Happy New Year everyone! 2012 is here and ready to go it seems! Although, our first day of the year was very quiet and low key. In reflecting back at 2011 I do see how things have improved for our not so little family. A dear friend made a very good point – we chose a harder path earlier in our lives so that with all that we are doing now, when we are older it will be better. Of course, not everything that has occurred has been a decision or the result of a decision we have made BUT each and every occurrence has been something to learn from. A saying I saw on Facebook comes to mind – my your BEST day of 2011 be your WORST day of 2012!

We spent out New Years at home, as is our norm. After all a babysitter for 4 or 5 kids on a REGULAR night would not be cheap, on New Years… yah right! This is our first year of not having a LAN party here at home, the lack of computers and the urge to play den mother to a bunch of men in my basement was rather nice! 

Hanging with the baby

Instead we all congregated upstairs and played various card and boardgames. Kathy brought (and then later left here) her card table with folding chairs and I cleaned off the kitchen table. There was enough room for everyone! We played Dominion, Settlers, and Chez Goth. Of course Karyn had her new iPad and Ted his old so we played around with those as well. I have to admit, I am hard pressed to agree to buying an android when the iPad is so much fun and on top of those two having one so does Ken’s mom and Veronika. 

The guys at the card table

Settlers

There was a whole stack of snacks to enjoy including baking from Kathy and Lauralee. We did pizza for supper and then munched our way through to 2012. Rather sedate and after seeing off quite a few of the guests those left over stayed up past 2 am chatting and relaxing. Just the way I WANTED to spend it! 

Kids and snacks

Since New Years falls on a weekend Monday is a holiday for both Ted and Sean, so we lucked out and had company for the whole of today AND tomorrow. And Kristen and Fydo over to play poker… Quiet but fun day!

Tomorrow we start back to working on our schooling. There is math and reading to be done… and thanks to a kind person on Freecycle, a telescope to learn about! I put up an email looking for one on the off chance that SOMEONE may have one they no longer need/wanted. The same day we had a response and by today a telescope in the middle of my livingroom! Very exciting for the family as a whole. 

Telescope!

So I guess that decides our new topic of study – the solar system and ways to examine and learn about it. I already have a book out from the library and am going to start searching Youtube for other interesting videos and information. 

I am looking forward to this year, we are going to make the best of each and every opportunity we are offered. If that means changing our location, our plans… well it will make for a more exciting year right? Either way we will be making each day as full as we can. Educating, crafting, growing as a family, it is going to be grand! I have already managed to find a new sweater and my first pair of post baby jeans (I know took me long enough!) on amazing deals!

Baby in the post New Year's Chaos

Dismantling Christmas really DOES take longer than putting it all up, especially when you want to end up with a MORE organized set up. I am trying to put everything into nice Rubbermaid tubs with labels… not an easy task with 4 kids who just can’t seem to entertain themselves. But at least this year we managed to keep our Little People Nativity set together AND only break a very small number of glass balls! 

All in bits

The year is coming to an end and it is now time for us to think about 2012. I am had the twins come up with some resolutions we are going to save and see how they do. I got my New Years themed papers from our favourite Uk Site… they have a whole New Years section right here. We did not cram in much this week between Christmas and New Years but I wanted to do SOMETHING to keep us in the flow of it.

Resolutions

Spending a little time on time

Last night we had a night out at Kristen and Fydo’s with Echo. We have been spoiled the past month or so with (he)Chris around often to babysit. Sometimes it is just a relief to get out with one kid but ALSO with Ken. We do not get a lot of time together to begin with, let alone outside the home!

Game night!

In fact, the past 2 or 3 days have been positively boring blog wise. Though we are starting to plan new things to learn about in the new year. Planets, submarines, dinosaurs and rockets have been suggested. So more and more of my time is being spent on the online catalogue for our local library. Our library subscription was 10.00 and we are allowed 99 books out on it! Now that we have an adult one we could actually get the kids each their own for free but I figure 99 books is enough for one family!!

I am still combating the massive amount of post Christmas clutter. BUT I do have all my ribbon in ONE container… though when I think on it, that has NOTHING to do with Christmas clutter! Renting does limit one to storage solutions. A lot of the ones I prefer require bolting to the walls, something we are not willing to risk doing here.

We have completed our villages… Three on the walls and one standing on its own. Each of them are so different with the colouring and personality of our kids right there… lots of pink on Trinity’s of course! I love this tradition and will return to Activity Village next year! And probably many years to come!  I will post a picture of Emanuel’s on the next entry.

Gavin's village in the dining area

Trinity's village in the hallway

Zander's tabletop village

We are having friends over tomorrow… it is rather expensive to have sitters to begin with, let alone for New Years. I hope everyone remains safe and has a wonderful evening! See you all in 2012!

So cute