As this Year Closes, Another Begins.

As another year comes to a close and with the New Year upon us, I can’t help but wonder where all the time has gone. The kids are growing fast and in many ways out-pacing the best of us. Our eldest daughter, Eden, who very recently turned five years old, began a new chapter of her life. School! She has been there for three months now and has settled so nicely that during these Christmas holidays, the one thing she is looking forward to most of all is to get back to school. You gotta love this kid – how many children do you know who spend their holidays waiting for school to start. I told her she has two weeks of fun to spend at home with Mummy, Daddy and her little sister and brother. And still, every morning she wakes up and asks me if there is school today. In fact this morning she rather frustratingly declared, “Mummy, this is taking too long. My school doors have been closed forever!”

She is an amazing kid. I cannot believe she is five already and so beautiful. She has become so mature in her mannerisms and talks to me in such a serious tone that it is hard to think of her as a Reception student. Sometimes, I can imagine myself having a real grown-up conversation with this young girl.

We bought her a little Kodak Digital Camera for her birthday, and for Christmas, a number of frames to fill once she masters her budding photography skills, which are coming along so very nicely. Another treat for her on her birthday is to put up the family tree and decorate it with her sister, Lydia. Although, this year it went up a little early as the girls were just so excited about the idea of getting the Yuletide celebrations moving.

Winter Tree: Whites, golds and silvers.

Our family tree has had a bit of a journey over the years. We first bought it back in 2009 as our very first family tree, which stood in a corner adorned with a few simple baubles (most of which have actually survived). I've always been an advocate of the artificial tree; I much prefer them over real ones, no needles and to be very honest it has more to do with my own personal choice and principles. As lovely as they look, I really don't see the point in destroying trees only to watch them slowly degrade and die.

Admiration: Little man loves his face.

Now, four years on it has grown with us as a little family of five with each year something new being placed on the once sparsely decorated tree. I think it looks rather beautiful and fitting in our small home. But I can’t take all the credit; my girls did a fantastic job and were very helpful in adding the finishing touches to our rather Pagan-centric tree.

Happy Yuletide: The Storm family's tree.

2013 has been a productive year – I couldn't have achieved half of the things I have this year if it weren't for my amazing husband, Kade. A remarkable man and an astounding father, who does the hard jobs and takes on the difficult tasks ahead so I don’t have to shoulder the burden all of the time. I've gotten some well earned rest and relaxation this winter... Thank you my love and life.

May 2014 be even better as our family evolves into an even greater version of itself. I love my family and I am grateful for them every single day!

Hope you've all had a perfect Christmas and have an even greater New Year!

And for those of you still hoping for snow before the year is out...