What are your New Year’s traditions?

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The changing of the year is an exciting time. No matter what else is going on, I always feel electrified around New Year’s. Sort of like that “invincible” feeling one gets as a teenager when they realize all of the opportunities awaiting them ahead. When one understands that they are no longer looked upon as a child but as a productive member of society. An adult.

It makes me almost giddy. I get that feeling in the pit of my stomach like the one that happens when I’m swinging high on the swings, legs pumping hard and hair flying in the breeze. The feeling that makes me want to laugh.

On New Year’s eve, we always aspire to go somewhere like the Space Needle and join the festivities with our fellow Seattlites. But we never do. It’s the traffic and the crowds that make us stay away. Well, that and the children. Trying to keep of track 4 kids in that chaos is not a challenge I’m willing to accept.

Instead, we sit home with a couple bottles of Sparkling Apple Cider (and sometimes some wine for the adults). We watch the various happenings going on around the country on TV, like New York’s dropping of the ball in Time’s Square, as well as the fireworks the neighbors are no doubt lighting off outside.

We let the kids stay up until midnight — if they can! Most of the time, at least one of them falls asleep early and usually another will drop off moments before the big event.

It’s not anything too exciting – not some grand party – but it suits our family just fine. We enjoy each other’s company, blow party poppers and drink cider.

And I don’t think we’ll change it for anything.

The special, simple moments we share with the kids are the best moments of life.

What are your family traditions?

In the arena,

Have a happy and safe New Year!

Annie Anderson is a freelance copywriter and graphic designer specializing in the small business and real estate markets. Her tagline “Making your business, my business” means that she’ll take the utmost care when creating words and images for your business – just as if it were her own.