We're doing it again, eCards for Christmas!  And why not?  These days people are scared of their mail.  But this eChristmas card has been tested and found to be free of spores of any sort (that's free of 'spores', not 'bores'.  No promises there).  And so, we hope you'll enjoy this cyber-summation of our year free of fear. [If you are seeing a plain text message here, you can find the graphical version of this card at http://casey.com/xmas_01].

We began 2001 on the lam.  Following the shredding of our Constitution by the Supreme Court in December, Chris decided to flee the country during the inauguration of our newly appointed President.  So he and Jenny went to London (site of their first date back in 1985), where he briefed members of Parliament on the political uses of the Internet and American vote counting techniques.  We might have stayed, but alas, we forgot the children and had to return after a nice week-long visit.  As you can see, the year 2000 beard survived the New Year, when in a surprise turn-around, Jenny voted to spare it from the razor.  But other grooming choices Chris made this year, came without spousal input (more on this below).

So we returned to the States, because of our kids.  And as you can see, they're pretty good kids...

Katie is no-longer a kid.  In our minds, maybe.  At heart, to be sure.  But by any other measure Katie has become a young lady (or as she would more scientifically classify herself a 'pre-teen'). As a fifth-grader, she's an upper-classman in her elementary school, enjoying her last year there and the only year in which she'll share a schoolyard with both Will and Colleen.  She continues to pursue her artistic interests which include lessons on the viola and piano, and playing the hand chimes at church.  She remains an active girl scout in her mom's troop, which frequently finds them camping and such.  And while we all enjoyed seeing 'Harry Potter' on opening night, none of us suffered the long wait, or savored the sacred screening more than Katie.  For Christmas this year, Katie will say good-bye to the braces she received last year. 
 

This year Will enjoyed the discovery of low-maintenance hair styes, and he would have kept his crew cut into the winter if mom had let him (she didn't).  It began on the last day of school, when his Dad convinced him it would be a good idea for them both to start the summer by shaving their heads (it was).  Now a third-grader, Will enjoys school, soccer, and scouting (not necessarily in that order).  Dad coached his soccer team in the fall, but sadly the 'Twisters' were winless.  We prefer to say we enjoyed a 'perfect season'.  Thankfully, Will has a great sense of humor, and as the family comedian, the show never ends.  Will also enjoys expressing his artistic side and if often found at his desk adding new works of art to his sketchbook, or creating new creatures and worlds with his Legos. 
 
 

This year Colleen said 'Goodbye Pacifier' and 'Hello Kindergarten', joining her older siblings at the big kids school.  No longer just a sideline sibling spectator, Colleen became a 'Daisy' girl scout, and played her first season of soccer this year.  If you listen very closely, you might sometimes catch a hint of a 'whine' in her voice, but experience tells us it's just a phase :-)  More often, she's using nice manners to ask for a cup of milk (used to hate it, loves it now. comes with age), or sharing her daily discoveries (while tying shoes, "Oh I get it, it's really just one long string!).  But there's one request we no longer hear from Colleen, she can reach the light switches by herself now!
 
 
 

Not content to just get a crewcut, Chris had what little was left dyed blonde, just to see what would happen.  There was lots of laughing and finger pointing, and eventually his natural brown w/grey highlights returned. 

We repeated last summers road trip, driving to Illinois to visit Jenny's family, and onto Arrow Rock, MO to catch Uncle Kevin at the Lyceum Theatre.  A swell time was had by all (no counting the cat we found under the hood near Columbia.  He was fine, scared, but fine.)

Although leaving the Senate to start my own business was a difficult decision last year, it has proven to be a great and satisfying move.  I lost my business partner to law school, and so CaseyDorin Internet Productions is now just casey.com.  I still do a good amount of work in the Senate, and seeing my old office building shut down in the wake of the anthrax attack really brings the new threats we face close to home.  But work goes on, and I enjoy doing most of mine from home now.  (I'm happy to see one Congressional Christmas tradition I helped create lives on... that's the 5th annual U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree Cam you see here!)

Jenny is happy to have succeeded in demonstrating for Chris the need to install a second phone line in our home.  Try calling her sometime to ask a 'yes' or 'No' question, and you'll see what I mean.  As active as always, she is the glue that holds our lives together, and the grease that keeps our gears turning (in that horrible mixed metaphor I just called my wife 'sticky grease', but it really was a compliment).  Girl Scout leader, Boy Scout leader, classroom volunteer, household re-arranger, secret agent, and much more, Jenny does it all.

It's been quite a year.  We are happy to have shared some of it with you, our family and friends, and we look forward to the coming balance and symytry of 2002.  We'll be heading home for a California Christmas with Chris' family, something we're really looking forward to.  As we settle in for the holidays, you are all in our thoughts.  We wish for you a Merry Christmas, and a very happy New Year!

P.S.  Want to show a member of our armed forces that you're grateful?  Here's a cool idea, send them an Amazon.com gift certificate online!