Quad-Cities children received their New Year's celebration early Monday at Bettendorf's Family Museum.

The 2013 kick off happened at noon rather than midnight, but the kids did not seem to mind. Hundreds of children and their parents filled the museum's first floor, like a human-sized anthill overflowing. 

Along with the museum's usual exhibits in all their hands-on glory were games, music, party hats, noisemakers and -- of course -- confetti. 

Sprinkled among it all were the ever-present sounds of laughter, shrieks, noisemakers and musical instruments. There also were a lot of "things" -- some that made smoke, some that made light, some to be pushed and pulled, and some to be crawled over, under and through.

"It's actually really great," Amanda Overton, of Carbon Cliff, said as she and her daughter, Allison, took a break near a wall. "We come every year. The kids really like it."

Mrs. Overton -- whose husband, Jon, and son Logan, 4, were also there -- said there were more activities this time than in previous years.

"And they're all kid-friendly," she said. "That's the best part about it."

Allison, 7,  insisted she did not know what she had planned for 2013. But she said she liked the face painting at Monday's event which left her cheek with a flower or star burst.

Lance Holloway, 6, was certain what he was looking forward to in 2013.

"Oh, basketball. Basketball," said Lance, who was at the museum with his brothers, his mother, his aunt and his cousins. He also said he wants to do well in school.

Moments before noon, the museum staff crowded the mezzanine above the main floor as the crowd milled thick below them. When the clock hit 12, staffers launched confetti into air, showering everyone with strips of multi-colored confetti.

Lance quickly forgot about basketball and began jumping into the air, trying to grab the confetti before it hit the ground. He was joined by his brothers and cousins.

"Confetti! Confetti!" he shouted. "Yay!"