My Favorite New Year's Eve

I've spent many New Year's Eve celebrations at adult-only events. Live bands, special drink packages, dancing for hours, parties with friends. Those were all fun times and a right of passage in many ways, but my favorite New Year's Eve memories are those spent at home with my kids.

Put this in the category of you don't know it's the last time until it's past the last time. Your kids are only little for such a brief window of time. If you have a larger family, like we do, the years are very short, and the schedule gets hectic. Once the youngest is old enough to participate in the festivities, the oldest will start to make plans of their own. You'll begin celebrating several times throughout the night to fit in a toast before everyone goes their separate ways.

So, if you still have little ones who get a thrill out of staying up late...what's one late night? Drink sparkling apple juice from the fancy glasses. Get silly hats and noise makers. Sleeping bags in front of the TV...why not? Play games, dance, and scream the countdown with all the excitement you can muster. The days are long, but the years are short. Happy New Year!