[christyblue]

so whats it gonna be? i don't know what we are doing yet but i do plan on making a huge pot of chili.i am soooo craving it.
huggs
christy

[ChuppyGirl]

Well I dunno so far.. But you know guys it'll be my 5th wedding anniversary!! yes we got married on the new years eve! I just can't believe the time flys so fast!!! I still see myself as a newly wed hehehehe but with 2 kids ;P

I'm very grateful to God and pray for him to live longer with my loving passionate husband. Ohhh I love him so much and can't imagine my life without him

So gals, any creative ideas for 5th anniversary? you can PM me if you want to hehehehe

Love,
Hanadi

[Becca]

We are having friends over. They are brining their kids and the kids will have their own new years eve party, with games, toys movies, while we hang out and have fun.........I'm making some low fat/sugar free foods, and we will be playing some games. I feel the kids need a party too.......I think it might also be a sleep over so everyone is bringing a sleeping bag.........If eveyone stays, it will be 7 Adults, 7 kids from 2-13.......I have a 3 bedroom town house, so thats why i said bring sleeping bags LOL...........

Wes and i would go out but Matt has to work......I will have Cameron.....Wesleys kids (12-14yrs) will be fine home alone, but i cant leave Cameron with them........So we are doing it at home...........

Next year i really want to go to Time Square.......Or to the inner harbor Balitomore MD.......

But thats us, come on over and party with us...

[DocSanae]

Plenty of traditions here. And I mean plenty.
New Year's Eve calls for soba noodles, which symbolizes long life, then, there's a big TV song fest that pairs male and female singers for song matches, then the total is tallied for a team win. After that, there's the two year worship, going to a neighborhood shrine or temple and worshiping for the first time in the New Year. While waiting in line, the Buddhist temple bells will ring 108 times to cast out the 108 worldly temptations that plague us humans.
Come the morning, first, we toast with "toso" sweetend sake(Japanese alcohol) spiced with an herb okay, this is a very expensive laquered set, ours is more like the following ,
then we eat special New Year food (this is for the entire family for Jan 1 through Jan 3, not one serving for one person)that includes a special soup that differs with regions, it's either miso based or clear soup, but always with "mochi" rice cake in it. Then, people troup off to the local shrine or temple if they hadn't gone on New Year's Eve. Families gather at their parents' homes, and children get special New Year allowances. Traditional play like kites and tops and a game thats somewhat like badminton, only with wood paddles, card games, board games, etc etc.

Or, a quiet 3 days (New Year holiday is Jan 1-3 here, with most people off from Dec 28-31 as well for the end of year holidays) if one prefers.

I'll probably be joining friends at a Jazz club after I finish household chores on New Year's Eve, will go to my mother's on Jan 1 as my brother will be coming also, on Jan 2 go to a shrine that I often accompanied my father on New Year, then on the 3rd, I intend to visit my father's grave since it's his birthday.
Then it's back to work on Jan 4.

[fr1endly2]

WHAT lovely celebrations!

I plan to try to stay up till midnight!!!! and just enjoy the night with the kids.........i gather we will play family Nintendo wii games, and if you havent tried its quite the workout! I love the boxing!!!

LOVE those traditions doc~
happy new year to all

[Pillows]

I am going to try to avoid getting urinated on by anyone else at Times Square this year. Okay so I admit the whole no bathroom thing makes me nervous, but I am willing to tough it out to have this experience this year. Can't wait to tell ya all how it goes and hopefully have pictures to accompany it.

[mike]

Well, I do believe I am just going to sit home alone and watch the new year come in. I think the kids are going to be gone that night. Maybe pop in a movie or two and just veg. out. I just hope and pray that the coming year brings alot more good things than bad. It has just been a year I tell ya. Yet, another resolution I have made is to not live in the past anymore. The future is my main site right now, and only going to make it a good one. I LOVED READING THESE SO FAR. I hope there are more to come. HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE AND GOD BLESS!
mike

[ChuppyGirl]

Wow DocSanae,
this is really lovely feast preparation, thanks I'm learning more and more about the Japanese culture and this is really interesting. I like very much how you take care of the nifty details in your food OMG it's a piece of art not a tray or a soup bowl. I bet you don't have any over weight problem in your culture if your food portion's size is that small!!! and I guess people would visually enjoy the food before their stomaches enjoy the fullness sensation. I'm sure it's tasty too.
I guess your main dish is fish or sea food in general? Well I'm not really a seafood person, I may eat tuna salad maybe once every 2 months. But I ate it here in leeds more often because I can't eat any other meat since it's not butchered the Islamic way but seafood is no problem in Islam.
So do you do other types of food like the Chinese they also do honey ducks which is yummi! I tried it long time ago I liked it so much.

I like the idea that you start your year with a worship this is very spiritual. Good luck with your new years plan. please send my good prayers to you dads soul.

Happy new year
Love,
Hanadi