Celebrating New Year's with kids

Many kids are sitting at home with a sitter while their parents make the party rounds to ring in the New Year. But a select few of us are staying home with the kids - by choice - and planning a fun night in.

Are you foregoing the social obligations to watch the ball drop from the comfort of your couch? You're not alone. Here are a few ways you can still be festive about New Year's Eve while still staying home as a family.

Get Fancy
Last year, our whole family dressed up in our nicest suits, tuxes, and party dresses for a Hollywood theme night in our living room. We served sparkling apple cider to toast with, and had so much fun being ritzy and glam in the privacy of our own home. Even the teenagers got in on it!

Get Kitchen Creative
Break out all those odd ingredients you have hiding in your cabinets, and use this last night of 2012 to make up some inventive dishes with the kids. Who knows, some of them might even be edible!

Family Game Night
You know all those board games that are taking up space in your closet? How about taking them down and playing them? Even an old deck of playing cards can turn into a fun game of Go Fish - or even a chance to teach the kids how to play a proper game of poker. Or just play an old-fashioned game of charades or freeze dance. What better way to kill time before midnight?

Do you stay in for New Year's? How do you celebrate with the family?