Yes, New Years Eve has changed its face a bit over the last few years.

But yes, I love it just the same.

It seems that even minus a cocktail overload, the wonderment (or plotting…) of who I may kiss when the clock strikes twelve and a dazzling outfit, the new year can be rung in quite merrily and sufficiently.

A bonfire with a home-made lantern to light our meal (by little crafter in the making), an early evening (making for a joyous early morning rather than a dreaded one), a plunge in some warmer waters (you southerners really thought that was cold?!  It was luke warm at best.  I tell you…), and the company of my lovely boys and some beautiful friends, I couldn’t ask for anything more.

(for the lantern its just tissue paper, elmers, and a mason jar… and lots of patience- that is a sticky combo)

My resolutions this spin around are not quite so exciting.  I want to meditate nightly, I want to donate my hair, and of course, I want to move to that little rocky shoreline up north where we belong.  But that is not exactly a resolution now is it.

But most of all, I just want to cherish these little boys, because damn it, turns out everyone is right.  They do grow up right before your eyes.

Those nights of no sleep are short-lived.  The arguments about whose truck is whose will probably be a conversation I will forget (which quite frankly seems unbelievable since the majority of the talking I do is about just that… but none the less…).  And one day, a cuddle and a hug and a kiss and a “mama, I love you.” for no reason at all, will be something I am sure I will miss with an ache in my heart.

Oh, for that, I will add-  Mama- I love you!  There.  If I haven’t said it enough.

Love love love to you and yours in the new year