Soooooo, Happy New Year. And I failed on the first week of the year to complete my end of the year and week 1, how bad is that? It was such a busy time and I just didn’t get around to it. You know how it is. We had a lovely time off and getting back to reality, well, let’s just say I’m struggling a bit. How about you? Did you have a lovely Christmas and new year? What did you get up to? I wish you all the health, happiness and sparkles for 2020.
When I last left you on our weekly post it was the Christmas week and we’d just celebrated Lucas 13th birthday. It’s been a busy two week, brace yourselves. The Saturday after Christmas the kids had some Christmas money burning a hole in their pocket so we did some shopping, got a takeaway for dinner and had some downtime in the evening. It’s difficult to even know what day it is.
Lucas had a few issues with some of his wee fish he got for his birthday, but they seem to be thriving well and his loving having them. I spent some time putting away the Christmas decor on Sunday, which is always a shame as everything looks so bare, but I find it nice to give everywhere a good clean and get things back to normal in terms of space. It has been nice after having the big clearout before Christmas to have less clutter. Aria and I also made the delicious-looking gingerbread house. It was a wee kit from Lidl in the sale, so we’d not had a chance to do it before Christmas, we did it today. Aria loved icing the house and the boys said it tasted delicious.
Monday we did some more shopping, we went into the shops in Glasgow and looked out for some birthday shopping for Tyler and Aria. Robert got some new jeans for his birthday and yes, it is birthday central in January in our house. I started a jigsaw that my Mum bought for Aria and I. It was 1,000 pieces and I thought I’d have it done in no time. Hmmm, you followed me on insta stories, you will know it didn’t go so well and the cat wrecked it a few times resulting in me losing a few bits. Thankfully, we found them again. The boys also bought a mini fridge for their loft, den, so that was the highlight of the day. And here we are on the last day of the year. It has been a quick year and it has been one filled with ups and a lot of downs, but we have each other and that helps us get through those lows.
Today is Hogmanay. It is a Scottish tradition of first footing where you need someone talk and dark, carrying a piece of coal and a bottle of whisky to bring good luck and prosperity to the house for the coming year. A tradition we adhere to. I did some more jigsaw, still nowhere near finished. We got our fancy new outfits on, as you can see from the photo of Aria and Tyler above, they are from Nutmeg and you can see mine with my new fluffy jumper and shaping jeans. They are my new favourites. It is also Robert’s brother in laws birthday, so we go down to Robert’s sisters to celebrate his birthday with a delicious family meal, yummy birthday cake and bring in the bells surrounded by the family. It is a lovely way to bring in the new year. Then time to take 3 tired children home to bed and hopefully a bit of a long lie. Well, until 9ish.
A new year and a new decade, wow, it’s been a great decade watching the kids grow and one being born. Also, I started my blog 10 years ago this month, so that has made for an interesting journey. Happy New Year to you all. Today, we were tired, just chilling and watching some of the tv shows we didn’t get caught up with at Christmas, like Gavin and Stacey. That ending though!! I took my first sunset of the year in the photo above.
Thursday we spent the day playing our new family favourite game of Exploding Kittens. Have you played it? If you haven’t, do check it out, it’s great fun and perfect for a variety of ages. Young kids might need a little help, but once they have the hang of it, it’s fun and laughter all round. Unless you have a competitive husband. Lucas made a very sweet and thoughtful gift of a photo collage for his dad for his birthday the next day. He worked hard on it and enlisted my help for a few bits.
Friday and it is Robert’s birthday. Did you like his gluten-free chocolate cake above? No, I didn’t make it this year. Here is also a photo of Aria giving him the cake. Everyone came over in the evening for a birthday dinner and cake, it was the last celebration until the end of the month.
Saturday was a tiring one where we all slept late with being up quite last the night before. Aria had wanted to go swimming on Thursday, but the pool was shut so we all went and did some swimming. She did really well and loved being able to swim around herself. We were all very proud. We played lots of games of Exploding kittens and the kids and I cleared out their clothes. Three full bin bags later for the charity and recycling and we were done.
