Merry Christmas!

Today we continue the ancient Christmas day tradition of posting a Christmas card on our blogsite.

We say "Merry Christmas" from Shell Rock Iowa at the Kaus Haus, where we celebrate our third (and final) Christmas along with Jenny's family. We celebrated with my family on the 23rd and at home last week. Each has been a very very white Christmas.

This year has been busy for us with Idris now adding more events to our agenda. He finished kindergarten in June and is now mid-way through his first grade year at Nova Classical Academy. Jenny and I have been thrilled with the classical education model and have found a few ways to get more involved this year with the school; Jenny accompanies Idris to "Lego League" each Thursday evening, and also hosted a Vietnamese egg roll- making event at our house. Idris enjoys most of school, but prefers reading to almost anything. He also spends hours each week with video games.

Arken plays with Idris and his elder cousins more and more. His rambunctious attitude is sometimes ingratiating and occasionally alienating to his playmates. Arken especially enjoys jumping (up and down or place to place) and naming/playing with letters. As a 2-year-old, Arken alternates between very active jocularity- jumping from the couch and running around with a dart gun- to cuddling with his blanket and sucking his thumb like Linus does on Charlie Brown specials.

We continue to make our home on Saint Paul's east side. Our Swede Hollow neighbors have been especially helpful this season with snowblowers and trucks that pull broken-down cars out of snowbanks during blizzards. Incidentally, we have a new (used) car, also... Jenny has continued selling books at Barnes & Noble, heading women's Bible studies at church, and working on numerous creative projects throughout the year which decorate the house, invigorate our children's birthday parties or are just fun. I continue to redecorate Best Buy stores and travel a little. I look forward to our annual New Year's party next week and meeting the new year within the good company of my friends.

Merry Christmas to all of you!