tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13617895.post2489211207908610091..comments2024-03-29T05:19:10.632-04:00Comments on Monica Wilkinson: New Year's Eve?Monica Wilkinsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17235919587298518908noreply@blogger.comBlogger53125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13617895.post-28772222426668542592010-01-01T08:29:27.661-05:002010-01-01T08:29:27.661-05:00Set the clocks forward (to have MIDNIGHT be 30 min...Set the clocks forward (to have MIDNIGHT be 30 mins before whatever time we want the kids to go to bed.) Then begin the games. We have "snacky" foods, play games, pray, sometimes share our reflections from the previous year, our hopes for the future year. Thank Father-God for bringing us through; plead with Him to help us be more faithful in sharing Him with others. Then "count down" to the stroke of "our" midnight! Run outside banging pots & pans & yell "Blessed New Year!" Play with the kids, winding down, 30 more minutes & then to bed they go; usually - we go. I'm so blessed to have a daughter & her family (husband, 4 children) in the same town, so we can be a part of this!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13617895.post-58413135972120774222009-12-31T23:17:57.802-05:002009-12-31T23:17:57.802-05:00This is the first time in several years that we ar...This is the first time in several years that we are not doing the party with "grown ups' -- we are just staying at home with our four kids ages 12, 9, 7 and 6.<br /><br />I have bought some hats and horns for our fun tonight, and earlier I let each child request a special snack for our party tonight. Right now we have brownies, cookies, chips and rotel and a cheeseball with crackers set out on the table along with the remaining christmas candies that will be tossed into the trash in the morning!<br /><br />The boys are playing football (yes - in the house), and the girls have on old dance costumes and will be putting a dance show on around 11:00 pm. We have stacks of family board games set out that have been played with throughout the day. <br /><br />I bought a bottle of the sparkling white grape juice for a midnight "toast" where we will each share our favorite part of the last year and what we are looking forward to in the new year. We are going on a family mission trip in February - all six of us, so I think that will be a highlight we will want to reflect on next year.<br /><br />Of course, we will sing, dance and blow up the confetti tubes when the ball drops at midnight!<br /><br />God's blessings to you all in 2010!!Robinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05462175749052876557noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13617895.post-42461730635153993322009-12-31T17:27:57.476-05:002009-12-31T17:27:57.476-05:00With young children who go to bed, we are usually ...With young children who go to bed, we are usually at home, but my Love and I celebrate alone and often call siblings we know are still up to shout a quick greeting. Something I would love to do is to have a little party with close friends. Perhaps even a slumber party for the children. There are parties we could go out to, but it is very sweet to be home too...staying up so late, we can then fall right into bed.Angelanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13617895.post-712284739360896892009-12-31T16:33:16.481-05:002009-12-31T16:33:16.481-05:00I make Portsilky (PORT-sill-kyeh), just like my mo...I make Portsilky (PORT-sill-kyeh), just like my mom did. These are German-Mennonite "New Year's Cookies," which are actually deep fried raisin fritters dipped in sugar. I've always been a chocolate queen: "If it isn't chocolate, it's not worth the trouble." However, portsilky has always been an exception. I love them! Our kids love them too!<br /><br />We just try to relax together--maybe watch a movie. We aren't ones for staying up until midnight. Sometimes we will go see some fireworks or go to a fellowship at church on New Year's Eve.Dayna (Spear) Guentherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06947911927343440157noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13617895.post-28223760330629118172009-12-31T13:30:56.019-05:002009-12-31T13:30:56.019-05:00Before being married it was often over at friends ...Before being married it was often over at friends houses for a fun evening of games, food, movies sometimes a sleepover and watching the ball drop on TV...or sometimes it was going to a Prayer Vigal and praying in the New Year.