NEW YEARS EVE FAMILY STYLE 2015

Well I haven't posted a blog post in quite some time. I really have no rhyme or reason. Instead of blogging about why or trying to catch up, I've just decided it's time to start again. Why? Mostly because so much has changed and a lot has stayed the same. I was reading through some of my old blogs and was smiling realizing a lot of my "daydreams" have come to fruition. That's one of the best parts about an online journal is you can go back and see where you've come from and where you've gone. One big one; I've talked and talked about was homeschooling my children, and I finally took the leap!! It's been an amazing experience worthy of it's own blog alone. I also as I so eloquently said I wished I could "popped out another bambino". Yes our family grew and we welcomed a baby girl! I've also finished off workout space at home and started a business in conjunction with training that includes nutrition with an amazing company and amazing team. And I completed my first academic goal and received my degree in Exercise Science. I can't say by any means I've hit all my goals. But it's pretty cool to have seen myself writing about things I wanted to do or become and then sitting here amidst those very things!!

At first I thought maybe I should do a New Years Blog. All about my focus and goals for 2015. Write them down, say them out loud sort of thing. But I realized I would really just be forcing that, I'm in a baby step phase right now adjusting to all life's wonderful changes. I want this blog to continue to be about family, fun, and fitness. And for us that now includes homeschooling, a new baby, and more! What I've been noticing more and more is comments on places we go with the kids or things we do with the kids and hearing "I wish you told me about that." Or "great idea." So I figure one of my goals of the blog will be to share. From one momma to another! How I streamline, save, and try to make memories for the kiddos, just like every other Mom out there.

So here goes an easy fun family NEW YEARS EVE!! 

By NYE I'm usually pretty exhausted from the holiday season. My kids want another fun filled night, and I'm thinking did we put away all the things from Christmas yet? Do we really have to stay up to midnight? And oh yeah at least we get to sleep in tomorrow. I have a 3 month old so really 'sleep in' is a weird term, definitely the wrong term, because extended periods of sleep are none existent. I suppose by sleep in I just mean 'less pressure to be somewhat presentable' in a timely manner earlier in the morning.  Typically we try to do something fun NYE for the kids. We've done sleepovers at Nana's house, sleepovers at our Aunt's, family parties, kids friends sleepover, mock fashion show, game nights, movie nights, fireworks (yes breaking the law - we live in MA). The gist is our whole family is together, and wherever we are, we park it. Not a fan of being out driving on NYE with our precious cargo.

This NYE we had our new bundle, so to be honest it was a little unclear to how it would go. We wanted it to still be fun for the kids but realized it would probably be more low key than normal. With a combo of sleep deprivation, a germ bubble, a baby strapped to me to feed every two hours and not being a fan of really being put down, all while trying to plan anything really kind of seemed unrealistic at best and daunting if I'm being honest. But since our other kids are 14, 8, and 8 it's not like I really wanted to say 'happy New Years Eve, your start of your new year with your new sister will royally stink. Aren't you glad you asked for that sibling?' So I knew I wanted to do 'fun things' with them but just low key. I took to none other than Pinterest. Now before you think oh gee here we go perfect Pinterest step ford wife moment, let me assure you it doesn't go down like that. If you're looking for realistic ways to have fun with your kids, on a budget and not overwhelming, that's where I try to fall. I've always been the craft, party, project lady. But before Pinterest I just wasted a lot more time and money trying to piece together ideas, and now Pinterest helps me be more methodical in my planning. I try to look for simple. Get my ideas together first and then search and narrow things down and make lists.  I involve the kids in EVERY project so our tasks become more of our crafts in the process. I took my teenager shopping to get everything because she really enjoys that part and my boys do not.

I'll share our night. My lists, ideas, and  our NYE with just the 6 of us!

Items to purchase:/activities:

1.) Sugar cookies, frosting, pearl sugar balls, frosting to write with. We made a sugar cookie clock. A countdown to midnight. Fun, easy baking project that's very festive! You could even turn this into a little clock/time lesson if your kids were learning to tell time. The kids have fun decorating, its fun and yummy.

2.) Dollar store plastic wine/champagne glasses, chocolate for melting, sprinkles. We melted chocolate and rimmed the glasses with sprinkles for our midnight milk and cookie toast.

3.) In the wedding section of the craft store we bought little sparkly baggies and filled them with hershey kisses. Then I had the kids print out, cut out, and tape "midnight kisses" as a fun treat on the bag.

4.) Ring Pops. Then have the kids write "ringing in 2015" and tape it onto the ring.

5.) Balloons, a dollar store tablecloth and made a Balloon Drop in our living room for Midnight. This was probably one of the most fun things as my kids love playing "volleyball" with the balloons!

6.) Big white poster board and let the kids decorate the area for a "NYE photobooth area". Set up some props - hats, necklaces, mustaches, NYE hats etc. My daughter got a new polaroid camera so she was in charge of all that. It's always fun to be silly AND secretly capture memories without making them constantly "pose".

Brodys absolute favorite prop was the mustache with a huge fake booger bubble under the nose. It actually had a piece that you blew into and the bubble got huge - thank you dollar store!

7.)For $12.99 I got a big tube of fun "fire cracker ish" fun. Fire crackers are illegal in MA so if you're not in a state that they're illegal you could do some inexpensive ones... super fun for the kids. But we're use to our rules so our kit had sparklers, pop its, confetti poppers, silly string etc. and I got some glow sticks, necklaces, and bracelets at the dollar store too. We went outside and had some fun with those goodies!

Pretty much we just involved the kids in the activities. Every little treat or decoration became a little project, something for us to do to kill time to make it to midnight. Way past bed time for us! I remember at 11:11 I yelled out all excited "It's 11:11 everyone make a wish!" (My kids love this) and my husband straight faced and exhausted said "I wish it was midnight!" haha

It wasn't fancy dresses, new lipstick, and champagne in the city - do people really celebrate NYE like that? Or only on TV? I know I wouldn't trade these times for any of that!