January 2nd 2012

So its here, a wondrous new year, a new beginning, a new chapter in life waiting to be written, cherished memories to be made. Three hundred and sixty five bright mornings and starlit evenings. Fifty two promising weeks, twelve transformative months full of beautiful possibilities and four splendid seasons to enjoy.

Ok so I am being very optimistic and that's not like me at all but I was proved so wrong last year, the year started so bad and yet it just got better and better as the weeks and months past and it ended very well indeed.

The gang arrived home Saturday early afternoon and although I wasn't totally convinced I wanted them back after having such a peaceful, productive and restful few days it really didn't take long before it felt like they hadn't been away, in a good way though. Ok so the fact that the washing basket seemed to be over flowing within five minutes, and there was clutter all over the place once again and it didn't take long before the children were bickering isn't some of the good points about their return but the house was full of chatter and laughter again and I was surprised at how much I really had missed all of them.

I can't remember the last time we went out for New years eve not sure when we last stayed up late enough to actually see the new year in either but this year was very different. We all got into our pyjama's after tea for a cosy night in playing games.  It was so lovely to see them all play so well together and no bad losers. Not sure when it happened but my children have all grown up. We had a game of charades, my Very Hungry Caterpillar went down very well with a vast amount of laughing and watching Flynn act out the Gruffalo was a sight I will never forget he could be destined for the stage. Then we had a game of scabs and guts a very delightful game learning has never been such yucky fun of course they loved this new game Flynn received for Christmas. We also played a couple of card games which bought back memories of my childhood new years eve's with my parents. Then before the children went to bed it was outside for some sparkler fun.

The Gruffalo's knobbly knees

Lily's poker (pontoon) face

Tallon's poker (pontoon) face

Sparkler fun

After a rather lazy start to the new year I prepared a chicken casserole, popped it into the slow cooker and off we set for a new years day walk. We are so lucky to live so close to such a beautiful Estate as Stourhead, the gardens are delightful but there are also lovely woodland walks to enjoy We didn't manage the three or four hours we were hoping as the rain started coming down rather heavily and although we are not normally worried about the rain on this occasion we were quite happy to return to our cosy little home, being welcomed by the smell of a lovely meal being cooked without to much hard work and enjoying the last few hours together relaxing, eating the last few chocolates, and watching the telly.

Happy to be out and about. (taken before the rain)