<br /><br />Now, married with kids... we stay home. Which is totally fine with me. Hubby and I make up our own fun. <br /><br />ON New Year's Day, it's all about Pork and Saurkraut (you can read my post for today if you'd like) and (back in the day it included) watching Anne of Green Gables... all day long. I doubt that will happen tomorrow, though. We have other busy plans of studying and sewing in mind... great way to start the new year. Have a great one!! Be safe!!Bevy @ Treasured Up and Ponderedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15821971923515558110noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13617895.post-59664612772741585642009-12-31T11:43:00.452-05:002009-12-31T11:43:00.452-05:00We're always at home, which is where we want t...We're always at home, which is where we want to be. I make a seafood pasta earlier in the evening. Around 11 pm we make appetizers and enjoy some wine. We call several close family and friends before midnight. At midnight I get a very special phone call (as I have for the past 11 years) One of my patients calls me to wish me Happy new year. It started years ago when she was in the hospital and I was there with her. We've kept the tradition going every since!<br /><br />Kim from PhiladelphiaAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13617895.post-68705702346300017712009-12-31T11:06:50.835-05:002009-12-31T11:06:50.835-05:00our family gets together for a potluck dinner and ...our family gets together for a potluck dinner and games. We have the kids make party hats and noise makers and then at 9 we do a count down with the kids. It works out since nine is about the time most of the littles are exhausted and then they can still see the ball drop since we are in Vegas and New York is 3 hours ahead. This works for us and the kids have a blast.Blissful & Domestichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05725781323332766843noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13617895.post-89168884063218744442009-12-30T22:03:56.611-05:002009-12-30T22:03:56.611-05:00No traditional plans for NYE but NY Day we have a ...No traditional plans for NYE but NY Day we have a "family meeting" at a coffee house w/the kids...everyone is given a paper with our plans/ideas/hopes for the future and we discuss each item. We also ask for the input of our children ...anything they'd like to do/see/learn in the New Year...we then go out for lunch together.Edihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01881967873653190545noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13617895.post-3264660280732202712009-12-30T18:54:26.897-05:002009-12-30T18:54:26.897-05:00Our church always has a Watch-Night Service that s...Our church always has a Watch-Night Service that starts at 9:00 p.m. We have singing and preaching, then we stop for some food and fellowship. At about 11:30, we go back in the sanctuary and gather around for prayer. Nothing more important than ending 2009 and starting 2010 on your knees in prayer! Maybe this will be the year the Lord will return...<br /><br />God bless you and your family as we begin another year! I really enjoy reading your blog.<br /><br />stonemedic76@hotmail.comDenisehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02664934201146088204noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13617895.post-74032722731873391302009-12-30T18:21:34.863-05:002009-12-30T18:21:34.863-05:00Oh! Also, we always have the traditional Pennsylv...Oh! Also, we always have the traditional Pennsylvania New Years Day meal- pork and sauerkraut! I was an adult before I realized this was a local tradition and not for all the US. My husband is from North Carolina, so he doesn't get too excited about this meal. :) I was just at the grocery store today and there was a big endcap of cans of sauerkraut. Its New Years in Pennsylvania!Sarahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10305056781373677441noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13617895.post-54129879255595944282009-12-30T18:14:53.107-05:002009-12-30T18:14:53.107-05:00When we were little, and at an age where we could ...When we were little, and at an age where we could actually stay awake until midnight, my parents would save scrap paper, and we would spend the evening practicing our cutting skills by making confetti. Often another family would come over and we'd share snacks and some Welch's sparkling grape juice. Then, when midnight came, we'd watch the ball drop on TV and throw our confetti in the air in the living room. (This is really not as horrible to clean up as it sounds. Child-made confetti is usually in very large pieces and can be swept up with a broom or even a shop vac.) Those are fun memories and I hope to do the same with my own children one day.Sarahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10305056781373677441noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13617895.post-32264109378055504882009-12-30T18:02:42.459-05:002009-12-30T18:02:42.459-05:00wow. Alot of great ideas. When my daughter was sin...wow. Alot of great ideas. When my daughter was single still, we would usually go to friend's houses and eat and play games (Pokeno!) We would come home after the ball dropped. New Year's Day I would serve dinner on our china and we'd play our annual game of Sorry! Whoever won was the champion for that year. The names are all written on the inside cover of the box...soon we will be able to play with our grandchildren :-) My mother always had us write our thank you notes on that day for our Christmas gifts from friends and family.