Sunday, January 1, 2012

Starting Out Right

We celebrated the New Year Eve with:


appetizers and juice in wine glasses
comfy clothes
skipped naps
favorite movies and home movies
a roaring fire
dancing to New Years Rockin Eve
toasts to health and happiness and peace
four sweaty kids racing around the living room on a sugar high 
stuffed bellies
shirtless kids crashed out on the floor (and in bed by 9)
kisses at midnight


We celebrated New Years Day with:


no hangovers
large (multiple) cups of coffee
a fresh snowfall blanketing the grass
huge snowflakes whirling in the air
cinnamon rolls for breakfast
playing with LEGOS
a brisk winter walk
a pizza party at our house
a very tense but rewarding Packer game
more skipped naps
time with family
early bedtimes


I love New Years.  I feel it is important to celebrate it. Celebrate the hope that a new year brings.  Celebrate making it through the previous year.  Celebrate the triumphs and let go of the sorrows.  It is about constantly moving forward.  Trying harder.  Being better.  Doing more.  Striving. 

So much can happen in a year.  Life can really change.  It is so exciting to think of all the possibilities for a new year, and yet a little scary as well.  You never can tell what will be thrown your way.  Good or bad. All you can do is hold on tight, hang on for the ride, and pray for strength to get you through whatever you may face.  But no matter what happens you keep going.  Another year.  Another day.  Another chance.

Here's hoping for a peaceful and joyful year, and the strength to get through challenges that will surely come.




Mommy and Me Monday at Really, Are You Serious?
Hosted by Krystyn at Really, Are You Serious?

10 comments:

Unknown said...

Sounds pretty similar to how we celebrated over here.

Although 2 kids had ear infections so it was especially low-key.

Happy New Year. Here's to a great 2012! :D

Tabor said...

My wishes that you and your super energy family will have a joyous and prosperous new year ahead.

Wendy said...

Happy New Year! We have appetizers for supper on New Year's Eve, too. It's fun.

Isabella said...

I like your pictures! And loved the way you celebrated with your kids! I hope to do that soon!

tracey.becker1@gmail.com said...

Happy New Year! We had Mcdonald's and toasted with milk and wine, depending on age. :)

Jeni said...

My daughter was in bed by 9:30 as she had to be at work by 7 a.m. The kids were in bed and asleep by 8:30 and at midnight, I was the only one awake -drinking coffee, of course, and reading a book! But the best part of that, as you noted in your post too -NO Hangover! Sounds to me like you and Todd had a very good way to welcome in the New Year!

Maddy said...

Two of my four managed to stay awake!

Mom24 said...

Beautiful Kat. I love the sentiment.

It rather scared me how easily Jacob and Julianna stayed up until midnight. I remember when they used to struggle and struggle, now that's Mark and I.

I hope 2012 is good to you.

Krystyn @ Really, Are You Serious? said...

Looks like one of the best ways to ring in the new year! And, your fire looks awesome. Our tiny fireplace just isn't capable of that at all!

painted maypole said...

sounds like a great start to the new year!

Words To Live By

Be grateful for each new day.
A new day that you have never lived before.
Twenty-four new, fresh, unexplored hours to use usefully and profitably.
We can squander, neglect, or use them.
Life will be richer or poorer by the way we use today.
Finish every day and be done with it.
You have done what you could;
some blunders and absurdities crept in;
forget them as soon as you can.
Tomorrow is a new day.
You shall begin it well and serenely and with too high a spirit to be
encumbered with your old nonsense.

-Ralph Waldo Emerson