Yes, its that time of year again … for Seasons Greetings and holiday wishes to all first time and loyal readers of the Greco Gazette. We’re impressed … and grateful that you're reading about us! We know your lives are busy (as are ours), and if you have updates of your own out there somewhere, let us know. We’d love to read them!

So, what’s new with us? Lots! And of course it has to start with Dylan, who entered Kindergarten this year at German School Chicago. Last year in this column we said he was nearly bilingual – well, his teacher mentioned last week that he now IS bilingual. Just the other night, he said to Kirsten, “I know more German than you.” Well, the boy doesn’t lack confidence. He’s also flourishing into a very good swimmer (graduated from Pike to Eel in April and to Ray in December at the YMCA) and is generally becoming very a clever and imaginative little boy (Jim posts Dylan’s exploits regularly on his Facebook page), despite having a lot fewer teeth these days. The tooth fairy was a regular in our household this year!

We took some nice trips this year, highlighted by our first visit to North Carolina to visit Kirsten’s brother and his family (the beaches rock) and a summer trip with the Treccias and Olejniks to Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin (check out the vintage baseball here).

Jim’s job with Nielsen went global this year, and he had the opportunity to visit some new cities, including Seoul, Shanghai and Mexico City (fun, but tiring) while Kirsten in her role as the GSCPO President is finally working with a full staff this year thanks to new school parents who are very engaged… Yeah! We’re excited that the school continues to do very well.

Our families continue to dote on their grandson/nephew. Aunt Missy and Uncle Bill stole Dylan for a few days while Jim was at a business conference, and we had nice visits to see grandparents in Breckenridge over July 4th and Columbus over Thanksgiving. Our sad note for the year was the passing of Gypsy, our loyal feline fifteen-year companion. We brought her into our family right after we were married, and she has brought us so many wonderful memories over the years. We are going to miss her.

If you are a visual person, check out our treasure trove of pictures on the left-hand side of the home page, courtesy of the semi-professional photographer in the household (that’s Kirsten). To whet your appetite, you’ll see Dylan in the Jedi Training Academy at WDW, Jim dressed (quite impressively) as Captain Jack Sparrow, and a few great pics of Jim and Kirsten’s trip to Arches National Park this past summer.

We hope your Christmas Season is restful and joyous. Peace, JK&D