Best ideas for a NYE Night In

[GloGirl]

Been a really long 2015 and my DH and 2 young children and I are spending NYE at home. I really want to celebrate getting through it all.

We will absolutely not be waiting up till midnight though, we are exhausted! And the kids will be in bed by 9 8. Any suggestions on what we can do to make it special?

[BlissfullyUnknown]

Good food, nice wine/champagne/beer/soft drinks (you get my jist) lots of games you can all play together and some music. Can't beat it IMHO.

Leave the TV off so it doesn't distract you from spending quality time with your family and everyone can muck in on tidying up the dishes so it's done quicker.

[TwoSmellyDogs]

Are you being unreasonable about what?

[MatildaTheCat]

Nice dinner and wine, of course.

One year we did a dinner for friends and did a Desert Island Discs theme which was fun. In the spirit of reflection it works well. You each chose your chosen discs and play them with a bit of a reminisce as to why those tracks are meaningful. Can be adapted for any number of people.

Happy NY.

[GloGirl]

Ah feck, I'm sorry I meant to post this in chat!

AIBU to ask you all to plan a date night because I'm too lazy?

I love the idea of desert island discs but my DH is not into music, at all. It's weird.

We made time for each other recently and had steak and wine/cider at home which was nice. I just wondered if anyone could recommend TV off time or a nice film.

Might get a good idea for a game to play before bed. Of course the best games seem to be just running around and giggling!

[misscph1973]

We like to have crackers, we often have some left over from Christmas, and I actually think they are better for New Year's Eve than for Christmas, but then again, I am foreign ;)

Are your kids too young for sparklers? Mine love them, we don't do fireworks, as our dog is scared of them.

Do you have your family photos store online? We have ours on flickr, and we like to to a slideshow on the computer of the year that went by on New Years Eve (when I remember, not every year).

[misscph1973]

I mean stored online ;)

[GloGirl]

Ah I love the idea of a photo slideshow!

[Drew64]

We often stay in on NYE but try to make dinner a special occasion, so...what everyone else has said, good food/wine/soft drinks.

If grandparents are round we will get a board game out.

Popcorn and film on netflicks?

[Sunnymeg]

Friends of ours do a movie night and have a picnic on the living room floor every NYE, if you want to try something different.

[AlpacaPicnic]

I hate NYE. I've not had a good one 'out' since 2000. So, since about 2004 every NYE has gone like this...
Get home from work.
Order takeaway.
Open door to delivery person, receive box of unhealthy food, tip well and close door.
Lock door.
Put on DVD.
Eat until full. eat a bit more
Go to bed when tired. Usually 11.30ish.
Grumble about fireworks at 12.

Board games also work well. We have no DC so we used to do drinking games but we are boring old gimmers these days and rarely drink so have substituted eating instead.

[IJustLostTheGame]

Karaoke
Card games
Fireworks

[MintyChops]

Ooooh, I LOVE the slides how of the year in photos idea. Am totally nicking that. We usually have our closest friends round for dinner then stay up to watch Jools Holland while getting really pissed sipping wine. Always regret the lateness and wine on NYD though.

[shouldwestayorshouldwego]

We do an around the world theme, so 1pm it is Sydney fireworks and BBQ, world type games / craft in the afternoon, curry for early supper then move up a gear after we've eaten with Happy New Years greetings, fireworks on TV, party poppers etc. See which capital city you are awake for. Now they are older are beginning to stay awake for London but a few years ago were happy to crash out after Moscow. After celebrating 4 or 5 it doesn't seem so important to wait for UK. American breakfast the next morning to round it off.

Globe and food are essential props!

[BasinHaircut]

My idea for this year is have a few friends over and play 'The Cube'.

Pinching ideas from the gameshow that can be easily replicated at home and making up some of our own ones. Maybe make teams or just score everyone on each game.

Will probably get sillier as the evening progresses.

[MrsFrisbyMouse]

Family version of Guinness Book of records. (we have done this a few times and it's fun)

Eating 3 dry crackers in a minute
How many M&Ms you can pick up with chopsticks in 1 minute
Pairing socks with your feet

(these are all actual records by the way!)

[LovelyFriend]

Put the clocks forward slowly all day and have a family NY party - 7 can be midnight if you play it right (with young dc). Put the kids to bed and then have your own lovely evening.

Wine, game, candles, sex?

[DancingDuck]

When DC were too small to stay up we'd have family dinner by candlelight with indoor fireworks at the table and set off a box of outdoor fireworks in the garden. We'd talk about the best memories of the year and what we were looking forward to in the next year. Then we'd sing Auld Lang Syne at about 8.30 pm tuck the kids in and go to bed with a bottle of champagne.

[squoosh]

Play a NYE countdwon on youtube and have your midnight whenever suits you best.

[RedToothBrush]

Jools Holland DVD...

[TheWoodenSpoonOfMischief]

I like the idea of going through photos from the past year.

Probably not for this year but I know some people who put a note in a jar throughout the year whenever something nice or notable happens.
Then they go through it with the dcs on nye.

[misscph1973]

I like the idea of the Guiness Book of records game!

I am personally always exhausted from Christmas, so NYE is always a quiet affair for us ;) I don't drink (I get horrible hangovers from a moutful of wine), which doesn't make it better.

I did used to REALLY celebrate NYE pre kids - big parties, lots of drinks, staying up till the early hours - so I feel that my quota is full.

[cardibach]

I'd say it's a bit personal - what would be a great night for one person/family would be a huge yawn or absolutely unenjoyable in some other way for another family. Whatever your family like doing normally, do that. Perhaps up the luxury factor on any expenditure involved a bit to make it more special.

[whois]

Good food. Champagne. Something special for the kids to drink. Posh box of chocs. Good family film.

[whois]

Oh yes indoor fireworks are fun too

[GloGirl]

I love this thread, there are such nice ideas! Glad I posted in the wrong topic!

Can you explain indoor fireworks to me please?