By my count, I have posted all of six times in the month of October. Not good statistics, but I have a decent excuse: I didn't realize the month would be over so fast! I am stunned that November is upon us, but given how busy the last month has been, I suppose I shouldn't be surprised. Early in the month, Dan's parents came to spend a few days with us and go to the Balloon Fiesta. I forgot to bring our camera to the fiesta, so I don't have any photos from that, but it looked much like past years, except that we only saw about a third as many balloons take off as usual because the weather was bad the morning we went. Still, we had a good time, and it was fun to have Dan's parents for a visit. We even went and watched Dan race his radio controlled cars on Saturday night, which was cool, because Dan and his dad share a passion for small motorized vehicles. Dan's dad has his airplanes, and Dan has his cars. I have a feeling our future children are in for a lot of talk about engines.

Two days after Dan's parents left, my dad came into town to spend a couple of days with us on his way to go elk hunting. New Mexico has vast expanses of public lands, and there are outfitters that set up camps and send guides out with individual hunters to track elk. Dad didn't kill one because he didn't see one that looked like a good trophy, and he wasn't hunting just for the heck of it. He saw lots of elk though, and had a great time. We enjoyed hearing all the stories from his hunt, especially the ones about his guides and fellow hunters. To me, the strangest part about a trip like that would be spending five days out in the wilderness roaming around with a perfect stranger. But then, my dad can talk to anyone, so I don't think it was awkward for him.

Obviously, the wild is not known for its fabulous running water and shower facilities, so Dad came back with a beard. I don't know that I've ever seen my dad with a beard, and it got us talking about the one and only time that dad shaved off the mustache he's had for as long as any of us kids have been alive. My sister Audrey was about three years old at the time, and for whatever reason, it totally freaked her out. She started bawling and would not be consoled when dad walked out of the bathroom with a hairless face. Needless to say, he grew it back out. So here he is with a beard. Don't cry, Audge:

The reason Dad looks so pleased with himself is that he and Dan and I had just spent 20 minutes wrestling the sub-zero down sleeping back he bought for the trip back into its ridiculously small carrying bag. I was convinced it wasn't going to fit, and kept saying so the whole time that we were all laying on top of it to crush air out of the lining. As usual, I was wrong to be so pessimistic.

In my almost complete absence from the web, another exciting thing happened along today's theme line of family: The birth of the son of our friends, Megan and Andy, who started a new blog a few weeks ago to document their new adventure in parenthood and life in California. There was much rejoicing in the news of baby Joseph's birth at our church in Albuquerque. I'm also proud to report that their blog has the coolest design and name ever. So stop by There's Treasure Everywhere if you haven't already.

Across the country, my cousin Jenni got married in what I'm told was a beautiful outdoor ceremony in Florida. To Jenni, Aunt Emily and Uncle Gil, my cousin Dan and the rest of the family, I'm so sorry we couldn't be there, but we wish Jenni and Nate many happy years of marriage, and we miss y'all.

And in sad news for another family, we watched the St. Louis Cardinals win the world series. Normally I care about baseball about as much as I care about lengthy congressional reports, but this year, I found myself rooting for the Tigers, and even praying for them because of the Overbeek kids. The Overbeeks are fanatical Tigers fans, and their children, Joshua, Abigail and Chloe are all in the Wednesday night children's class that Dan and I teach at our church on Wednesday nights. In that class, we have been faithfully praying for the Tigers in recent weeks, from thanking the Lord that they made it into the series to praying for them to have good games, so it broke my heart when they lost. But the Lord works in mysterious ways, even in baseball, and there's always another season. I'm buying my Tigers sweatshirt now. I should add that I am so happy that our church has such an abundance of beautiful, sweet, hilarious children right now, but I am also tempted to snatch one of them up and take them home every single week. They are that adorable.

I'm off to make some potato soup. It's getting colder at night here and it makes me want to make warm food and wear sweaters and enjoy my own little two-person family.