There are so many things to love about this time of year, but I think one of my favorites is all of the family traditions!  I have such great memories of sharing Holidays with family and taking part in the fun traditions (like opening up pajamas on Christmas Eve, in Nate’s family eating homemade grape slush before Thanksgiving dinner, etc.).  I want my girls to have some of these wonderful experiences too, and what is great about spending Holidays together as our little family out here in Kentucky, we are starting some great traditions of our own!  My wonderfully creative friend Carly gave me this idea and I loved it.  This year we’re starting our gratitude tree tradition.  We have so many amazing things to be grateful for, and hopefully by including a gratitude tree in our celebration each year, we will focus even more on the spirit of the day.

Creating the tree is easy – you just find some branches and put them into a vase.  Done.  You have your tree.  Next you make your leaves.  I had the girls paint some paper in pretty fall colors and then we cut out our leaves, finally taping twine to the back so they can be hung from the tree.  Now you are ready to go.  The tree is placed somewhere conspicuous, where everyone can see it, and then for the days leading up to Thanksgiving, everyone is invited to write down things they are thankful for and put them on the tree.  Then when Thanksgiving arrives, we take the leaves off and read them! 

Bella had first shot at the tree, writing the things she’s most thankful for:  1st leave = Boober (her cat, whose name is really Cosmo).  2nd leave = Sophie, roses, flowers (such a girl).  Now it’s up to us to finish the tree.  I’m so excited to see what everyone writes!  You are all welcome to add to our tree, in fact if you come by in the next few days it will be an essential part of your visit!

Happy Thanksgiving everybody!