Thanksgiving Traditions

With such a young family--we've only been doing this family thing for five years-- we are still in the process of figuring out the things that stick and things that just don't work for us anymore than one year. Here are some tried and true (T&T) and some other traditions that may or may not make it (new):

~ Going to the Christmas tree farm and decorating our Christmas tree on Black Friday (T&T)

~ The girls all make a Cherry Pie with daddy on Thanksgiving Eve while watching a family-friendly movie. We then eat the left over crust that's been baked and sprinkled with cinnamon and sugar (T&T)

~ Hot cocoa... it always starts making its way into our tummies this time of year (T&T)

~ Designing a 'Thankful' collage as a family (new)

~ Watching Christmas Vacation the night of Black Friday (T&T)

~ Perusing the Thanksgiving ads with my mom, husband, sister, daughters (whoever is sitting with me at that moment) the evening of Thanksgiving. (T&T)

~ We each pick out an ornament every year (usually on Thanksgiving Eve)-- we try to make these ornaments symbolize a stage or interest for the year, but sometimes they are just pretty/cute/fitting (T&T)

~ If my sister's not in town, then I may or may not hit the stores on Black Friday---I usually end up heading out **late** according to other shoppers but I consider it **early** to be shopping at 7 am (T&T)

~ Or course we celebrate the day with a feast... or several feasts. We always go to my husband's Aunt's house and also to my momma's house. Both offer up the great, traditional Thanksgiving fare: Turkey, stuffing, sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes, some kind of corn dish, green bean casserole, rolls, salads (fruit and lettuce varieties), several appetizers that vary from year to year, tons of pies, some fudge, pudding, and brownies (at least this year there were brownies because I brought them)!

And speaking of Thanksgiving fare, I'm headed out to my momma's house right now to settle in for our feast and a little KU/MU football. Bring on the good eats and a Jayhawk win (Hey, I can wish, right?)!