Quiet night at home watching movies and probably overeating.

When my husband was living we followed our tradition of going out for Chinese early in the evening then having finger foods and some libations during the rest of the evening. Since his death I have tried all sorts of new ways to celebrate but this year I am staying home. I may order some Chinese food and have a glass of wine or a drink or two. It is a time I prefer to spend alone.

We have a tradition of going out to dinner with another couple. We usually have dessert back at one of our homes,

New Years Eve is not a good memory for me. My DH died one minute until midnight, so I will go to bed and my usual time after watching the late news.

We stay home and there’s no other place we’d rather be. Every year, my DH will pour us each a glass of sparkling cider to toast with, we watch the ball drop, enjoy a little of the music in on tv and then we go to bed. To be honest, I don’t really care about the holiday, I’m usually just ready for the new year to start and this year is no exception.

Stay home because it is supposed to really cold.

We will be having our family Christmas gathering that afternoon and evening. We used to have it Christmas Eve at my house, but our family has grown so much that we started renting a meeting room at a motel. That was lovely, as there was the pool, etc. and a number of the family got rooms right there. Welllllllllllll! The motel is no longer renting to individuals so we are having our gathering across the street from me at the community center. It will be OK, but we really miss the motel!

My plan is for a nice quiet evening at home with DH. I'll stay awake as long as I can -- probably 10:30 or 11, lol. I remember the televised fireworks from around the world for the year 2000 -- that was fun, and perhaps the last time I stayed up all the way to midnight.

((Hugs)) to everyone missing loved ones as the years turn. An uncle of mine recently slipped away, will spend some time thinking of him.

For the past 5 years we have been going to my brother in laws house across the street (before that it was at our house) with the whole family. We will have Raclette, a kind of scavenger hunt, lots of fireworks at midnight. After that cake and some games of UNO.

My father died on New Years Eve. I don't celebrate it and am never awake for the changing of the calendar. Also annoyed at the incessant lose weight advertising.

Iris - are you Dutch?

We will go to an early Mexican dinner. It may be just us, or other friends and family may join us. Or may not. We'll be home way before the 'ball drops' and very likely won't stay up. Our years of going to or having parties for New Years are behind us, we stopped enjoying it.

New Years Day I cook a prime rib dinner for the two of us.

DH would like to go to a college bowl party we've been invited to Thursday night just up the street, and another on Saturday (his birthday) just down the street. We'll probably do both.

Seagrass, I am German. My husband is from Austria and my mother in law is Swedish. Why? Because of the fireworks at midnight? Or Raclette? That's just so much fun to just sit around and talk while the cheese melts and the mushrooms and zucchini are roasting on top. And easy on whoever is hosting. Just boil some potatoes.(we split the tasks on who does what) On New Year's Day we usually did the "Blei Gießen" too (just my husband, 2 daughters and I) For the Americans here: melting lead over a candle in a spoon and drop it into water. The shape is interpreted as to what the New Year will bring

Iris - we lived in the Netherlands for several years and the fireworks at midnight and the Reclette bring back memories! The Dutch are nuts setting off fireworks with their thatched roofs and there were always news stories after the holiday of people burning to death in their homes. SMH.

Probably have a glass of champagne and then go to bed. I’ve never been a big celebrant of New Year’s Eve. On New Year’s Day, we will attend a neighborhood party across the street.

We will stay home and my sons will join us. None of us drink or party. Lol. My sons will just spend the night as it will be a late night around here. I've told the boys they can stay up and watch the ball drop. Were going to just have a normal dinner of Chili and cornbread New Years Eve around 5ish than snack foods later in the evening. Cheese ball, crackers, sliced apples and grapes, probably meatballs in a sweet sour sauce and I don't know what else. Were going to all play board games and Dance Now which is a video game that requires us all to dance. New Years morning I'll cook a big breakfast and we will all just lay around watching movies. Kid friendly movies. I think the boys have chosen Homeward Bound. We will have pork, krout, whipped potatoes, peas, and rolls for dinner. Chocolate fudge cake for those that can find room for it.

On the 2'nd I start the packing up the Holiday decorations and taking down the tree.

Happy New Year to you all!!!

No fireworks on the roof, but the men in our family are nuts. My father in law handed the torch over to my husband a couple of years ago. I am not a fan.

Normally we just stay home, watch football and have a glass of Prosecco to toast the new year before going to bed. Sometimes we celebrate on eastern time rather than our own time zone.

This year we are volunteering at our Botanical garden in the early evening hours. It’s the last night of the light show with people driving through the garden, so we will be there until around 9pm. It will be fun as there are several other couples we know who will be working that night and we all will be bringing food to share and enjoy between shifts.

Party at a friends, just down the street. We walk, I don't drink much, but my husband will. There will be lots of drinking, eating, laughing and fun!

I'll be home with the dogs who have now become afraid of fireworks, thanks to those that are so loud they sound like a bomb has gone off under the house, even though they aren't all that close by. Sound really travels on the bayou. I'd be home anyway. No interest in seeing the new year in or partying. I would normally be asleep by midnight but I will be awake trying to keep a dog that weighs 120 lb. from trying to crawl under the bed.

