A few days ago, weary from being housebound with sick kids and ready for something other than soup, we loaded the kids into the van and headed for a local chain restaurant. Sitting in a booth, the kids were subdued, and I had a chance to glance around at my fellow patrons.

At the table across from us sat a young couple with their infant son. He alternately fussed and cooed, and they took turns eating standing up, pacing the floor next to the table, eyes looking no further than their plates of food getting cold. I caught my own reflection in a mirrored tile, and saw that I had that 1,000 yard stare going.

What a difference nine years makes. I remember being so self-conscious, so deep into survival-mode with my kids that I never lifted my eyes. Although it is still challenging to parent my yahoos, I can't remember the last time I ate a meal out standing on my feet and singing in an effort to stuff a few bites in while they were still warm. Kids are tyrants, man.

And come to all that, maybe if I spent less time eating and more time dancing, I would be better off.

My parents had offered to have the three kids sleep over on New Year's Eve this year, but since everyone is still not well, we opted to have a family celebration. I found myself dancing to the Star Wars theme as played by our electronic keyboard, eating Chinese takeout with one kid wearing only pajama pants and a ski-hat, one kid in a party dress and a child dressed like Snow White, and watching our fake log burn. We played games on the Wii and made big plans for the new year:

Me: "What are your resolutions?"

Son: "Yeah, I'm going to keep doing what I always do."

Me: "You're supposed to try to improve something, or conquer something, or whatever."

Son: "I'm not making a resolution."

Oldest: "Me, either."

Youngest: "I'm going to eat all the candy in the world."

Now, there's a resolution for you. I wish her luck.

Although our Christmas holiday was sedate, and my many plans to organize the house and whip things into shape fell by the wayside as we nursed fevers and caught up on sleep, I have to say, it was a nice way to end the year.

And so we begin again. Happy New Year!