th by personal fireworks shows, almost equally impressive. We loved catching up with Kim & Brian and spent lots of quality cousin time. See more photos by clicking on the Photo Gallery above.

Indiana

Indiana (where my parents and three sisters live) is only a day's drive from D.C.  It is a LONG day, but we just felt so relatively (no pun intended) close that we had to make the trip this year...five times!  We spent home leave there in July, Thanksgiving, Christmas, Spring Break and another quick stop on our cross-country road trip.  Could you pass up my mom's dinners, my sisters' awesome activities or cousin time at the country's best children's museum?

Washington, DC 2012-13

We spent the 2012-2013 school year in Washington, DC.  Jonathan was learning Mandarin for our upcoming assignment to Shanghai and the girls were able to attend a charter school that had Chinese immersion. We lived in the Brookland area of D.C. to be close to the school, so we made new friends and had new experiences but were happy to reconnect with a lot of old friends, too. See more posts by clicking on the link at the top of the page.

At the Arboretum, one of our favorite places.  Can you see the Washington monument and U.S. Capitol in the background?

Bangkok, Thailand 2010-12

We were so pleased to be assigned to Bangkok, and in many ways it was everything we thought it would be. I thought this picture captured some of that.  Thailand is a very colorful place: from the jungles and the beaches to the city lights and the taxis to the fabulous food and fruit. Prices are still cheap enough that you can add a few stars to your lifestyle, from vacations to hired help. Our helper, Nita, was wonderful and because of her, we were able to have another baby.  And, yes, it was hot...the whole two years.  See more posts from Bangkok by clicking on the link at the top of the page.

At the royal gardens in Chiangrai in the northwest corner of Thailand.