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13617895.post-91471927715666459652009-12-30T17:27:29.685-05:002009-12-30T17:27:29.685-05:00We cook a special meal, then all get dressed up (m...We cook a special meal, then all get dressed up (maybe in a costume, maybe just nice clothes). We then spend time praying and bringing our year to a close. We have communion as a family. We look back over the year and repent of undealt with things and then say what we want to improve on and accomplish during the next year. We then commit the new year to God and ask Him to walk with us through it, no matter what it may bring.<br />We find, in our family, that this gives us a great start and finish to each new year.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06742291266591688630noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13617895.post-45115099265537688292009-12-30T16:01:09.356-05:002009-12-30T16:01:09.356-05:00New Year's Eve we always order Chinese food an...New Year's Eve we always order Chinese food and have the last Buche de Noel of the Christmas Season (1 vanilla, one chocolate). We don't stay up late as the girls are 4.5 years and 15 months, and they get grumpy if they miss bed time and get up at 7 regardless, so regular bed times.<br /><br />New Year's Day I make waffles with strawberry syrup and whip cream for brunch, we watch the Rose Bowl Parade and the Winter Classic (NHL outdoor hockey game - we may live in California, but we are Canadian) while we take down the tree and put the Christmas decorations away.Mrs. Pearhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03086275769028312757noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13617895.post-68261011903925444652009-12-30T15:26:25.726-05:002009-12-30T15:26:25.726-05:00For children your age a Happy "Noon" Yea...For children your age a Happy "Noon" Year's Eve party is a lot of fun. My children are now older and we play family games until midnight and I always get the kiddos those pull poppers as a treet to make a little noise with.Nancy at EmbroideryIt.comhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08462544567484306363noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13617895.post-37188450109987514632009-12-30T14:06:54.460-05:002009-12-30T14:06:54.460-05:00A Hero's New Year's Celebration. The time...A Hero's New Year's Celebration. The time difference between Mountain time and Afganistan is 11.5 hours, so we can celebrate at 11:30 with lunch and a kiddo's party with patriotic red-white-and blue... my man is a chaplain in the US Army now...can you tell?!Shawnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13612992579340422368noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13617895.post-5051389979074824782009-12-30T14:02:57.223-05:002009-12-30T14:02:57.223-05:00I found this site that tells you how to say "...I found this site that tells you how to say "Happy New Year" in several different languages:<br /><br />http://www.enchantedlearning.com/calendar/newyear.shtml<br /><br />You could even pick a different one each year and make a whole theme around it!Julie Ballhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12778644419783257465noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13617895.post-28422656258196281482009-12-30T13:21:41.739-05:002009-12-30T13:21:41.739-05:00We're going to a New Years Eve party at my chu...We're going to a New Years Eve party at my church, then we'll probably come home before midnight and watch the New Years thing on TV after we put the girls (4 and 0) to bed.Davonnehttp://www.piercemyheart.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13617895.post-65844610927847722492009-12-30T13:14:11.080-05:002009-12-30T13:14:11.080-05:00We buy wall calendars for the girls and give them ...We buy wall calendars for the girls and give them as gifts on New Years eve. We will look at the year to come and write in big events, like birthdays and holidays. It helps them understand the idea of a New year.<br /><br />Our church has a huge family game night on New Years. It is more appropriate for the families with older kids, but it is a lot of fun! They set up lots of tables with a different game at each table. Everyone brings snack foods to share.Anissahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16022378701138699708noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13617895.post-10340869256578287242009-12-30T12:44:58.942-05:002009-12-30T12:44:58.942-05:00We go to the grocery store and buy something we...We go to the grocery store and buy something we've never had before, like some of the strange fruits or cheeses that they carry. I also make other fun things to nibble on. Then we have a read-a-thon until midnight (or however long we make it).Diannahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09517246579704472278noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13617895.post-67645296386867551822009-12-30T12:30:36.057-05:002009-12-30T12:30:36.057-05:00We stay up late watching movies. I buy sparkling c...We stay up late watching movies. I buy sparkling cider for the hubby and all the kids and serve it in plastic champagne glasses from the dollar store. We have noise makers and party poppers to set off at midnight. BUT.... their favorite thing of all is our balloon drop!!