We received a very beautiful invitation to a New Year’s Eve party hosted by a family in our ward. And I heard from all who attended that it was really, really nice and fun with fantastic food and gorgeous decorations. But when I put it to a family vote, we all decided we would rather stay home and celebrate our way. Maybe it’s because last time we went to a party I crashed the car? Or maybe it’s because we knew Papa wouldn’t come and we would miss him too much? Or maybe we are all just a bunch of anti-social freaks? Whatever, we stayed home and celebrated Charles-style. 🙂
First, Papa and I went to the store and bought tons of snack food and drinks. Delicious, but bad for us, things we normally never eat; bread sticks, crackers, chips, stuff for dips, and of course, lots of sparking cider. We also melted a bunch of leftover Samichlaus chocolate into a fondue, and chopped up lots of fruit to dip into it. When we had all eaten our fill, we left most of the food out on the table, so people could snack throughout the evening.
Then we moved over to the living room and started playing games. First we played the Ladybug Game, cuz Alexandra loves that one, and she can play it without any help. Then we played regular Settlers of Cattan because Sarah likes that one the best. Then we played Settlers of Cattan extended version because Sophie and Nick like that the best. While we played, Papa turned on vintage Bugs Bunny cartoons for the younger kids. They LOVED them. Alexandra kept asking for “jus one mowe”. heehee
I had the kids get on their pajamas, and collect pillows and blankets. We all got comfy on the couch or floor, and started watching “Kung Fu Panda”. By this time it was already 11 o’clock, and the kids were starting to get pretty tired. I figured at least half of them would nod off during the movie. I even tipped the odds in my favor by turning of all the lights. 😉 Papa came downstairs at about 11:30 for scriptures and prayer, and then he went to bed. Such a lightweight. We continued watching the movie until 3 minutes before midnight.
The kids were really excited to watch “the countdown show” that they had heard the adults watching at the party we had gone to before. So I turned on the Austrian channel, and we listened to the funny German they spoke. The kids were laughing at the different words the people used, and did their best to copy the accents. I told them they shouldn’t laugh, these were their fellow countrymen. They are 1/4 Austrian after all, but they just couldn’t stop giggling. It really does sound much different than what we are used to.
We opened all the windows and yelled “Happy New Year’s” to our neighbors. We could hear their fireworks going off, but unfortunately, there was so much fog we didn’t get to see them. Occasionally some patches of cloud would light up, but that was as close as we got. The kids really wanted me to open the sparkling cider, but I had never done it before. That was always Papa’s job. I was really nervous, but knew I had to at least try. I opened it super slowly, trying to aim the hard plastic cork away from anything breakable. The children all shrieked in unison if I got too close to anything, or anyone. It was like a stereo sound compass. 🙂 Anyway, all that anxious was completely wasted, as I had gone so slowly the cork barely made a tiny “pop” noise before landing gently in my hand. The children were crushed.
We all raised a glass to toast in the new year and wish everyone health and happiness. Of course, now it was Mom’s turn to worry about someone “cheering” too robustly and breaking a glass. I opened the reading room window, turned up the sound on the electric piano, and Nicholas played a beautifully perfect rendition of “Auld lang Syne”. I actually got tears in my eyes, it was so nostalgic and typically American. Then kids wanted to stay up and watch the rest of the movie, but as it was already 12:30, I decided they should go to bed instead. After all, no matter how late our kids stay up, they don’t ever really sleep in. And grouchy kids are so much harder to live with. 🙂
Happy New Year, everyone! I hope 2011 is as awesome for us as 2010 was. And if your previous year felt more like you were getting raked over hot coals, then I hope 2011 is your payback time. 🙂