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What are some of the most memorable Thanksgiving day gatherings you've ever had? Some of members of the Unleashed staff have assembled together during this holiday week to serve up some of theirs.

Gathering at Suncadia

My most memorable Thanksgiving is actually the most recent one. (I also might just be incredibly forgetful. Who knows?)

Every year for Christmas, my entire extended family rents a house up at Suncadia, the resort near Cle Elum. Then, for a whole weekend, we live together. My grandparents have their Facebook reels up so loud that my ears are ringing while echoes of my cousin and brother playing video games travel down from the loft.

Last year, due to some scheduling conflicts, we stayed in the annual "Christmas House" during Thanksgiving. I vividly remember my aunt baking little baby pumpkin pies for each of us to eat, and traveling around the small town to check out the many holiday bazaars.

There's never a dull moment when my extended family is all together, but I wouldn't trade it for the world. Spending Thanksgiving in a gorgeous mountain home next to the people I love most is something I'll never forget.

Indiana Hilmes, 12th grade, Selah High School

A post-dinner dice game

A standout Thanksgiving memory for me was in my old house in Yakima, where a few years ago the whole family gathered for Thanksgiving, family time and, of course, delicious food. Since a few years have passed now, the nostalgia has started to kick in as I remember the smell of the delicious turkey roasting in the oven and the sweet scent of pies cooling on the kitchen counter.

The day started with an abundance of familiar flavors, each dish made by family members who brought their signature contributions to the table. The turkey, golden brown, took center stage, the symbol of the Thanksgiving feast. Stove Top stuffing, a simple yet beloved side, carried the Thanksgiving meal. Great conversations were exchanged, lots of stories were shared and laughter was had. The dining table became a wonderful family reunion with everyone being in the Thanksgiving thankful spirit.

While the delicious food filled our bellies, it was the collective experience of savoring each carefully prepared dish in the company of loved ones that made that Thanksgiving truly special.

The night ended with our favorite family tradition, a simple dice game called CLR. You start with three $1 bills and you roll three dice that have a dot, a C, an L, or an R on it. If it's a dot, you keep a dollar of the initial three you start with. If it's a C, it goes in the center pile. If you get an R, you pass the dollar to the person on your right. And if you get an L, you pass a dollar to the person on your left.

The goal is to be the last one standing with dollar bills to claim the center pile where they all inevitably end up. The night was full of laughs and groans as the game either went your way, or someone else's.

As the years have flown by, those moments of togetherness and the simple joy of a shared meal and family time remain etched in my memory, demonstrating the importance of the holiday.

Axel Fulton, 11th grade, West Valley High School

Vegetarian turkey (and frog eye salad)

My most memorable Thanksgiving experience was from before my Grandma Carol passed away. In 2013, when I was 6, we had a large family gathering at my grandmas house, and she prepared a delicious spread of traditional Thanksgiving foods. I was vegetarian at the time, and my grandma made special effort to make sure I had a vegetarian turkey.

My grandma set up games for everyone to play at this grand Thanksgiving feast. My cousins, aunts, uncles, grandparents, and great-grandparents were there, which made it a special memory, especially since some of my family members have since passed away. I have fond memories of playing in the playroom, and being with the people I loved most.

With fun things to do, family to visit, and delectable foods to devour, I cant think of any other Thanksgiving that is just as special and memorable as that one. It's one I will remember forever.

One honorable mention, though, involves my Grandma Jeans frog eye salad, which is an annual tradition. When my sisters were younger, they were afraid to eat it because they thought it was really frog eyes. It is actually made of acini de pepe pasta (which looks like frog eyes) with fruit and whipped cream.

Carson VanEaton, 11th grade, East Valley High School

The Apple Cup!

When most people remember Thanksgiving, they think of the appetite you have for that delicious food on the table or the first snowfall that might have happened around the week of Thanksgiving break.

All this is as wonderful it sounds. But my memory of Thanksgiving has a different approach to this holiday.

Every year, I love waking up on the Saturday after Thanksgiving to watch the Apple Cup game. I know that the game isnt actually on Thanksgiving day but its still a part of the Thanksgiving week. This is the college football game against the rivalry teams Washington State University and the University of Washington.

As a UW fan, Im looking forward to hopefully seeing another win this year from the Huskies. This year's game is going to be a fun one because UW is currently undefeated and ranked No. 5 in the nation (at least prior to the Nov. 18 game against Oregon State). This year's Apple Cup will be hosted at Husky Stadium in Seattle.

My favorite Apple Cup has to be the one from 2019. When I was in fifth grade, the game was totally in Washington State's hands until it started snowing and UW came out with the win. The fact that there was snow that day was exciting enough, but to pull out a win from that was even more exciting.

This annual contest is a great way to connect with your family and show gratitude towards them. You get to be with them and watch the game just as you did during Thanksgiving day.

The Apple Cup is interesting because you get to watch two teams battle it out. And, besides, who doesnt love a good rivalry once in a while?

Annaka Yockey, 10th grade, Eisenhower High School

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Unleashed writers share their favorite Thanksgiving memories ... - Yakima Herald-Republic