Here we are- late November it just occurred to me yesterday that Thanksgiving is this week.  We have the usual plans of lunch with J’s parents, dinner with mine.  Jason swears he will have all the christmas shopping done on friday by doing it entirely online- you all could be getting some VERY entertaining gifts this year!

Jason got an iphone last week after several weeks of…ahem….”discussion”.  He gave it to me for all of 10 seconds before I wanted one.  Unfortunately, my $400 will be going to new tires.  We took my car on a road trip this weekend and they are done for.  For the last half hour of the trip in the sleeting rain it became apparent that i needed new tires, new wiper blades and an oil change. 

Though I have had little time to get out to see my horse lately, I have been taking some stellar riding lessons from a dressage instructor that leave me stiff and sore, but wanting more.  I am not so sure Calvin feels the same way- this is the first time in 6 years that the horse has come out of a riding lesson covered in sweat with temps in the low 40’s or so.  Previously he has been able to keep me happy with some half hearted trips around the ring- whole different deal lately- I can tell he doesn’t appreciate me. But on the positive side, he is starting to feel like the horse I know he has the potential to be.

Christmas this year should be a riot.  Given how much fun I had shopping for Riley’s birthday, I can hardly wait to get to the christmas shopping.  At his birthday he showed little interest in opening his gifts, but we may be able to convince him by the end of December.  We visited some friends this weekend who have a 6 month old.  Its hard for me to remember Riley that small.  Riley was asserting his new found skills and opinions by promptly taking anything we handed to her.  For the first time last night he grabbed something from me and ran-  giggling the entire way of course- checking to see if i was coming after him.  It was pretty cute- When I didn’t, he turned around, walked back to me and handed it over then went about his business.  As Jason pointed out on Sunday, this kid is not practicing his walk- he is perfecting his run.