The Lily Pad

For the last several years, my parents have hosted a bunko party on New Year's Eve, which is a fun, and often rambunctious, way to countdown to the new year with a few friends. It works great for us, because our young daughter can just go to bed while mommy and daddy have fun with family and friends just down the hall. Going out on the town can be hard for those with young kids, and often no one to babysit. Plus, it's always nice to not have to drive home on one of the most dangerous nights of the year to be on the road.

Staying home can be just as fun as a night out though, especially when the whole family is celebrating together! Here are some ideas for ringing in 2009 with the family.

*Have a special dinner of appetizers/hor d'oeurves- which basically can consist of anything you normally feed the kids, simply chopped or sliced and skewered with a toothpick, complete with bubbly sparkling apple cider!

*Have a movie marathon, with lots of popcorn, of course, and then watch the ball drop in New York on TV.

*Get the whole family involved in a “living roo m campout”- with a real tent, or an elaborate fort that you all sleep under.