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Do any of you have any good ideas for new years eve? We have a 6yr old, 4yr old and 2yr old. Too expensive for babysitter, house too messy for party, they no longer settle early enough for nice meal for two (and both still knackered from being ill)) . I am wanting some ideas for some little family traditions we can start, which don't cost too much, and don't involve me booking pantos 6 months ago! What do you do. (2yr old prob asleep by 8ish, girls might make it to 10, I might get to 11 if I am lucky!)

Pretend midnight feast? Carpet picnic and pretend its midnight and count down to "midnight" with party poppers.

How about starting a New Years Day tradition instead. If you're all tired at 10pm on NYE go to bed but then all get up and about early on New Years Day and do something you'll remember.
E.g. Nice walk
Nearest outdoor ice rink
Breakfast car picnic somewhere pretty where you all share your wishes for 2012.

Like your ideas Eight

i usually go out but no babysitter this year and im bored of NYE too expensive etc so this is what me and the DC are doing this year.

having a party,with partyfood just the 3 of us and watching whatever they want to but switching to the fireworks on bbc/itv at midnight and then
on NYD we are going out for a carvery to a lovely local pub.

HTH

Thanks for all the ideas, have decided to do a time shift party, so are going to have indian food at 6pm, when is midnight there, and then probably watch a film, maybe some party games, and if they are awake at 10pm have got in some greek snacks for their midnight, with party poppers and sheets for togas! Determined to do more than just be woken by dh at 11:55 to watch jools holland pretend it is midnight recorded yesterday in some studio somewhere. Will try to get fireworks on the 24 hour news each hour too. Like idea of sharing wishes, might write them down + put in christmas box to look at next year.

I love the time shift idea! We have some littlies staying and our three and theirs would have great fun with that idea! Have a great new years eve and a happy 2012

I'm the Nanna,so my NYE days are well and truly over! I have offered my babysitting services to DS and DD...but finances mean nobody is going out.

Oh well.....

We have a traditional Family 10 Pin Bowling Contest on New Years Eve.
Then a buffet meal at home late evening.

Fireworks and those sky balloon things (there were literally hundreds of the things floating about last year).
DC old enough to wait up for the bells (12 and 9.6)

New Years Day: take down the decorations, nice meal in the evening.

Just in case anyone planning a time shift party, thinking we might do an american breakfast with bagels, waffles and pancakes. Hopefully on west coast rather than east coast time!

Ooh-good idea. What time is midnight there? That's our usual weekend breakfast so would be really good to combine with new year.

Time shift party is a brilliant idea.

does this world clock help?

sorry that link is a bit misleading. It shows the time elsewhere when its NYE here.

Sat 11am - NZ

Sat 6.30pm - Delhi
Sat 8pm - Moscow
Sat 10pm - Athens
Sat 11pm - Paris

Sun 8am - California

Thank you satsuma! We'll be somewhere between Delhi and Moscow I think!

Oh thinking if I have time could wrap up a russian roulette pass the parcel. Haven't yet introduced the concept of forfeits into pass the parcel yet, but this could be a good time. Thanks for the link, seen that nairobi is 3hrs ahead, so 9pm. Dd1 learnt to count to 10 in swahelli in her africa topic, and they will all enjoy some masi dancing.