Holiday disasters?

[thebeesknees]

The "I can't believe that happened at Disney" thread got me wondering what holiday disasters anyone may have had.

I'll share what happened last year at Thanksgiving. We flew to Arizona to spend the holiday with my grandmother. After flight delays, we finally arrived in Phoenix around 4:00 on Thanksgiving day, and still had a 2 hour drive to Tucson to get to her house. We called to let her know we were on our way, and told her not to wait dinner on us, but she said it was no problem and that they weren't going to eat until 6:30, anyway. After driving through the pouring rain with little visibility, we got there about 7:00, only to discover all the lights out and her car gone. I couldn't get ahold of her on her cell phone, so I went next door to her neighbor's house (he's known us for years), and he told me that she had gone to my aunt's for dinner, but "Here's the key - let yourself in". Turns out she thought we knew that dinner was at my aunt's house, but I was under the impression it was at her house. With 3 cranky kids and 1 cranky DH, we decided not to drive for another 1/2 hour for dinner, and just made ourselves a pan of scrambled eggs because she had nothing else in the fridge! My DH still reminds me that he never got his pumpkin pie last year!

So, have you had any disasters you'd like to share?

 

[RMulieri]

Right before my MIL had 20 people coming for Thanksgiving...The oven went into (all on its own) the self cleaning cycle than would not unlock at all..No way to cook the turkey and a house full of people...not a disaster, but not fun.

 

[DVC Sadie]

One year (the first year we were married) we all went to my SILs house for Christmas and dinner. They had told us that dinner would be served at 2:00 pm so we ate an early breakfast, arrived at their home at 11:00 so all the kids could open presents then lo and behold the dinner did not get put on until 2:00 pm. Needless to say we did not have dinner until 6:30 pm, cranky kids everywhere, some of the adults were frazzled.

My dh told me he was going to the store around 2:30 to buy some gum but when he came back he had brought Mc Donalds so the kids at least could get a quick bite.

Those are the types of memories that still make me smile.

 

[tinkerfan1]

This is sort of off topic but it was during a holiday vacation and it was my personal problem... A few Thanksgivings ago, we went to Disney World. On our second day there, we were at the Magic Kingdom during the Spectro Magic parade. We were getting ready to leave and a lady stepped back from the crowd and I tripped over her, falling flat on my face. I busted my knee big time. I managed to get up and hobble back to the hotel. However, by morning time, it had swelled to 3 times it's size and I could not walk. I ended up spending the next day in the hotel room while my DH and kids went to the parks. Good thing I brought a good book. I went to an Urgent Tx Center and got XRayed. They just wrapped it up and told me to see an orthopedist when I got home. At least I didn't have to do any walking the remainder of the trip. My husband and kids got to take turns pushing me around in the wheelchair. They called me their fastpass ticket. I felt injured and used.... Oh well! We'll always remember that Thanksgiving vacation.

 

[badblackpug]

My sister dropped the whole platter of beautifully carved turkey, which the dog promptly ate. We had fish sticks for dinner!

 

[NHdisneylover]

I'll tell my parents story--it is the reason why we only had turkey for Thanksgiving if we went out to eat when I was a child. My mother refused to ever cook a turkey again:

My parents married young (18 and 20) and within a few months were expecting me. My dad got a "good" (for them at that age) offer of a job working for a radio station in Virginia--so they packed up little they had and moved across the country to start their new life. It was fall, so they were able to get a really good deal renting a small beach cottage for the off season.
Thanksgiving day Mom put the turkey in the morning and the two of them went for a long walk along the beach. ABout an hour later they came back to the remains of the charred house and a couple of fire trucks. It was eventually determined that the oven (which they had not used before) was wired improperly and started the fire. They lost everything they owned and had no renters insurance (they were young an stupid). That is hy they were living at the Ramada Inn when I was born a couple of weeks later--and why my mother could never bring herself to try to make a turkey again!

 

[AnnMarie3]

My story is from a few years ago . We get together with my in-laws on Christmas Eve for a family celebration. It is one of the only times throughout the year that dh's family all gathers together. That year dh had a splitting headache and went to take some tylenol before we left. He accidently took tylenol p.m. instead of the regular kind. We still joke about the year he spent Christmas Eve asleep on his dad's sofa. He slept through dinner, gifts, and all the festivities!

 

[JimR24]

Any holiday spent with my in-laws. nuff said!

 

[Bren's Mom]

I recall the Thanksgiving my sister was living out of state and attempting her first turkey dinner. I thought things were going well until she called me screaming and crying about the awful smell in the kitchen. It took a bit to calm her down and puzzle out the problem...but when I did all I could do was laugh and laugh...

