Happy New Year!

I’m not big on new year celebrations. I can’t remember the last time we went out to celebrate and we much prefer to do something low key – and at home – to mark the start of a shiny new year.

But, I do love the freshness of January. A whole new year spreading out before you to do with as you please. It’s full of hope, dreams and ambition – the year can be whatever you want it to be. So what will 2017 be for us?

2017 will be a year that our house, finally, gets made bigger – when our extension gets finished. It will give us so much more space and a new way of life. I’ll have a utility room to hide all the rubbish and the downstairs toilet I had always dreamed of. I know, my dreams aren’t that exciting are they?!

It will be the year that Little Man starts school, the year when LP moves up to Year 2 and the year when we start being child free from 9am to 3pm each day. 2017 will be the year we really start to live for the weekends and school holidays.

We have no big plans for 2017 but we want to settle into our new life – one of me working from home and being there when the children come home each day. I want to work when the children are at school and be more present when they’re home – doing crafts, baking and building Lego.

We’d like another holiday abroad this year, maybe back to Mark Warner or somewhere different – but definitely not with Thomas Cook after last year’s issues. We’d just like two weeks in the sun, somewhere with a pool, close to the beach and where we’re able to just switch off and have quality time together.

2017 will see Dave and I getting back to the gym. We’ll both be aiming to get fitter, and healthier. But, apart from that, there won’t be any big resolutions this year. Instead, 2017 will be full of lots of little adventures. Days out, weekends away and trips to new National Trust places.

I am really just excited for a year of being at home with the children. A year of watching them grow, seeing the world through their eyes and making memories together. 2017 is going to be another great year.

Whatever your plans for this year, wherever 2017 takes you – I hope it brings you everything you hope for.

Happy New Year everyone!