We had a lovely Thanksgiving visit with Karl's family. (I hope Brenda, Russ and Haley are feeling better by now! It's never fun to travel when you're not up to snuff.) We had a nice, quiet weekend in, though. The kids played games with everyone--chess, checkers, airplane flying, etc.(Albin wiped me out in chess, even though I had better pieces than he did). Haley opened her Christmas present from us, and had fun serving tea around. Our family and Elizabeth went to Hanns' Christmas Tree Farm and bought our greenery to make a wreath. We had popcorn and cider, walked through the ornament shop, and played in the tunnels set up for kids. It was a good weekend!

Karl left for Omaha Monday afternoon. He gets back around midnight tonight. While he was gone, we finished decorating the living room walls with ornaments. We also finished reading Loamhedge. What a good book! We went to the library and picked up the first Redwall book, and I found a new Nicholas book, too. Treasure! Albin and I cleared the driveway yesterday, as it snowed much of the morning, he started on his algebra, and we also watched lots of Mythbusters. I finished sewing fifteen bags for our church Advent worship series (they are making fun kits for the littler ones, like your church has, Mom). Six of them need handles, then I'll be done. Elizabeth's sewing machine works pretty well, thank goodness! The bags are needed this Sunday, and I was almost worried I wouldn't finish in time.