Hi Everyone --

Sorry I missed last week -- we seem to hit the ground running when we arrive in the US! We had an uneventful flight and made it through to Omaha without incident.

Sunday we drove up to Waterloo -- it was a huge deep freeze, 10-20 below zero. We didn't do too well with the cold, but we found enough coats, scarves, gloves, etc. to make it ok. It was so cold they only had sacrament meeting at church. Most other churches had cancelled altogether. Sunday night we were invited to Sam and Mary Moss' for dinner. It was great -- Hannah loved the roast beef and the mashed potatoes! What a treat.

Monday we were up early and found the Allen medical center for our TB tests. Then on to Doug's work where we got our typhoid booster shots. We left Doug there and went to the next medical office to get a blood test for me. Hannah had the next tests -- History and Literature. She took those tests up at UNI and it was easy and a nice place. Then on to the mall for Hannah to meet her friends. I went back to Waterloo to get my glasses switched out. I picked up Doug from work at 4 p.m. and went to the dentist. Have to fit that in somewhere! We were invited out to Steve and Chris Oesterle's for dinner Monday. It was so fun! We just laughed and laughed and enjoyed all the kids. Heidi, Dave, and Katie were home for Christmas and we just enjoyed them.

Tuesday we were up early too -- to get Doug to work, and get Hannah to the dentist. Unfortunately, we were late for Hannah's appointment and had to go back again at 3 p.m. I got a haircut while Hannah visited a friend, and then we were on to lunch with the ladies at Olive Garden. We left there at 12:30 and headed back to the dentist for me. We headed out to get stocking stuffers for a bit and then headed back to the dentist. We picked up Doug from work and headed back to Waterloo to the mall so Hannah could meet a friend. We were invited to Dennis and Linda Clayson's for waffles. It was so good! There is nothing like just regular food! The jet lag was getting to me -- I was ready for bed at 7 p.m.

Wednesday we had a leisurely breakfast at the hotel and then went to the medical center to get our TB tests read. We are all negative! Then we headed to Omaha. There was a bit of snow, but it was heading east and we were heading west, so we were ok. We got to Michelle's in the afternoon and just rested. It was Christmas eve and we were planning to pick up Craig and Heidi and Brice at 11:30 p.m. We got a call earlier and they told us that they were coming in at 8:30 p.m. That was good news! It was so fun to have everyone together -- the house if full!

Ryan was on duty at the hospital Christmas day, so we waited to open presents until the day after Christmas. Christmas day we went to see High School Musical 3 -- not the first choice of everyone, but the girls enjoyed it.

We had lots of gifts from everyone and we thank you for them. We have been to the store to get more food (imagine that!), and we got to spend some time at the Air Force gym (in a B52 hangar). Today is Sunday and we get to rest!

Have a great day!
Love, Lucinda