I told her to remove the giblets but she 'didn't want to stick her hand in there'...so she left it. I hadn't mentioned it was in a plastic bag. She was afraid giblets was 'something gross'. And so she cooked the turkey with the plastic inside.

Needless to say that dinner did not include turkey that year. She served her guests stuffing, mashed potatoes, veggies and pie!

 

[budbeerlady]

One year (the first year we were married) we all went to my SILs house for Christmas and dinner. They had told us that dinner would be served at 2:00 pm so we ate an early breakfast, arrived at their home at 11:00 so all the kids could open presents then lo and behold the dinner did not get put on until 2:00 pm. Needless to say we did not have dinner until 6:30 pm, cranky kids everywhere, some of the adults were frazzled.

My dh told me he was going to the store around 2:30 to buy some gum but when he came back he had brought Mc Donalds so the kids at least could get a quick bite.

Those are the types of memories that still make me smile.

This is almost every event at my sister in laws. You eat 5 hrs late and there is never enough food! We ALWAYS eat before we go.

 

[dizneechic]

I have 2...
When I had just moved out on my own I thought it would be awesome to cook T-giv dinner for my mom and a few friends who would be away from their families for T-giv because they were up here for school. I was so proud of myself for doing everything perfectly, no problems etc, until I took the turkey out of the oven and was told I cooked it upside down.

Fast forward 10 years and we are over my soon to be in-laws house about 3 hours before T-giv dinner. All of sudden the power goes out, and she has about 20 people coming later that day for dinner. Unfortunately she has an electric stove (my dh refuses to have one for this very reason!) and after waiting an hour with no sign of lights coming back anytime soon we end up deciding to cook an entire T-giv feast on the grill. We borrowed a neighbors who was heading elsewhere and pulled off a fairly decent meal.

 

[Debbie7452]

Every year I cook an elegant meal for my side of the family on Christmas Eve. I put a lot into it to make it nice, candles, china, table decorations, music.

Last year, I made prime rib and yorkshire pudding (popovers). I was stressing about timing everything so the meat would be "just right" and the popovers would be fresh out of the oven when served. Well my sister and her family, who I dearly love by the way, was two hours late!!!! Basically, the meal was ruined. I tried to cover up how upset I was but my Mom was furious with DS and there was a LOT of tension for the whole night.

I still don't know why it happened...she didn't offer an explanation, just said sorry and that was it. They have problems at her house....so I didn't stay mad, but really...two hours late?? It was a disaster all right.

Say a little prayer for me that this year goes smoother...My dysfunctional Dad is coming into town and hasn't seen my Mom in many years (divorce). It's going to be a minefield....

 

[NotUrsula]

Ours happened on Easter. We drove 5 hours to BIL's house with a 2 yo., expecting a large holiday dinner. When we arrive, we discover that his vegetarian wife has decided that the Easter dinner is a dish of lentils -- a very SMALL dish of lentils, for 7 people. It worked out to about 1/4 cup each. (She said she was honoring Christ's sacrifice, though she isn't Christian )

Luckily, since it was Easter and not Christmas, there were some businesses open. In the guise of taking DS out for a buggy ride to calm him down for a nap, we found an open deli and got some decent sandwiches. Good thing, too -- my temper is not to be trusted when my blood sugar really tanks.

 

[duffy]

My younger brother killed himself a few days before Christmas 13 years ago. We spent Christmas Eve at his funeral that year.

I'd have much rather had malfunctioning ovens or spilled food.

Anything that happens on a holiday and you think is bad, but you laugh at afterwards, is a wonderful holiday, in my book.

 

[sdoll]

We have had 3 Thanksgivings out of the 4 years my DS has been around a little rough.
His 1st Thanksgiving- We were awaiting test results from some scary test on a 4 month old-Test came back clear the next day-Very thankful Thanksgiving.

2nd- My mom took him for a follow up visit on the Friday after Thanksgiving (I was a manager with Target no way I could take him) He was sent to the ER and hospitalized. My evil boss told me "I was needed more at my store than with my child. He was with his Grandma" Stupid me I believed her. I still feel guilty for that

3rd-Nothing Thankful again

4th-After working 16 hours at Target and getting home at 6am. I slept until 11 started cooking, was goofing around with DS he tripped hit his head on our step from our sunken family room. 6 stitches later we made it to my sisters for turkey

This Thanksgiving we are crossing our fingers. But the good news is I have a new job and can enjoy the holidays with my kids and not be knee deep in work. Thats what I am thankful for.

On a funnier note. One year my mom thought my Grandma was making the turkey and Grandma thought mom was. Yep no turkey that year. We still make fun of them for that.

