Our sentimental and reflective New Year's Eve dinner

Pete made a special pork roast and sauerkraut dish tonight, so we attempted a NICE family meal. We got out a tablecloth (which clued Rayna in that was "special!") and candles, and dimmed the lights.

Then we tried to talk about the "highs and lows of 2009" with the kids. It mostly turned into a discussion of the highs and lows of today. Pete attempted to teach us about the meaning of a new year, and repentance, from the Bible... but that quickly disintegrated as well.

Instead, here are some of the things that were said at the table tonight:

"You guys made a really good dinner, but it's really gross." (Cole)

"AAAAAAAAAH" (Milo)

"This is a really special dinner. Can I go get my Barbie fork?" (Rayna)

"Get your foot off the table" (Me)

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH" (Miles again, louder)

"Colsen, we're about to eat the shoulder of a PIG!" (Strider)

"Can we blow out the candles now?" (Rayna -- about 3 minutes into dinner)

"We eat food into our brains, and then we poop it out our nose." (Colsen)
"Where did you learn THAT?" (Me)
"At school." (Colsen)

"Nonna and Poppa were here for New Year's Eve Eve Eve. LOL!" (Strider -- who just learned what LOL means)

"Get that out of your nose." (Me)

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH" (Miles again, even louder)

"Colsen, are you not hungry?" (Pete)
"No, I'm not. So I just need a muffin." (Cole)

"How come it takes so long to cook dinner, and it takes so long to clean up from dinner, but dinner is so short?" (Pete)

"AAAAAAAAAA-DA-DA-DA-DA-DAAAAAAAA" (you know who)

"Mom, are you sleeping?"


So, no, it was not quiet, reflective or peaceful.... but it was loud and joyful and messy and happy.

In other words, it was a perfect way to ring out a year full of all of those things.