Skating

Dad took Rhiannon and Aidan to Chicago yesterday.  They went skating at Millennium Park.

They rode the train into Chicago.

After they went to Macy's to look at the windows and to see the Great Tree.

Then they walked to Lake Michigan.  The weather was so nice there were people sailing on the lake.

 A wonderful day.

Thanks...

I am thankful today.  For my family, for a warm bed and for food (especially people food).

Dad is thankful that his mom is home from the hospital.

Mom is thankful that Joey ate pumpkin pie yesterday and for me (yay!)

Rhi is thankful for the Macy's Day parade.

Aidan is thankful for food (especially tacos).

Joey is thankful for disks to spin and graham crackers.

Aidan is in a Christmas musical at church.  Here is a snipet from the last practice.

Sunday Afternoon

Just a typical Sunday afternoon in our kitchen!

Cars and Angels

On Monday Joey had an appointment at a feeding clinic in Springfield.  Mom, Dad and Joey's teacher all made the trip down to Springfield.  About ten miles outside Springfield, the transmission died and the van coasted to a stop on Interstate 72.  Mom and Dad started working the cell phones and Dad arranged for a tow to a local dealer.  Just then, a pick-up truck pulled up behind the van.  A gentleman in an Illinois Department of Corrections uniform got out and asked if he could help them out.

Well, with the tow on the way, there didn't seem much to do, but the man asked why they were in town.  When he was told he said he'd give Mom and Joey a ride to the clinic.  That's too much trouble Larry piped in...  but he said it wasn't.  So Mom, Ms. Alvis and Joey climbed into the pick-up and waved good-bye to Dad.

Mom got more of the story from the man.  He was just off his shift and heading home.. He was a retired fireman and EMT.  He was meeting his wife for lunch after she had a doctor's appointment.  He was actually heading the other direction on the interstate and drove through the median to help.  

The pick-up was the only vehicle that stopped.  Dad says at least 500 cars went by after everyone was gone and no one stopped to offer help.  Joey made his appointment.

Was this guy really Joey's guardian angel?  All I know is that someone was watching out for Joey...  and the car will be okay.  It needs a new transmission and Dad will pick it up tomorrow.

Sorry no picks today, but Dad posted some new videos on YouTube.

PS - Mom and Dad are now on Facebook.  Do you want to be their friends?

Halloween Party and Joey's New Hat

Dad and Aidan went to a Soo Bahk Do banquet last night.  It was also a Halloween party. Aidan and Dad got new hats for the occasion. Here is Aidan modeling Dad's.  Dad dressed as Rocky when he wasn't fighting.  Aidan dressed as a woodsman.

Aidan's instructor dressed as 

"Big Al."

Everyone had a blast! 

During the day, there was testing for the Dan level candidates, and there was a clinic for everyone.

After Dad got home, he gave Joey his new hat.  Joey seems to like it.

Halloween (and My Birthday)

Well, Halloween came and went again.  Did I ever tell you that Halloween is my birthday!  Really and truly it is.  I have a certificate to prove it!

Joey dressed up as Spongebob.  Aidan was Darth Vader and Rhiannon was Elphaba.  I only got a photo of Joey, because Rhi and Aidan went out.

Mom made me wear this shirt that says Trick or Treat.

I wasn't too thrilled with it, but I love Mom, so I put up with it for her.

Aidan and Joey got a ton of candy.  Of course, since Joey won't eat it, everyone else gets to share.  The weather was unbelievably nice.  It was something like 60 degrees when Dad took Joey out at 5.

Rhiannon worked at church where they have a family night called Candyland instead of going Trick or Treating.

At the end of the night we

were all exhausted.