2010 New Year Celebrations

After the Christmas party, my friends started to plan for the New Year’s eve party. Hubb and I debated for some time whether to take Bryan and Dylan to the party since it is a school day and Dylan will usually be tired by 8pm-ish.

In the end we decided to welcome the New Year as a family. We would take the kids to the party and see how it goes. If the boys got tired, we’ll go home after dinner.

There were a few venue suggestions for the celebrations. Chilli’s at downtown Gurney or TGIF at Queensbay Mall, which is nearer to our home. In the end, we decided to go to TGIF because Chilli’s do not allow reservations on that day. Since it was a big group (12 adults + 4 kids), we do not want to take the risks.

We head straight to QBM straight after picking the kids up from daycare. We were afraid of traffic jam, and no carparks. But traffic was clear. Since our dinner arrangement was at 7pm, we took the boy to the “compulsory” spot first…Borders & Toys R Us. I even fed the boys some char siu paus as they complained that they were hungry already… (yeah, even lil Dylan). Luckily I had brought some paus as backup (in case the kids won’t eat the TGIF food)

There were no Kids Eat Free offer at TGIF that day, and they only have limited menu on that day, and everything cost Rm10-RM15 more that day. What a bummer!

Since their portions are usually huge, we decided that the boys will just share what we have. Hubb and I ordered the Jack Daniels Grilled Chicken and a Jack Daniels Burger.

Dylan had mostly fries, bits of bread and some chicken while Bryan had almost half of hubb’s burger patties, some chicken, fries and bread. It wasn’t really a healthy meal for them (esp Dylan) but we had to compromise each time we take them out to eat.

Before dinner, both my boys were quite shy. But after the fuel up, they warm up to my friends’ kids. The TGIF staff gave them each a balloon. And before long, the kids were busy having fun with the balloons. Throwing and catching balloon.

We were lucky to have a table near the corner with some space. So the kids gathered at that corner to play. A few of us adults have to help watch over the balloons to make sure that they don’t fly to the other guests table. A few times, it actually did. But luckily everyone is in a celebratory mood, and the guests will usually happily throw the balloon back to us.

When the kids got bored of the balloon throwing, I took out some coloring books & coloring pencils, and that continued to keep them entertained.

At about 9pm-ish, Dylan started to show signs of tiredness. Hubb asked him if he wants to sleep and then carried him in his arms. Dylan laid his head on hubb’s shoulder. Hubb pat pat pat his back and in almost no time, Dylan was fast asleep…Awww….it was such a sweet sight for me.

Since Bryan was having a lot of fun with his new friends, we decided to continue to stick around. Afterall Dylan was napping. We doubt he’ll nap for long and we hope the power nap will help to power him right past midnight for the countdown.

We left TGIF around 930 and went to JCo donuts. We ordered more drinks and Jco yogurt and continued the “lepak” session there. The kids continued their coloring sessions there and Dylan continued his power nap.

We decided to hang out at Jco until 12mn for the fireworks. There was a concert right outside the mall, and there were a few sponsors handing out free party packs. So the adults went out and got some for the kids to play with. So the kids continued their “party”…It was such fun to see them play.

Dylan woke up about an hour later…refreshed and ready to join the older kids to play.

At 12mn, we walked outside for the fireworks. It was not as great as I expected but Bryan enjoyed it very much. Dylan was a bit scared and kept asking me to take him back indoors.

We left after the fireworks. We reached home around 12:45mn, gave the kids their shower and milk. Both are still super charged from the activity with no signs of tiredness. I had a hard time convincing Bryan that it was too late for story books and that he had to go straight to bed. But as soon as the lights go off, both kids were in dreamland already.

I realized later that I had not been to a countdown party for at least 7/8 years. It was a really meaningful countdown for me as we welcomed it as a family.

I am really glad that I decided to bring the boys along. Everyone had so much fun. Nothing is happier for me than to watch my 2 boys having fun. And to share that with my wonderful husband and good friends….Priceless!

Happy Belated New Year everybody!