Can you believe it? This Thursday is Thanksgiving already!!! It's time to start that checklist of things to do. Don't forget to get the turkey out of the freezer. I somehow manage to forget every year, or I get it out later than needed to thaw. So, how do I thaw it then, you ask? Well...It is recommended that you thaw the turkey for 1 day for every 4 lbs in the refrigerator, but you can also thaw it in cold water, changing the cold water every 30 minutes (that is usually what I end up having to do). It will take 30 minutes per pound to thaw your turkey. Once your turkey is thawed, you are ready to go! The kids will love the meal to come, and it will have been thawed safely and not cause tummy aches. Make sure you stuff the turkey right before baking. Don't do it ahead of time or this can cause bacteria to ruin your Thanksgiving.
Now that the turkey is taken care of, what will you do with the family? It is always fun to plan some games and activities for the kids to keep them busy and make the holiday memorable. You can set up some craft stations and let them make turkeys from paper and toilet paper rolls, or maybe make a pilgrim hat. Here are some links for some patterns for these activities. Simply copy and paste these to your address bar.
From Martha Stewart...
Pilgrim Hat:
http://images.marthastewart.com/images/content/web/pdfs/2010Q4/msl_1110_pilgrim_hat.pdf
From All Kids Network...
Turkey:
http://www.allkidsnetwork.com/crafts/thanksgiving/toilet-paper-roll-turkey.asp
Make a sweet and salty snack mix with Chex cereal, pretzels, Goldfish crackers, raisins, candy corn, and marshmallows for when the kids ask "When's dinner?" for the tenth time.
Allow the kids to help set the table and greet guests and family members. Giving them a job or responsibility will help them feel a big part of the occasion.
Wishing you a terrific Thanksgiving! Enjoy the food, friendship, and family bonding that comes with it!
We had our annual Thanksgiving Meal for our families on Thursday, November 13th. It was a great success! Each family was able to work on a family craft together, while they waited for the opportunity to have their family photos taken. Then, it was time for an awesome turkey dinner, complete with pumpkin pie to top it off. We also enjoyed a few games of Thanksgiving BINGO, and our families won some books, games, and other items. What a great time of family bonding!!!
Now that Halloween is over and your candy dishes are overflowing, what can you do with all of that sweet stuff? Well, we certainly do not want the kids eating it all in one sitting or even finishing it all within a week. What can all of the treats be used for?
Put some aside for a rainy day. Do you have a good place to stash some of the candy for a special treat on a sad or lonely day? Putting some candy away will help reduce the urge for your children to overindulge in sweet treats and give you something to look forward to on a day that needs a little sweetening.
Freeze some candy. Your candy will last longer by placing it in the freezer. This will allow you to spread your candy consumption across a longer time period, preventing obsessive candy eating.
Take some to the office. I know my kids could never eat all of their candy. A great way of dealing with the mass piles of candy your kids get, is to share some of it with coworkers. It will disappear and your kids won't get those extra cavities for your next dental visit. If your kids are like mine, they won't really miss it. It seems they get way too much anyway.
Use the candy as rewards. Allow your child to choose one or two pieces of candy as a reward for good behavior, good grades, or anything positive that deserves a tasty treat. This will give you a positive reinforcement for behavior, as well as assist in limiting sugar intake.
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