New Year's at the Hemingways

Who can resist this at 11:00 at night?

Not us! Pile on the goods. One last day of gluttony!

Deb and Wendy gear up for a very competitive card game (with ultra-thick pomegranate hand cream ... and full anticipation that girl power will prevail)!

Dave & Jill, obvious brother and sister, totally cheese out.

Tanner (getting ready to leave for a mission to Portugal) and sweet ol' Uncle Dave peacefully take up the cards. I'm afraid they have no idea what's in store for them ... whahahaha 

Wendy and Sadie get in a little squish

Looks who just found his own agenda? Wendy will make the best grandma someday with her cherished toy loot. Doesn't the little munchkin look content?!

Poker Face ... (yeah right ... like we can't see right through you!)

Wendy takes the kitty and pot, yet again. 

Exterior = gracious and adorable ... Interior = very wicked!

Dave graciously borrowed me his work shoes after complaining of being cold. There's something very disturbing about something I just said, don't you think?

Wendy, super-squish, can't resist a baby on the floor with toys (the "Bluest" person I know --- for those of you who know what "Blue" means in the Deb world)

chillin' in the pit

Now it's dark ... time for the countdown... 

Heather and Erica snuggle in the Lazyboy

Yes, it's the BALL and we're watching TV (wouldn't have it any other way)

Wendy and Dave kissing waaaaaaay to close. Gross.

We want some too!

Is he still alive! Holy smokes!

Ryan Seacrest ... a new generation, a new announcer

GAMES, FOOD, & SMOOCHING ...

THE PERFECT NIGHT

We had originally planned to spend New Year's Eve with our gaggle of teenagers ... little did we know that the most noble of plans rarely materialize when dealing with teenagers. Autumn had a dance, Shawn had a party, Joey had "plans" to be with anyone but us, and ... well, Cody's too young to know better (for a few more years at least). So Eric and I sat on the couch looking at each other until it became very apparent that we needed to make our own agenda. 

To the rescue! Wendy and Dave invited us for a quiet night of games, food and smooching. Just what the doctor ordered. We loaded our jamma-clad child into the car and were off. 

We had a great time playing a weird poker thing and then King of the Pomp (they call it something else) and then stuffing our face (last day of that for us ... and millions of other gluttonous Americans). What gracious and laid-back hosts the Hemingways are. 

Wendy and Eric work so hard every day. It's always a blast to be able to PLAY with the Hemingways. Thanks guys! Love ya.

HAPPY NEW YEAR ... now go to sleep