Each year at Thanksgiving, I come up with a surprise craft for us to make for our centerpiece (we go to the same restaurant - they know us now!!!) Here are some pictures of our annual Thanksgiving in Frankenmuth, Michigan. We get together (some from far away) for 5 days at this sweet village that is decorated for the Holidays. Yes, all the guys take part in the centerpiece craft making too. While we are staying in Frankenmuth, we shop, we eat, we play games, ... and in general have such a fun time being together. We have a good size family now and my husband and I are blessed with how everyone loves being together! First picture shows part of our group, each with their craft they made, we are waiting to go in to dinner. Second picture is our centerpiece (the two pumpkins were made by our two Grandchildren) and the last is of the centerpieces with just the fairy lights. The canning jars were painted with a mixture of Elmer's glue and food coloring (I gave them each a different code of how many drop of the coloring to make their "paint". Hope this makes sense!!! Hugs to all, Laura
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Laura I always loved going to Frankenmuth. My hubby was from Traverse city. When we were first married on one of our trips to Mi. He took me there and I was hooked. From then on when we went every yr. I would have to go to Frankenmuth. It has been a lot of yrs sine I was there and I probably will never get to go again but I have wonderful memories and pictures. I think everyone in my family has gotten a Christmas ornament from the Christmas Shop there. I love what you and your family do there.
1 comment
by dailylaundry
10 Jan 2019
Oh, Lillian - we love Traverse City too. Absolutely beautiful country!! Our whole family love Traverse City!
Bronner's Christmas store is amazing - Thank you for your sweet words, I wish you could join us!! Love to you, Laura
145791A beautiful family picture. Looks like everyone had a good time. I went to my daughter's and my son in law's parents came to. They lice in MI. Thanks for sharing hugs dee
3 comments
by dailylaundry
09 Jan 2019
Thank you - Thank you, Dee!! Where do your son-in-law's parents live in Michigan? We are on the western side of the state.
by dailylaundry
09 Jan 2019
Oh, wow, that is way up in the Upper Peninsula! That is "cold" country!!! It is pretty up there though, we traveled there once summer many years ago!
29242Great to have all your family together for Thanksgiving! The projects turned out great! Humm, you know I don't live too far from Frankenmuth, I may show up and join in on the fun! LOL Hugs, Suzanna
4 comments
by dailylaundry
03 Jan 2019
Oh, Suzanna - that would be fun!!! Come on by!! Where in Michigan do you live? We live in Grand Haven. Hugs to you! Laura
by kustomkuddle
03 Jan 2019
Wow. Am in the neighborhood also! Just north of Grand Rapids! Love the pics.
by sebsews
03 Jan 2019
I would so much love to get-together! I am in the Kalamazoo area. Lets plan on meeting in the spring. We should call it a Cutie Gathering.
18140What a wonderful family and a fabulous tradition, Laura! I envy you - it was just me and my DH for Thanksgiving with not much hoopla. You are truly blessed. Hugs*, Deb
1 comment
by dailylaundry
03 Jan 2019
Thank you, Deb - we found ourselves in your situation for Christmas Eve - everyone either couldn't get home or had other plans. It was pretty quiet and a hard for us. Next year, I am going to make certain we have a backup plan for Christmas Eve - if that happens again! Just a quick suggestion - go out for Thanksgiving or travel somewhere. It helps plus you don't have to cook or cleanup!! Hugs to you, Laura
70755I think there are several of us who would love to join in on your family fun and traditions. What a wonderful family you all make. Keep up this wonderful tradition and please keep sharing the crafts with us.
1 comment
by dailylaundry
02 Jan 2019
Karen, Thank you - I have worried through the years that the younger ones wouldn't know about a stay-at-home Thanksgiving ... but, being so far from extended family - this is our tradition. Again, I thank you, Karen for helping me through the difficult time when our Alex was deployed. You understood and were amazing! Hugs to you and yours, Laura (PS: come join us anytime!)
169064Sweet mama, what a wonderful thing you are doing keeping your family close by creating such a fun time for them. They will remember these days forever and the little ones are starting to make their own memories of the special family time where they had so much fun!
1 comment
by dailylaundry
02 Jan 2019
Oh, Jerrilyn - reading your words put tears in my eyes. We are far away from extended family - so it was necessary to make our Thanksgiving traditions a little different (or it would have seems like just another meal). This seemed to be solution for us - the only time we did differently was when oldest son was deployed to Iraq. We were missing him so badly none of us wanted to go without him. Thank you for your kind words!! Hugs to you, Laura
158718What a good time for all of you and what a great example for the littie ones...your table centerpieces are lovely...I especially love the Mason jars with the fairy lights...
1 comment
by dailylaundry
02 Jan 2019
I had to take the jars apart - and the last picture is what was left - certainly shows their great painting! Thanks for your kind words! Hugs, Laura
318516Hi Laura, and what a beautiful family you have - the lass on the far right has to be your daughter, she looks so much like you!
What a fabulous idea to get all the family involved too in making something that is so much fun. I hope the tradition goes on for generations to come. Love Chris
2 comments
by dailylaundry
02 Jan 2019
Yes, that is wonderful Katie, our oldest. Left to right is: me (terrible picture of me!), Jay (Katie's sweet husband), then the youngest, our twins, Ryan and Bradley, then Alex (our oldest son), in front of him is little Henry (can hardly see him) and his lovely wife Alira (Aussie girl!!!), then Granddaughter Vivian in front of Katie. Missing my dear husband and Ryan and Brad's wonderful girlfriends (Cait and Kailey). Can you see how bless my dear husband and I are? Hugs to you, Laura
by pennifold
02 Jan 2019
I kind of worked out your sons as they look so alike. Glad to see you got a gorgeous Aussie girl in there too. Yes, you are blessed. I'm happy to see them all enjoying it too, it looked like so much fun. Love Chris
234505What a wonderful tradition. It warms my heart. Thank you for sharing your crafts as well. Love the glass jars. So simple but very effective.
1 comment
by dailylaundry
01 Jan 2019
Didn't they all do such a great job!!! When we do these Thanksgiving crafts - there is a lot of cutting up and fun!! But they are all very proud of their creations! At dinner, the restaurant owners usually swing by to meet with us and visit. Thanks!! Laura
109774Your centerpieces are delightful and your tradition is inspiring. Thank you for sharing it.
1 comment
by dailylaundry
01 Jan 2019
I have noticed that the guys seems to like "painting"=type projects. But, I do have to research throughout the year to come up with a craft that will keep everyone interested! Thanks for your sweet words! Hugs, Laura
173695I remember you having this story on before. Such a great tradition and I loved Frankenmuth, I hope to go sometime again. Love your family tradition.
1 comment
by dailylaundry
01 Jan 2019
Our kiddos are in their twenty's and thirty's and yet they still want to meet there for Thanksgiving. Oh my, we have such fun - It just warms my heart to know they don't want to do anything different during Thanksgiving. I hope you get to Frankenmuth soon again!!
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