New Years Eve

Every year on New Years Eve, our whole family on my mother's side get together at one of my Aunt and Uncle's house. We all bring a dish to pass and have a big feast and enjoy celebrating the new year with each other. In past years we used to doing crafts and such, games, karaoke and just enjoy each other. We play so many games, one that includes putting on oven mitts, a hat and trying to unwrap a gift that is tapped shut all the way around. You can not punch the box or use anything else then your hands in the oven mitts. It's such a fun game, everyone gets so into it and starts screaming when it comes their time to unwrap the gift, the trick of the game is that person to the right of you is rolling dice trying to get the number they are given before the game, once they get the number they were given then the person trying to unwrap the gift, gives the person to their left the gift, oven mitts, and hat, then try rolling their number with the dice. The game gets so intense and rather loud. Usually the gifts include something that is gender friendly. We also play bingo and Scattegories. With about 3 minutes until the ball drops we all huddle into the living room around the TV with our Champagne, Sparking Champagne, and wine. Right after the ball drops, and after we toast and make our new years resolution we all run around the house in the snow bare footed. It's rather weird, but it is so much fun. Our family has a ball doing this and have done the same tradition since we have started it about 8 years ago.

The idea of running around the house in our bare feet came from one of our family friends Anne. Anne is from California, and met my aunt on a cruise once. Every since she has been considered in our family and always comes out for New Years Eve. However this year she is coming out for Christmas also which will be exciting. Anne is a blast and always makes everyone laugh. She for instance pronounces "fitty" instead of fifty. So when G50 is called in Bingo it is always "G-fitty". Our family has picked up on it, and always chimes in when it is called. My family can be overwhelming when it comes to family gathering's or just in general, but I wouldn't trade them for the world. They mean a lot to me and always are making sure everyone's okay and everyone is having a good time. I am very excited for Christmas and New Years this year, I can not wait for the whole extravaganza. I have to be back the 1st of January for hockey, which is really putting a damper on my New Years Eve, but the love I have for the game is too strong for me to give it up.