Happy Noon Year!!! (say what?)

Happy Noon Year, Everyone!

What's Noon Year? You ask? Noon Year is a very clever idea my friend Sarah, a fellow "homie" (e.g. friendly homeschooling parent) shared with me. Our neighborhood homeschool group wanted to celebrate New Year's with the kids and Sarah proposed having a Noon Year Party where the kids counted down to noon, rather than midnight. LOVE IT!!! My friend Laurie, another "homie", agreed to host the event at her house. It was a blast!! Here's how the party went:

1. Party Hats: Laurie had the kids decorate paper crowns with glitter glue, feather, sequins, etc. to make fancy party hats.

2. Noise Makers: The kids put 5 scoops of beans in between 2 cups which were then taped together. Instant noise maker. (Not that kids ever have a hard time finding something to make noise with.)

3. Bubbly: It was sparkling cider for the little ones and mimosas for the mamas (my oh my, I love a good mimosa. Hey, top mine off, would ya? A little more...a little more. Perrrfect!).

4. Count Down & Ball Drop: Laurie had a toy clock on the table which let us know when noon arrived. Her husband then lowered a "ball" made of pine cones and garland from their balcony as the kids counted down from 10 to ring in the Noon Year.

5. Toasts: We explained to the kids what it means to make "a toast" and for what occasions you might make them. Each child and parent then took a turn offering a toast for the New Year.

6. Storytime: Gotta rock that global knowledge, so next the kids listened to a story about Chinese New Year. (Chinese New Year start Jan 26 by the way. Can't wait!!!)

7. Turning Over a New Leaf: I love me some clever and this activity was certainly that. Laurie handed each child a new leaf and had them put it on the floor. She explained what a "resolution" is and how it means to do something different, or turn over a new leaf. Each child then made a resolution and literally turned over their leaf. So simple it's genius! My daughter is still talking about that one.

8. Full Circle: Laurie then explained about a year coming "full circle" and illustrated the point with cookies that had the middle cut out (so they were a ring). The kids didn't really grasp the concept. They were too busy "grasping" the cookies. But cute idea nonetheless.

9. Reminisce: The children learned that at the New Year we "reminisce" about (or, "remember fondly") the good things from the year before. Her daughter Hannah presented a poster board adorned with photos depicting fun and important moments from her year (from riding in a real horse-drawn carriage at her Aunt Kristi's wedding to the birth of her baby brother, Lochlan). Another cute idea.

10. Take Home: The kids had a couple papers to take home on which to write their New Year resolution and to predict the things they might do in the coming year.

The lesson was awesome (and that's not just my mimosas talking) A big party-hat off to Laurie and to Sarah for such a great kick off to 2009.