Posts tagged 'ThanksgivingTraditions'

Each year for Thanksgiving we gather as family at my parent’s home in New Hampton, Iowa to give thanks for all our blessings, eat way too much, watch football, share memories, and make new ones. After which my two sons and I take part in another tradition, the annual Thanksgiving Waterloo Blackhawks hockey game and teddy bear toss. After the Blackhawks score their first goal of the game the fans rain teddy bears and other plush animals onto the ice which are given to Toys for Tots, local hospitals, and first responders to give to children in need.

Looking back, I remember taking part in this when the boys were so little, I had to carry them on my shoulders down to the glass so they could reach the ice. Those days are long behind us, but we still enjoy the tradition to this day.

Our Thanksgiving tradition involves gathering with the family to eat a good meal, watch a little football and play some games together. This year was a little different as our kids had some commitments to work around. I attached pics for each and a brief explanation below.

Our youngest Nathan, is a Residential Officer at the Correctional facility in our town and he had to work at 4pm on Thanksgiving. We had him over for a big lunch along with some fun stories and laughs before he had to go to work.

Our oldest Bryson and his wife Ashley serve and deliver Thanksgiving meals from a church in Ashley’s home town to families and elderly people in need. After their work was done they came over for dinner, fun times together and some football watching.

We missed having everyone together at the same time but we are very thankful that we were able to see all of them on such a wonderful day.

~Craig Zabel