Inspired by C.Ann's Turkey thread...

[sdarwkcabemanmy]

What are your Thanksgiving traditions?

When I was growing up, we really didn't have any. DSis and I would go to our father's parents home and I have no idea what my parents did.

When DH and I started dating, that all changed. My mother (in her infinite wisdom..or possibly insanity, I'm not sure which ) started having huge get togethers. She rents out her church's reception hall/kitchen and invites anybody who wants to come. So usually it's Mom, Stepdad, Sis, her two kids, her babydaddy, my brother, whatever girl he's dating, at least two or three of my stepsisters/brothers and THEIR families and whoever else just decides to show up. You never know who's going to be there or how things are going to go. It's pretty much organized chaos.

Then after we've eaten and helped clean up a bit, DH, DS and I head to his parents home to do dinner all over again with the ILs and usually SIL, her hubby and their two kids.

I like it because I don't have to cook a big meal, although I usually bring some sort of a side dish or a box of cokes to share. DS gets to see his cousins and play with them, which he doesn't get to do nearly as often as we would like.

It makes for a VERY long day because my parents usually serve lunch around noon and we have to leave our house at least an hour to an hour and a half early in order to get there. Then, three or four hours later we have to drive an hour or so back the other way in order to get to the ILs in time for supper at 5 or 6 in the evening. We usually leave between 8 and 9 pm because DH has to work early the next day and usually ends up work 12+ hrs on Black Friday.

The last few years, I've TiVo'd the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade to watch with DS on Black Friday since I refuse to go anywhere near a retail store of any kind. We have leftover turkey and stuffing sandwiches and just chill in front of the TV.

It's the perfect start to the Christmas season.

 

[mamacatnv]

We head out of the house around noon and into town where we meet up with some friends and we all check into a large Hotel that has an awesome pool.

The kids (3 between us - 17, 18 & 10) get their own room and then adults each get their own rooms. We used to have the kids connected, now they are old enough that as long as they are on the same floor we are good to go!

We meet up in one of our rooms for drinks which we all brought and we send the kids to the arcade. We chat and visit for an hour or 2 and then we round up the kids and head to the Thanksgiving Buffet in the hotel.

We spend the evening after dinner hanging out and playing in the pool. We bring along a stash of snacks and drinks. When the pool closes the kids head back to the arcade and then we let them rent a movie in their room. Adults pass out

Next morning we all meet for breakfast and then we return to the pool until early afternoon. We all depart for home mid day on Friday - relaxed and ready to enjoy the rest of the weekend.

 

[minniecarousel]

My grown sons like Thanksgiving, and it's mainly because they always got to stay home on that day! Everybody comes to our house and have since older DS was born. We gather around noon - 1 pm and eat by 2. That gives enough time for people to hit their second dinner at 5-6 o'clock! Older DS's in-laws just live 2 miles away, so they have it easy. We have anywhere from 22 - 30 people, depending on who is in town. I cook the turkey(s) and everyone brings sides. We always have birthday cake for the two end-of-November birthdays.

 

[sdarwkcabemanmy]

Sounds like you have an awesome thanksgiving mamacat.

 

[Sneezie]

Thanksgiving is my absolute favorite holiday. I love everything about Thanksgiving: the colors, the themeing, the smells, everything!

Three years ago everyone started coming over to my house. All of my mom's and dad's sisters and borthers (who live in the area) will descend upon my house at some time during the day. My mom usually does most of the cooking with some people bringing side dishes. I don't cook and even have a plaque on my kitchen wall that says "I have a kitchen because it came with the house" so I don't normally prepare anything. One Thanksgiving I made it my mission to find the perfect gravy boat so I did contribute something!

We usually eat around 1pm and sit around talking to whoever comes in then we play board games. Football games are always on. It's my absolute favorite time of the year.

 

[Angelhalo]

My mom and I get up (I always go over and spend the night the night before) and make a pot of coffee and she puts the turkey in the oven.

Then we watch the Macy's parade and we get out the Christmas tree and decorations, and start putting it all up.

Then we go back to the kitchen a couple hours later and start on all the other stuff. We usually eat a Thanksgiving lunch rather than dinner. When we're done we put on Christmas music and go back to putting the decorations up.

The next morning my mom and I are up before the sun to hit the sales.

Everyone is involved in the Thanksgiving day, my dad, brother and DH, didn't mean to make it sound like its only my mom and I.

 

[Tinkerbelle's Mom]

Oh I just love thanksgiving! It is my favorite holiday of the year.

Growing up my mom would cook and all my siblings and thier friends (or anyone we knew who did not have somewhere to be that day) would gather at her house. As we got older everyone started coming to my house even though I am the youngest in the family. My mom taught me all her "secrets" about her thanksgiving dishes.

Now that my mom has passed I cook the dinner. My siblings and I are spread out all over the country so we don't get together that often for thanskgiving.

I cook a large spread for my dd, aunt, uncle and cousins. The night before I do all the baking and prep work. I get up early. I always make a homemade coffee cake as I prep the turkey and stuffing. Once the turkey is in the oven I settle down with my coffee cake and watch the Macy's Thanksgiving day parade.

One of my cousins will go and get the paper and we all go threw the ads. We all talk, watch tv, and play games together. After dinner and clean up dd and I will take a nap.

Then about 5pm we head to my other uncle's house for a very large extended family get together. We usually don't get home from that until 11 or so.

I love this holiday because the premise is to be thankful for what blessings you have, to spend time with your family at home, and to enjoy a wonderful meal together.

The day after we do shop a little, we also put up our chirstmas decorations, and we mail our chirstmas cards (otherwise they will never get done).

 

[sdarwkcabemanmy]

I don't cook and even have a plaque on my kitchen wall that says "I have a kitchen because it came with the house"

I need a sign like that.
A couple years ago, we got a free turkey with X$ amount of groceries purchased and it sat there in the freezer because I didn't know what to do with it. Eventually I got sick of it sitting there taking up valuable freezer space so I decided to cook it. Even though I cooked it in a bag, it was dry and tough as old leather. AND I found out later, I'd accidentally cooked it with the package of giblets, etc still inside. Oops. I didn't know how to make gravy so I used the gravy package that came with the bird and it was so gross I couldn't even eat it.

I think we ended up throwing most of it away and I learned I will NEVER EVER EVER make another turkey again as long as I live.