It started out as a typical Saturday. Josie and Owen woke up early. They sat in our bed and watched a cartoon while my husband I tried to enjoy a few more moments of peace and quiet.

Then, like short order cooks, we served cereal, waffles and eggs, two different kinds of juice and one chocolate milk. My husband did the dishes. I sat on the floor and built a Lego castle with one hand and played princess bingo with the other.

One hour and 5 boardgames later, my kids and I sat on the couch and read our entire library of Dr. Seuss books.

"By the way," my husband said as he walked through the living room to take out the trash. "Happy New Year's Eve."

"No way. It's today!" I exclaimed still stuck in the rhythm of Cat in the Hat. While it had been a few years since we'd celebrated Dec. 31st in style, this was the first year that I had completely forgotten about it.

"What's New Year's Eve?" Josie asked.

"Do we get presents?" Owen asked.

"It's just another day, I guess," I said. "Without presents."

I never thought I would so quickly arrive at the time in my life when New Year's Eve was just another day. I used spend weeks figuring out the best way to celebrate the end of one year and beginning of a new one.

But the truth is, it really is just another day. Considering how rare it is that my husband and I get a night out, it made sense we wouldn't think to make plans on a night when babysitters and reservations are hard to come by.

We decided to take our children into downtown after dinner and get an ice cream treat. Walking up and down Castro, it seemed like business as usual. The restaurants may have been a little busier, the people may have been a little more dressed up, but, in general, it felt like just another night in downtown Mountain View. We certainly picked the right town I thought as my family and I ate ice cream and enjoyed the first New Year's Eve that I almost forgot.