My friend (see: how would you handle this post) is having some people over to her place on New Year's Eve. She told me that our kids are welcome but she will be telling everyone else that their children should stay home with a sitter. I don't really want to go. DH has been having some issues lately and I don't really want the kids up that late. How do I tell her we would rather stay home, particularly since I am bailing on another date too (other post)?

On another note...

Has anyone ever hosted a kids New Year's Party? What did you do? When did you do it (time)? What did you serve?

By Karen~moderator on Wednesday, December 28, 2005 - 07:52 am:

Never done a kid's party for NYE.....as for your friend, just politely decline. Tell her you'd love to come but that you have other plans and cannot make it.

By Kaye on Wednesday, December 28, 2005 - 11:19 am:

Our fav ny was a "progressive dinner". We had salads at one house, main dish at another, and then dessert at my house (which was also the babysitter house). One of the younger kids got taken home by the sitter when we showed up, so he could go to bed.

By Vicki on Wednesday, December 28, 2005 - 12:17 pm:

We always stay home on New Years Eve. Way too many amature drinkers and drivers on the road for me to feel safe being out. LOL The experienced drinkers and drivers are bad enough. But throw in a few thousand that don't normally do it, and I will stay safe in my house thank you!!!

By Missmudd on Wednesday, December 28, 2005 - 12:34 pm:

I am going to my inlaws and I am cringing driving with all the drunk yahoos. I would just say, scared to drive or dont want to take the kids and cant find a sitter.

By Cheerio on Wednesday, December 28, 2005 - 01:34 pm:

I've hosted a New Years Eve lunch for my kids friends one year. I sent someone out for McDonald's and got all the hats, noisemakers, etc. and we counted down to 12 noon instead of midnight. The kids had a blast (they were all younger than five). I'm not even sure they got it, but they had fun with all the noise! Everyone was safely home by 3pm before the roads got dangerous!

By Dawnk777 on Wednesday, December 28, 2005 - 01:41 pm:

Sheboygan used to have special events for kids on New Year's Eve at one of the middle schools. They would countdown to midnight at about 10:30pm, and then you would go home. (mini golf, a bouncy thing, games for tickets, which you exchanged for prizes, and someone who did magic tricks or something like that.) I have no idea if they do it anymore.

When my kids outgrew "Firstar Eve", then we started going to my friend's house for supper, eating, and then playing games until midnight. Then at midnight, we get chocolate cake and sing Happy Birthday, to her DH! I can't even remember when we started doing this, probably when my oldest daughter was in about 5th or 6th grade and now she's a junior.