QOTD Nov 6

[KAMommy]

I bet I can beat everyone's crowd numbers.

We go to my grandmother's (my dad's mom) every year (DH's family have pretty much written us off as helplessly normal so we don't even contemplate going there).

My dad was one of 16 children. 14 survived infancy and had families of their own. The last time any of us counted there are about 175 of us - that's what we consider immediate family. We all get together about three times a year (most of us live in three or four East Tennessee Counties). But Thanksgiving is kind of hit or miss - I guess we will probably serve about 75 people.

We do potluck - everyone brings food and I only have one aunt that I won't eat anything she cooks!

Just for kicks - here is what our table usually looks like. This is just the food (with no duplicates, there's more on the stove). The desserts are off to the side and cover at least the entire top of a huge chest freezer.

 

[AlexWyattMommy]

I think we'll just drive the extra miles and go to your house for dinner instead of Cracker Barrel.

How far are you from Williamsburg KY?

 

[KAMommy]

I think we'll just drive the extra miles and go to your house for dinner instead of Cracker Barrel.

How far are you from Williamsburg KY?

Believe me, there are so many of us, I don't think anyone would notice.

In fact, some of my aunts and I have been standing in the kitchen watching people go around the table going, "now who's that?!?"

 

[New England Eeyore]

I just decided yesterday what I'm doing for Thanksgiving - a big fat nothing! And I'm thrilled about it!

Somehow my work schedule always seems to fall unluckily for me on Thanksgiving week and this year my partner asked me to work Black Friday for a day that I owed him, so I'm working 6 days out of 7 that week (10-12 hour shifts) with my only day off being Thanksgiving! So I'm doing nothing that day!

Usually we go to my Dad's family which isn't bad, but it's always a fair amount of stress. With DH's new job he will work every major holiday for a good long time, so I'll just go into the city on his lunch break and bring him something to eat. I told my Dad my plan and he got all excited - it meant he didn't have to go to his family's either! He's already planned that we'll get The Cheesecake Factory takeout on Wed night and reheat it Thursday. Talk about a non-traditional Thanksgiving dinner.

With so much of my family in health care where holidays are still workdays, we learned not to worry so much about the actual day and would often celebrate on random days we were all off. It makes it really great for my stepdaughters as they always get 2 Christmases - the actual day with their mom and whatever day it works out for us to celebrate.

 

[party of 3]

well it's my turn to do thanksgiving this year. i think there will be about 15-17 of us. I do the whole thing from soup to nuts. we ALWAYS have way too much food. then after it's over everyone gets out their containers and splits it all up so it's not so much left here. it's nice that way. i'd hate to throw away all that food. my sis did it last year so i knew that it was my year. it's just so much darn work. to make sure it's all hot at the same time. and the family tradition is that the buns are burnt. somehow no matter who's house it's at, the buns always end up burnt. i'm going to try to break tradition and NOT burn them this year. wish me luck!!!!!!

as for black friday, i've never done it! but i'm looking for a laptop, so maybe........i'm thinking about it........

there is a really great craft fair in sturbridge that my sis and i usually go to, so i might do that too.

 

[StitchIsOurHero]

Our Thanksgiving will be a little different (for us) this year. We are doing Thanksgiving with my mom and dad, my brother and SIL, and my uncle, aunt, and cousin on the 18th at my mom and dad's house. This to me is my Thanksgiving. We do:

turkey
homemade dressing (NOT stuffing--and we count how many pieces Mom bakes before they go in the oven. That way we know how many pieces each person is allotted--and we count!! Sad, huh??)
sweet potato casserole
hash brown casserole
broccoli salad (what DH & I bring)
rolls
pumpkin pie
pecan pie

It's SO good! I can't wait!!

We usually do actual Thanksgiving day with DH's parents, but this year, they are going to Ft. Bragg, NC, to be with his sister. She is about 5 months pregnant, and her DH is being deployed right before Thanksgiving. I think MIL and FIL are going to take her to the beach for a few days. On Thanksgiving, I think DH & I are going out to eat--there's a restaurant with a buffet that has Deep-Fried Turkey!! Love it!!

Of course we do Black Friday! Even though we won't need anything. I just feel like I have to be at the Disney Store at 5 a.m.! DH will do that and then go on to work, and I'll meet my mom and shop for most of the day. That weekend, it's decorating time!!

I can't believe it'll be here before we know it!

 

[BernardandMissBianca]

Hey, that means it is someone elses birthday soon too. Can you all guess who? Nope, not me but someone close to me.

Gee I wonder?!?!!

 

[BernardandMissBianca]

homemade dressing

I forgot MIL's cornbread dressin' she makes that though, not me.

 

[Lisa]

Gee I wonder?!?!!

Ding, ding, ding, we have a winnah!

 

[BernardandMissBianca]

Ding, ding, ding, we have a winnah!

What do I win???

 

[Lisa]

What do I win???

How about a BIG OLE birthday smooch!

 

[BernardandMissBianca]

How about a BIG OLE birthday smooch!

Works for me!

 

[mommy2mrb]

Okay spooky thing here, my SIL Buffy's b-day is the same day as our own Buffy, B&MB, what are the chances of that?

Lisa

 

[party of 3]

Okay spooky thing here, my SIL Buffy's b-day is the same day as our own Buffy, B&MB, what are the chances of that?

Lisa

that is just weird!

 

[BernardandMissBianca]

That is weird!

Will she be 34??

 

[Lisa]

That is weird!

Will she be 34??

No, and neither will you! JK

You are such a youngun'.

 

[BernardandMissBianca]

No, and neither will you! JK

You are such a youngun'.

oh please

 

[mommy2mrb]

That is weird!

Will she be 34??

Nope, she's turning the BIG 40 and I'm sending her the "meanest" 40 card I can find, she is really having a tough time with it, I think its funny. 40 didn't bother me, but 50 is, but I think that's because DD will turn 13 that year........hmm menopause and puberty in the same house at the same time, DH watch out

 

[AlexWyattMommy]

THAT will not be a fun time for anyone.

 

[bigbabyblues]

2 dinners for us too.

First stop is at my aunt's with my aunt, her 2 dd's, their boyfriends and my grandpa. DH is working that day, so we'll be there from shortly before 8 a.m. until he gets off work at 4. He works just over the hill from where she lives, but it's 30 miles from here. We'll eat around lunchtime, we always do.

Second stop will be at DH Gma's church. She's having just about everybody, and there's no way we can all fit in one house. Us, the IL's, DH aunt and her family, SIL/BIL, other BIL/SIL, their ds and her family, including her aunts/uncles/cousins, sister and BIL, etc. Gma is planning for 40-50 people.