New Year's Eve 2012

This has become one of our family's favorite holidays!  We took an idea that was shared some years ago on the FIAR boards and used it to add excitement and sweet memories to this night!  If you haven't tried it before, I highly recommend it.  You can do it anyway you like - starting earlier or later.  Ending earlier.  Changing the activities, food, etc.  Its just a fun way to countdown the hours!  You could also use this to countdown to other things too.  I enjoy (and so do my children) counting down to the New Year.

We have done this enough years now that we don't even have to do too much planning ahead - which is nice as its not like there is a lot of free time just before  NYE.  We like watching a movie though and that does need to be planned.  I purchased colored bags at WalMart that were 10 for $1.  I printed the clock faces here.  Each bag had a clue pinned to the bag and something in the bag that related to the activity.

 1^st clue:  This was supposed to go with the game Silly Expressions which I couldn't find so I pulled out another game I'd bought at a consignment sale which we had never played.  It was a hit!

People are silly and funny too!

Do you think they are sometimes blue?

Maybe they’re happy or perhaps mad

A game of expressions will make you glad!

 We had teams of 2 and each team drew 8 cards.  On the cards were listed various things that you had to do or find or draw or make.  You were to try to do as many of them as possible - and could be creative.  You had 30 minutes to complete as many as possible.

Just a little cuteness.

 Teammates would divide and conquer and it was great hearing the laughter!

 Making a hat

 Some of the items that were collected, drawn and made.  After 30 minutes, each team shared what they had done for each item on the list.

 This was a really fun game and great for a mix of ages!

 My children enjoy taking turns drawing things out of the bags.    Many of my clues were the same as in years past - or slightly modified.  Nobody seems to mind doing many of the same things!

2^nd clue:  In the bag were things to make noisemakers.

Let’s get ready for some noise.

This is for the girls and the boys.

We’ll also need signs to mark the date.

Take photos of families to start the slate.

 We made them from paper plates.  Simple and each person can do as much or little as they want.

 We used popcorn as our filler.  I love seeing Eliana doing things on her own.

 Draw on a plate.  Fold in half.  Fill with popcorn or beans.  Staple shut.  Couldn't be easier!

 The next bag was a last minute addition to the evening.  And boy was it a HIT!

3^rd clue:

Its time to be silly, time to run free

Open the bag and you will see!

Silly String!

 We headed outside.  It was dark but not too cold.  I just love the expressions on their faces!

 The photographer wasn't immune from getting sprayed.

 Can't you just see the fun they are having?

 All of them loved this and their only complaint was that I hadn't bought more cans of it.  They were from the dollar store.  We will definitely be doing that again next year!

 4^rd clue:

We are eating something different this year.

Its still familiar, delicious and fun

Help us chop and cook and serve. 

Everyone will be glad when we are done.

This was a change.  We usually make pizzas and they each design their own with choices of many toppings. We decided to do tacos this year.  It was not received well by some of mine.  I think we'll have to switch back to pizza next year.  This was just easier to do GF in large quantities.

While we were cooking, they played some games.  Good thing since we ran out of time for some of the games later in the evening.  This was Minute to Win It.  Challenges to do things ... like building a card house.

 Silly races.

 Blowing cards across the table.  Light and fun.

^5th clue:  In the bag - papers with questions, pens and lollipops

What makes you special and unique?      

Getting to know this is a treat.

We’ll look to the future and ponder the past,

Seeking to follow God each day of our path.

I love this part!  Its fun to see what  people will say and I think it makes a neat keepsake from year to year.  After recording the answers, we take turns reading the answers for each question trying to figure out who wrote each answer.

 Its not always easy to answer and sometimes hearing someone else's answer will remind you of something you forgot.  Its funny too to see when your answer is the same as someone else's.

 Just makes me smile.

 6^th clue:  In the bag - sprinkles and other decorating items.

God made you and you can’t beat that!

Glasses, freckles or a funny hat.

Our faces help others know who we are,

But our insides are what make us a star.

My sweet friend Rebecca made these homemade gingerbread men ... GLUTEN FREE!  I'm so blessed to have such a thoughtful friend willing to do this!  

And they tasted good too!

 Cookies are fun to decorate and we saw a lot of creative expression!!!

 They work  hard on these and its fun.  Its not an activity that I do often at all so I'm glad to have this at least once a year!

 Can you guess who this is?

 Does this help?  Have you seen the movie "Tangled"?

 7^th clue:  In the bag - movie Narnia and popcorn

It’s time for adventure and maybe a giggle

Find a spot to sit and don’t wiggle

Does anyone need something to eat

You can have some popcorn while in your seat

We watch the movie on the "big screen" - a sheet hung on the wall with a projector playing the movie from our laptop.  Its such a great movie.  Even though we've seen it before, its fun to see it again!

 8^th clue:

Let’s turn our hearts to God and lift up our prayer

He is here with us and out everywhere.

There are others who need Him and we play a part

We’ll pray for others and seek His heart.

Each person writes something that they want prayer for on the slip of paper.  Each person draws one of the slips and go around the table praying for each other's requests. 

