It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

Now that finals are over (woo hoo!) I have a moment to update you on our busy November. A few highlights from the month:

Graham and I did the Jingle Bell Run again this year - Claire loved looking at all the people dressed up and the Christmas trees.

Running around in front of the award stage

Playing in Zona Rosa's soft play area afterwards

Claire helping Mommy make muffins for her class's Thanksgiving party

We had our usual three Thanksgiving meals with Graham's family - Claire loved getting to play with all the kids. It's been a rough season health-wise for several family members this year (including us!), but for the Thanksgiving weekend, at least, everyone was pretty healthy. Lots to give thanks for...

Claire's first Thanksgiving at the big kids' table

In true Romany Road tradition, we had our Christmas lights up by Thanksgiving so we could turn them on with the rest of the block. Thought you'd like to see:

Our house

Looking East

Looking West

We're actually planning to put our house on the market this January (hopping the state line into Kansas for better public schools), so have a "Coming Soon" sign up now to take advantage of all the people driving up and down our street to look at the lights. Worth a try, anyway...

The annual picture with Santa didn't go over too well again this year... Luckily, MRS. Claus was there, and she was much less scary. She read books, sang songs, and had jingle bells. I tried having Santa read a book to Claire, but he was just too intimidating. She likes Santa...from afar.

Mrs. Claus is much more Claire's style

Some favorites in pictures:

Ever since Claire's birthday she's asked for cupcakes regularly, but what she really likes is the frosting and the sprinkles. Particularly the sprinkles. She'll eat them by themselves if we'll let her...

"Yummy, yummy!"

She loves puzzles and has gotten very good at them

And, of course, she's always, ALWAYS reading

AND, some favorites in video:

Claire loves to sing now - this is her rendition of a song from her favorite computer game, "Happy Birthday, Maisy" [video here]

She also loves the Elephant and Piggie series by Mo Willems, and after reading those books to her a couple of times she can read them back to you. This is her reading "Watch Me Throw the Ball!" to Daddy. [video here]

Claire and I just landed in Boise today for a long Christmas visit with Nana, Mam, and lots of other family. Mam's health hasn't been the best lately, so we're glad to have this extra time to get to spend with her. Daddy will join us on the 21st for a week for Christmas...

Wishing all of you safe holiday travels!

-Mindee