We have sent the girls off to hang with their grandparents for the remainder of the winter break, so it will just be me and the man, and the little dude ringing in the New Year.
Not exactly “party central”, but then again we rarely are.
New Years Eve has been many things in the past, all varied and special in their own right.
Our New Years Eve 2003 was spent in the hospital with our few days old daughter. I remember lying in the bed (a private room, thank goodness) and watching the layers of snow accumulating. At midnight, I was woken up by my husband, a father for the first time, as he gave his New Years Eve kiss to his daughter and wish her a Happy New Year. An extraordinary and memorable moment to witness.
As the kids grew up, we help more than a few riotous parties with friends and neighbours. Total chaos, the house filled with kids and crazed parents and the memories of waking up to a total disaster zone on New Years day.
We have had the range. The quiet and introspective nights, and the loud and rave like.They are all memorable for what they where, and when they happened.
But this year, being just the three of us, we are handing over the reigns to our little man. We will give HIM a New Years to remember, all of his own making.
Of course, at age 5, that means a cheese pizza, and cake. It means playing Mario Brothers, watching Transformers and a rowdy game of snakes & ladders. It means snuggling with mom and dad and a later than average bedtime.
And, of course, decorations. Noise makers, funny hats and streamers (it IS a party you know)
And a countdown with King Julien.
The kids have been loving the new Netflix original series King Julien, King Lemur from the Madagascar movies. We have heard the dance beat thumping up from the basement over the holidays, and so being able to bring in the New Year with this ragtag bunch of Lemurs, with his on-demand countdown to the New Year, will be the perfect way to celebrate.
And it means, we can keep bedtime realistic and welcome the New Year at whatever time seems right!
Because, there is not a lot worse than starting a year with a tired, cranky and miserable 5 year old.
After we tuck our little dude into bed (hopefully around 930pm) Dad and I can catch a moment and welcome the year in peace together. As my best friend, there is no one better to be with as we turn the clock again and start into 2015. (and perhaps pop open one of those nice bottles of Prosecco left over from Christmas)
We have no desire to party it up this year, but are keen to gently welcome 2015 doing something our dude would love, in a home we feel lucky to be in, and deeply in love with a life we created. Perhaps next year we will be back to stocking the bar fridge and filling our house with friends. . or perhaps not.