this is what would be called an obligatory entry since i haven't anything new or exciting to report. i can at least get caught up since the last update...alaina's advent program went fine, much more people than i anticipated. the christmas party at the st.paul hotel was pretty much the same old same old. except for this year we left by 10 pm. allison's birthday was saturday and we went out for pizza. got the tree in and put up last night, no lights or decorations yet. that's pretty much it. more to come...