After the freak snow storm we had on Halloween, the weather actually warmed up, and it's been pretty mild here for most of November.  This past Thursday was Thanksgiving, and Today was the first day of rifle season.  It's so weird.  I can remember getting out in the woods when I was younger, on the Monday after Thanksgiving, and it was COLD!  Sometimes there was even snow on the ground.  This year, and the past few for that matter, it's been above freezing.  Must be global warming. 

The warm weather has made it a little tough to get into the holiday spirit.  Thanksgiving was the same as its ever been.  Family, good times, good food, but it just somehow didn't feel as festive.  Maybe it's becase I'm getting older.  Jess and I did our Christmas shopping already too, and even that didn't feel as exciting as usual. 

I got to give Kiddo gravy this year.  :D  I wanted to put some in her bottle last year, but Jess wouldn't let me. Can't imagine why!  Everyone needs a good solid gravy foundation.  Kiera had some turkey, gravy, mashed potatoes, and broccoli and cheese.  She seemed to like it, but she wasn't all that cooperative.  I don't know if she was just in a mood, or if she wasn't all that hungry.  She started throwing food, and being generally disagreeable.  So I cut her thanksgiving dinner short.  She didn't seem to mind, and went to go bother Oma and Opa.  They were happy to see her though, so it wasn't unwelcome.  :P

This past Sunday we took her to see Santa!  A local fire company has a monthly breakfast, and November's breakfast includes a sitting with Santa.  We did this last year too.  Last year, she was 3 month old by the time this came around.  So she couln't care less about who was holding her.  We got plenty of santa pictures.  Everyone told us not to get used to it, that she'd probably hate santa this year, and scream kick and cry when he tried to hold her.  Well, they were wrong.  She did a wonderful job!!  I can't wait to see the pictures.

We did our Christmas card thing already.  My mom was kind enough to get some pictures of Kiddo, she's been a pretty good amateur photographer, well, as long as I can remember.  She got some really nice pictures. We took about 250 pictures though.  Ha!  124 of them were worth printing, and a whopping 4 of those ended up making their way on to our Christmas cards.  We also added in the October Snow Witch.  Couldn't resist.

Kiddo's been progressing really well.  She walks now, of course, and she's getting pretty good with her balance.  She'll climb on to the couch to sit down and watch TV with us.  She loves her little rocking chair too.  She's stable enough that she's able to get into a chair on her own, and sit down.  She's getting more vocal too.  She doesn't say all that many actual words yet, but you'd swear that she's carrying on a conversation with some of the stuff she comes out with.  She can actually snap her fingers too!  We were snapping her fingers with her the one night, and she just put up her hand and did it back to us! 

Tonight, when I got home from work, I'd walked back to the bedroom with Kiddo.  Getting myself changed out of my work clothes into some sweatpants.  I took a minute to check my phone for new e-mails and stuff, and while I was standing there, leaned up against the dresser, Kiera ran over to me, and wrapped her arms around my legs in a big hug!  That's the first time she's done that!  She's such a cutie.  God lover her.