When you take your hydrometer reading you need to adjust the results based on the temperature of the wort.  Thanks to Ryan for pointing this out to me and for this link:

http://www.ebrew.com/primarynews/ct_hydrometer_temp_correction.htm

I took my reading at ~85*F.  Based on that chart I would nbeed to add roughly 0.003 to my reading.  My original reading was 1.054, so this brings it to 1.057.  Within 0.001 of what the kit estimated starting gravity should be at.

I am really looking forward to this beer to finish up.  In another week I’ll be bottling it and it will take ~2 weeks to condition it.  Cheers!