We typically spend our New Year's Eve quietly at home, watching a movie or visiting with family, and blowing on conch shells or noisy tubes at the turning of the year. This year we decided to try something different and joined a group at a New Year's Eve dance. The Quick Step Social Dance Club consists of a group of home school kids who have an interest in ballroom dance, and who share their talents with others. What a terrific time we had!
Our evening started with a one-hour dance lesson taught by Kirby Gowen and his lovely assistant and sister, Zoe Gowen. In a large circle around the gym, we learned the basic waltz, two-step, swing, cha cha cha, and polka steps with a few spins and twirls to boot. For many this was but a review while for the rest of us this was either new (Joshua and Shannon) or return to long-lost memories from high school or college (David and Liz). Kirby was an amazing dance teacher.
Each time we learned a new dance step, the girls would rotate to the next male partner in the circle.
Once the lesson was completed, the dance floor was opened up, and everyone got to practice what we had just learned.
John chose to spend the majority of his evening reading...
...and bending over backwards, it would seem, to stay away from the dance floor.
As 2010 approached, the bottles of Martinelli's Apple Cider were opened, glasses filled, and the countdown started.
Welcome 2010!
Here's a short video we made of the evening. Be sure to pause the Playlist at the very bottom of this page before starting the video.
Grandma was delighted with the pumpkin spice candle that Joshua bought and carved for her.
Liz had crocheted a doll blanket for Elizabeth, Shannon's American Girl doll, to match the afghan for Shannon's bed that she finally finished a few nights ago.
Grandma has been busy painting the doll house and purchasing new furnishings and decorations. Shannon thoroughly enjoyed rearranging the furniture and laying down new carpeting in different rooms. They plan to get together to put up wallpaper and other special touches on the house in the near future.
Having just completed a couple crochet projects, Liz started a new afghan for Nancy using more homespun yarn which is so incredibly soft and colorful!
One of the joys of gingerbread is the delight on the young children's faces as they explore--and sample--their "building supplies."
The boys and other teens were assistants for the kids and had as much fun designing house decor as any of the actual builders.
Shannon and Emily had a blast building and decorating their houses, the the real fun came when they started devouring their creations.
Joshua and the other teens did a fantastic job organizing games for the younger children while the adults assembled the houses at the beginning of the event and then cleaned up at the end. Perhaps he will serve as an AWANA Games Leader in the future!
John attempted a kingly stance as he tried on a replica of the famous headpiece in the gift shop.
We went to the top of the museum tower where we had a breathtaking panoramic view of Golden Gate Park and much of San Francisco. 
Right across from the museum is the California Academy of Sciences, which was recently completely rebuilt. The building has a new Living Roof. We are eager to visit the science museum again now that it has reopened.
We could see the top of the Golden Gate Bridge peaking over the top of the nearby hills.
Shannon also helped saute the vegetables for the stuffing. Since she doesn't care for the stinging eyes that often comes from cut up onions, she donned the boys science goggles to protect herself. 
Later that evening, toasts began in earnest as we thanked the Lord for His bountiful provisions for the year. 
After dinner, the kids played Apples to Apples. John cracked up at several jokes that Joshua C. made while playing the game.
We also spent the evening worshiping the Lord with music. David and Joshua played the guitar together on several songs.
Zach did a great job adding percussion to the music!
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