Thanksgiving Week 2011

Pumpkins on my porch, your days are numbered.

Turkeys decorating my window, welcome.

To those of you who bemoan the rapidly approaching holiday season, be warned.  

T has been secretly playing his new Christmas music for about a week.

It is hard to believe, but Thanksgiving is only a few days away.

We can't wait!

Bring on the turkeys!

E-Bear and G-Bear have done a great job getting us ready for Thanksgiving this year.  We have them to thank for our turkey and harvest decorations that currently adorn our home.  Last year, I enjoyed making our "Thankful Turkey" so much, that we have continued the tradition this year.  This time around, G-Bear and E-Bear each made their own "Thankful Turkey," and each day we add to our turkey in honor of something that we are thankful for.  I must say, our turkeys are already handsomely plumed!  

Thanksgiving party snacks

Both E-Bear and G-Bear have Thanksgiving celebrations on Monday. We are in charge of bringing snacks, so I was thrilled to find the following creative, fun, and yet simple ideas from One Charming Party and Family Fun Magazine.  Thanks to the great ideas below, our party snack menu will be popcorn, cheese cubes and fruit!

 The easy tutorial for the paper bag turkey can be found here, courtesy of One Charming Party.

Meanwhile, you can find tutorials for the "Fruit Gobbler" at Family Fun Magazine,

along with variation #1, "Fruit and Veggie Gobbler"

and variation #2, "Gobble Me Up."

We are going to be happy snackers at the party on Monday!  What awesome ideas!

Thankful Placemats

One final craft will help us get in the spirit: Thankful Placemats. For the craft, start with a large piece (11x17) of colored construction paper for the placemat.  Glue an 8x11 piece of thick stock paper in the middle, where the kids can write or draw things for which they are thankful.  Then, raid piles of old magazine, junk mailings and newspapers and cut out pictures of things for which you are giving thanks and glue them onto the placemat.  I love this one, because G-Bear and E-Bear can pick out the pictures and clue them on themselves.  Now they each have a special, personalized placemat to use at the Thanksgiving meal!  

What a great holiday.  Have a wonderful time counting your blessings this Thanksgiving!