The last day of the holidays was a sad one. I was not looking forward to going back to work and back to school. It has been nice living in my own wee bubble for the last 3 weeks. The festivities and I have caught up with some much-needed chores. We spent the day colouring, doing the jigsaw, which still isn’t finished and I got some editing done on my book. I’d hoped to get more of that done, but I’d just not had the time. Aria and I stayed in, in the evening instead of starting back gymnastics. She was tired and thought it best to have an early night. Tyler and Robert went to Rangers training which had started back. I also felt quite bad about my skin, it seems my kidneys are playing up a bit and my skin is a mess just now. Not fun, but I got a few things to help calm it down.
And here we are back at work and school. What a sore and tiring morning. None of us were ready to go back, well, that’s not entirely true. The kids were looking forward to it, me not so much. But, here I am back at work. It was a long day and I used the picture Tyler took of Aria above to cheer up my Monday evening. I love that photo. Isn’t it cute? I made a start on some more editing. I need to get this book whipped into shape this month if I can.
Tuesday, I worked a half-day at work and went to a funeral in the afternoon. It was sad, but an amazing send off for a wonderful man, who lit up any room with his warm smile and infectious laugh. He will be sorely missed and will always hold a special place in my heart. My thoughts are always with his family who miss him dearly.
Wednesday saw Tyler come first in his cross country run in the school for which he was chuffed. He is very competitive that boy and so sporty. Football is back and albeit the weather is rubbish, they have been good. I have been keeping quiet on social media, I have really been struggling to get back into life after being off and trying to organise the other to kids birthdays. How have you got on being back to work, school, etc?
I got my book pre-order of A Throne of Swans by two of my favourite authors on Thursday, I can’t wait to read it. Isn’t it a pretty cover? A transformational fairytale inspired by swan lake. I can’t wait to delve into this fantasy world. I am planning on upping my reading this year, I have already finished a book this year which is pretty good going for me, but staying up to 4 am reading the night before I started back work, probably wasn’t my best idea. I got a fair amount of editing done in the evening as well as reading to Aria while the boys were all out at football.
On now I’ve reached Friday again. Wasn’t the sky pretty this morning? The pink-purple sky above was the amazing sight when I work up and looked out the window. I loved it. A shorter day at work so I can do the school run for the first time this year and have some extra time with the kids. I really should get the jigsaw done and share a picture too, shouldn’t I?
I think I have rambled on enough this year so far. Happy New Year to you all and I would love to hear how your 2020 is going so far?
Happy New Year! I am with you I really don’t like going back to work after Christmas and it seemed to go so quickly this year even though we didnt do much. Robert’s Christmas Cake looks good my husband also has a birthday in Jan and its a big one this year. I am not sure what we going to do yet! He doesn’t want a party!
Happy New Year to you too. It is so difficult to get back into it. I hope your husband has a lovely birthday xxx
Happy new year! Your photos really make me smile this week! The kids look lovely in their smart outfits and I love the photo of Aria giving the cake to her dad. Well done to Tyler on his cross country win! Our football team hasn’t played for weeks. The pitches are just all waterlogged. I seriously wonder how they are going to fit in all of the games before the end of the season now. x
Aww thank you. Happy new Year to you too. He was very chuffed. The weather has been so wet hasn’t it? I know we are the same. xx
Both the cake and the gingerbread house look amazing. I hope you get time to relax a little more soon. x
Aww thank you. Once January is out of the way I am sure I will xx
Happy New Year! I hope your kidneys settle down soon. It’s been tough getting back into routines after Christmas and New Year hasn’t it? You have captured some wonderful skies this week.
Thank you lovely. Happy New Year to you. It is hard to get back into a routine. I do love a pretty sky x
Some lovely photos! Happy 10th blog birthday to you x
Thank you x
Gorgeous photos! It sounds like you’ve been having a busy time.
We are still not back into a routine after Christmas because of a teachers training day last week. I hope you feel better soon! x
Thank you. It is hard to get back into a routine I think xx
Happy New Year and happy “Blogiversary” month!
