Fete set

Happily but wearily I report tonight: the big guy's birthday has, I believe, been properly celebrated.

Muchas gracias to those who called, sent and e-mailed greetings and salutations.

And enormous thanks to the gaggle of friends and neighbors, past and present, who spent their Saturday evening with us in exchange for a wedge of black-and-white birthday cake.

Because he's crashed out on the couch, I'll go ahead and speak for Trey when I say: we are so richly blessed to have such a merry band of friends.

It was big-time fun to mix up your diverse personalities, backgrounds, stories, jokes, drink preferences and kiddos (by my count: nineteen of 'em) under our roof.

Now we turn our attention to the second Sag in the house, as we prepare for Carter's fifth birthday celebration. No rest for the weary: not that I'd have it any other way.