Nanny to Mommy

The holidays have a way of sneaking up on us, don’t they? One minute you’re planning to keep things simple this year, and the next you’re elbow-deep in cookie dough while juggling a half-written grocery list, a toddler meltdown, and an oven timer beeping in the distance.

Christmas dinner is a special kind of chaos — wonderful, messy, and full of memories waiting to happen. But if your guest list includes everyone from a teething baby to a picky preschooler and a carb-loving grandparent, the menu can feel like a juggling act.

Here’s how to make your Christmas meal work for everyone, without losing your sanity (or burning the roast).

Thanksgiving is one of my favorite times of the year, not just for the food and family gatherings, but for the reminder to slow down and give thanks for all that God has blessed us with. As parents and teachers, this season gives us a beautiful opportunity to help little ones understand the heart of gratitude and where it truly comes from.

To make this lesson fun and meaningful for young children, I created a few Free Bible Verse Thanksgiving Coloring Pages and Printables that focus on giving thanks to God. These are perfect for preschoolers and early learners, whether you use them in Sunday School, at home, or in the classroom.

Thanksgiving is the perfect time to help little hearts focus on gratitude and God’s goodness. If you’re looking for a meaningful Thanksgiving printable for preschoolers, this simple Christian prayer coloring page is a beautiful way to bring faith and thankfulness together at home or in the classroom.

This printable features a short, heartfelt prayer that helps children thank God for the blessings all around them, from the breath in their lungs to the beauty of the world He created.

🦃 A Thanksgiving Prayer for Little Ones

Looking for a sweet and simple fall craft to make with your little ones? This “Sweeter Than Pumpkin Pie” footprint craft is the perfect keepsake for the Thanksgiving season! Whether you’re a preschool teacher, a daycare provider, or a parent looking for a heartfelt homemade gift, this free printable will make a beautiful addition to your classroom memory books or family scrapbooks.

Nothing captures the sweetness of childhood quite like tiny toes turned into a slice of pumpkin pie! 🧡

Thanksgiving is one of my favorite times of year to slow down, reflect on what we’re thankful for, and make sweet keepsakes with the kids. If you’re looking for an easy, meaningful craft for your classroom or at home, this Easy Handprint Turkey Craft for Preschoolers is the perfect project!

This adorable Thanksgiving craft comes with a free printable poem that makes it extra special. It’s simple enough for little hands, colorful, and creates a keepsake parents will treasure for years to come.

Free Handprint Turkey Poem Printable

Thanksgiving is the perfect time to slow down, reflect, and help our kids focus on gratitude. One of our favorite family traditions is our DIY Thankful Turkey for Kids, a fun and meaningful craft that grows with us every year!

Instead of making a new turkey each time, we created and laminated the turkey body, head, and feet so we can reuse them. Each November, we simply make new colorful feathers and write what our children are thankful for that year. By the end of the month, our turkey is full of sweet reminders of how blessed we are.

What Is a Thankful Turkey?

A Thankful Turkey is a playful, creative way to teach kids about gratitude. Each feather represents something your child is thankful for. As the turkey fills up, you get a beautiful, visual reminder of thankfulness, and it’s so fun to see how their answers change from year to year!

This project makes a great classroom Thanksgiving craft, a home activity, or even a family gratitude display for your fridge or wall.

Free Printable Turkey & Feather Templates

To make this easy and reusable, I’ve created a free printable turkey body template and a matching feather template that you can download and use with your kids or students.

Does your child have a Thanksgiving project due to "hide a turkey" or "disguise a turkey", my daughter go to do this one year in preschool and it was so much fun. She wanted the turkey dressed as a princess and it turned out so cute! I wish I could find the picture I took now. Remember to print those pictures, people! Since I can't find the picture of my daughter's disguised turkey, I will share a cute picture of my son dressed up for Thanksgiving at his preschool at the end of this post.

