Law Office of Kevin Jensen - October 2019

Law Office of Kevin Jensen - October 2019

October 2019 480.632.7373 jensenlawaz.com

Fallen Trees and Marshmallows The Strangest Halloween My Family Ever Had

Every year around this time, I’m reminded of the strangest Halloween my family ever had. One Oct. 30, my wife JoDee and I were flying back to the East Coast, where we lived at the time, from a trip to Mexico. The plan was for us to fly into Boston, Massachusetts, pick up our two children who were staying with friends, and drive home to Connecticut. When we landed in Boston, JoDee and I were quickly reminded that the weather on the East Coast was vastly different than the Mexican beach we had just spent days lounging on. The shorts and flip-flops we were donning weren’t exactly proper attire for the weather that hit our home. A huge storm had just blown through the region, and snow covered the ground while trees downed power lines and wreaked havoc for drivers. On our way home, we decided to stop at the grocery store so we wouldn’t have to leave the house once we arrived. I made my way through the slush and snow in the parking lot, slipping in my flip-flops as I found some food to fill the fridge we emptied before vacation. When we finally made it back home to Connecticut, we realized the power was out there, too. We were without heat and working appliances on top of reaching home much

later than we anticipated. So, we filled the fireplace with wood from last winter and snuggled up as a family under some blankets for warmth, praying the power would be back on by the next day. That night, we even roasted marshmallows in our fireplace as we essentially camped in our house. But when Halloween hit, we still didn’t have power, and it remained that way throughout the day. At night, our 5-year-old daughter and 2-year-old son dressed up in their costumes, and we went trick-or-treating. The streets were pitch black as we strolled past downed trees and dark homes. It was difficult to tell who was home and who wasn’t offering candy, as we had no house lights to give us the green light, but we saw a few other brave souls out with us. (Since we lived near Sleepy Hollow, you can understand why this was so fearless of us!) Our kids still had a blast, and the real kicker to this story is the way it ends. About 30 minutes after coming home from trick-or-treating, our power came back on! Today, that 5-year-old and 2-year-old are 13 and 10, and we’ve added two more children to our family mix. Our Halloweens in Arizona are infinitely better, and we rarely have to worry about a snowstorm ruining our holiday.

Instead, our entire neighborhood turns into a giant party as neighbors park their lawn chairs at the bottom of their driveway and hand out candy to the witches, ghosts, and goblins that pass by. So, there may be a few benefits to living in an area with no trees. Plus, my shorts aren’t quite out of season for an Arizona Halloween. Have a safe and happy holiday!

-Brandon Yost

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Fall Family Fun

Decorate Your House With Your Own Creations!

The leaves are turning, the weather is changing, and the holidays are right around the corner, which means it’s time to bring out the fall decor! To make this season especially memorable for your family, create your own decorations with these fun ideas below. Pine Cone Painting Go on a family walk through the park to pick up a few fallen pine cones or take a quick trip to the store to buy a bag. Once everyone has their own hand-picked pine cone, grab a paintbrush and a few colors and have at it! For extra flair, add some fixings like glitter, beads, sequins, string, and more. Leaf Painting Take a trip outside with the kids to pick out some large, unbroken leaves, then head back inside and get creative! You can

pull out the construction paper and paint trees, using handprints and “arm prints” as the trunks and branches. Paint the leaves you found to spruce up your trees or use them as decorations on their own. You can also use them for leaf printing or leaf pressing. Fun Finger Food When you’ve got multiple friends and family members coming over and you need snacks, edible decorations are the way to go. You can get a little creative and make elaborate treats, or you can opt for delicious and easy-to-make finger foods with your kids. A good starting treat for your family is a batch of pumpkin Rice Krispie Treats. Add orange food coloring to the mix and get your kids to shape the treats like pumpkins before using a few pretzel sticks to make sturdy stems.

Thanksgiving Crafts Thanksgiving is only a month away, and your possibilities for holiday- themed crafts are endless with just a few supplies like paper, scissors, markers, and string. You can make turkey placemats, tissue paper trees, pumpkin garlands, paper pumpkins, or leaf mobiles to hang from the ceiling. Compile a list of ideas and have your kids pick out which craft they want to do first, then get to work together to create as many decorations as you want to display for Turkey Day. With these engaging craft ideas, the whole family will be eager to make their own decorations and show them off for months to come!

Severing Ties, Keeping Friends, and Making New Ones After a Divorce Thank You for Being a Friend

As humans, we crave interaction, and friendships are some of the most crucial interactions we have. Because we choose our friends, these relationships are often our strongest. Yet, you can’t claim joint custody on your friends. Deciding who should get what in a divorce is not an easy undertaking. As you have built a life with your soon-to-be ex-spouse, you have fostered joint expenses and savings, signed documents together, and maybe had children together, and you must decide how these pieces will be divided up.

a divorce. This can certainly cause some heartbreak, as couples become close with each other’s friends, but it’s a natural way to cut ties. However, the friends you and your ex made together can be trickier to navigate, as feelings can be hurt on many sides. Some couples go by gender, while others simply try to make it work by being friends with both exes. It’s a matter of finding what works best for you and what option is healthiest.

that divorcing may be the straw that breaks the proverbial camel’s back of your relationship with some of your friends. And that’s okay. You deserve to foster friendships that will withstand the test of time. To meet like-minded people, search for support groups and clubs that focus on passions you have. As with anything in divorce, you must find a way to amicably discuss friends with your ex. Some will be more obvious than others — such as that high school buddy of yours — but there may be a few tough discussions that will ultimately make your healing process easier and healthier. At the Law Offices of Kevin Jensen, we strive to help you find peace and healing after your divorce. If you have questions about your case or are in need of additional resources for healing, call 408.632.7373.

