What's A Few Weeks Among Friends?

Sorry I haven't been blogging! We had so many damn wonderful holidays to celebrate that I got derailed from blogging practice. It's no excuse - especially when some folks out there are faithfully blogging despite being ice bound, without power, or on safari in Africa. But here is a photo recap of all the fabulosity that happened in 3-D:

First there was Cookie Making Day (yummy!):


Then there was Christmas which we celebrated on December 30th when we finally managed to get all eight of us at home together. Sometimes our family logistics are best displayed as a Venn diagram. You'll note that I am not displaying a picture of all five kids here - just the tree. Seems they feel I tortured them enough at Thanksgiving taking their pictures - so you'll just have to take my word for it - they were there:


Then Donna and I celebrated our anniversary and because I am soooo romantic, I gave her a hammer. (What, you didn't know there was a tool anniversary? It's right after the tin anniversary and somewhat before the silver and golden ones.) 'Cause nothing says "I love you" better than a Miami Dolphins hammer:

Then there was New Year's. We celebrated by going to a friend's bonfire and getting back home just in time to watch the ball drop:

Then there was a 40th birthday to celebrate!! Here is the birthday girl showing off her dancing shoes:We took all of the furniture out of our living room and turned it into a dance floor. Here John and our buddy Rob are mounting the disco lights and fog machine for the dance party:

The gal on the right is LaShawn - our hip hop dance instructor for the night. Aside from being smokin' hot, she is an AMAZING dancer. I think she was amused to be trying to get a bunch of stiff, old people to bend their knees, lean, jump, and clap with any sort of rhythm.
However, after the third Mojito break, everyone was dancing up a storm. I think we probably had about 50 people at the party and 20 or more on the dance floor at any one time, but it was hard to get a picture to show the whole crowd:


Lest you worry about all those poor, intoxicated, worn out party-goers of ours - we had quite the food spread to bolster their flagging energies:

At 2 am though, I think the bolstering was completely over for at least one guy:
It was a great party and I think the Birthday Girl had a fabulous time. The next day (her actual birthday) she got to wear her new Miami Dolphins jersey and watch her team play in the playoffs. It's been a LONG time since she's gotten to do that - as Miami hasn't been a playoff contender in years and years. (I was too tired to remember to take a picture of her so you'll have to use your imagination.) And finally I'll leave you with this photo of our middle son's new smile:

Iain (conveniently located in the middle of the picture) got braces and now smiles without showing his teeth (a trick he must have learned from his buddy Justin on the left, who also has braces - and his Uncle Duncan, who makes it look cool.)

In training news - I have goals and resolutions and plans! And news: I have lost 3 pounds since Jan 1st. (Yay me!) I am still on Week 3 of the pushup challenge (for like the sixth week!) But details will have to wait until tomorrow. Right now I must go try out my new Spinerval DVD.