October ended, as it always does, with the traditional Vandongen Halloween celebration; Grandpa Max and Grandma Becky at our house eating one of Cristal's culinary masterpieces while Sam and his friend James break land speed records in the neighborhood collecting loot.
Abigail's Grandma Paulette and Grandpa Dave are Halloween junkies. They turn their house into a nightmare on Elm Street. Prior to the trick or treat event, we did our pilgrimage to their house for loot and frights.
Alex visited and celebrated with us too, sporting a super hero costume. Mom was a witch. Abigail was a pumpkin. I had a particularly good zombie costume. I participated in the Police Department's 'Trick or Treat' celebration at the police station. We commissioned a professional 'spook alley guy' to design a spook alley; and he was gifted with a make-up air brush. I was not a baby kisser that day. Sam is missing from the Halloween photo because the treasure that was awaiting him in the neighborhood was too tempting.
November was an exciting month because of the presidential election and others. It was also a great opportunity to teach my kids how not to behave; '...see those two guys, one of which will be president, don't act like that...' Thank you Republicans and Democrats for providing parenting opportunities...and nothing else.
It was Alex's first vote; she didn't write in her father as president. Abigail was absolutely dismayed that her father was not the write-in president elect.
We attended a harvest celebration with Travis, Niki, and baby Pierce at Pierce's school. We saw the fruits of Niki's labors as a board of directors member for her church and school. Pierce loved spending time with his cousins.
It's no secret we're a soccer family. Evidenced by Abigail's first toy, a soccer ball signed by members of the 2012 Gold Medal winning U.S. Women's Soccer Team. Along with that fanship, comes the annual investment in RSL soccer tickets. Unfortunately, that's also accompanied by the annual disappointments during playoff season. Abigail's first professional soccer game was likely the last RSL playoff game for many years to come; the boneheads broke up the core of the team after the loss. Of course, we'll continue the masochistic season ticket madness...we're fans!
The first significant 2012 Utah snow storm hit in early November. It deposited almost 18 inches in our yard. But, in true Utah fashion, the weather warmed to 60 degrees the next week and the snow base ended up in the Great Salt Lake. The ski resorts have been struggling since. With that said, as I write this, the snow is flying outside and indicators are we're in for a white Christmas.
To our delight, Abigail loved the snow. She helped Sam and I dig our house out. Then Sam showed her how Catholics make snow angels...arms and legs full of love, sprinkled with a tad of guilt.
As the Christmas season rolls along, our family thanks God for the many blessings of life. In our lives, our children are the manifestations of those blessings.
Current events demonstrate how precious, and at times, how short life is. It reminds me and my family to always show love; and never miss an opportunity to tell someone you love them.
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