Highlights of a Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!!

Well, I thought I'd put up a few pics of the Christmas/New years Highlights. Sorry, folks but I'm neither very good at taking photos nor very faithful to take them. (Particularly when there are multitudes of children running around & lots of hungry parents to feed)

In case you don't have 3.5 children, you don't know about the house of chaos which all happy children in this neighborhood seem to enjoy so much. I'm still wondering why some of my friendly friends would join forces to chase roughly 15 children around while singing rounds of "Oh-Praise-the-Lord". I'm NOT complaining, my kids voices are now gone & Vesna & I are not altogether sorry.

Gosh, golly, gee-whiz, there was a lot of memorable moments from our New Years. Many friendly faces & screaming children. I guess I ought to dredge up a couple from the fuzzy recesses of my brain. (I'm suffering from a cold along with the other 8 sneezy children in this house):

- Cozy New Years with familiar faces & lots of excitingly named cocktails (involving Tabasco & shot glasses) and vats of gyoza & karage (which, I'll admit, I did eat one or two of).
- Children let loose in "dress up" euphoria, each in thier own make believe world & the parents hiding their faces in shame as their ladybug/fairy/chef/samurai daughters played mommy & daddy.
- Having all my kids asleep by 10:15 (the parting of the Red Sea & now this) so that I could make plate-loads of hours de vours that I had to force my friendlies to eat. (I'm afraid they though it was some kind of art exhibit instead of a late night snack)
- Somehow ending up with 35 men, women & children eating dinner in our little house. Arms, legs & forks were everywhere, phones ringing & babies crying. It was memorable!
- Getting to actually "hang out" with one of my girl-friends! (gosh, 10 years ago I'd be ashamed to say that!!)
- Having a house full of happy/tired/confused parents always on the look out for some way to help me in my hour (ok, several hours) of distress.


Well, there's lots more where that came from but I haven't the time or brain cell. So....lets close with a few photos. And may you have a jolly 2008. I for one am going to crank up the coffee pot & get started on this school term.
Christmas Brunch
Cherry Pie. (if you look closely you might be able to find a bubble mid-pop!)
French Pear Tart!! OMG!!! That's me diving in there!!
Winter Salad! Did I already say I like pears?
The Brined Turkey who layeth down his life for the home!

Wow, the funky chicken ladies. No words!
Oli's genius dress up scheme. (I'm not sure what evil character Travis is trying to be, but you can be sure he's playing his part with all his heart, no doubt it's something from the "Revenge of Chinese Chef")
Awwwww!!! They had too much fun.
The boys waiting to get on the ice!
The popular game called: "How many peaunt butter sandwich eating kids can you fit on one tiny picnic mat"

PS: If you happen to have attended any of these blasty-blast events & have taken photos that are noteworthy -- Please think of me! I love you!