A thanksgiving tree. Such a great and simple idea. I love how it makes you slow down and think over your day and life and focus on your blessings. This time of year tends to get crazy and hectic so it’s nice to sit down as a family and take a minute to give thanks. Trees of all sorts come across Pinterest but it a post by Kari at Growing in His Glory on the tree they’ve made in years past back in the middle of October that convinced me to do our own this year with my (will be 3 in 3 months) daughter. MamaGab also talked about her Thankful Tree and gives more ideas here.

I wanted to keep it simple and spend very little money so I found a glass vase from the top of the refrigerator in the garage, a couple of handfuls of rocks from our (non) landscaping, a friend gave me sticks from her yard, and I found a couple pieces of scrapbook paper in the closet. If I find fall ribbon on clearance I might add it to the vase.

We cut leaves into a couple of different shapes (here’s another option where Kari shows circles being used – makes it even easier) and store them on the top of the vase and use thread and a needle to make a loop to hang on the branch.

Every night we try to take a few moments to write on a leaf. Our daughter picks out the leaf and we all write on the same one. It’s entertaining to see what an almost 3 year old comes up with. I try not to prompt her except to say, “you already said that one, what’s something else you are thankful for?”

I’m one of the most un-creative and  un-crafty people out there, but I decided to go for it and am so glad I did. If I can pull it off, so can you! Even better is that this tree will get used again during Advent.

Have you done a Thanksgiving Tree?