August 2025

ABBY AND AYDEN GET ENGAGED

While we were busy traveling SE Asia, Abby and Ayden's dating got more serious. 

They surprised us by getting engaged.

MOVING
Two days after getting back from our trip we got our household goods  picked up, and then our UAB picked up a few weeks later. We are sad to leave the beautiful island of Okinawa. 

LAST BLUE SEAL DOUBLE SCOOP DAY

Maddy reminded us that this was her last Blue Seal double scoop day before she leaves for BYU, so of course we had to go (Blue Seal ice cream offers double scoops for the price of one on every day that ends with an 8 since the number looks like 2 scoops of ice cream). 

We had to stop and take pictures of the gorgeous sunset on our way to Blue Seal.

Blue Seal guy

I'm going to miss our double scoop day family time.


BEACH SUNSETS

We are going to miss Okinawa's beautiful beach sunsets. 

MADDY LEAVES FOR BYU

It isn’t any easier doing this for the second time. We miss her terribly, but we are excited for her next adventure, and we are glad that she’ll be close to her sister Abby, grandparents, and other family and friends who love her. Go Cougars!

FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL

First day of school pictures! Brooklyn and Audrey are homeschooling again this year. Nathan is starting school at Kubasaki High School, but will transfer to a DODEA/International school in Bahrain when we move in a few weeks. It doesn’t seem real that we only have 3 at home now.

OKUMA

Jared and I took an anniversary trip to Okuma. We enjoyed time together and some delicious Indian food and snorkeling. 

TATAKI FALLS AND AND SHIKUWASA

The girls and I got to take one last trip to Tataki Falls with friends. 

We had fun visiting the Shikuwasa factory. The tour was fun and the Shikuwasa products were delicious!

Thailand

CHIANG MAI

We enjoyed our time in Thailand, but we weren't quite prepared for the weather that was windy, rainy, and cold (in the mountains). 

ELEPHANT SANCTUARY

We visited northern Thailand where we loved learning about, feeding, and washing the elephants at a sanctuary for elephants that had previously been used in the logging industry.

DOI INTHANON NATIONAL PARK

The highest point in Thailand

Unfortunately we didn't get a good look at the outside of the King and Queen pagoda due to the fog. 

We did a guided tour through jungle and terraced rice paddies by a member of the Karen people. 
We hiked a long the Pha Dok Saew tail which was absolutely stunning. 

The Buddhist robe is wrapped around the tree to show that the forest is sacred and protected.

We loved all the gushing waterfalls.

The terraced rice paddys were so picturesque 

We got to visit a traditional Karen village at the end and drink some herbal tea. 

TIGERS

 We fulfilled Brooklyn’s lifelong dream of petting tigers.

BUDDHIST TEMPLES

Many of the Buddhist temples we visited were built on mountaintops and offered beautiful views in addition to interesting architecture and designs.

The Silver Temple

Legend has it that if you whisper your wishes to this mouse, your wishes will come true. To me, it looks like a character from an animated Disney movie. 

DOI SUTHEP-PUI NATIONAL PARK AND TEMPLE

COOKING CLASS WITH MR. PON

Cooking class! This was one of the most fun things we did on our trip. The chef picked us up from our hotel, took us to a market where locals shop where we tried samples of different things and acquired coconut cream, which was made before our eyes from a whole coconut, then took us to the outdoor kitchen where we learned to cook 5 dishes. He was great at teaching even  our 8 and 10 year old kids to peel and chop and stir fry—things they probably wouldn’t be permitted to do at a class in the U.S. And the food … sooo good! 10/10 recommended activity in Chiang Mai!

THA PHAE GATE

ONE NIGHT IN BANGKOK

We had an afternoon and evening to spend in Bangkok before heading home.

GIANT BUDDAH

We ran out of data and phone service so we had to walk around for an hour until we found a cafe with wifi so we could get a grab back to our hotel. Luckily the cafe had delicious smoothies. 

We happened to be visiting Bangkok on the king's birthday so everything was lit up like Christmas.