The Children's Museum of Houston has LOTS of fun, new events during the month of January, which includes "Going Retro" this week.

Check their calendar for more details.

Let's face it... before children New Year's Eve meant going out and partying until well after midnight without a care in the world. The only planning was who you were with and where you were going.

After children New Year's Eve brings with it a few obstacles, which also brings with it more planning.

Hopefully FreckleTown will give you some ideas that will turn your evening into a fun family time, whether you decide to ring in the New Year with your children or you decide to enjoy a night out.

Want to go out?

• Hire a sitter from SeekingSitters. The sitters are reliable, energetic and will keep your children entertained. Your children will have a great time while you enjoy a night out.
• Don't have the money for a sitter? Why not organize a party with other couples in the same situation and let the kids have a sleep-over upstairs while the parents party downstairs.
• Take your kids to Adventure Kids Playcare New Year's Eve Party. 7pm - 2am. More details on their calendar. They will have fun and so will you!
• Need an overnight option? Katy Kips New Year's Eve Slumber Party will have just what you need.

Want to Party with your children?

• If you have young children, why not celebrate at New Year's Noon at The Children's Museum? That way your children can enjoy New Year's but they can also go to bed and then you and your significant other can enjoy a quiet evening.
• Purchase a new game for each child and throughout the night open one and play it awhile.
• Organize a scavenger hunt all around the Katy area.
• Purchase silly string to spray each other at midnight.
• Have all kinds of noise makers and let the kids decide on the snacks and food for the evening.
• Allow each child to choose a favorite movie from RedBox and have a movie marathon.
• Purchase various art projects and enjoy ringing in the New Year being creative. Some ideas: pottery, foam crafts, sculpting clay, paints, etc.

Christmas is not gifts, food, parties, lights and stress.

Why not celebrate the true meaning of Christmas with your family? Katy offers many Christmas Eve Worship services.

This list is not at all complete, but gives you an idea of what is available. From singing to candlelight there is definitely a service that will fit your busy Christmas Eve schedule.

Take time to reflect and rest and enjoy a "Silent Night".

• The Fellowship at Cinco Ranch: Friday, Dec 24 at 6pm & 7:30pm
  For the past 17 years hundreds of families have gathered under the stars on Christmas Eve singing Christmas carols and celebrating God's love by candlelight.This year the services will be inside.
  
• Second Baptist Woodway Campus: Friday, Dec. 24 at 4pm or 6pm- Worship Center
  You, your family and friends are invited to a Christmas Eve Candlelight Service at the West Campus Worship Center. There will be a message, Christmas music, including singing along to Christmas carols, a children's nativity and the lighting of thousands of candles. Please join us for this special worship service that celebrates the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ.
• Covenant Lutheran Church: Friday, Dec 24 at 7pm or 11pm
  Join us for carols, candlelight and communion as we celebrate the birth of Jesus.
• St. Matthias Anglican Church: Friday, Dec 24 at 7pm
  The service includes a children’s pageant, starting at 7 p.m., followed by the service of Holy Communion. Refreshments and fellowship to follow in the parish hall.
• Westland Baptist Church: Friday, Dec 24 at 6:30pm
  Candelelight service on Christmas Eve featuring Christmas carols, the telling of the Christmas story and more.
• Grace Fellowship Church: Friday, Dec 24 at 4pm, 6pm, or 8pm. Also a "Christmas Eve-Eve" especially for kids: 4:30pm - Extreme family fun, 6:30 Christmas service kids style
• St. Paul’s Episcopal Church: Friday, Dec 24 at 7pm or 10pm
  With Christmas carols, candles, the Word and Sacrament, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church is set to celebrate Christmas the Anglican way this year. They will close out the service with our tradition of singing Silent Night by candlelight, and this promises to be a great music experience using new media of renouned pipe organist John Keyes of Nottingham, England. They are asking folks to bring goodies for fellowship between the services in the parish hall. Just bring something sweet that you would like to share!
• First United Methodist Church of Katy: Friday, Dec 24 at 4pm - Candlelight with children & families. 6pm - Candlelight & Communion with the Festival Choir. 9pm - Candlelight & Communion with The Celebration Singers Reunion Choir
• Kingsland Baptist Church: Dec 24 at 3:30pm, 4:45pm, 6pm or 7pm
• Fellowship Bible Church: Dec 24 at 5:00pm
• Katy Christian Community Church: Dec 24 at 7:30pm. No childcare.
• Victory of the Lamb: Dec 24 at 7pm Christmas Eve candlelight service.
• First Baptist Church of Katy: Dec 24 at 4pm and 5:30pm. Candlelight services.
• Family Life Assembly of God: Dec 24 at 6pm. An annual tradition of reflection and worship. The sanctuary glows beautifully by the numerous candles that accentuate the poinsettias. Bring the entire family!
• The Vineyard Church of Katy: Dec 24 at 7pm
  Join us as we gather for a short worship service before we go in groups to minister to emergency personnel and people working on Christmas Eve.
  We will leave from The [Link] and take fresh-baked cookies to workers in our area. Please bring tins with 12 cookies in each container. Children are welcome but there will be no childcare. Bring the kids with you!
• Redeember Community Church: Dec 24 at 5pm
• Current... A Christian Church: Dec 24 at 4pm or 6pm
  Create a special family memory and start a Christmas tradition by being a part of our special Christmas Eve services.
• Thrive Church: Dec. 23rd & 24th: The Christmas Revolution. Your family will laugh and enjoy holiday music, exciting performances and an epic look at the greatest story ever told. Guarantee your seat by coming early and bring a friend! Friday at 7:30pm at Westlake, Saturday at 6:00pm & 7:30pm at Westlake
  *In all three services, we will be collecting gently used and new coats of all sizes for the homeless and underprivileged children
• Living Word Lutheran Church: Dec 24 at 2pm - Christmas Carol Service, 4pm - Celebration for children, 7 & 10pm Candlelight Service
• Memorial Lutheran Church: Dec 24 at 6pm or 8pm. Candlelight Communion Service
• Life Church of Katy: Dec 24 at 6pm. Candlelight service- candles, carrols and communion.
• Crosspoint Community Church: Dec 24 at 3pm, 5pm, or 7pm
• Cornerstone Evangelical Presbyterian Church: Dec 24 at 6pm
  Join us Christmas eve for a candlelight service. We’ll enjoy the Christmas story and Christmas hymns and conclude with a Silent Night to candlelight. Come by the pastor’s open house afterward for cookies and fellowship!