What are you doing New Years?

New Year’s Eve. Our family doesn’t need an excuse to throw a party, so we have co-opted NYE to make it a memorable night and you can too! The past few years our family has been developing some traditions for New Years that have truly been a joy and I hope this inspires!

I decorate, of course. I love the art deco NYC feel often associated with NYE, so I go with the classic black and gold theme. I also hit up my local big box store and grab a bunch of disco ball votives, garlands and 2025 Hats and glasses. I clear out enough of the Christmas decor to have a blank canvas and it feels like a party. It’s easy and sets the stage!
Vision Boards. New Years is time to dream big and hope for the future. On NYE, we make vision boards. If you haven’t come across this concept, a vision board is a visual representation of your current goals and dreams. By creating a visual that you can look at daily you keep your dreams in constant focus and prayer. If you’re interested in learning more, Terri Saville Foy has great videos about this on her youtube channel. There are incredible testimonials of impossible dreams coming true using this method. So, we do this as a family. I give the kids markers and poster boards and let them put whatever is on their hearts on the board. They put all kinds of things such as “Get straight A’s”, “Sleep outside in a tent I made”, “Go to Legoland.” Whether I think it’s possible or not, I let them put it on their board. All those things I listed came true, and I didn’t know how they would! Without a vision we wander aimlessly. It’s certainly true for adults, and I know it’s true for my children as well.
Hors d’oeuvre dinner. I love charcuterie boards and small bites and so do my kids. They make the evening feel immediately elevated. Now, I’m sure not eveyone’s kids are like mine, but my kids love the idea of dressing up like they’re going to a fancy party. I will give them champagne glasses with ginger beer, and we have a family cocktail party!
Movie marathon. Whether you want to stay up til 12 or not (probably not), a movie marathon is a great idea on New Years. Pick a series or a theme and go to town. I think this year our family will go for Marvel or Mission Impossible. Movie marathons are great for the whole family or so grown-ups can catch a moment to talk.
Karaoke. This year we will end our night by christening our new karaoke machine. I can’t believe it’s taken us this long to get one. Tyler grew up with his family hosting big NYE parties and they always involved karaoke. I can’t wait. The kids don’t know, so it will be a fun surprise.
In past years Tyler and I have snuck up on the roof of the townhouse after the kids are in bed, look over the city, and have a toast/prayer. It’s amazing. Obviously, we don’t go up there much, but it’s magical up there. More than once, while there, suddenly a wish lantern has appeared from some unknown sender and we have watched them fly over the city. It seemed to carry the very prayers we had just said for the coming year. We had wish lanterns at our wedding so when we saw this, it blew our minds (I’m not sure they’re even legal). I may need to pick up a wish lantern for us to launch ourselves!