Today is the first day of Advent. Mystie and I spent a pleasant evening making calendars last month. Each packet has three mints or chocolates. A treat every day from now until Christmas! We use these readings as part of our evening routine. 
Doesn't it look festive?
We made our own pasta for dinner. I made the dough under Anja's instruction. Steve grated about 2 lbs of cheese. 
We had some bacon-wrapped scallops for appetizers.
Steve and Anja rolled out the noodles with some help from Nora.
My dad was in charge of the water pot while I cooked up some bacon. When everything was cooked Anja tossed while I added ingredients and we had perfect carbonara.
Helena really liked the fresh noodles. 
On Saturday morning we had brunch at Mimmu and Iso's house and helped decorate the Christmas tree and put up lights outside.
And there were traditional "hand turkeys" for table decorations.
We had our big meal at noon.
We ate:
The classic gravy boat from Allan's college days was on the table. 
Afterward there was yoga and a walk. Some napping. We had coffee and pie in the afternoon and a light dinner with the first round of turkey sandwiches. And then some more pie later.
And Anja brought this almost-three-pound Parmesan cheese so it is sure to be a good weekend.
There was trick-or-treating at the library.
We went to Boo at the Zoo and saw some zebras, tigers, lions, camels, red pandas, wallabies, emus, lemurs, bears, penguins and other animals while collecting candy and playing games. It was fun, but cold.
We carved pumpkins that Grandma and Aunt Becky had grown. 
And after the kids were done the adults did some serious carving.
Helena enjoyed riding Daddy's horse.
And on Saturday there was a carnival at the church. Nora did a lot of bouncing in the bounce house. Helena really wanted to try, but she was too small to send in with all the big kids.
