- LET'S CELEBRATE!
CHEERS to 2021!
Finally! 2021 couldn’t get here fast enough. Not that anything has changed, but it’s another reason to celebrate, and one of my resolutions for 2021 is to continue being intentional and finding ways to celebrate big and small moments as a family, and to keep this tradition alive even when life shifts into a “new normal” (whenever that might be).
So how did we kick off 2021? We definitely didn’t wait until midnight. We kicked off our little shindig at 12 noon.
A Treat -
Post lunch dessert included cupcakes – SURPRISE! (vanilla cupcakes with vanilla frosting (yup, I cheated! I totally used cake mix and store-bought frosting!). When you bite into them, sprinkles galore pour out (this handy gadget helps!). Fun to see the kids get excited (and lick their plates clean, ha!)
A Craft -
We made our own fireworks craft.
All you need is a splash of liquid watercolor paint, a few pipettes, and paper towels (Viva Signature Cloth are my go-to in the kitchen, and are bright white and thick, perfect for such craft projects). Just squeeze, and release – perfect for little busy fingers.
A Cultural Exchange -
We’ve been lucky to host a super sweet Colombian Au Pair this year that has made a real effort to introduce us to some Colombian traditions (one of my favorite aspects of the Au Pair program is the cultural exchange). Next time we host a Colombian Au Pair we will know to surprise her with these traditions! (feel free to steal these ideas!)
We kicked off our morning running outside and around the house with an empty suitcase in our hand (they normally would run down the street). Hopefully, this will lead to some fun adventures and travel this coming year (AMEN!).
Then, lunch included 12 grapes. “The twelve grapes of luck” is a Spanish tradition that consists of eating a grape with each clock bell striking at midnight of December 31 to welcome the New Year. … According to the tradition, eating the twelve grapes leads to a year of good luck and prosperity. (we could all use some of that!)
Finally, we surprised everyone with a fresh pair of yellow underwear. This led to lots of giggles and is also a symbol of prosperity.
A MEANINGFUL RESOLUTION -
We love reading. And we love books with mindful, kind messages. Squirrel’s New Year’s Resolution is exactly that. Starting the year by discussing kindness, what it means to be a good friend, and what can we do this year to support our friends felt especially meaningful since we’ve been missing our friends so so much.
AND A FUN NEW TRADITION -
Finally, I came across this awesome calendar that is now hanging on our fridge. The kids LOVE checking it every morning (a great way to practice days of the week and dates of the month!) and planning for the week ahead. We won’t celebrate every day, but we’re excited about some really fun highlights.
So cheers to 2021! Here’s wishing us all big and small moments of joy, lots of health, happiness, and togetherness.
’till next time – big virtual hugs!
s.