<br />Simply tape a lightweight disposable party tablecloth to the ceiling and fill it with balloons - we generally use the small water balloons and just blow them up - Lay a piece of yarn across the middle (top side) of the tablecloth and tape it in place at either end. When midnight strikes (or whatever other time you choose - 9pm, etc.), just pull down the yarn and release the balloons! Then all of the giggling, balloon tossing, and balloon popping begins!<br />(I actually used tacks to put the tablecloth up on our ceiling, but we have an exposed wood ceiling and the tablecloth just tore away from the tacks - I wouldn't use tacks unless you're positive that it would be safe with young children underneath)Sadiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15293339034965218112noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13617895.post-48029878261238910672009-12-30T12:24:44.198-05:002009-12-30T12:24:44.198-05:00I have a few ideas that we hope to incorporate thi...I have a few ideas that we hope to incorporate this New Year:<br />*Create a document called "Rememberance 2009" -- we write down all the things God has done for us as a family during the year 2009, big or small. This can be typed and saved in the year's photo album.<br />*Have appetizers for dinner. Fun!<br />*Tell each other our New Year's Resolutions for accountability -- things like being resolved to read the Bible in a year or memorizing a number of verses.<br />*Praying together for God to make us more like His Son in the New Year.<br />*Pick a few verses for the family to focus on during the year -- to memorize together and strive to live out together.<br />*Perhaps we will read together the prayers in The Valley of Vision called "Year's End" and "New Year."<br />*I also heard of a family who asks each other for forgiveness for sins they have committed against each other. Now that is a great way to start the year!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13617895.post-63257538827464560222009-12-30T12:22:01.688-05:002009-12-30T12:22:01.688-05:00We don't do this every year, but our favorite ...We don't do this every year, but our favorite thing to do is go stay at my husbands brothers house outside Seattle. My SIL and I stay at home with the kids, play games and snack on small food (that seems to be a pattern on here) and the guys go out street witnessing to all the people waiting for the fireworks to start at the spaceneedle. We get dollar store party kits for the kids and let them as late as they can and then we all sleep really late the next day. Happy New Year Monica, may the Lord bless your family greatly in 2010!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09303120968694382304noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13617895.post-74252856535084558362009-12-30T12:02:42.640-05:002009-12-30T12:02:42.640-05:00For several years now we've celebrated with a ...For several years now we've celebrated with a family fun night. We ALWAYS have cheeseburgers and shakes, watch a movie & play games. Sometimes we are up til midnight and other times my family is all tucked in by 11:00. I'm the night owl so I'm up to see in the new year. <br />This year my kids are almost 13 & 10. I'd like to incorporate planning a couple of family resolutions and sharing some favorite memories from 2009. I like the idea of letting the kids decorate for the night...might try that. We always spend New Year's Day taking down the Christmas decor and putting up the winter stuff. Then we do a family activity like snow-shoeing or sledding.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06140847069157035750noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13617895.post-85088072477777949532009-12-30T11:47:38.172-05:002009-12-30T11:47:38.172-05:00We do the same that my family did when I was growi...We do the same that my family did when I was growing up. We have snacks for dinner (cocktail franks, veggie tray, olive tray, chips, pizza rolls, etc) and everyone who can or wants to watches the ball drop at midnight.<br /><br />This year, we'll be having my two young nieces (4 and 2) sleeping over, so I'm not quite sure how that will change things. My sister usually puts them to bed at 7:00, so she thinks they will probably fall asleep by 8:00... which might make the morning difficult, since they'll probably be awake at their normal time! We'll just play it by ear, though... I am sure that I can handle one night's worth of sleep deprivation, LOL.<br /><br />Happy New Year!Michellehttp://www.homeschoolblogger.com/jandrlearnathomenoreply@blogger.com