This is week 2 of my 3 week break, and we have our friends (who have 3 kids aged 4-10) from New Zealand staying with us for 3 nights. It’s been busy and fun, though at times we’ve all had to laugh at the chaos of 5 young kids in a smallish house- though our backyard (complete with swings and slide, grass and sprinkler for water play) has gotten good mileage.
The first day they arrived was New Year’s Eve, and we considered all heading to a New Years festival with fireworks a 30 minute drive away. BUT the fireworks were at 9.30 which was a bit late for the 4 year olds, so we decided to stay at ours. So after an afternoon playground trip with the kids, we ordered pizza, cracked some champagne, and had a night in. Kids watched a movie (The Grinch - holding onto a last bit of Christmas), ate popcorn, and the adults had a few drinks and watched a new years concert on TV, right by the Opera House in Sydney. Kids were up late (E was the last one asleep at 10pm). Sydney fireworks were at 11pm our time (they are one hour ahead), so we pretended that was new year once they started! Ha! Al and I agreed we had a good feeling about 2025, and my friend gave me a good suggestion for a strength training app. I was asleep by midnight.
The Sydney fireworks we watched on TV
I was relieved to wake up in good shape on Jan 1st despite the drinks, and managed to sleep in a bit too- hooray! The kids were loud but mostly amused themselves. Mid morning we headed to the beach, and gee it was a spectacular day for it. This is a very shallow, safe water beach for little kids. We spent a couple of hours on the sand making castles and in the super warm water. I managed to get my arms burnt after making sure the kids were protected- oops!
We then headed to a Mexican restaurant opposite the beach for tacos, beers and Margaritas (well, the kids had fries! Not very Mexican but they were happy). Headed back home in the afternoon for a nap, kids watching some TV, and a low key evening. All the kids were exhausted and asleep by 8.30, and the parents followed not long after.
Margarita time! Yum
I was excited to write my first entry in my new 5 Year Journal - my Christmas present this year. Our friends go home Friday evening, and we have a social weekend, but then Monday 6th will be much quieter and looking forward to a change of pace then. That’s when I’ll document my goals on the blog (unrealistic to think I’ll have time before then!).
My new journal!
How did everyone bring in the new year? Hope everyone has had a great start to 2025 so far!
Sounds like a pretty nice low key New Years except for having to work. E is not a fan of games unfortunately - she gets bored. I’m hoping O will be more keen.
The app is called Sweat- it had a monthly subscription but a lot less than a gym and more convenient at this stage of life. Haven’t tried it yet, but two friends have now recommended it, and it has all kinds of workouts for all different levels.
Minus the sunburn part, this literally looks like the PERFECT way to start a new year.
I have a 5-year journal and am starting Year 4. It's such a great exercise for me and I love being able to "look back in time" every day!
I started a 5 year journal last January. I am looking forward to seeing the 2024 entries as I fill it in 2025. I am going to need to take notes for it when I am unable to write for 2-3 weeks, though!!
Your NYE/NYD sounded awesome - especially the beach time and tacos!! My kids would also get fries at a Mexican restaurant. Ha.
We had a really quiet new years. Phil and I both worked and taco had childcare. Paul had a lot of screen times but spent over 2 hours working on a Lego set and we watched a movie together, too. Then after taco was in bed, Phil, Paul and me played ‘sleeping queens’ which is…