Thanksgiving Gatherings

This is one of my family’s favorite holidays! We have so many traditions we accomplish in one day! The warmth of family all gathered in one place for one huge feast is so memorable.

Our family starts Thanksgiving traditions at 6 am every year! Beep, Beep, Beep, the sounds of our alarms go off! We get our warm gear on, grab a cup of hot chocolate or coffee, and head to Detroit’s Thanksgiving Parade on Woodward Avenue. Several family members from my dad’s side meet us downtown at the Town Pump to eat doughnuts. We watch all the amazing floats go down Woodward Avenue in front of Hockey Town. This tradition is a wonderful way to start Thanksgiving but it ends rather early around noon.

Detroit Parade, 2013

After the Thanksgiving Parade, we always go to our grandma’s house for our feast. This is always the best meal of the entire year. We arrive at grandma’s starving and roll out of her house like a ball in the end. Upon arrival, we help grandma with the final odds and ends of preparing our feast. Our feast consists of turkey, mash potatoes, gravy, stuffing, green beans, corn cake, cranberry jello, and rolls. To complete our feast, we always finish with a fabulous pumpkin pie! After having about a 14-hour day this far, its time to say goodbye to our family.

Corn Cake, a Thanksgiving Favorite:

1. Can of corn

2. Can of creamed corn

3. 1 cup of sour cream

4. 1 stick of melted butter

5. 1 box of jiffy mix

Mix ingredients together, put in a greased 8x8 pan, & bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes!

Corn Cake Recipe by Julie, Maddie, & Kinslee

After our feast, we go home and change into comfy clothes. Depending on the year, we leave between 10pm-2am to go black Friday shopping! It is such an exciting tradition for my father and I every year. We go black Friday shopping in the middle of the craziest crowds and get our loved ones special Christmas gifts. By time the sunrises on Friday, we are exhausted!

These are our family’s fun filled Thanksgiving Traditions! A day we all look forward to every year! 

My husband and I have not been home for Thanksgiving for four years due to the military. However, this year we will be in town finally and we are more excited than ever!!

Fourth of July Traditions

America is the best place to live in the world! We have so many freedoms that people in other countries do not get to experience. We are blessed to live in such a great country, thanks to the brave men and woman in America's Armed Forces.

Fourth of July hits home each year in our house because I get to watch my husband put his uniform on every day and defend our freedom! He sacrifices a lot for us on a daily basis.

Fourth of July is a day to celebrate America with family, fun, and of course RED, WHITE, & BLUE! Fourth of July is a particular day but our family celebrates this holiday for a few weeks prior. One of our favorite things to do as a family before the holiday is to pick out our top firework display we want to see. Our family gathers and goes to downtown Detroit to watch the wonderful firework display. It creates great family bonding waiting for the display. This is a fun filled event that we look forward to going to each year.

Detroit Fireworks: June 2016

The day of Fourth of July, we always have a fun “Fourth Gathering”. Now, since we live on a military installation, it is a great way to bring military families together. Our gatherings consist of fun, laughing, and great food. Everyone brings a favorite dish to pass, enjoys the country music, and appreciates everyone’s company. While waiting for the firework display, a nice toasty fire is always a necessity. The kids enjoy making golden brown s’mores over the bon fire. To complete our Fourth of July festivities, we watch the firework display! Boom, Crack, Pow!

 

by: Renee Fiorotto: June 27, 2016

Every Fourth of July I make the same delicious dish to share with family & friends:

Taco Dip  from Lauren in Boston: July 24, 2013

           Ingredients

1. 2 cups refried beans
2. 2 Tablespoons taco seasoning
3. 16 ounces sour cream
4. 8 ounce cream cheese
5. 16 ounce guacamole
6. 16 ounce salsa
7. 2.5 cups shredded lettuce
8. Large tomato, chopped
9. 1 cup shredded cheese (4 Cheese Mexican Blend)

Directions

1. Mix refried beans and taco seasoning.  The spread evenly on the bottom of a 13x9 pan. 

2. Cream together sour cream and cream cheese.  Spread on top of refried beans.

3. Layer guacamole, salsa, lettuce, tomato, and cheese - in that order. 

Easter Traditions

The holidays are such a majestic time of the year! These special times of the year allows family and friends to gather and enjoy each other’s company. Each holiday comes with special traditions that my family looks forward to each year.

Easter Traditions

Our family pet is very Easter festive! 

Easter is a special holiday in my heart because I was born on Easter. The holiday lands on my birthday every eleven years.

As a kid, it was always a tradition to see the Easter bunny at Morley Chocolate Factory. Easter morning was always a thrill to see what the Easter bunny had left in my basket. After we enjoyed our baskets, we went on an Easter egg hunt. Depending on the year whether we were on vacation or not, the location of our egg hunt varied. Sometimes our egg hunts were in our house, backyard, golf course, or church. Next, we always go to Easter Sunday church service dressed up in our fancy Easter outfits.  To complete our traditions, we host an Easter feast with family and friends. It is our tradition to have ham, cheesy potatoes, and green bean casserole. This is our family’s Easter traditions full of love, laughter, and Christ!

Healthy guacamole Devil Eggs

Click for the Guacamole Devil Egg Recipe 
By: Stephanie, 2012. 

Devil eggs are one of my family’s favorite Easter appetizers. The avocados are a healthy alternative for mayo in the recipe. This recipe has become our favorite way to prepare devil eggs. Save the calories for the main course!

Easter Egg Fun

 

By: SR toys collection, 2016. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KA5a2sAZRuk.

Dying and decorating eggs is a Easter favorite! It is fun for family's to do with their kids or it is something fun to serve for your Easter feast.

Supplies needed: 

• Cooked Eggs
• Food coloring (Red, Blue, Yellow, & Green)
• Water
• Vinegar
• Spoon
• White crayon for decorations