I almost can’t believe that “L” is now three months old. It seems like just yesterday I was still uber-prego and counting the days until her arrival. Now, I’m counting the days until Thanksgiving… and there aren’t many left. Autumn has always been my favorite time of year and Thanksgiving my favorite holiday. Why Thanksgiving over Christmas? Christmas has presents, snow (sometimes) and it’s own set of fabulous traditions. Don’t get me wrong, I love Christmas, but there’s just something about Thanksgiving that I absolutely adore. I love the weather at Thanksgiving. There is a crispness in the air that you don’t feel the rest of the year. I love the food at Thanksgiving. Turkey, stuffing, sweet potatoes and even cranberries feel like old friends you only see once a year… so you have to enjoy them while you can. But more than anything, I love the traditions that surround the holiday, and now that the hubby and I have entered into the world of parenthood, I hope to pass along some of the treasured traditions of my childhood to my little one.
Fave Tradition #1: Christmas Tree Cutting
I grew up in the Pacific Northwest and for as long as I can remember, my favorite Thanksgiving tradition was going Christmas Tree cutting. Either on Thanksgiving itself or the day after, my family would pack into our four- wheel drive trucks and take a drive into the mountains in search of the perfect Christmas Tree. Sometimes there would be snow. Sometimes not. Always there would be hot chocolate and yummy cookies that my grandma would bake. It’s a family tradition that I absolutely cherish. I haven’t gotten to go in years with my family… but I think of them every year out there in the mountains cutting down their tree. I hope in the years to come we’ll be able to start our own tradition of Christmas tree cutting with baby “L”.
Fave Tradition #2: Granny’s Bubble Bread
Growing up my great grandmother would make this wonderful yummy cinnamon and sugar bread every Thanksgiving. I remember anxiously awaiting her arrival with my cousins and keeping an eye on how much was left… so I could snag one more piece before it was all gone. I haven’t had it in years… so I think this year is the year to bring it back and make it for my family. Just the thought of it makes my mouth water and my heart warm a little thinking about my granny. Here’s a link to a bubble bread recipe… it’s not my granny’s, but it’s similar. Bubble Bread Recipe.
Fave Tradition #3: Decorating the House
This is something I started doing when my husband and I were first married. We typically spend Thanksgiving with his family and Christmas with mine. So on Thanksgiving morning before we go to his mom’s house, I start putting out my Christmas decorations. This year “L” will be too little to participate in decorating… but next year will be a different story. In fact, I suppose this year is my last year to hang ornaments low on the tree. By next Christmas we’ll have a little one toddling about and low hanging ornaments will be way too tempting. I suppose now is a good time to start looking for unbreakable ornaments. It’s also the time to start looking for a couple “Baby’s First Christmas” ornaments and decorations. I particularly like the Baby’s First Christmas Snow Globe that I found online at Target.com.
I look forward to sharing these traditions and many more with “L” as she grows.
So what are your favorite Thanksgiving traditions? Leave a comment below and let me know. Better yet… enter the Twitter Moms contest and share your “Three Favorite Family Thanksgiving Traditions“, you could win a $50 Target gift card!
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