Thankful Ideas

I've been so excited for Thanksgiving...I have no clue what we're doing this year, but I love a traditional "Hershock" Thanksgiving meal and sharing it with my family.  Since we no longer live near our families, we'll figure out something.

I have been coming up with some fun ideas to do around our house to celebrate Thanksgiving and all that it means.  Riley has a family tree that is due next week and I decided that I like the idea of using a tree and instead of leaves for family members, we will include what we are thankful for on each leaf.

I got the idea from here at Roots and Wings Co :

If you want something more for your kids to create, you could do something like this one from Crafts By Amanda :

Kendall and I have already done a masterpiece like the one posted on Room Mom 101 :

Another one that I may consider is to create a "thankful" garland like this one from Blogging With Us :

Here are some other blogs containing fun ideas for you to use to celebrate Thanksgiving with your family:

Learning Development Activities

Tip Junkie

Sometimes I feel like Thanksgiving gets overlooked these days.  I don't remember such a fuss over Halloween when I was a kid...maybe it had something to do with growing up in the Bible Belt of Pennsylvania...maybe it was because our parents didn't spend money like it was going out of style and we just didn't go crazy with decorations and parties...who knows.  But as a kid I have fonder memories of Thanksgiving than of Halloween.  Maybe it was because Thanksgiving meant aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents, my Nanny's famous family recipe for dried corn, pumpkin pie, football, etc.  My Nanny's house was always warm from all the bodies crammed into her little house and the smells of food that was cooking all day in preparation for the big meal.  The same smells now take me back to those days.

I know the stores all have their Christmas stuff out already and some of my neighbors will be putting up their lights soon, but I'm pretty firm on not digging out the Christmas decorations until Black Friday - or at least that weekend.  We typically decorate a tree that weekend too so we can enjoy it longer, but I don't like how people forget about being thankful for everything God has given us.

It's a wonderful holiday to remember all that we have in our lives, people who love us, a roof over our heads, a steady income and healthy family members.  My family has been so blessed over the years and will make an effort even if it's during half time of the Dallas game (If Andy can even stand to WATCH the game after the season they've been having!  Ha!  Sorry, Babe, but as an avid Eagles fan, I'm loving it!) to make sure that we share all that we are thankful for this year.

I hope you find time this Thanksgiving to remember what you are thankful for...