Thanksgiving is quickly approaching! Do you know what your plans are yet? It’s okay if you don’t, I’m still piecing together my schedule too.

It can be difficult to be with everyone for a holiday but try your best to simply enjoy the day!

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Thanksgiving Memories

The smell of turkey cooking, the sound of family chatter, music in the background, the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade on the TV, and the taste of pumpkin pie at the end of the night.

We all celebrate Thanksgiving uniquely but may share some similarities throughout our experiences.

Think about your traditions! What do you enjoy and remember the most from past holidays? What do you hope to do this year?

(*Disclosure- RLS Photogenic is an Amazon Associate and earns a small commission from qualifying purchases. There is no extra cost to the buyer. I love posting ideas and this program helps support small business owners! )

Personal Sharing

My favorite tradition for Thanksgiving is watching the parade in New York City on television with my family. In particular, with my Grandmother. It’s always a special moment we share. One year I traveled with my parents, so she recorded it on a VHS tape for when I got back. (my how technology has changed!)

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A memory I will always cherish was playing boardgames with my Grandfather. It was always a fun time to enjoy together while waiting for the big turkey meal.

My mom, sister, and I love watching A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving. Snoopy battling with the lawn chair is one of our favorite scenes! (Movie Link- https://amzn.to/3UVz3NF )

My boyfriend and I tend to celebrate separately with our families due to location but we usually find a way to enjoy the holiday before or after. It can be difficult but we want to enjoy the day with out the stress of traveling between various counties.

The day after Thanksgiving is special too for delicious leftovers, going to see light displays, and decorating for Christmas.

I also have this odd tradition of watching the news reports of all the Black Friday shopping events! It fascinates me the lengths people will go to, standing on lines all night for products. (I worked Retail once on Black Friday, that was enough for me!)

Challenges

While Thanksgiving is a fun, long weekend with celebrations and kicking off the holiday season. I’d like to acknowledge it can be very difficult for some families. Everyone has struggles we don’t know about.

So please check in with your friends and family. There is a chance you can make someone’s day a little better. Maybe even extend an invite if you can.

This will be my first Thanksgiving since my Grandfather passed, and my Grandmother is at a nursing home care center. It is okay to feel excitement this time of year, while also grieving what is gone, including the past.

I try to focus on creating new memories both big and small, and I hope you can do the same!

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Thanksgiving Activity Ideas

(This section features items from my digital printable products line, and Amazon affiliate links)

• Cook or bake with a friend or family member
• Watch a parade
• Play a board game, card game, or video game
• Bingo is a fun group activity, have prizes!
• Get creative with coloring pages
• Do a word search or word scramble
• Create a Fall craft
• Collect leaves and make a piece of art
• Share family stories and photos
• Talk about your family tree, take notes!
• Take family photos and put them in a frame everyone can sign
• Do a puzzle together. This is a fun box set: Calm Puzzles – https://amzn.to/3NZx2y1
• Break the turkey wishbone! Be sure to make a wish!
• Put festive Fall ambience on your tv, YouTube has a lot of options!
• Write out what you are Grateful For this year
• Draw names for Secret Santa for the upcoming holidays

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Sharing a product recommendation for a simple, quick print camera, easy for kids, teens, and adults to use- https://amzn.to/3UC9h1w I have one of these cameras for a few years now, so does my little sister. It is great for having fun capturing memories and decorating with stickers, frames, etc.

Journal Prompt Ideas:

1. What is a Thanksgiving tradition you experienced growing up?
2. What traditions would you like to pass down?
3. What is the date of Thanksgiving this year?
4. Where did you go for the holiday? Did you travel or host at your home?
5. Who did you spend Thanksgiving with?
6. What activities did you do?
7. What did you eat?
8. What was your favorite moment?
9. What made you laugh?
10. What do you miss?
11. What are you grateful for this year?