What Are You Doing New Year's ... New Year's Eve?

How do you celebrate the New Year?

--A trip to NYC to see the crystal ball drop?

--An evening out with friends, dancing the night away?

--Dinner at your favorite restaurant?

--Movie night?


As a mother of 6 kids--ranging in ages 16 to 8--it's been a little difficult for me to plan this New Year's Eve celebration.

Dave and I were thinking it would be fun to have a fondue party here at home with our kids. You know, melted chocolate, loud music, maybe some card games? It could be fun.

(C) 2010, Bella Lately.

But, our teenagers don't really want to spend the last minutes of 2011 with their dad, mom, and younger brothers/sisters. (Can't imagine why? I totally wanted to hang out with my parents when I was 16.)

Yet, Dave and I really don't want said-teenagers out on the town at all hours of the night WITHOUT their dad, mom and younger brothers/sisters. (LOL.)

And oddly, all the smallest kiddos really want to do is have a Video Game Marathon, eat Cool Ranch Doritos, and do illegal fireworks until our neighbors call the feds.

So what's a mom to do?

It's Thursday--I've got 2 days to get it all together.

I'm open to suggestions: dawn_meehan@byu.edu

****

PS:

Jim Rice.
(C) CBS, Monty Brinton, 2011.

I wanted to follow-up with one funny Survivor story.

I mentioned a few days ago, that I was "sweating to death" at the final Tribal Council--the one where the jury asks the Finale 3 questions about their gameplay.

Well, Jim was the reason I was "sweating to death."

Huh?

Well, you see, based on where we were seated at Tribal Council, I was alway seated next to Jim, and Jim was always seated next to a torch.

And those torches put off a lot of heat.

A lot.

So, at most Tribal Councils Jim would make a snarky comment about being too hot, sweating, or needing some kind of "sweat rag" to make it through Tribal Council.

This was always in jest.

Jim really didn't mind the heat from the torch, but it made us all laugh so hard, it became a kind of routine--walk in, see the hot torch, hear Jim complain about the hot torch.

Well, apparently, someone on the crew/set overheard Jim's torch rants and decided it would be funny to ADD two additional torches to his seating area at that final Tribal Council.

So as we walked in that night, Jim leaned over to me and said, "Do you see that? There are 3 torches next to me tonight. THREE."

At first, I didn't believe him.

But as soon as I sat down, I saw AND felt them.

Three torches = LOTS of HEAT.

OMGoodness it was so funny.

And if I remember correctly, Jim asked if they could be moved ... and surprisingly he was told "no."

I'm sure someone in production is still laughing about it as I write.

(PS: If you rewatch that episode, when I get up to ask my question you'll see, I am literally COVERED in sweat. I look like I someone just took a spray bottle to me. It's a riot.)

8)

Savaii's first Tribal Council.
(Waiting for Jeff to read the votes.)

(C) CBS, 2011.

****

PPS:

I've mentioned how much I really like the PhotoChops that fans make for Survivor ...

well, my kids are starting to make them now, too.

It cracks me up.

Our daughter, Bam, made this PhotoChop of our son, Jr--after she caught him meditating one day.

For real. Our 12 year old was meditating. On his own.

Is that hilarious?