Life Lately: November Things

I AM still here. Just super busy. In between work, school, and life we've been filling in all our extra time with making Christmas gifts (I get a start on gifts early every year). The kids are really getting into the gifting this year and have been making big plans/working on stuff. I have a goal of always having all my main gift shopping done before Thanksgiving, and I've already done that. Now we just have stocking stuffers (we take them very seriously around here) and a few small things left to buy in-store (I do most of my shopping online). 

Speaking of Thanksgiving. We are really looking forward to that this week. My side of the family all gathers at my Dad's every year, and that is what we are doing. Everyone cooks and it's a crazy-busy bunch of fun. So, it's a short week here and then we are celebrating the rest of the week. Oh, yes, AND we have a little friend's birthday party we are going to on Saturday. So, yes, a busy end of the week/weekend ahead. 

Yesterday we surprised Adri and Piper with early Christmas presents in the form of two 9-month-old kittens. They have been begging for kittens and I couldn't resist the opportunity when it popped up. They are brothers, and the girls named them Lightening and Grey. Two super sweet, shy little guys, and the girls love them. 

While we are still holding out on Christmas decorating until the weekend after Thanksgiving (I can't wait for Sunday!) we have been getting in the holiday mood already with Christmas movies and things like shopping and going to see the lights. Sometimes the four weekends between Thanksgiving and Christmas seem too short to fit in all the festivities that we'd like, so I figured we'd get a head start on them this year. 

Today is a rainy day and I think we are going to keep things cozy inside. School, reading some books, and (if I have enough energy) making window stars. 

I'm off for an early-morning work meeting and some caffeine. Have a lovely Monday!