DECATUR – It is common for people to reflect on the past year on New Year’s Eve, and to make a promise to make the next year even better.
Those resolutions come in all shapes and forms, unique to that individual person.
Lukas Merriman is no exception.
“I want to eat more food next year,” he said.
The 6-year-old kept his resolution simple as he and hundreds of other children and their families helped bring in the New Year a little bit early Thursday afternoon at the Children’s Museum of Illinois for the annual Happy Noon Year event.
Most kids have trouble staying awake until midnight for the traditional countdown to New Year's Day, said museum Executive Director Kate Flemming. The Noon Year celebration, a tradition at the museum, is a way for children and parents to enjoy it together.
“This helps the kids so they don’t feel like they’re being left out at night,” she said. “They get to enjoy the fun and festivity of New Year’s Eve.”
Children could make crafts from noisemakers to sand art, have their pictures taken at the photo booth, dance at the upstairs disco and play at all the regular museum attractions.
But the main attraction for many children was the annual balloon drop, when several hundred balloons and ping pong balls were dropped at noon.
Though there was a lack of champagne corks popping and other New Year’s Eve traditions, the museum was filled with the combined music of the traditional “Auld Lang Syne” and balloons being popped with feverish delight.
Those balloons not being popped were hoarded by many children to take home.
Charlotte McCurdy carried several balloons with her as she left the museum. The 8-year-old said she wanted to take the balloons home for her siblings who were "too big and cool" to attend Thursday's event.
She remembers 2015 as a time of surprises, such as a Disney Cruise Line trip and a Notre Dame football game, and hopes to make 2016 even better.
“I want to get my mom to stop drinking McDonald’s Diet Cokes,” she said, as her mother, Lori, laughed in appreciation. “I want to have really nice times and not have as many bad times.”
For Lori McCurdy, she said it was great to have a fun and safe way to celebrate the new year with her daughter.
“It’s wonderful; this way we can get to bed at 10 p.m.,” she said with a laugh.
Other such as 7-year-old Cindi Schaffer made sure that no acquaintances or family members be forgot in her resolution.
“I want to be a better sister if I can for my little brother,” she said.
While the children were enjoying themselves with the various activities at the museum, Kathy Merriman was among the parents who said it had a long-term goal, too.
“This helps get it out of the system, so (adults) can have some fun later,” she said.
As for her son’s resolution to eat more food, Merriman was optimistic Lukas could achieve it.
“I think he’ll succeed there,” she said.
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