Ok, I'm still here, just haven't updated for a while. Here was our Holiday Update:

Merry Christmas and Howdy!

After enjoying a couple years in Texas, we have a better idea of what to expect in our near future. That idea may prove completely false, but at least it is an idea. ;-)

I (Jack) enjoy my work at USAA as a software developer for automobile related projects. Work is more rewarding as I’ve learned more and made greater contributions; but there is still much more to learn. I’ve been able to take more leadership roles on projects, which is a great learning opportunity. Work has also become more enjoyable as I’ve made some good friends among coworkers. In church, I was recently released from my calling to teach the Sunday-school 12-13 year olds and called as a councilor in the Sunday-school Presidency.

Jess has not had a job this year, but has busied herself with projects at home. She enjoys making quilts for all the newborns in our ward, and also helps out frequently with babysitting. She also works on other art and craft projects. In church, Jess has been working in the nursery. Despite all this time watching energetic wild babies and toddlers (believed by many leading authorities to be effective birth-control), we look forward to raising our own kids when the time comes.

Which brings us to some special additions to our family. You guessed it, more fish! Our salt-water fish tank has been a lot of fun this year. There are so many interesting forms of life in one 30 gallon system; each organism occupying it’s own little ecological niche. (Or sometimes they tread on someone else’s niche and competition ensues; some life forms just can’t leave other niches alone!) So there is always something new to discover and learn. We’ve recently upgraded our tank lighting so now we can try out beautiful light-demanding corals. Current favorites are a red scooter blenny (like a lizard with fins), a beautiful blue-green giant clam (a colossal 3 inches), and a bright yellow sun-coral colony (like a cluster of small daisies that eat more meat than all our fish combined; the hungry buggers!).

And of course we have both still been regular swing dance instructors and love dancing. We also enjoy regularly getting together with friends and playing board games. Hosting our highly anticipated monthly game night is something we both take pleasure in (I needed a synonym for ‘enjoy’ since it’s already been used about 5 times).

Noteworthy events of the last year:
• Nearly washed away in a hurricane. It ended up being 250 miles away, but some projections put it through San Antonio.
• Nearly burned down our home. A neighboring building in our complex caught fire. Our first clue was when I saw smoke and burning embers blowing across our rooftop!
• Nearly made a fortune in Las Vegas. Except instead of gambling we went to a wedding and had fun climbing on rocks.
• Danced like a ninjas. Attended a “Dance like a Ninja Workshop”.
• Took our kid trick-or-treating. Our 4th annual tricks-for-treats. This year our fake porch-kid went dressed as Darth Vader, complete with mask, cape, and sound effects. Only 2 out of over a dozen houses caught on that he was fake.
• Laying siege to La Jara (Pending). We have plans to build a trebuchet catapult in our parent’s backyard during Christmas vacation.

We hope you are doing well, and you will remain in our thoughts and prayers.

With love

Jack and Jess McEwan