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!

It's our Christmas Card on Christman Day!

Merry Christmas everyone!

On Thanksgiving weekend, we followed tradition and picked up and decorated our Christmas tree. We also brought out our other decorations, and I secretly decided to take a Christmas picture and get the Christmas cards printed and mailed early this year. I then tripped on a garland, lurched over a nativity, turned around, and it was Christmas day. So I'm posting this "Christmas card" instead of sending New Years' cards as I have in the past- how lame is that?
We live in an instant society anyway, so let me just post a few Xmas photos below and I'll run down a few quick items from this year:
The four of us are still living in our home "Up and above" Swede Hollow Park in St. Paul. I am still working for Best Buy and Jenny works part time at Barnes & Noble. Idris began kindergarten this autumn at Nova Classical Academy in St. Paul, and spends much of his free time reading and on the internet (mostly playing games). Arken continues to grow at an astounding rate and is frequently scouted by the Vikings to shore up their offensive line. He will turn 2 in March and is very, very active. Idris and Arken play very well together and Idris is a very helpful big brother.
I'll really try to update this blog more often so you can keep up with us if you like, but those who prefer limited updates are off the hook for another year- just look at these pictures: