Ten Favorite Photos of 2010: Nominees

It is again time for one of my favorite little family traditions! Each year, Amanda and I each pick out our five favorite pictures from the past year. Those ten pictures then go on the fridge for the next twelve months, where they not only add some funny and interesting decor, but they also serve as good conversation pieces for dinners and parties. After the year, the ten pictures are put in an album with previous winners. Thus, when we're like 90, we'll be able to flip through nearly seventy years of priceless memories in just a few minutes. Heck, I also love writing these posts, as it gives me a chance to take a look back at the past year and relive some hilarious and priceless memories.

Here's a look back at 2009's nominees and winners. As you can see, we had a blast in Egypt. And, without further ado, here's 2010's nominees:

Chiang Mai, Thailand. Loved the uniqueness of the white Buddha.

Sums up Thailand so well: colorful.

$.10 watermelon at Angkor Wat.

Got to celebrate the Thai New Year (Songkran) in Bangkok. So amazing.

The insanely steep stairs at Wat Arun in Bangkok.

Randomly fell into a photo shoot with these three Thai movie stars. Got a picture with one, but due to my nasty sunburn, jet-lagged face, and sweaty appearance, it is not one of my favorite photos of 2010. For those same reasons, I didn't bust a move on these ladies. Oh, and because of that whole marriage thing too.

Howard and I found our way to this random park during our epic/dangerous/stupid motorbike ride from Chiang Mai to Pai. Alas...

Excursions during that ride, such as the above, meant we just about ran out of gas in the middle of the Thai jungle mountains. This was the gas "station" we finally found.

My BFF during our summer in Phnom Penh.

Nature is pretty awesome.

Wat Po in Bangkok.

Partying/Dancing on the Lawn at UVA's Reunions Weekend in May. Five years. Despite all my travels this year, this was probably the best night of the year, albeit a little crazy/insane/inappropriate. Can't wait for 2015's edition.

My old lawn room....and of course....

Five years before...

Not only a great picture, but a great story too. In short, don't wear tight (light blue) pants and try to bring your knees to your chest during a jump...

Probably my best photobomb of the year...

Songkran in Bangkok.

Our first bike ride in Phbom Penh. Last time I wore a helmet.

You always see a lot of interesting things on the backs of motorbikes in SE Asia...

Me and the BFF.

Carpooling.

Proudest moment of the year...

Sawatdee!

Sweet mountain/jungle beach in Krabi, Thailand.

Awesome matching at CCC's Kidsfest.

"Khmer, baby..."

Most random place I've ever been. Some crazy little village in southern Cambodia.

Being led to our deaths by this potential murderer...

Epic shot. If this monkey was looking at Howard, it might have been the best picture ever.

We stopped at a sketchy "make your own soup" restaurant in Krabi, Thailand. Too bad they didn't give us any instructions.

I put waaaaaaaaay too much spice/hot sauce in that mess and nearly killed us both. Tasted good. Looked like vomit.

Dramatic reenactment of one of Amanda's dad's hospital administration meetings.

Golden Mount in Bangkok. Howard is laying on the ground to get this shot.

Gino's East in Chicago.

Me and Giada de Laurentiis. Love this picture, but it kills me that it's blurry as it could have been my favorite picture of all time. But why is Giada holding a picture of me?

There are fish "spas" all over SE Asia. Usually there are like fifteen tiny fish in them. Not this one.

Fatty.

The Levi's fashion show Howard and I fell into in Bangkok. Me and my little point-and-shoot were hanging with the pros.

...and I got pretty close too!

Heart.

Howard and I have known each other for 17+ years. On this day, we got to know each other in new and sweaty ways. (Oh, and we're on an elephant.)

Levi's fashion show.

Biking to church in Phnom Penh. We stood out.

Best. Matching. Ever. (but maybe too much?)

Eating some amazing Thai food at a little shack on the Chao Phraya River in Bangkok.

Chicago.

My two best candid shots of the year. Chiang Mai Water Festival.

When I went to Thailand in April, Bangkok was teetering on the edge of Civil War. All the travel and government websites said to stay away from the parts of town where all the fighting was going down. Nope.

Bayon Temple in Cambodia. So amazing. Also memorable since this photo was taken seconds before Amanda had a complete meltdown due to the extreme heat, biking 20 miles a day, etc.

Be the Love's Release Party. Fun Night. Fun Outfit.

Bean Jump in Chicago.

Ayutthaya, Thailand.

9:00am in Cambodia.

Angkor Wat. Incredible.

Most ridiculous picture of the year. While in Finland, I was a little (too) excited about being soooooo close to ABBA's homeland.