 

[crystaltink]

I made a lavish Christmas Eve dinner for my family. I set the 8 piece place setting using my fine china, polished silver, candles, etc.. Everything was picture perfect! However, before dinner I had made Hot Buttered Rum. My daddy really liked it and kept going back for more. I told him that the alcohol cooked out of it! So by the time we gathered at my beautiful table....daddy was slurring his words. We held hands and daddy began to pray. I'm sure the Lord knew what daddy said that night...but nobody else did. You have never heard the snickers, snorts, and stifled giggles in you life than the night my poor daddy tried to say grace. It was hilarious and mortifying all at the same time!
He did mention that he slept very well that night!

 

[Sagginit]

two years ago my stepbrother decided that his brother needed to be here for xmas and bought tickets for him to come visit, but the catch was he was coming with his wife and 2 year old son and staying at our house. well xmas eve they were up past 4 am and we couldnt get them up for our traditional xmas breakfast. they woke up and came upstairs around noon while we were trying to do gifts. my stepbrother went into the kitchen and decided to cook his family their own breakfast feast. he made a mess and refused to do gifts until his family was done eating and showered and dressed. well dinner was a little late that year since my mum couldnt get the food in the oven to start it. he also managed to get a plastic cap in the dishwasher which clogged it and we didnt find until weeks later when we took it apart because it just wasnt working right. to make it worse not only was dinner late but during it his son crawled underneath and started licking my brother's fiances feet. she promptly told them she was not a child person and that if he did not stop he was going to get kicked! it was a bit tense and i still cringe everytime they mention him coming to visit.

 

[cassiez76]

christmas of '94 my mom decided we were going to get a deep fried turkey. it was the new thing around here. so she picked it up and on christmas day we (mom, me, dad, grandma) headed to my great aunt's house.

my great aunt was never great in the kitchen. my mom is great though. i guess my aunt rubbed off on her that day though. the oven was pre-set to heat the turkey up.

the turkey came on one of those styrofoam "plates" like meat or chicken comes on and it was in a plastic bag with a twist tie. aunt is cooking potatoes in a browning bag on the stovetop.

mom looks at the turkey bag and takes the styrofoam out and leaves it in the bag cause it's exactly like the browning bag on the stove.

in goes the turkey to the oven. now i'm about 17 then and don't know a thing about cooking, but i had a bad feeling....

my mom decides to look in the oven as the turkey is heating up and i had never seen my mom and aunt run so fast in their life to get pot holders to take the turkey out because the bag was almost shrink wrapped to the turkey!

they got it out and if it had been a minute longer, we'd have had a shrink wrapped turkey. my mom and i are the only ones left and we still laugh about that. me moreso because i can still see them running to get the pot holders. it was like a cartoon movie!

i'm spending this turkey day with my in-laws and i can only imagine how it's going to be. FIL/step mom are hosting and invited MIL/step dad. i think i'm stuck with MIL in another room from FIL and the rest of the family. *sigh* i may have to take some xanax for that day. lol

 

[disney_dreaming_mom]

I recently had found out I was pregnant. Our infant son was just 7 months old. It had been 6 years since I had spent a holiday with my parents due to various work related issues and we were going to drive up to let them know our baby news. I was so excited to have gotten enough time off to drive up and see them. My husband had bought a new vehicle capable of driving in the snow and we were all set for our trip through the Rocky Mountains to visit them for Thanksgiving. Everything was going great...then boom!!! Tire blow out!!! We were 6 hours into the drive and no one had tires in stock to fit our vehicle. We spent Thanksgiving at the Hampton Inn and had dinner at the Cracker Barrel (between my sobs) I was a little disappointed and hormonal. The next day we found a tire for our vehicle. My husband had the idea of driving back home to have dinner the next night with his family since a blizzard had blown in, making it too dangerous of a drive to my parents house. We drove to his mothers house and.. had the Worst.Dinner.Ever. His mother cornered me to tell me that her son "deserved better" than me and a bunch of other inappropriate things. It was like that movie with Jennifer Lopez "Monster in Law" or something. I told my husband, "I guess this isn't the best time to tell everyone about the baby?" When we finally sat down for dinner my MIL set everyone a place with placecards and fine china except for me. When my husband went to get me one she said "Oh I didn't think she wanted to eat...you know she could stand to skip a meal or two." I ran out of the room. Maybe I am too sensitive but that was so rude. I ended up having a mis-carriage ironically a few days later...Yeah, it was pretty much the worst Thanksgiving ever.

 

[Ephany]

When we finally sat down for dinner my MIL set everyone a place with place cards and fine china except for me. When my husband went to get me one she said "Oh I didn't think she wanted to eat...you know she could stand to skip a meal or two." I ran out of the room. Maybe I am too sensitive but that was so rude. I ended up having a mis-carriage ironically a few days later...Yeah, it was pretty much the worst Thanksgiving ever.

You were not too sensitive, she sounds absolutely evil!