… more from our ski trip coming soon!  Happy Wednesday.

Stay tuned for some changes and updates this year… including an engagement contest beginning soon!  Happy 2012!

2011 was wonderful, and we are definitely looking forward to 2012!

May you have a very merry CHRIST-filled Christmas!  Joy to the World, the Lord has come!

Jenny is amazing, and God is using her to touch lives all across the world.  We loved seeing her and hearing her stories.  Don’t miss out on her FREE tour – next stop Stillwater tonight!  Here are the TOUR DATES.

While Jenny was here, she told us about World Concern – a non-profit Christian organization, providing help to the World’s poor.  If you want to give to the needy this Christmas season but don’t know what to give, consider giving a goat!  Yes, a goat!  :)

“Give a goat and the tools to ensure it is well-cared for! The complete goat package includes vaccinations and a pen. Once full-grown, goats can produce up to a gallon of nutritious milk each day. Goat herds grow quickly. The sale of kid goats can provide a month’s income—enough to enable families to send their children to school.”  View the website for more information & to give!

The first day we spent a lot of time on I-40, had our first stop at Howard’s Donuts, ate lunch with a sweet photographer friend (Hey, Adrian!), and stayed with friends in Knoxville (thanks again, Justin & Katie!).

Day 2… we drove through beautiful Virginia, visited an apple orchard at Monticello, quickly stopped by Mt. Vernon & the Potomac River, took a brief tour of Washington DC, and then drove up to Baltimore for the night.

Day 3… lunch with photog friend, John Waire, at James Joyce Pub (Chesapeake Bay crab cakes!), Delaware, Valley Forge sightseeing & biggest mall (sq ft) in the US (King of Prussia) with another photog friend, April (Jon enjoyed his first Philly cheesesteak!), and then drove to our hotel in Jersey City (who knew you couldn’t pump your own gas in NJ?!).

Day 4… JON’S BIRTHDAY, photo shoots & hang out time with Jeff & Erica around NYC… Jeff & Erica were the videographers for the wedding, and we LOVED hanging out with them in the city!  Erica photographed Jon and I – CLICK HERE to see our fun session!  Then Jon & I photographed them – CLICK HERE.  Afterwards, we met up with the perfect tour guide & friend - Greg!!!!  I think we walked around 10 miles that day…

JOY at Washington Square Park – can you find it?  :)

The BEST pizza in NY (John’s Pizzeria), Magnolia Bakery (cupcakes for Jon’s birthday!), and Times Square:

Can you find us on the jumbotron?!

Greg, thanks again for showing us around.. in the RAIN!  What a great day.

Day 5… slept in, watched the Hogs beat A&M, saw Liberty State Park, and went to the rehearsal dinner at Del Frisco’s (seriously amazing… I won’t ever forget the lobster mac ‘n cheese)… and after the dinner & a second visit to Times Square, we ran into a high school friend in the Subway (Sam – still can’t believe that happened!!  so cool!).

Day 6… the WEDDING

Day 7… Connecticut (saw Yale), set foot in RHODE ISLAND, drove around (the outer loop) Boston, and checked in at the best inn: Ale House Inn in Portsmouth, NH.  We loved Portsmouth and cannot wait to return someday; it’s the 3rd oldest continual settlement in the US.

Day 8… walked around rainy Portsmouth, lunch with photographer friend Meredith at one of the best diners EVER - Maine Diner in Wells, ME.  We enjoyed cod cake, chowder, and chocolate chip blueberry ice cream.  We must return here, too!!  Afterwards, we set foot in the Atlantic Ocean, saw a lighthouse, and started making our way home…  saw Pennsylvania Paper in Scranton & stayed at our first bad experience Priceline hotel (disposable swimwear, say what?!).

Day 9… visited Yiengling (oldest brewery in the US) in Pottsville PA, tasted chocolate in Hershey PA, shopped at the Pittsburg IKEA, and stayed with our friends in Ohio (thanks again, Larry & Paige!!)

Day 10… Ohio to Missouri to Arkansas & home… just in time to celebrate Rylie’s birthday. 

Looking back at our trip, we are so glad we were able to drive & experience that side of the country. We definitely want to visit NY and the Northeast again (we missed Vermont, so we have to go back).