Although Spooky Week is one of my most favorite times of the year. I must say that the Thanksgiving Season and Day is pretty high on my list too. There is no better day to make everyone really stop and appreciate exactly how blessed we are. Well at least that is how my family uses this season and day.
Starting 7 years ago Hubby and I laid out a schedule (I know this is no surprise me and a plan). I'm sure many of you have the challenges of "picking" a family or side for each Holiday. WELL after many many many days of discussing him and I created what we think is the best of all (at least for us). Christmas Eve is always with his family (I will share more of the Christmas layout in a different blog), Easter we rotate years his side of the family and then mine. Yes, it is possible to do breakfast with one and dinner with another but with the 1 1/2hr drive each way that's 3 hrs in the car to see his family alone its really alot of added stress and normally turns out to just be tired and upset all around. We try to see the family who has the "off year" either Good Friday or Holy Saturday. Thanksgiving.... well as ALL know we LOVE the kitchen. Hubby was a chef back in the day about 15 years ago and cooking and making a mess is a hobby to him. I locked it in as Thanksgiving will always be at our house!
Yes, this was a HUGE fight and unfortunately sometimes it still stirs up trouble, but sometimes as a parent you stand your ground this is the one holiday I can lock in traditions how we want. The rule for Thanksgiving is our door is always open! We don't mind if ALL sides of the family from both sides come or if it is just us. We are so grateful to God for having the roof over our heads, the food we eat each day, that all the extra visitors throughout the years are considered even extra blessings when we get them.
We were blessed with Jasons parents and sisters family coming over for Thanksgiving this year. First Thanksgiving at our house with them and it was our FIRST holiday hosting at the new house.
So I mentioned Thanksgiving traditions let's dig in....
* We have been so lucky enough to be chosen by an Elf on the Shelf each Thanksgiving morning our family member Elbie the Elf makes his annual appearance to stay for the next month and he does something different EVERYDAY from this day until Christmas Eve.
* As a couponer you could only expect I am a shop til you drop Black Friday Shopper. Although you can start to find out sales and deals ahead of time and I am highly disappointed lately that stores open soooooo early it is really starting to take away from it BUT you really do get some great deals. Plus this is a tradition in itself that I go just us girls with my Mom and Sister, coffees in hand and our Plan of Actions (POAs).
* Hubby makes the dinner and I do the appetizers (crafty and cute of course)
* We always watch the movie Willow.... I know this movie has NOTHING to do with Thanksgiving but I'm laying out the traditions and this is on the things to do list we started years ago.
* Chef Dadda makes most of the desserts ahead of time which helps with the day of (yet again another tradition to always assist in baking the few days ahead of time).
* My favorite of all... we ALWAYS do a "Give Thanks" activity and craft. Each year I make the craft a little different but the main focus is for everyone to reflect what they are thankful that year and in life. I have saved all submissions from everyone and plan (one day) to make a memory book of all of the answers.
This year we were blessed with the first time Thanksgiving Day visit from Grandma and Grandpa Reseigh and the Neeb Family (Chef Dadda's sister). It was a wonderful and rather relaxing day and evening!
I love moments that are captured like this!
I have the kids working on a Thanksgiving madlib (lame me I know having them work and learn but it was actually silly and fun).
So cute! I made Pilgrim Hat (hot dog bites), pumpkin shaped deviled eggs, a Turkey Shaped cheese Ball (crackers and pretzels as the feathers) and a "garden" of pumpkins (little carrots in hummus spread in far back behind cheeseball).
Fantastic job Chef Dadda!!! (May I add yes I have all dishes caught up and cleaned slight OCD that I follow him with a sponge).
Super excited to add it to the perfect family day traditions!!!
