Looking for some simple and fun Thanksgiving ideas?
Here are some of our family's traditions that have helped us slow down and enjoy time together.
Sign your kids, ages 9-17 up for Thanksgiving Sewing Camp at Bumblebunch Studio in Rancho Cucamonga during the Thanksgiving break. They will make a cute fall apron and a reversible holiday table runner for your Thanksgiving and winter holiday celebrations. Who knows, they may find their new hobby!
Make this Grateful sign with a blank canvas and vinyl decal! Super simple and looks great on your mantle. If you don’t have a machine that cuts your own vinyl, you can find cute ones on Etsy.
Who doesn’t love games? Every year we get the kids together for games before and after dinner time. Thanksgiving Bingo is an annual tradition at our house. Dollar store items and spare dollars and change have become some of the most coveted prizes.
The kids love this tradition and we love the ease of putting it together. I can’t remember where we got our Thanksgiving Bingo set but this cute set from Homegrown Learners on Pinterest has a free download!
Start your own gratitude tablecloth with your family this Thanksgiving season. All you need is a white cotton tablecloth, some permanent markers, and gratitude! We bring the tablecloth out each November and gather as a family over a special meal to think about what we are most thankful for over the past year, and then write what we're thankful for on the tablecloth, along with our names and the year. It's so much fun to take out year after year to see what we wrote from years past.
Create this fun and simple Thanksgiving craft that can be used as a centerpiece, decor or name place cards.
This is the cutest game I found on Etsy this year and had to share. It’s an M&M’s turkey game that we are adding to our games on Thanksgiving. Get an instant download for just $3.95 at the MeckMom Etsy Shop.
The week before Thanksgiving each family starts collecting “Grateful for...” jar. Then on Thanksgiving we all combine the grateful notes and we read them at the table. Then the best part is trying to guess who wrote each one. It’s a great way to have a fun dinner time activity going that doesn’t take any effort.
Next to the turkey, this recipe is the highlight of our family's Thanksgiving meal. I found this recipe over 15 years ago in a Taste of Home magazine which has now become our family’s most requested dish (by the kids) during the holidays. Try it this Thanksgiving. You won’t be disappointed!
Ingredients
3 cups cold mashed sweet potatoes (prepared without milk or butter)
1 cup of sugar
1/2 cup milk
1/4 cup butter or margarine softened
3 eggs
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Topping
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup chopped pecans
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons cold butter or margarine
Directions: In a mixing bowl, beat cold mashed sweet potatoes, sugar, milk, butter, eggs, salt, and vanilla until smooth. Transfer to a greased 2qt baking dish.
In a small bowl, combine brown sugar, pecans, and flour; cut in butter until crumbly. Sprinkle over potato mixture.
Bake, uncovered, at 325 degrees for 45-50 minutes or until golden brown. Makes 8-10 servings
