This week my Word of the Week is:
Another obvious word from me and I know I have used it many times before but it's a New Year! Happy New Year to you all! How's 2026 treating you so far? I have had a slow start to the year. We're enjoying the last few days of the Christmas holidays by not doing much. There has been no rushing and no alarms, we've just had late mornings, lazy afternoons and evenings that blur into one another. It has been quite lovely!
We spent New Year's Eve at the pub. We all dressed up, had a meal out and stayed out well past my bed time. It was such a great evening with good food, a few drinks, lots of laughs and a lot of dancing! I know lots of people prefer to stay home on New Year’s Eve and I used to feel exactly the same. Give me pyjamas, a takeaway and the TV any day but then the kids grew up and suddenly nights out are fun again and don’t involve babysitters, rushed evenings or worrying about what time we need to be back. We can just go out and stay out! Who knew that freedom would be one of the perks of parenting older kids! Despite the late night I started the new year as fresh as a daisy, while some others didn't. Hehehe
I’m not doing the whole new year, new me thing. No massive resolutions and promises to completely change my lifestyle, wake up at 5am or suddenly become someone who loves going to the gym. I have started a new monthly post with my goals and plans for the month. There's nothing life changing about my goals. They're all realistic things that fit into my life but I am hoping it gives me some motivation and accountability by writing it down. All I am hoping from this year is that it's drama free and my family are happy!
The new term starts at college for Ellie next week and this college year seems to be flying over. When she started in September, the end of the college year seemed such a long way away and now it's just five and a half months until the end of Ellie's full-time education and when you take out the holidays it's a little over 4 months! Eek! She is hoping to find an apprenticeship to carry on with her engineering dreams. I am excited for her, nervous for her but so proud!
Becky is going to try something new this month, not spending any money unless it's really necessary. I am shocked too. lol There is method in her madness. She has over bought concert tickets. 3 big ones over 3 months starting in February but what she didn't budget for was overspending over Christmas and she forgot all about having to buy train tickets and pay for hotel stays for a couple of them. Oops.
How has your week been? Have you eased into the new year gently or dived straight back into normal life? I am of course linking up with Anne who blogs at Raisie Bay to join in with her Word of the Week linky!
It is nice to be able to go out without worrying about babysitters! We spent a few New Years Eves when the kids were young at home but now we typically go out. It sounds like you had a great time on NYE! And that your *new* year is starting off great. Same here about new year, new me. Nah. I mean, there are areas that I hope to improve in but nothing major like a complete change. Have a great weekend :).
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year Kim! It sounds like you had a great time going out, I imagine the atomosphere was brilliant. It's been so nice to go slower this week hasn't it before all the maddness of routines comes back next week.
ReplyDeleteThat's a good lesson in budgeting for Becky, she does have some nice things to look forward to though. Good luck to Ellie getting an aprenticeship, I can't believe college is nearly over for her!
All the best for 2026 xx
Happy new year! Hope all your plans and goals are achieved. I had a look at your planning post and love the idea of monthly targets instead of annual resolutions. I bet Ellie is looking forward to going on to the next stage. Good luck with her apprenticeship search. Hope Becky's no spend month goes well. You're right about the freedom with older children, except I find they want to come along too!
ReplyDeleteHappy new year Kim! New is the perfect word for the start of a new year even if it is one you’ve used before. I’m sure I reuse words more at certain times of year too. Sounds like you had a lovely evening seeing in the new year and nice to be able to enjoy the freedom of going out now that the kids are older. I like the idea of a monthly post setting goals. Good luck with yours. Ellie’s time at college does feel like it is going by quickly. Good luck to Becky with her no-spend goal. #WotW
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year Kim and family. I hope it's a good one, I'll have to look at your other post. I've been a bit busy this week. I remember when my older kids reached the teenage years and we could all go out and have fun, but then I went and spoiled it all by having more kids lol. x
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