This week is a big week in our house. We officially kick off the first ever Voorhees Thanksmiskuh!
Tonight marks the first night of Hanukkah (is that how you spell it?), Hanuka (how about spelling it this way), Channukah (some spell it this way), Chanukah (this is what we’ll go with). Our house is a mixed one with my husband being raised Christian and me being raised Jewish. As a family, we embrace and celebrate both holidays.
Here are some traditions that I hope to share with my daughter during these eight crazy nights:
– The lighting of the menorah. She’s too young to understand the meaning behind it. She’ll just point to it and say “hot, hot!” – good warning to all to help prevent fires this season.
– Cooking up a storm. With this season also being emotional one for our family, as my Dad recently passed away, I hope to infuse his passion of cooking and create some delicious Chanukah treats, including one of my faves – the latke, also known as the potato pancake. In my last month of pregnancy, I may whip up some tasty doughnuts and even some sugar cookies, using these super cute cookie cutters (Dreidel and Star of David).
– I didn’t make it out of clay, but I look forward to sharing my mad spinning skills on the Dreidel with her. We’ll play for some gelt (chocolate coins) and bragging rights. It’s a super easy game to play with your kids. Here are some simple instructions to help guide the way.
It’s hard to believe, but this week is also Thanksgiving. It will be somewhat of a laid back holiday for us this year, as our family is all visiting with other family. I look forward to spending some quality time with my daughter and husband on Thursday to celebrate what I’m thankful for, which includes some great neighbors that are taking us in! I do look forward to contributing some deviled eggs, sausage balls and corn casserole to share with some friends this week.
Just as we awake from our nap from our Thanksgiving meal, we will start to deck our halls with strands of Christmas lights and garland. I’m lucky enough to have married my own version of Clark Griswold who turns our home into a shining beacon for all to see. I know our daughter will be really impressed! We’ll start to hang our stockings with care from the mantel, string the lights around the tree and prepare to make our home open of epic festive proportions. We’ll read our daughter stories of Rudolph and Santa, as well as why we celebrate Christmas and even attend a church service, assuming we won’t be at CMC delivering baby number two (due Christmas day!)
My husband and I are truly blessed to be able to share these traditions with our kids. We look forward to many years ahead of pitter-pattering down the stairs to see the presents under the tree, excitement about the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade and enjoying a good gelt-sugar coma.
Smarties, as the holidays are upon us, what are some traditions that you look forward to sharing with your family during Thanksmiskuh?
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