Happy 2011, Super Mommies!

It has been such a crazy fall that I just gave up posting for a while but I wanted to share some of our favorite New Years Traditions for any Super Mommies out there looking for some fun things to do with the kiddos in January!  Dont fret that New Years Day is passed, these can be fun all month!

10 Super New Years Activities and Traditions!

1.  New Year Pancakes!  I found this idea in family fun a few years ago and we love it!  We didnt get ours made on Saturday because we were traveling.  Since my hubby wont be around to protest, I think we will have them for dinner tomorrow!  (Last year we didnt have pancakes but we still made our 2010...)

2.  Make Resolutions as a family and as individuals.  I decorated a can a few years ago , similar to the boredom busters can, and we put our slips in there until next year when we can pull them out and see how we did.  I also put a list out on display so we remember what we are working on!

3.  Make a Fortune Tree with your Christmas tree.  This is a fun idea I found online, and by far, one of our favorites! 

I take a trip to the dollar store and find some funny things to fit into a small bag that will hang on the tree.  I make up a little New Year fortune to go with the items in the bag.  Let everyone choose a bag and then read their fortunes.  I got things like bubble gum, umbrellas, hawaiian punch mix, etc.  Then I wrote up a fortune like:  "In the coming year you will be bubbling over with great ideas and wisdom, you will find that there might be some storms you will have to wade through but over all you will be able to punch through and come out shining!"  I make each one different depending on what I can find at the store.  Most of us have probably taken down our trees by now but its not too late to do some 2011 mysterious fortune bags!

4.  Have everyone make a scrapbook page with their top memories from last year.  This is a fun time to reflect back on all of the things that happened over the year.  We go month by month and help our kids remember all the things that we did.  Then we let them use photos ( I am terrible at having these printed out) or drawings, ticket stubs,  art, mementos, etc to make an individual page.  They are saved  in a New Years binder book so you can reflect on them every year.  Ours are usually just simple drawings but they are still so fun to look back at!  And you will probably be surprised at the things your kids remember as the "Big Ones" of the year.

5.  Cookie and Confetti your neighbors.  When I was a teenager, we would shred newspaper by hand and throw handfuls of it into our neighbors homes as soon as they opened the door.  Now I am a little bit nicer.  We keep the confetti outside and bring some treats with it!

6.  Fondue and Finger Food!  This is a tradition from my sister in law, Jen.  We love it too!   Watch garage sales for the plug in fondue pots.  This is a yummy, cheap, and easy tradition!

7.  Midnight Snacks.  I found this tag idea over at tipjunkie.com last year and I thought it was so cute!  I just put some cookies an licorice into the bag and the kids got to eat them while we watched the ball drop in New York (10pm our time!) We used these with our kids but it would be fun at a grown up party too.  Dont forget the Bubbly Cider to toast with too!

8.  Also inspired by Family Fun, ask your kiddos some funny questions on video and ask them the same ones every year...here is our list but you can change them as they fit to your family.

~ I am lucky because....

~ If I had three wishes, they would be....
~ I'm a little afraid of....
~ I hope next year I get to…
~ I love it when Dad…
~ I love it when Mom…
~ It is so fun when we get to go…
~ I am a big helper when I…
~ I am really good at…
~ I hope…comes to visit us because…
~What is your favorite game, color, food, etc...

9.  Have a "Special Meal" associated with New Years.  Ours isn't at home, it is going out to a buffet.  We joke that it our last chance to stuff ourselves with all we want before our big "diet" begins.  Be sure to incorporate black eyed peas in whatever meal plans you make, as each one eaten is said to represent fortune for the coming year!

10.  Go Somewhere NEW!  Last year we went to the NEW In and Out burger, in Draper, UT, with Grandma and Grandpa.  It was new to the area and new to us! 

I hope these ideas inspire you to make some memories this month!! 

I love thinking that someday my kids will say:  "Oh I love (fill in the holiday) we always had so much fun!  We always (fill in the tradition)!"

Dont forget about the 15 day celebration of Chinese New Year Starting on February 3 in 2011...start shopping for your red underwear now!!