Yesterday I posted some pictures from the parade in Chicago. Here's one more parade picture, and the back-story:
Before the parade, a couple of students asked me if I would take a picture of the "Cookie Monster" because they didn't have a camera with them. Jokingly, I told them that they could just do a "Google Image Search" when they got home, and they would find thousands of pictures of the Cookie Monster. (They didn't really think this was funny or a good idea.) Truthfully, I planned to take the picture for them, but got distracted by a slightly more pressing issue, and forgot. DGN was the very first marching band in the parade, and we finished
long before many groups had started up State Street. As our buses were leaving for Downers Grove, and stopped at a light waiting to cross the parade route at the next break, I snapped this picture. I
call it, "Cookie Monster Eats School Bus." I'll bet you can't find THIS one on Google (yet).
The best part about being the first band in the parade was that we were back out in DG by 10:30 AM. Kristen and the kids were home by 10:45, and I made it back from work by 11:30. We then started to get ready for our guests. We hosted 18 for dinner last night (including our family). The Williams family, the Owens family, Bill Seliger (my college fraternity brother and post-college roommate in Evanston years ago), and an Iraqi refuge family that we met through the Williams' church last Easter.
The Williams came over first, shortly after we got home, and we started the birds. We did one bird in the oven, and one on the grill. The family from Iraq arrived shortly after 1 PM (a little earlier than expected), brought a THIRD TURKEY (definitely a beautiful and unexpected gesture). I took this picture because I loved watching/listening to Kristen try to explain American football to a family that did not understand the rules.
Josiah and Miles teach Baleep how to play 'Connect Four'.
Kristen and Terri are joined by Wassen in the kitchen. 
Glenn and Miles in a very serious game of 'Connect Four." I think Glenn won, but I'm not sure.
Emery, bless her heart, while trying ... didn't quite teach 'Go Fish' correctly ... so here Allison bats clean-up, and tries to re-teach the real rules to Talib.
Miles (black), defeating his father (red) in 'Connect Four.'
For weeks Miles has been very excited about playing football on Thanksgiving. Fortunately the rain let up in the afternoon, and he was able to coerce Will, Josiah, and Baleep to play in the front yard.
Emery, holding Girls Court in the backyard with Katharine.
Eventually Glenn and I joined the game, and we moved to the street to allow for longer passes.
Bill Seliger arrived with two beautiful homemade pies just before 4 PM, and just in time to be nominated by Rodney and Sheri to carve the three turkeys.
We moved the kitchen table to the living room, and opened it up, as well as the dining room table, with all of the extensions. Not enough room at the tables to 'pass the food', so we said thanks/grace in the kitchen, served food buffet style, and everyone picked their seats as they were ready to eat.
Emery and me after dinner. I'm wearing the Pilgrim hat she brought home from kindergarten this week.
Our newest friends from Iraq left around 6:30 PM, but others lingered for games. Here we are playing a team trivia game using the Wii.
Late night basketball. It was much colder than you would know looking at the two high-school aged young-men, who were too cool (literally) to wear coats.
I made this picture on the computer the night before Thanksgiving, but it definitely foreshadowed how we all felt at the end of the evening. Food coma.
The only other "picture" I'll share will have to be an imagined one. That being the pile of dog-vomit Penny Rose produced at the steps of the front door, just as the Owens and Williams were putting on their shoes and everyone was exchanging good-bye hugs. Penny, not wanting to be ignored, shared some of her Thanksgiving dinner with us - having ripped into a garbage bag with the Turkey carcass I had inadvertently left on the back patio. Oooops.
We have much to be thankful for, and at the top of the list is our family. Happy Thanksgiving to all our family ... especially those we could not be with yesterday due to miles that separate us.
