Chicago Going Away Party

Chicago Going Away Party

Saturday morning we drove under grey, sad skies to join our friends in Loyola's lakeside park for one last hurrah. We joined forces with our dear friends, the Ferrales, for a joint going-away party (Gabrielle graduated and took a position at the University of Minnesota). The weather had been beautiful all week, but it was chilly and overcast, threatening rain. We talked on the phone on the way up and decided to stay with our "plan A" and have a BBQ in the park unless it poured on us.

Our dear friend Kieran brought his trusty little grill, and before long we had burgers and chicken sausage and hot dogs cooking away as our friends (and their tasty side dishes) came rolling in. We moved under a large tree to get shelter from the drizzle, which was more annoying than anything. Through it all we perservered, and were even rewarded with a peek of sunshine now and then.

We threw footballs and pitched horseshoes. We got sugar highs from Molly's Cupcakes. We talked and laughed. We admired the growing brood of babies in the sociology kids club. Alex (4) was the oldest, and an honorary member of the sociology babies club because his mom Rachel is a Cultural Anthropologist and a good friend. Savino and Anna, both a little over three years old, rounded out the older group. They were followed by Kristian (almost a year), Liam (6 months) and then a slew of really itty bitty ones: Jane (8 weeks and Alex's sister), Xavi (6 weeks), Zeke (3 weeks) and Julian (2 weeks).

You can see the full set of photos from the link above, but I wanted to include a few of my favorites.

Anna enjoys ripe juicy watermelon.

Ian and Kieran bravely man the grill through the light drizzle. Corey and Harvey ferry dogs and burgers over to the crowd beneath the tree.

Terry teaching Liam to play.

Julian Ferrales, the youngest member of the sociology kids club, just 2 weeks old.

Kristian Vannebo Taylor, nearly a year old, leading the youngest sociology kids.

Liam sizing up Kristian.

Liam hanging out with Emily, Uncle Keith's girlfriend

Kelly came directly from the airport, after flying in from France. With son, Alex, and his 8 week old daughter Jane (look at that face!)

Liam cuddling up with Cousin Kimmy.

I wish I had thought to take a big group picture when everyone was there, but at least I remembered to take one at the very end before the closers headed home.