 Family Photos

 It's almost time!

9^th clue:

It’s time to say good-bye to ‘11

Watching the ball drop is a fun time again

A hug, a prayer, a sweet drink for the toast

Happy New Year, it’s 2012!

We watch the ball drop, toast with Sprite (this way we can get diet - its still bubbly - and much better for a diabetic).  

 Don't forget the shakers!

 We also played some fun Charades using a word generator found  at this site.

 What a fun night spent with family and friends!  We have much to be thankful for and are looking forward to the New Year!

 Blessings
Leslie

Time with Family

We visited with my sister and my parents right after Christmas.  My parents moved into their new place just a few days before Christmas.  My sister and her family did a fabulous job in helping to arrange the furniture and unpack many of the boxes so that their place was comfortable (as much as could be when you were moving and there were still a LOT of boxes).

Their place is nice and about 20 minutes from my sister's house.  There is still a lot to be done, but it's a lovely place.  We enjoyed being able to see them and help a little bit.  I keep praying that God would bless them and their time in this new home.  Change is never easy.  I am thankful that they have friends there already.

We had a relaxing and fun time at my sister's house.  The kids had a blast playing outside - with pulleys, balls and more.

 I know this is fuzzy, but can you see the smile on my boy who has come so far that he was willing to do this - and loved it!

 We also exchanged gifts.  My Mom made quilts of various sizes for her grandchildren.

 Sometimes it's just fun to be silly with your cousin!

 Lots of ping pong too!

 I did not do a great job taking pictures.  I did however enjoy my time with my family.  And that is what really matters.

I am so thankful for my family!  I'm thankful that we enjoy being together and that there aren't awkward relationships.  God has blessed us richly!

Blessings
Leslie

Operation Christmas Child & Service project

Wanted to share some photos from our time at Operation Christmas Child.  This is such a wonderful experience!  I highly recommend it to anyone able to do it.  You need to be at least 13 years old and the reservations go quickly!  We called the day that the registration opened (I think it was Aug 1st) to get our group signed on.

There are 7 facilities in different states.  We are blessed to have 2 here in NC.  We drove to the Charlotte facility to work.  Since it was soooo close ... we made a stop by Ikea on the way.  LOL  What a fun store!

 We met some friends to work with again this year.  We started out in the training area, learning about the various steps in the process.

 From inspecting boxes to packaging, each person has a different role.

 We started out in an area where there were lots of extra things donated for the boxes.  More  boxes are filled with these extra things and brought to the stations.  If there is a shoebox that has to have something removed (ex. liquid items that can't be shipped), then more things can be put into the box.  Or if a box just has room for more things, there are options here to add.

 Met my long-time FIAR friend Bo and her daughter too!  Wish we had more time to chat - we'll have to plan that better next year.  :-)

 Lots of smiles because this really is a fun place to work.  Its neat to hear the stories of how the boxes have touched and changed people's lives!  Changed lives ... all from a shoebox!  God is good!

 My girl hard at work!

 A  picture of the "lines" where the boxes are inspected and then packed to be shipped.  The large boxes are labelled for age group (2-4, 5-9, 10-14) and gender.      

 Rebecca and I in front of the filler area.

 Loved seeing this in one of the boxes!  This is a book from our homeschool curriculum and I loved thinking about a little boy or girl in another country reading this sweet story.  :-)

 After working in the filler area for awhile, we then moved to one of the lines.  We again were given different jobs.  Some inspected boxes, others helped label boxes and some helped pack boxes.  This is also the area where boxes were scanned if the person sending it asked for a notice of where the box was sent.

 There is a list of things to look for that can't be included in the box.  Things are only removed if necessary and the integrity of the box is kept intact as much as is possible.

 The goal was to get at least 15 shoeboxes into each large shipping box.  The green and red "official" boxes sure were easy to pack!  It was challenging to pack the various sizes - kind of like working a puzzle so that you could maximize the space and the number of boxes!

 This is a view from the upper level of the warehouse floor.

Just getting ready to leave.  We had a wonderful time working and look forward to going again next year.  Roger was sweet to stay home with our younger children so that Rebecca and I could enjoy this day out.

All the volunteers are given an OCC shirt.

We treated ourselves to Olive Garden on the way home.  It was a long, fun and fulfilling day spent with people I really enjoy being with.

We also did a service project with our FIAR homeschool group.  This is one we have done for a number of years and it has worked well with the age range of our group.  We make fleece blankets to donate to children in a local shelter.  

 We also make cards to go along with the blankets.

 There is something for everyone and we end with a potluck lunch.

 Having done this for a few years now, more are comfortable with cutting and making the blankets and that is fun too.

 I love seeing the variety in all that is made.  I imagine it blessing so many children.

 We pray over the blankets and the people who will be receiving them.  I'm thankful we can serve our community in this way.

 I'm thankful for friends that are willing to serve.

I would love to find more projects that we can do throughout the year that are things a wide range of ages can do.  My youngest is a little challenging in some arenas.  *grin*  Anyone have any suggestions?

Blessings

Leslie