Happy New Year lovely xx
Happy birthday, cannot believe he is a fully fledged teen now. A Throne of Swans sounds like a great book
I know, it’s gone so fast. Yes, I can’t wait to read it xx
Happy New Year! That first week back is so hard isn’t it? I am still exhausted from Christmas! 😀 I love the gingerbread house, so pretty!
Thank you very much. Happy New Year xx
Love the photos of the kids – they look so big and grown up now ! You’ve also just reminded we still have a gingerbread house to put together and decorate too – oops !
I know, they have over the last few years. Do it now, we had lots of fun xx
Happy New Year! We always struggle to get back into the routine of things when we head back to school too! #OrdinaryMoments
Thank you. It takes a while to get back into the swing of things doesn’t it? x
Ooh lovely new outfits. I never find anything in Nutmeg for N. Sounds like it was a busy time. Well done to Tyler for his running win.
Thank you. We get a few pairs of jeans and joggies are nice. Thank you xx
Happy new year. Glad you all had a lovely Christmas. 😊 hope your first week back at work went well. X
Happy New Year lovely xx
Love that Gingerbread house, I’ll have to do one next year. The sky photos are stunning, if you had to describe the colours to someone who only thought the sky was blue, they’d never believe you. Happy birthdfay to your husband and happy blogversary also
We got this one half price at lidl. Thank you, I do love the skies xx
Happy Blogiversary. How exciting. Lovely photos. Everyone looks festive and fun.
I too enjoyed having Christmas off with the kiddies.
Thank you for linking up to #SilentSunday x
Thank you. Happy New Year x
Happy new year! Aria striking a pose made me smile. What a great job you did with a gingerbread house, and that chocolate cake looks lush. Happy belated birthday to Robert.
Your new jumper suits you. A throne of swans looks interesting, I will add it to my wish list on amazon and keep an eye on the price.
Aww thank you. She does love a pose. Happy new year to you. I am looking forward to reading this book xx
You’ve been so busy! Don’t beat yourself up about missing a week every so often, no-one will hold it against you! x
Aww thank you lovely xx
happy new year and happy blog anniversary X #mysundayphoto
Thank you and to you xx
That last picture of Aria is stunning, but then she is one very beautiful little girl.
She did a great job on the house.
Glad you enjoyed some down time. a 1000 piece jigsaw can take longer than you think. Not touched mine in weeks, needs to go back in the box and I will get another out.
10 years of blogging is amazing to look back on. Happy bloggiversary
Aww thank you. It was Tyler that took it. She had a lot of fun making it. Oh yes, I certainly bit off more than I can chew with the jigsaw. Thank you and Happy New Year xx
Oh the gingerbread house looks amazing!
Love the sunset pictures….
I was a bit sad at the end of the holidays but at the same time was glad to get back into a bit of routine.
It is sad when they are over, but good to get back into it as you said xx
Those skies! I soulnd like a broken record don’t I! Love the gingerbread house, she’s clearly got more patience than I have for them #366
Aww thank you. I do love a pretty sky. She really enjoyed making it xx
Happy New Year, hope your kidney issues settle, not fun at all. The gingerbread house looks fab. We have also had some amazing skies this last week or two in between storms
#project365
Thank you. The house was fun and I do love the skies xx
Happy New Year to you my lovely – so nice to see you linking back up with #MySundaySnapshot. I love your pictures, especially the beautiful sunsets – wow!
I totally understand how hard it has been getting back into the swing of things – it sure has been busy!
Belated happy new year. I love pretty skies xx
The gingerbread house looks great! Sounds like a really busy two weeks to me. I love your sky photos. Happy New Year to you and your family, I’m looking forward to getting to know you over the next year! (Yes I’m a week behind on comments, opps!)
Thakn you. It was fun making it. I do love seeing a pretty sky xx
Amazing pictures!! Look at the sky, gingerbread house and you and your family! Happy birthday to Lucas,(I hope he’s enjoying the fish) and Robert (who looks so excited looking at his chocolate cake).
That is a pretty cover. Happy new year!
Aww thank you. The house was fun to make. Thank you for the birthday wishes and belated happy new year x