Speaking of cold weather, we had our first snowfall! It's pretty, but I'm not sure I'm really ready for winter...
Erik and I took a weekend trip up to Kohler, WI. We had one the kids' favorite schoolteachers stay home with them for the weekend. Kohler is really beautiful and we enjoyed having a slower pace for a couple of days. Lots of pretty walks, afternoon coffees, reading books by the fireplace and delicious dinners. We'd love to go back sometime!
Gavin and some buddies got a real treat when they were invited to sit courtside at a Northwestern University basketball game. They got a tour of the new Welsh-Ryan arena and more concessions than their tummies could hold. The Wildcats got a win! Although we stand firm as Illini fans in our house, we support our local NU teams whenever we can, too. Gavin said it was one of the "best days ever."
Once again this year, as Thanksgiving approaches, our family took part in a large local philanthropic effort to prepare meals and provide winter clothes for a parish on Chicago's south side. The gathering of items is handled throughout November, and then we all caravan down to the church on a particular Saturday morning and pass out pre-assembled meals to the crowds that are lined up to receive them. I hope we can take part in this every year. It's wonderful in so many ways.
Since we travel for Thanksgiving, we have started pulling out some Christmas decor the weekend prior. This way, when we get home from the Thanksgiving car trip, we can roll right into the Christmas season. The kids had fun starting with the manger!
