Musings along the Way
Dec. 29, 2005
Heads up for New Year's Fun!

Posted in Holiday Happenins

Everyone always tells me my NYE "party" (our family only) sounds like a blast and they wish they had heard the ideas sooner.  So here is our traditional NYE plan!

 

It starts with hats, masks & streamers, of course.  Every holiday/celebration here is heavily decorated! LOL

 

There is a basket of 6 colored bags with clock faces on them, one for each hour from 5pm - 10pm (also, not-so-coincidentally, one for each dc in their fav color!).  Each one contains clues or supplies for what we'll be doing that hour.  The youngest opens the first bag...

 

5pm - Make your own pizzas!!  NYE is the ONLY time all the dc participate in pizza making.

 

6pm - Something quiet, like bubbles (usually a no-no indoors) or glow sticks, so no "excitement" since they are digesting! LOL

 

7pm - Scripture cake!  A few days before NYE, I spend some time praying over which verses to include.  These get written on small pieces of cardstock, wrapped in foil & hole punched at one end.  Tie a curling ribbon through the hole and insert card into the cake with the ribbon sticking out.  We take turns picking a card, which becomes "our" verse for the coming year.  I've saved these and it's really a blast looking back to see how apt they were!!

8pm - Limbo & dancin' to the oldies!  This year, we'll include Twister as well since we got it for Christmas.

 

9pm - Celebratory Drinks (some type of float or freeze, OR a hot drink depending on the weather) & BALLOON BAG!  The highlight of the night, eagerly anticipated throughout the YEAR.  I stitch 2 paper tablecloths together with yarn, leaving a long "tail" (holes were punched along the long lengths of the tablecloths).  Three sides of this are taped to the ceiling, leaving one small end open and room to stuff!  Add 75+ blown up balloons into the "bag"  Some years, we've also gently thrown in some confetti or even SMALL treat bags.

 

At the stroke of "midnight" - which here is just late enough so the dc feel special, but early enough that they are all still awake and not too grumpy - we pull the string like a rip-cord and all the stuff falls out!  They love then chasing the balloons around with forks or sitting on them to pop them.  NOTE - YES, I know that balloons are a choking hazard, and YES we are VERY careful to clean/vac immediately after!

 

The fun drinks are toasted & shared, the littles start to "drop" off - and then we take pictures where they "fell" with placards stating the time they fizzed! LOL

 

10pm - anyone still awake will engage in another quiet activity - bubbles, glow sticks, board games, photo albums... whatever we picked for this year

 

IF anyone is still awake at midnight, we watch the local fireworks from our LR window.  Usually there are 0-3 takers, no more.

 

Most of these things, NYE is the only time we do them.  That keeps them special.  It is the only time I make Chex Mix, we have loads of munchies and have to take the traditional, official pic of our 110 lb blag lab wearing a party hat!!

 

I'll post pics tomorrow if anyone is interested.

 

Most of the ideas are NOT original (FamilyFun.com is my favorite holiday site for fun ideas), but we've adapted them and made them our own.

 

Peace to you,

 

Katie

 

 


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Comments

Dec. 29, 2005 - Untitled Comment

Posted by blessedwifeandmommy


see? more GREAT ideas!!! I might have to start "borrowing" some of these, the kids would LOVE this!!!

In Him, Heather


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Dec. 29, 2005 - Untitled Comment

Posted by Janne


Sounds like a great time! Can we come?


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Dec. 29, 2005 - Untitled Comment

Posted by COMamabear


Sure, Janne! Pack 'em all up! It should take you, what - about 40hrs??


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Dec. 31, 2005 - Okay ...

Posted by MuckFootMom


I've got the table cloths taped to the ceiling - I did it a little different, we'll see how it works. It's stuffed with ~90 small balloons and some big homemade confetti. We'll "do midnight" at 9 pm with the littles, then put 4 and under to bed. Then play a game. 6 yo to bed at 10. Then snacks and games for now-9 and 10yo until midnight. Whoo hoo!!!! :) Thanks for the ideas!!!


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Dec. 31, 2005 - Untitled Comment

Posted by COMamabear


MuckFoot!!! I'm impressed!! We did it a bit differently this year, too. No "sewing", just tape with a long paking tape "rip cord". Hope it works - yours too!


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Dec. 31, 2005 - Untitled Comment

Posted by rerlpr


Sounds like a blast! I bet your dc will have loads of memories!
Leslie


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Jan. 2, 2006 - Untitled Comment

Posted by teena6


did not see this till today. :( what great ideas. I am going to adopt some of these for next year. TELL us about your other holidays/special days? LIKE what is coming up.... valentines, Easter..... LOL

wow, thanks for sharing~ love the bag ideas. We did advent something like this and a little bag each day with a treat and they really loved it....
thanks again for sharing~
Teena


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