After living through the threat of a tornado not so long ago, it is really easy to sit back and see how much we have to be thankful for. We are thankful for family, our home, our friends, our community, food, clothing, shelter and all the extras. My heart goes out to all those affected by the tragedy that hit so close to home only a few weeks ago. I was very relieved to get texts and calls from loved ones living close to where the tornado touched down reassuring me they were alright. Although there is lots of clean up and rebuilding to be done we can be grateful that there were few injuries in the crazy storm that hit us so quickly.
Ever since I can remember Thanksgiving has been my favourite holiday. To me there is nothing better than spending time with family while enjoying a delicious feast. Here are some ideas to make this Thanksgiving extra special.
Fun family traditions
A visit to the pumpkin patch can be a lot of fun. Let the kids pick their own pumpkins, go on a hay ride, get lost in a corn maze and enjoy some hot apple cider.
Decorate the house for Thanksgiving with fall items made by the kids. Collect pinecones to make a wreath, or make leaf rubbings out of interesting leaves found on the ground.
Check out an apple orchard, pick some apples.
Check out a book or two about Thanksgiving from the local library.
Write a list of everything you are thankful for this year. It can be a lot of fun to read what the kids come up with. You can even save them to look at in years to come.
Make pie. Pumpkin pie is a traditional favourite this time of year. Kids can have a lot of fun helping roll out the dough for the crust and mixing the filling. Here is a simple recipe for a delicious pumpkin pie:
Mix 1 can pumpkin, 1 can sweetened condensed milk, 2 eggs and 2 tsp pumpkin pie spice in a bowl. Pour into your favourite pie crust. Bake at 425°F for 15 minutes, then reduce heat to 350°F for an additional 35-40 minutes. Cool, top with whipping cream and enjoy.
Thanksgiving crafts
I can’t help but go a little craft crazy when there’s a holiday. Thanksgiving crafts can make your home look festive, and are a hit when given out at holiday dinners.
An easy craft for all ages, including babies, is a hand and foot print turkey. Paint your child’s hands in red/orange/yellow and stamp them on a paper with pinky fingers touching – these are the feathers. Paint one foot brown and stamp it in the centre, toes facing down – this will be the body. Draw on two eyes in black marker and an orange beak, or glue on googly eyes for an extra touch.
Another fun idea is a gratitude turkey. Make a turkey body by cutting out construction paper or by using a toilet paper roll. Cut large feathers out of coloured construction paper. On each feather have your child write one thing they are thankful for.
For older kids come up with a way to show you’re thankful for someone in your community. Brainstorm simple gestures you could do to show others they mean something to you, and follow through on the idea. Bake some cookies for the bus driver, make a cup of hot chocolate for the mail carrier/deliverer, bake a pie for grandma, rake the leaves for your neighbour… It feels good to do something kind for others and really warms hearts.
Interesting
Thanksgiving facts
1. The first Thanksgiving was in 1578 when Sir Martin Frobisher, an English explorer, celebrated his arrival to the New World;
2. Thanksgiving became a national holiday in 1872;
3. In 1957, Thanksgiving was changed to the second Monday of October;
4. Thanksgiving comes from ancient festivities in Europe that celebrated the harvest and having enough food to survive the winter;
5. During Thanksgiving Canadians consume enough bread to cover 31 hockey rinks and enough pumpkin to cover 16 CFL football fields.
We at The Parents’ Voice are so incredibly thankful for all of the community support we have received and all of the wonderful families who come to our events and make what we do possible! Thank you all.
We have some amazing fall programming coming up, including art workshops, lego, music, dance (in the winter), Christmas party, story time, acrodance, Shawville Shenanigans and more.
