I'm in Turkey

I've been having a great time in Turkey so far! I spent 1.5 days in Istanbul and then have been in the East for a few days. This picture is of two girls on the volunteer team I was with. We were at an ancient tomb in Istanbul and had to have our heads covered.

A beggar girl I met on a pr-walk near the castle in Van.
Although I could be at the Carribean, I am on the west side of Van Lake - it was beautiful!

We spent a couple hours in this home drinking tea. We gave them a gift at the end and they were so excited to receive it!

Inside Mount Nemrut. It is an old volcano at the top of a mountain with two lakes inside of it. This is one of the lakes.

To see the rest of my pictures so far, click here.

Last weekend

Last weekend we had some of our Chinese friends over and had the kids spend the night. Our friends had so much fun with the kids. Post-bath, pre-bed ice cream time (while watching Alvin & the Chipmunks)!
Playing at the park in Elliott, Iowa (where my grandparents live)

Kate, Brady and Mitch

My Grandpa Gammell's 80th birthday

Mitch and Grandma

See more pictures from June here.

See more pictures here.

June

We were in Burlington this past weekend to see Jason's dad, who was visiting from Texas.

Two weeks ago, my very close friend (and spiritual daughter) from Thailand, Ja, came to visit me for 12 days. I felt like my daughter had come home! When I saw the big bus pull around the corner to drop her off in Ames, I felt like what most moms must feel like when their child comes home from college. I was so excited! We had a WONDERFUL time while she was here. She will actually come back in August before she heads back to Thailand.

Ja and I made Thai food about four different days she was here. It was awesome! Here she is making papaya salad - one of my favorite dishes.

Ja got the full Iowa experience out on Steve & Kim Dietz's farm. Kim taught her how to drive the 4-wheeler.

Jason took us all for a ride and we got MUDDY!

Even Miss Moo, the princess, loved getting muddy.

Uncle Brady & Jason got soaked on their last go 'round. Brady told Jason that he might dream about this night . . . he had such a blast.

Ja took Brady & Mya out for Coldstone ice cream before she left.

I ran the Dam-to-Dam half marathon on May 31st. I'm trying to give Brady a high-five right before the finish.
My fan club! The Bolins, Wessmans, Kate and the kids, my dad and Jason all went to watch. We hung out at the farmer's market afterward.