In all the years we have been married (49) we have probably only been to a couple New Years Eve parties. This year is different. We are going to party with a bunch from our church. They are a hoot. Since hubby has got to know all of them he has had so much fun. We try to get together once a month for fun and games. I am thrilled he is joining us. The group really likes him, too..

We have no plans yet. Any will not involve being out on the road much after dark. We may get together with some neighbors for a while but that's about it. I have to bury my money!

Actually I just realized we have an appointment to go view a house for sale on Sunday at noon so I guess that is a plan lol. It is here in our current subdivision but in the area that is high ground and doesn't flood, has never flooded. It would be nice to remain close to the friends we have had here for several years. It is very slim picking in the house market. They are gone hours after listing.

We usually have the kids over and I usually make my famous cabbage rolls, but because they take so long to put together, this year I'm making my famous chili for supper, then Oliebollen for dessert. Google it. ;) If you've never had them you're missing out on something magical. :) :)

Stay home, watch the ball drop, run to open the front door to hear the shot guns go off, then put the Pork or sausage and sauerkraut in the crock pot and cook on low over night. Next day, wake up to a delicious aroma and later make msh.potatoes. Eat.

New Year's Eve we stay home with the children. We have individual pizza early in the day. Later there is an assortment of finger foods, cheeses and such to nibble on during our open house for family and friends. Children watch a movie while eating popcorn balls we make every year for the occasion.

Debbie-your Oliebollen sound interesting!

We will stay home and continue to rest up from having DS and family for Christmas!! :)

we stay home...kids go out., just us 2!! we ttrrryyyy to stay up till midnight. usually fall asleep for a bit and then somehow wake up before midnight..... we toast then up to bed we go...

this year we will probably go back to our tradition of breaking a dish at midnight. DH got this from a friend over 30 yrs ago. suppose to bring good luck!!

we were never a big, go out and party couple. i think new years is sort of dumb but that's just me. Jan. 1st was my mom's b-day & used to have her for dinner every year, this will be my 4th year w/o her on her b-day.

for something different, last year DH & I went to a craft brew house (jan 1) in early afternoon to watch football and they had 1/2 apps till 4:00. actually it was a great time and planning to do it again this year! very relaxing after the hectic holiday week!

Debbie, your Oliebollen sounds very much like Croatian fritule. Family there made them for something a few weeks ago, I was sent a picture - she will do that, send me a photo of something she's made for their meal ;0)

DH's Aunt Mary, never his mother, used to make fritule for holiday dinners but none of us here seem to have carried on the tradition. They were affectionately called Teta Oni's 'grease balls'. And they really weren't, greasy that is, just that it was a fried dessert....

We have been getting together with the same 3 couples for the last 20 years and will do the same this year. Two of the women are sisters and are from Denmark and they always do a Danish smorgasbord. We sit down to eat at 8 and are still eating at midnight. We have so much fun.

My husband is in a band that is playing at a restaurant/bar, so a couple of the band wives will go and have dinner and watch our guys play for awhile. Then head home before the roads get too crazy. We won't make it till midnight~

Rhizo - please report back about your time with the sprites - we all love those stories! And whatever happened with the stuffed animal? I may have missed a post....

Skibby

Squishy resides with me, unless little sprite isn't feeling well or is sad. She does get it down to sleep with it when she's here. It has a good life, though a much more sedentary one than before. ;-)

The missus made me stay up for the "new millennium", and it managed (barely) to make it. 10:00 - 10:30 is my time to be in bed. I won't miss that on New Year's Eve.

It is great getting old, I get my way more often!!

We will be at home with the two kittens and "try" to stay awake until midnight, then probably won't be able to sleep due to fireworks that are sure to be set off until the wee hours of the morning. I should say "I" probably won't sleep due to the noise. Hubby taking out his hearing aides won't hear a thing.

Raven, hope the house you go to see could be yours and isn't gone already. Marilyn, lots of luck with the dog who is so afraid of fireworks.

Rhizo, have fun with the sprites.

Phoggie, I'm sorry that you will always have that memory.

Those going out, please be safe.

We'll be going to a friend's house for movie night and pizza. Its a fund raiser. We put money in the pot to cover the cost of first run movies and all the pizza we can eat. In their basement, they have a 10 ft screen, a professional digital 3 color gun projector and stadium seating. The seats came for a theater their dad closed. In the back, is a cooler with soda and a side room has a vendor type corn popper. Two movies will be shown: the first at 7 pm is youth orentied and the 2nd at 9pm directred toward an older audience. Its a great night out with friends. Last year, about 35 people attended.

Hopefully, our cold wave will have moderated by then. Tonight, it is 7 below zero F.

We will be visiting family in Vermont. Its been an annual event since 1999, and as many as 30 people (mostly family) show up. In recent years the nieces and nephews have been bringing girlfriends/boyfriends or spouses or recently even the next generation.

It is unseasonably cold here (lows around 16 deg F) it will be much colder there. Our plan is to dress warmly, and then not go outside at all.

Good plan Bob - bring plenty of light weight layers. The high today was one below. Sunny and pretty though.

Skibby

We will probably go to our friends' house, have munchies, wine and watch movies. DH's brother has a gathering at his house, covered dish, with the fire pits going and a movie screen for the kids. It's usually really nice, but this year will be too cold to sit outside.