This is the Suburban Mailbox!

After just 3 months, I am fully back into the swing of American life. We have embraced the suburbs and I believe the suburbs are embracing us back. We have our house, garage, patch of backyard, fantastic HHR, fence, patio, sidewalk lights, cats, dog, giant TV, high speed internet, outdoor grill, neighbors and a mailbox that is just a little bit tilted to one side.

Last week was spirit week here in Darien, IL. There were lots of days where the kids went to school in pajamas and as super heroes or celebrities. Kimeko did indeed dress up everyday. Sterling mostly went as someone playing himself as a character in a remake of an old show . There was a parade with cheerleaders and marching band and the Homecoming Queen waving like some kind of minor royal, maybe a duchess or something. It was fun. There really is not the equivalent sense of school community in Germany and it was great to be a part of it again. 

We did go to the big homecoming game in which our local team did not win. But the stadium was full and it was a brutal reminder to me as to just how loud hundreds of teenagers can be when grouped into relatively small areas. Kimeko had a great time although she did not watch one second of the game. Sterling perhaps will play on the team next year...they could certainly use the help and Sterling can catch a football. Also, the marching band was fantastic. Worth the admission totally.

multiply by 100 and add copious screaming

The Homecoming Dance was on Saturday night. Jenn ferried Kimeko and her friends around while Sterling and I played video games. Watching Kimeko get ready gave me visions of bridezilla. Scarier than Halloween...