Christmas Letter 2008

Friends and family:

Whirlwind. That is the word that best describes our year. We spent the first seven months of the year planning our wedding. It took a lot more time than we ever imagined. All that work paid off, though. Our wedding day was PERFECT. The location, band, flowers, weather, stationary, food, cake, and company could not have been better. The only thing we would have changed was that we wish we had more time to spend with everyone. We were overwhelmed by how many people came from so far away to celebrate with us. We felt like the luckiest people in the world to have each other and the love and support of so many family and friends. After all that planning, the day was a blur and over too soon!

©2008 ZumaPhoto.com

©2008 ZumaPhoto.com

©2008 ZumaPhoto.com

We wasted no time heading off to our honeymoon destination: the Yucatan peninsula. It was two weeks of exploring Incan ruins, scuba diving, snorkeling in the cenotes, sampling local cuisine, wandering around colonial cities, and, of course, enjoying each other. Jen turned 28 while we were there and, as a present, Rod took her on an excursion swimming with the Whalesharks. This was Rod's first "real" trip out of the country. We don't count his lunch in Tijuana, illegal border crossing near Yuma, or trip to Cabo San Lucas (where they speak English and use dollars). Like the wedding, it went way too quickly!





When we got home, we got a new addition to the family: Rumba. Since Rumba was a wedding present from Rod to Jen, it seemed only fitting that we name her after the dance Rod was supposed to learn for the wedding. Rumba is a five-year old chow/retriever mix, who couldn't be sweeter. She and Ani get along (most of the time). We love our furry orange children.

Other notable events of our year include an unbelievable amount of weddings--no less than thirteen in addition to our own. All of them were lovely and unique. It was so fun to be going through this exciting time in our lives at the same time as so many of our friends. As part of this crazy schedule of weddings, we spent a weekend in Cabo San Lucas to witness the nuptials of Jess and Sarah. While we were there, Rod tried his hand at surfing. He almost got it.




We also went to a wild and crazy wedding for Sam and Erin in Cheyenne, Wyoming exactly one week before our wedding.


The spring was very busy. Jen took her annual international trip in March. This year she went to Honduras, where she met up with her friend Regina. Regina and Jen met in the Bolivian jungle a couple years ago, and they had such a good time traveling together that Jen decided to visit her where she was doing peace corp work in Central America. Jen's trip just happened to fall over Easter so she got to witness some amazing cultural celebrations (she fit in some time for diving and exploring too).




Rod received the Solicitor's Excellence Award in May. We went to D.C., where the award was presented. It was nice to catch up with friends there. Also in May, Jen's best friend (and Maid of Honor) Mindy threw her a very tame and innocent bachelorette party in New York City. :)

The fall was much more calm (at least in our social lives). We stayed closer to home, leaving only for a weekend trip to Louisiana for the disappointing LSU/Georgia game. Jen also went on a girls road trip to Zion's and Bryce National park. They had the misfortune of staying in a hogan on the same night that it snowed. Brrrr. . .





Now, Christmas is less than a week away and our Thank You cards are just barely out the door. Hopefully they will beat the Christmas cards! We are looking forward to a much more peaceful year ahead.


We hope this letter finds you and your family well. May you have a Merry Christmas and a happy New Year.

Happy Holidays!


Jen, Rod, Ani, and Rumba