Traditional Thanksgiving dinner must haves are what make the holiday feel like home. Some people like to shake up some of their traditions or even put a twist on old favorites. Sticking to the traditional must haves reminds me of family even if they are no longer with us, so that's why I like to have the staples. The holiday of Thanksgiving originated from the Wampanoag tribe's philosophy of selflessness.

I wish I had done this type of picture for every Holiday. Oh well.

Hey everyone! How was your Thanksgiving? Did you do any Black Friday shopping today? I am more of a cyber Monday kind of girl so I don't do the hustle and bustle of the busy crowds, but this year I have noticed some completely awesome Black Friday deals that I just couldn't pass up and what's even better? Most are online! I am almost done Christmas shopping! :)

First though I would like to share my Weekly Totals from Publix and Kroger. Last night we decorated our Christmas tree.



Isn't it pretty? And then this morning Hubby took me grocery shopping and then had to be back at work at one. But tomorrow he is off! So let's check out how I did!

Publix:

2 Kleenex Hand Towels, 60 ct, $1.99
- 2 $0.50/1 Kleenex Hand Towels IP
- 2 $0.75/1 Kleenex Hand Towels , TARGET coupon Target.com (exp 11/27/2012)
= or $0.24 each

2 South Diet Protein Bars $2.99
$2/1 South Beach Diet® Products (zip 30187)
$1/1 South Beach Diet Protein Fit Bars Publix Coupon Winter Family Savings Booklet or PRINT
= FREE

4 MARUCHAN YAKISOBA HOME-STYLE JAPANESE NOODLES, BOGO $0.99
- 4 $0.50/1 Maruchan Yakisoba 10/14/2012 SS Insert (exp 12/31/2012)
= $2.02 MONEYMAKER!

8 PILLSBURY TOASTER STRUDEL PASTRIES, 6-CT, BOGO $1.99
-FREE Toaster Strudel Movie Ticket Rebate Offer HERE
-$5 Toaster Strudel Grocery Cash Rebate Offer HERE
- 4 $0.50/2 Pillsbury Toaster Strudel, Toaster Scrambles, Pastries or Pancakes 09/09/2012 SS Insert (exp 12/01/2012)
= $3.96 - $5 rebate = $1.04 MM PLUS FREE Movie Tickets!

2 KELLOGG’S EGGO WAFFLES, 9.8 to 12.6 oz box, 2/$4
- 2 $1.50 from Kellogg's Family Rewards
= $1 or $0.50 each! :)

2 FRUITFULS, 64 OZ OR 8 PK, $1.99
- 2 $1/1 Nestle Juicy Juice Fruitifuls Juice Beverage, 6.75 oz, 8 pk IP
- $1/1 Juicy Juice from Publix Baby Club {our last batch and then we are in the preschool pals program. :( }
= $0.98 or $0.49 each! :)

4 KELLOGG’S CEREAL RICE KRISPIES, 9 oz box, $1.99
-B4G1 – Free Gallon of Milk wyb any 4 Rice Krispies, Frosted Flakes or Froot Loops Cereal 8.7 or larger In-Ad Publix Coupon Yellow Advantage Buy Flyer “Bake & Save” (valid 11/24 to 12/14)
- 4 $1.50/1 from Kellogg's Family Rewards
= $1.96 or $0.49 each PLUS FREE milk! :)

2 DANNON ACTIVIA YOGURT 4 PK, 3/$6
- 2 $1/1 Dannon Activia Breakfast Blend, 4 pk IP
- $1/1 Dairy product from Baby Club PQ
= $1 or $0.50 each! :)

4 Knorr Sides 10/$10 (this might be a regional deal)
2 $1/2 Knorr® Sides products PUBLIX coupon Best Meals Happen at Home email
2 $0.50/2 Knorr® Rice and Pasta Sides IP (NLA?)
= FREE

2 Maybelline Single Eye Shadows $2.99
- 2 $2.00/1 PUBLIX coupon Green Advantage Flyer
- 2 $1.00/1 Maybelline Eye Shadow
= FREE {I can NOT turn down FREE makeup! :)}

10 Vivarin Alertness Aid $3.19
10 $1.00/1 Vivarin printable coupon IP
5 $5/2 Vivarin, Contac, Feosol, or Geritol Products PUBLIX COUPON Green Advantage Buy Flyer
= $3.10 MM!

