The good news about being a grownup is that you get to create your very own holiday traditions. Keep the best ones from your childhood, of course. Blend with your spouse’s, if applicable. And here’s the fun part—add in new traditions that sync up with your life now. Thanksgiving is almost here at Stepping Stone™. So pick and choose from these 10 ideas for new traditions to try this year. They just might make the cut and become the things your children fondly remember (and carry on) when they’re the grownups.

1. Savor a slow, luxurious breakfast. Who says you have to wake up at 4:00 in the morning so that you can eat by two? Take time for a tasty breakfast like these cranberry buttermilk pancakes, and then when you feel good and ready, start on prepping the turkey for dinner instead of lunch. That leaves plenty of time for hanging out in the kitchen, watching football, and taking walks. Speaking of which…

2. Get active with your family. Kick off your day with a walk or run at the Denver Turkey Trot. The Turkey Trot benefits the Mile High United Way and has been named one of the nation’s best Thanksgiving events with live music, vendors, and a beer garden. If the Trot feels too ambitious, Stepping Stone residents can always get their hearts pumping on one of the many community trails. 
3. Bake gratitude rolls. Have your guests write down what they’re thankful for on slips of parchment paper. Then bake them into crescent rolls. At dinner, open your roll, read the slip, and guess who wrote it.

4. Provide conversation starters. Create this table game with cute question cards like, “If you could invite anyone to Thanksgiving dinner, who would it be?”
5. Let everyone toast their thanks with this hibiscus ginger punch recipe. Giving everyone a chance to speak slows down the dinner and gets the gratitude flowing.
6. Kick off the Christmas season. Some families like to play the first Christmas music of the season while cooking or put up decorations after dinner. Read more favorite traditions (some tongue-in-cheek, such as wearing stretch pants) here.

And don’t forget to visit our very own Stepping Stone Amazing Autumn Pinterest board, where you can pick up more creative ideas like these:

7. Make a memory tablecloth. Set the Thanksgiving table with a new or used tablecloth and lay out permanent fabric markers. Have everyone write what they are grateful for. Each year you can keep adding to it—and notice how children’s thoughts evolve as they grow.

8. Engage your kids in meal prep with these simple traditions: Have everyone pick their favorite dish and help plan the menu. Teach your kids to bake one of your family’s traditional pies so that they can teach their children someday. (Yes, many little hands sometimes make more work, but it’s worth it for the memories.) Set the table together too.
9. Play Thanksgiving bingo. After dinner, play bingo using these printable cards and candy pieces. Need a little “settle down” time before bed? Read these Thanksgiving books together.

10. Traditions for couples. Everyone needs Thanksgiving traditions, even if it’s just the two of you. Check out these ideas for couples, such as taking annual Thanksgiving photos of you in the same spot each year or expressing your gratitude for each other with a “thankful” jar.