Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

It’s been 2 weeks since we returned from France, and we’ve enjoyed the R&R!

Upon arrival in the US we celebrated Christmas with the Kissling family and the grandpas.

After about 42 hours in Enon Valley, we packed our bags again and headed east to Pennsdale, PA to spend Christmas with the Egli family.  It was great to spend so much time with Jenna, Johnny, and Cohen (from the Philadelphia area), Trevor and Meagan (from Knoxville), and Jared and Stasi (from Nashville) – this was the first time the entire family was together without the distraction of a wedding!  We played a lot of games, ate a lot of delicious food, shopped, watched home movies, and shared a lot of laughter before they all headed back to their homes on Wednesday.

For New Year's though, we are at Jenna and Johnny's house, near Philadelphia.  You see, three years ago, Jordan and I joined them in Los Angeles to watch Penn State play USC in the Rose Bowl, and we quickly decided that it would be a good tradition for the four of us to spend New Year’s together.  The following year (2010) we were together at Urbana, but last year Jordan and I broke the tradition because we went to Mexico with my family instead.  The tradition is back on - this year in PA, and next year in Frace?!!

As for which city in France?  That is yet to be determined.  The last two weeks have given us a much needed break from the constant traveling, processing, and drinking from a fire hose that we experienced the entire month prior.  We promise to share more of our experiences in France and our processing of it in the coming weeks, but for now, we can't imagine a better way to celebrate 2011 and bring in 2012..... 

we met Justin (a Penn Stater now living in CA) for lunch....

....and our "forever friends", Ben and Steph, joined us for dinner!

Happy New Year!!