by dailylaundry 01 Jan 2019

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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by lbrow 10 Jan 2019

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.

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dailylaundry 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

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by dee 09 Jan 2019

A 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

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dailylaundry 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.

dee by dee 09 Jan 2019

His parents live in Eagle Harbor. It was nice seeing them again

dailylaundry 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!

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by sebsews 03 Jan 2019

Great 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

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dailylaundry 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

kustomkuddle by kustomkuddle 03 Jan 2019

Wow. Am in the neighborhood also! Just north of Grand Rapids! Love the pics.

dailylaundry by dailylaundry 03 Jan 2019

Thank you - we should have a Michigan get-together!

sebsews 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.

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by sewdeb 03 Jan 2019

What 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

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dailylaundry 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

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by 02kar Moderator 02 Jan 2019

I 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.

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dailylaundry 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!)

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by jrob Moderator 02 Jan 2019

Sweet 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!

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dailylaundry 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

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by dragonflyer 02 Jan 2019

What 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...

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dailylaundry 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

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by pennifold 02 Jan 2019

Hi 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

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dailylaundry 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

pennifold 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

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by crafter2243 Moderator 01 Jan 2019

What a wonderful tradition. It warms my heart. Thank you for sharing your crafts as well. Love the glass jars. So simple but very effective.

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dailylaundry 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

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by cfidl 01 Jan 2019

Your centerpieces are delightful and your tradition is inspiring. Thank you for sharing it.

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dailylaundry 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

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by lilylady 01 Jan 2019

I 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.

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dailylaundry 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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