4 Gerber Graduates Snacks, Puffs, Lil Crunchies, or Wagon or Waffle Wheels, assorted varieties, 1.48 oz $1.75
$1/2 Gerber Graduates 2+ Meals or Snacks printable
B3G1 Gerber Graduates Snacks or Healthy Meals or Lil Entrees, exp. 12/6/12 (Publix, Time To Save Coupon Booklet)
= $3.25 or $.81 each!

2 Krusteaz Bakery Style Cookie Mix, assorted varieties, 15.5- 18 oz BOGO $2.19
2 $1/1 Krusteaz Bakery Style Cookie Mix IP
= $0.18 or $.09 each!

Total after coupons (before taxes): $7.66 Total Saved: $96.48 Percentage Saved: 93%!!

Kroger:
{Remember: You can still catch these deals until tomorrow. :)}

4 Brut Deodorant 10/$10
{I love getting these and giving them out to my nephews in their 'stockings'.}
- 4 $1/1 Brut, fragrance, 3.5 oz+ or antiperspirant/deodorant, 2 oz+ 11/18/2012 SS Insert (exp 12/18/2012)
= FREE

4 Kroger Large Eggs, Grade A, 12 ct, $1.59
- 2 $.55/2 Dozen Eggs Incredible Egg Facebook Coupon - NLA
= $5.26 or $1.32 a dozen!


1 Kroger Ground Beef, Fresh, 73% Lean, Sold in a 5 lb Roll for $10.45, $2.09/lb
- $3 off when you spent $10 in meat department Kroger Mailed Coupon
= $7.45

Van’s Waffles, $2.99 (reg $3.15)
-$2/1 Van’s Product (NLA)
= $0.99

Total before coupons and taxes: $20.85
Saved: $14.86
Percentage Saved: 45%

Total Spent: $28.51 Total Saved: $111.34 Total Percentage Saved: 80%!!! :D

February of 2010 my Father was diagnosed with terminal colon cancer and given six months to two years to live. So that March my husband and I planned to conceive in hopes that he would get the opportunity to meet his first grand child. We were blessed and found out we were pregnant in April.

My grandmother who had been suffering from Alzheimer's for quite sometime, became very ill and passed away right before I was able to tell her the wonderful news. I was one of the few people she remembered and I was by her side when she passed away.

May 2010, I got into a random car accident.

That June my husband's sister got married in Florida.



As soon as we returned, my father took a turn for the worse. He passed away July 16, 2010, the day after my husband and mine's third year wedding anniversary. Time seemed to stand still. I was very close to my father.



July 27, 2010, we found out we were having a little girl. I walked out of the doctor's office and the first thing I did was get out my phone to call my dad. And then I cried. But he told me I was having a little girl in a dream a few days before. And I just knew.


Right there after, my identity was stolen. She opened multiple credit cards and I had to take time off of work to get a police report. It over two years later and there is still something on my credit report.

Then the blood pressure issues started and I was put on bed rest November of that year.
My step-mother fought with us constantly over life insurance money and I just wanted my father back. But at least he was no longer in pain.



December 8, 2010, I went to a scheduled appointment and was sent to the hospital for induction due to preeclampsia. December 9 at 2:56 p.m., my perfect 7.3lb ray of sunshine was born.



I am thankful for her. Yes, I am thankful for my husband, he is my Prince Charming. Yes, I am thankful for all the other wonderful people in my life. But this little princess saved me. She was the silver lining on that horrendous year. And every day I look at her and I can not believe that we were blessed with this beautiful, smart, amazing miracle.