Happy New Year!

For the past 2 weeks, some, often many, if not all, of my kids were home for Christmas and the new year.  It's been a blast.  It's late for celebration, but here's a fast recap:

The Christmas tree:

A closeup of my grandmother's icicles.  They were stunning.  I used only silver bells for ornaments, and everyone thought this was the best "adult" tree ever (as opposed to 7, 8 or 9 kids glomming ornaments on practically every needle):

Christmas breakfast, in which Dan and Jeff cooked 42 scrambled eggs with cheese.  Well, I guess that all of us were really hungry.  I presided over the punch, of course.

Christmas dinner:

 Which featured standing rib roast - 20 pounds, most of which was gone that night,

 and Yorkshire Pudding, which I don't cook in the same pan with my roast, since my foods are not allowed to touch each other,

and, of course, Orange Almond salad, broccoli, and Brussels Sprouts sauteed with bacon.

 Lest you think Natasha didn't get to feast, here's proof otherwise.  She also took 6 bones home for snacking later in the week.

Well, that's all of it.  Now, off to start dinner, so the remaining hungry hordes can eat when the football game is over!