In addition, consider making new friends. It’s a scary prospect, but it’s important to remember

But your friends are a different story.

The friendships you had before your marriage should remain yours. For example, there’s a good chance that the friend you have known since high school will still be in your life after

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The Best Way to Help Your Children Process Their Emotions Childlike Behavior

heavy emotions. Those feelings are also amplified when you take into account the hormonal changes they experience as they age. Encourage your child to express their emotions in an appropriate capacity, and consider taking them to therapy for a healthy outlet. Sometimes children also

Divorce is an emotional time for many families, and no one feels the brunt of these emotions quite like children do. You can’t fully anticipate how your children will respond to your divorce, but it can be discouraging when your child has such a strong, negative reaction. Try these methods to help your children adjust to the transition and make your divorce smoother for the whole family. CONNECTED PARENTING STYLES Moving between two homes can take its toll on a child, but this situation can be magnified when you and your spouse’s parenting styles are vastly different. If you let bedtime slide, your child may retaliate at your ex’s home because of the rules and restrictions they impose. Instead, formulate a parenting plan with your ex, and stick to it. Even if you and your ex don’t get along, you must agree to a parenting plan if you want your child to thrive. ENCOURAGING EMOTIONS Much like the grieving process you went through when your marriage ended, your child is processing some

need another adult in their life who isn’t part of the divorce. Look for mentoring programs to offer your child support.

WORKING WITH TEACHERS There are nearly eight hours of every school day where another adult is interacting with your child. These teachers can be a vital resource for helping your child heal. Notify your child’s teacher of your split, and if necessary, come up with a plan for any negative reactions that may happen in the classroom. As experts, teachers can offer effective healing strategies, and they can become a partner in your parenting circle. Divorce often involves many feelings, and these emotions can frequently appear in those who aren’t directly in your marriage. For more resources and tips for a healthy divorce, call the Law Offices of Kevin Jensen at 408.632.7373.

LAUGH BREAK

Leftover Candy Snack Mix

This recipe from Momofuku Milk Bar chef and “Master Chef” judge Christina Tosi makes great use of those extra Halloween goodies. It’s a quick and easy way to both elevate and get rid of unwanted leftovers.

ingredients

• 2 cups mini pretzels, coarsely broken • 1/4 cup light brown sugar • 2 tbsp granulated sugar • 1/3 cup dry milk powder

• 6 tbsp unsalted butter, melted • 12 oz mini candy bars, such as Snickers, chopped into 1/2-inch pieces

directions 1. Heat oven to 275 F. 2. In a large mixing bowl, fold together pretzels, sugars, milk powder, and butter. 3. Spread mixture on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and bake for 20 minutes. 4. Let cool for at least 30 minutes and mix in candy bar pieces before serving.

Inspired by Food & Wine Magazine

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Our Strangest Halloween

Fall Crafts for the Whole Family

Who Gets the Friends in the Divorce?

Navigating Children’s Emotions in Divorce

Halloween Celebrations in Sleepy Hollow Hayrides and Headless Horsemen In 1790, a school teacher named Ichabod Crane was riding home alone from a harvest festival in the village of Sleepy Hollow when he encountered a mysterious rider on horseback. Crane, horrified by the horseman’s missing head, turned and ran in the opposite direction. The Headless Horseman gave chase, hurling his own decapitated head at the terrified teacher. Ichabod Crane was never heard from again ... or so goes “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” by Washington Irving. Another highly anticipated stop for many guests is Sleepy Hollow’s premier annual attraction,

Horseman’s Hollow, an experience not for the faint of heart. During the event, the 300-year-old Philipsburg Manor is transformed into a living nightmare, where vampires, witches, ghouls, and undead soldiers lurk in the shadows. They all serve the dreaded Headless Horseman and are determined to make sure guests don’t leave alive!

This story, first published in 1820, has become a Halloween favorite. The legend is so beloved that in 1997, the village of North Tarrytown, New York, where many events of the story take place, officially changed its name to Sleepy Hollow. Today, the town becomes one big Halloween party during the month of October. Sleepy Hollow is home to many historic landmarks, including the Headless Horseman Bridge and the Sleepy Hollow Cemetery, where Washington Irving himself was laid to rest. Evening lantern tours of the cemetery are a popular attraction, and Irving isn’t the only spooky celebrity buried there. Fans of the Gothic soap opera “Dark Shadows” will be delighted to enter the crypt of famed vampire Barnabas Collins.

But it’s not all scares in Sleepy Hollow. There’s plenty of Halloween fun for all ages. Sleepy Hollow boasts relaxing hayrides, tours of Irving’s home, live readings of famous Halloween stories, performances of a brand-new musical based on Irving’s spooky tale, and the Great Jack O’Lantern Blaze, an incredible exhibition of over 7,000 hand-carved pumpkins.

If you want a real Halloween experience, you can’t go wrong in Sleepy Hollow. Just be careful not to lose your head!

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