New Years Eve 2015

It's time to share some New Year's Eve countdown activities.  Unlike last year's countdown we had a small, family countdown.

I set the clock back 2 hours (I started this tradition in 2013) to trick the kids into thinking they are staying up until midnight when it's only 10:00.  They have no idea I do this and I'm going to milk it as long as I can.

DECORATE A TREE

Princess started us off by opening up the 6:00 bag.  Inside was a sticky note that read "decorate the tree."  I had taken all of the Christmas ornaments off a few days earlier, but was too lazy to take down the tree.  My kids all love to decorate, so I knew this would be a hit.

Putting up a gold bead garland.  (P.S. buying Christmas decorations before New Years is a steal!)

Can I do this one?

Bud loved these ornaments.  They were blue and shaped like a ball.  Ornament heaven for a little boy.

Here is the completed tree.  They could only reach the bottom 2/3 of the tree  It was quite a talking point when guests came to visit.

CREATE A NOISEMAKER 

My kids love making lots of noise on New Year's Eve (I'm sure the neighbors love it too).  I decided to let them make their own noise makers.

We filled either paper cups or plates with a few corn kernels and taped them shut.  If you do paper plates you can also staple them closed.

Naturally, when they're done, you have to let the kids run wild around the house making as much noise as they can.  You won't see bigger smiles anywhere!

MAKE A SPECIAL DINNER

The next activity was to have a special dinner.  We have had Fire-y French Toast and Lucky Coin Pitas in the past years.  This time I decided to make crepes. I could have put a lucky coin in the crepes, but I forgot.

All ready to dig in.

I stuffed and topped them with whatever the kids wanted.  They were so excited to try their creations.

I love crepes!  Mine was filled with cherries and drizzled with caramel.  Mm!

If you have little ones, just mental prepare yourself for the sticky fingers that follow.

PLAY A GAME

On New Years we always pull out a game of some sort.  For Christmas we were given the game Fibber and decided to try it.  Look at those ridiculous glasses!  We laughed and laughed!

SNAP YOUR LAST PICTURES OF THE YEAR

Whose kids don't love taking pictures with mom/dad's phone?  I pulled out the 'ol cell phone and we snapped picture after picture.  I love those faces!  Too bad dad was busy working and couldn't join in the fun.  Maybe next year.

MAKE A TOAST

Making a New Year's toast is a tradition that I have done for many years now.  Sometimes I line the rim of the cup with chocolate and dip it in sprinkles.

This year I let the kids have Sparkling Cider.  They were very excited to try it.

My kids love shouting "DING!" as loud as they can.

BANG POTS AND PANS/MAKE NOISE

Finally, the moment of truth arrived.  As is tradition in my family since I was a little girl, we went to the front of the house and banged on pots and pans as loudly as we could shouting, "HAPPY NEW YEAR!"

My two little munchkins wanted to use noisemakers rather than pots and pans.  Whatever works right?

We gathered at the table after the kids were done making noise for a New Year's "kiss."  Yum!  Hershey's kisses!

New Year's Eve has quickly become one of my kids' favorite holidays.

What do you do on New Year's Eve?

You Might Also Like:

Glow-in-the-Dark Ring Toss

Time Square Sparkle Ball

Balloon Countdown