Ah, New Year’s Eve. For as long as I can remember, my preferred way to ring in the new year has been at home, with a movie and an endless stream of finger foods. Pigs in blankets, pizza rolls, chicken nuggets, mozzarella sticks, chips & dip, and Granny’s punch. It’s scary how excited I get about my night of gluttony.
Strangely, though, I’m really not in the mood for all of that this year. I’m not going so far as to give up my little hot dogs, but I’m skipping the rest of it, and I’m not planning on grazing throughout the night like I usually do. Instead, I told everyone they could pick their favorite easy/snacky/finger-foody “meal” and I would make it for them for supper. Our feast consisted of my pigs in blankets, Neil’s nachos, Aidan’s mini peanut-butter sandwiches with pretzels, tortilla chips & M&M’s inside, and Eamonn’s pretzels dipped in cream cheese. Now I’m plenty full, with four hours to go until Midnight. I’m sure there is a little snack in my future, but it’s nothing compared to the usual pig-fest that happens here on New Year’s Eve.
We’re allowing both boys to stay up to ring in 2008 if they can make it that long. Before that we’re planning on dimming the lights and watching Ratatouille in an effort to induce some pre-midnight sleep in our littlest members who may not be willing to admit they are too tired to stay up 
Eamonn has a tendency to snuggle in to me and fall asleep during movie nights, when it’s nice and dark and cozy.
Happy New Year to all of you!
