I don’t get very reflective at the turn of the new year. 2014 was kind to us. I’m not one to set a whole host of resolutions or even write them down. I always have a few things in my head that I’m gently working on and the new year doesn’t make too much of a difference. I’m sure it would be far more effective to write a few things down, but the thought of doing just that, scares me and feels overly formal, so I’m going to try my best to avoid it.
Our last day of 2014 was spent on a steam train at the North York Moors Railway – a regular for all the grandchildren on my side between Christmas and New Year. There’s something truly magical about steam trains and they enjoyed banana sandwiches, carrots, mangetout, apples, satsumas and crisps, courtesy of Grandma. Unfortunately my Dad was ill and couldn’t make it.
I’m really looking forward to what 2015 will bring, but wanted to write a little summary of 2014 – so here goes…
We started off the year welcoming little Rufus into the world. The days prior to his (very tardy) arrival on the 12th were spent attempting to treat every day as my last with Winston. Then at the end of January we celebrated our five year wedding anniversary.
We (almost) finished renovating our house and if that wasn’t enough; we decided to crack on with the garden too. We bought a trailer, so me and the boys managed to do lots of summer cycling, I turned 27 (!), we holidayed with my family in Cornwall. My sister got married, Jared’s brother got married and my sister in law had a stillbirth at full term. Winston produced his first piece of artwork, I started reading again (thank goodness) and I attended my first blogging conference in London. The boys started sharing a room and we had our first holiday together in Berlin. Rufus didn’t sleep through for more than four nights – not that I’m bitter (or counting) and he had a few ear infections. I loved attending a spoon carving workshop, eating pizza in the park, growing our own pizza, going to the mud kitchen, pond dipping, Billy Bob’s Ice Cream Parlour, Farmer Copley’s and Stockeld Park.
I feel like my blog has come together this year and I am still very much enjoying it. I’m comfortable with how it looks, how often I post and this post has made me realise how fantastic it is for Jared and I to look back on. If you’re new (or old) to my blog, I’ve put together a little summary of my year in blogging below.
My most popular posts from this year were:
– You know you have ten siblings when…
– ‘Do Good This Advent’ and a simple analogy
Other very popular posts were:
– Food for an 18th birthday party – which I found a bit bizarre?
My favourite posts to look back on:
– Language
Posts you may find useful:
– How to use Aromatherapy in the Home
Some of the things we’ve made this year:
As I look at the year ahead there are already a few exciting bits and pieces heading our way…
Winston will be starting nursery in September, so that is going to be a big change for all of us. Rufus will become a walking, talking toddler and sleeping through, pretty please? Jared is going skiing in March, so I’ll have my first full week solo parenting, a weekend in London with my besties, a weekend with my sisters at The Bivouac and then in May the four of us will be flying to China to visit Jared’s brother and his family. I will still be buying clothes from eBay and arriving just a tad late to (absolutely) everything! Blogging, trying to be more patient, massaging (did I mention I’ve started massaging again?), making things, trying to curb my chocolate addiction, eating well, lots of exercise and my sister tells me a triathlon is on the agenda, so I’ll see how I get on with that.
Happy New Year! and for whatever reason you come here to read my little corner of the internet – thank you, thank you, thank you!
E xx
Wow that sounds like a lovely year you’ve had! What beautiful photos too x
Oh! Thank you, and thank you for taking the time to comment. I’m really trying to work on getting better photos…I just find it all so technical! Happy New Year to you! x