Three Ways to keep your Little Turkeys busy on Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is days away. There are groceries to buy, ingredients to get prepped, wine to chill. All to do while tending to our little ones.  It’s one of my favorite holidays but seriously, since having kids, it’s a doozy. There is so much that you put into this one day! Who am I to complain though?  Great food, family and friends?  I’ll take it! I just need my kids to keep busy so I can enjoy it all! Here are a few ideas on how you can get the kids table set up with activities to enjoy throughout your gathering…and don’t worry…these are EASY ideas…you can handle it! 1.)   Turkey Apples:  Does it get cuter then this??  No seriously folks. Does it? Here’s what you need for the set up: *An apple for each child *Toothpicks *Edible Items to create your turkey – check your pantry before you buy anything! Examples are: Mini marshmallows, Cranberries, baby tomatoes, candy corn… *Googly eyes and craft glue Now your kids can STICK it to the apple! That’s the name of the game. Let the kids stick the items onto toothpicks and poke ‘em into the apples to create turkey. Glue the googly eyes on (and any other crafty items you may have on hand…like pom poms). So fun! 2.)   The Giving Tree: Do you own this book?  If you don’t, get it!  Makes for a GREAT holiday gift. What a fabulous book. Well the Giving Tree and my Aunt Marissa who is the craftiest gal around were the inspiration for this next holiday activity. Here’s how you do it – *Tree branch – check the street or your backyard for a clean branch. Take it home and set into a block of clay or a small pumpkin.. *Grab some construction paper or card stock and trace + cut a leaf out for each child. Is your child old enough to use scissors?  Then let them do this step instead! *Have a hole puncher and string or twine on hand… *Set out markers and ask your children to write on their leaf – what are you thankful for. *Hang the leaves on the tree and what do you have?  A giving tree! 3.)   SNACKS: We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again. SNACKS SNACKS SNACKS are the key to keeping kids quiet and happy.  Here’s what I’ve noticed from all of the entertaining that I have done since having children…when other children are around – my kids want nothing to do with me or eating. They turn into wild lunatics and won’t sit still for one second. SO…I set out tons of snacks to give them something to grab and run with as they go nuts. Here’s what we suggest serving to the little ones this Thanksgiving…so at least they eat something! *Festive crudités: My kids happen to love veggies. If yours don’t – please don’t stop reading. Just trust me when I tell you…if you make it look a little prettier then normal…they may be willing to try it. For Thanksgiving we used orange and yellow veggies (set out fruit too!) and hollowed out a pumpkin for some ranch to dip. Crunchy, delicious and EASY! *Pumpkin pie muffins. We did a quick search and found the easiest recipe possible. Add some powdered sugar on top and be careful…these will go FAST! They are delicious.  And if you overbought on ingredients…use them on your platters! How pretty do these muffins look on a bed of cranberries?! Have any great craft ideas or recipes to share with us for Thanksgiving? Leave us a note in the comments. We'd love to hear what you're cookin' up this Thanksgiving! We are so excited to spend time with our families this week...and dare I say, relax a little bit?! However you're spending it...Happy Turkey Day! Gobble Gobble.

*All photos above were taken by the lovely Karilyn Sanders.