A Thanksgiving at Ballerina Farm, Hannah and Daniel Neeleman Bring 8 Kids Home for Holiday Traditions

02 December 2025

Hannah Neeleman and her husband Daniel Neeleman with their children. Hannah Neeleman/ Instagram

For Hannah Neeleman and her husband Daniel Neeleman, Thanksgiving 2025 was more than just a meal, it was a reunion, a celebration, and a nostalgic journey back to roots as their entire brood of eight children joined them in Connecticut for a week of family, food and fond memories.

The family, known to millions through their social-media brand Ballerina Farm, traveled from their Utah homestead to Daniel’s childhood home in Norwalk. Instead of the usual quiet break from farm life, this holiday was full of motion, moments and togetherness. The Neelemans documented their time in a video posted on TikTok on November 30 that showed everything from grocery shopping and cooking to attending a local high-school football game and sharing meals in an Airbnb.

The highlight for many came when the family made a stop at the spot where Hannah and Daniel once got engaged. a sentimental reminder etched in time, now visited with kids in tow.

Inside the kitchen, the holiday became a collective effort. Hannah said they assigned each family member a dish to prepare, turning meal prep into a group activity full of laughter and teamwork. In her words, they “all pitched in” to create a Thanksgiving feast, turning what could be chaos with eight children into a memory of warmth and unity.

It was a festive display of domestic life that fans of Ballerina Farm have come to expect: rustic, wholesome, and rooted in togetherness. But the holiday came with more than just turkey and pumpkin pie. Earlier this month Hannah had faced some criticism notably over the $259 price tag of a handmade maple cutting board she sells through her brand’s store. Some followers questioned the cost, while others supported it given its handcrafted quality and high shipping costs. In her eight-minute video response, Hannah defended the price by explaining the board was made by a local family and represented good craftsmanship rather than a quick flip.

The Thanksgiving gathering offered a chance to remind both fans and critics alike about what Ballerina Farm stands for: family, quality, and authenticity. All eight kids sat at the table, each with a role in preparing the meal and a place in the celebration. For a family often scrutinized for the curated life they share online, the holiday video felt like a candid glimpse behind the scenes.

This is not the first time the Neelemans have blended their big-family lifestyle with travel and tradition. In past years they’ve taken their children trick-or-treating in New York City or shared glimpses of homeschooling, farm chores, and homemade meals. But Thanksgiving 2025 with kids laughing in the kitchen, the parents revisiting old memories, and a house full of food and love stands out as one of their most relatable holidays yet.

Still, not everyone sees the life they share as ideal. For years the Neelemans have faced criticism for what some describe as romanticizing traditional roles, glossing over the real challenges of raising eight children on a farm, or projecting a privileged image that does not reflect the complexity behind the scenes.

Through it all, Hannah has resisted clear labels she rejects the tag of “tradwife,” preferring instead to define her own lifestyle. She has emphasized that while they live simply compared with urban luxuries, their life remains built on partnership, hard work and faith.

As the turkey was carved and the pies served, the 2025 Thanksgiving at Ballerina Farm became more than content for social media. For Hannah, Daniel and their eight children, the holiday was about grounding, gratitude, and most of all showing that even under the lens of cameras and followers, family remains at the heart of their story.