It's that time of year again for contacting friends and family, and we look forward to hearing from many of you.  We missed sending out a letter last year, so we have a bit of catching up to do.

For those of you who haven't heard from us since our Christmas letter two years ago, I'll start by introducing you to our youngest son, Lucas.  He joined us in April of 2008 and we have just loved him.  Being our chubbiest baby by far (which isn't that hard), he has received many related terms of endearment which will probably disappear as he stretches out over the next few years. 

Henry is a busy 3 year old.  He can't get enough of Patrick's Legos lately, so the entire family is hoping Santa brings him some for Christmas so we can eliminate the daily arguments, tears, and tedious negotiations.  He has a cute little grin and manages to find plenty of mischief.  If I hear him giggling with his sidekick, Lucas, I have to go running to see what trouble they've found.

Maren is in 2nd grade and looking forward to turning 8 in January.  She loves school, and is learning to survive being surrounded by stinky boys.  She's a voracious reader and has recently caught the Harry Potter fever.  She has enjoyed playing several seasons of soccer, and also stays busy playing with friends and playing the piano when she isn't reading a book.

Patrick is 9 and soaking up all kinds of Idaho history in 4th grade.  He has really liked learning about maps and ecosystems.  He has a lot of fun in piano lessons and Cub Scouts and is happy to participate in about any sport with the neighborhood boys, when he isn't home guarding his Legos.

Greg and I can't always recall what we've done by the end of the day, but it sure does wear us out.  Greg built us a much-needed shed, coached soccer, and keeps us going.  I'm sure grateful for all he does.  I try to get the kids where they need to be, with (mostly) clean clothes on and food in their stomachs.  We had fun running in a few races and doing some good hikes together this summer.

So that's an update on the Archibald family.  We have our good days and bad, just like you.  Holiday letters tend to emphasize the good, but fortunately that's usually what we remember most as we look back.  We're grateful for the strength we get from good friends and family, and hope you have a Merry Christmas and a wonderful year ahead.

With love,

Greg, Hailey, Patrick, Maren, Henry, & Lucas

4060 Shadow Mountain Trail
Idaho Falls, ID 83404