We played Rummikub while the casserole baked. Kyle started the OWL program at First Parish this evening and could not join us for what turned out to be a delicious meal. The OWL course, which I attended as a teenager at the Unitarian church in Schenectady, is a comprehensive program covering all aspects of human sexuality.

Today is Maya’s family night. She chose to prepare a macaroni and cheese casserole from the Emeril Lagasse children’s cookbook she received from her grandfather for Christmas. Nico is shown spooning on the final layer, but Maya did the bulk of the work including preparation of a special spice mixture called Baby Bam.

Mattison Field is just down the road and from this scene you would not know it was the middle of winter here.

Maya started another session of swimming lessons today. I would not say this is something she looks forward to, but want to make sure she is an able swimmer.

Today was an all day strategy team meeting followed by dinner, including spouses, at the Evenfall in Bradford, MA. Regrettably, Jeanine could not join me, as she was attending her first meeting with a group of three girls she will be mentoring from our church. On the drive home, I was delayed by an horrific crash which reduced traffic to a single lane. As I drove by, I took this photograph in next to no light. Obviously it did come out very well, but somehow it reminded me of the scene so I am posting it as a reminder to drive safely.

Jeanine surveys progress on the new construction. The shed is framed in and the rubber roof is on. The joists for the screened porch are just beginning to take shape.

This evening I dined at the Kansas City Steakhouse in the South Hall of Fanueil Hall with the senior sales staff, our new GM and his family. The food was out of this world.

Today we hosted a small gathering of friends for a New Year’s Day party. Jeanine created a PowerPoint based game of Jeopardy which we projected on the big screen TV in our living room. The game was a great success, as was the party. Our guests included the families of two members of Kyle’s band.

The year ended with the first snowfall of the season. Although it did not last very long, there was plenty of time for the kids to get out and frolic.

I was unable to photograph a complete waffle due to the rate at which they were being consumed, but I did manage to get this remnant before it too was devoured.

We left Indiana very early this morning to arrive back in Concord by mid morning. Jeanine treated the crew to Belgian waffles putting her new waffle maker to the test. The results were delicious. Please note the small head in the lower right of the photo. Maya studied every aspect of the process.

Erica has turned into quite a beautiful woman.

Luke, unsure how to respond when attacked by a by one of the zoo animals.

Maya, with Bradley in tow, had to check out every last layout and could have stayed for another hour.