Thanksgiving?

[Diane]

I don't think this has been asked yet so... what are your plans for Thanksgiving? Were making dinner here this year, and as far as I know... everyone is coming. I already bought our turkey... a nice/big 24 pounder. I plan on making mashed potato's, squash, corn... dinner rolls, olives/pickles... etc. My mom's making/bringing my dad's special dressing, something that everyone always looks forward to. Oh yeah... pumkin pie and some other kind, but don't know what that is yet. Maybe pecan? Can't wait...

[Amy]

When I was growing up, we always had a huge family gathering at my Grandmother's estate. There was always 20-25 people and my Grandmother was always the best host-even in her eighties.

My Mom is a total sloth and every year she calls me at Thanksgiving to see if I will host it. She says she just doesn't have the energy to pull something like that together. Thankfully, it will only be my brother and them, but every holiday she REAAALLY wants me to host and all she has to do is plop her butt down and make snide comments about how we don't see them enough, she really doesn't like the green paint shade in my bathroom, why in the world would I get another ferret and why is my dd and I so much like my Grandmother and not pleasant and social and want to spend all my free time with her??

Ack! Wasn't this a simple question??LOL It is almost like my subconcious decided to unload. ROFL

[Diane]

When I was growing up, we always had a huge family gathering at my Grandmother's estate. There was always 20-25 people and my Grandmother was always the best host-even in her eighties.

My Mom is a total sloth and every year she calls me at Thanksgiving to see if I will host it. She says she just doesn't have the energy to pull something like that together. Thankfully, it will only be my brother and them, but every holiday she REAAALLY wants me to host and all she has to do is plop her butt down and make snide comments about how we don't see them enough, she really doesn't like the green paint shade in my bathroom, why in the world would I get another ferret and why is my dd and I so much like my Grandmother and not pleasant and social and want to spend all my free time with her??

Ack! Wasn't this a simple question??LOL It is almost like my subconcious decided to unload. ROFL

and she wonders why you don't want to spend any of your free time with her? Geesh... can't say I would want to either, and not too sure I'd even do the Thanksgiving thing if I had to listen to that all day. You'd think the least she could do was to get up off her lazy butt and help?

You're a much better person than I am...

[AnnW]

my brother and his family are coming in, so we are staying here. going to my dad's. i am cooking everything but the turkey cause it's just so stressful......

[Amy]

Oh, that has to be fun for you Ann! NOT!! (even if you are the hostess with the mostest )

I just don't like to host or entertain. I definitely see it as a chore. If it was just the 4 of us, we would do a turkey breast, some mashed potatoes, green beans and maybe some stuffing. Then we would see a movie at the theatre and just hang out. Now I tell my Mom the menu and she said "you aren't making stuffing, sweet potato casserole and creamed onions??" Like I am slacking on some tradition she is forcing down my throat.

Oh! Just found out we are hosting Christmas for dh's family I called up MIL and said I will only make lasagna, salad and bread. I am not making all those appetizers, 5 sides and multiple desserts. She was okay with it all even after I told her what every one needs to bring. LOL

[Diane]

Oh, that has to be fun for you Ann! NOT!! (even if you are the hostess with the mostest )

I just don't like to host or entertain. I definitely see it as a chore. If it was just the 4 of us, we would do a turkey breast, some mashed potatoes, green beans and maybe some stuffing. Then we would see a movie at the theatre and just hang out. Now I tell my Mom the menu and she said "you aren't making stuffing, sweet potato casserole and creamed onions??" Like I am slacking on some tradition she is forcing down my throat.

Oh! Just found out we are hosting Christmas for dh's family I called up MIL and said I will only make lasagna, salad and bread. I am not making all those appetizers, 5 sides and multiple desserts. She was okay with it all even after I told her what every one needs to bring. LOL

Never heard of creamed onions before. I'm going to have to look that recipe up. Instead of finding things to complain about, your mother oughta be Thankful that she got invited somewhere to eat at all. You don't go through all that work putting a meal together just to end up having to listen to a bunch of complaining. I'd be pissed!!!

I'm not real excited about having to do the whole Thanksgiving thing either... but all the girls started asking about Thanksgiving, so I offered to do it. I know the closer Thanksgiving comes, the more nervous I'll start to get until I get to the point where I'm kicking myself for offering/inviting everyone. Everything always turns out great, and we all have a wonderful time... I just hate the rush before we all get to finally sit down to eat.

[Linda/NE]

We'll probably be going to my folks next door. The whole family should be home, along with a new nephew! Mom makes turkey and ham, taters, gravy, corn, rolls (dinner and sweet). My sisters usually bring some sort of side vegetable. My mom also makes pies and a ton of different cookies. I have no idea what I will volunteer to take. Whatever I bring usually doesn't get eaten up since there is already so much stuff.

[JAK]

I just don't like to host or entertain. I definitely see it as a chore. If it was just the 4 of us, we would do a turkey breast, some mashed potatoes, green beans and maybe some stuffing. Then we would see a movie at the theatre and just hang out.

This is what we are doing and the menu will be:
turkey breast, green bean casserole, garlic mashed potatoes, Hawaiian sweet rolls and double layer pumpkin pie. (menu decided on my dd and dh last week)

It's times like these I'm glad I don't have to deal with "family" as sometimes they can really give me a headache!

[AnnW]

Amy, sweetly say to your mom "thanks so much for offering to bring those dishes to dinner, they will make a lovely addition"...

In my family, everyone always brought something. the person whose house we went to, usually just did the least since they had so much else to do to get their house ready. it was never all about the food, it was about being together. this lady has to make everything a production and she likes to play the martyr 'i just love to cook all day for my family'..i offered to do all the sides to shut her up!

[RCT]

Going to Dad's with all his step children and thier families, should be about 50 people.....Means alot to my dad that we are there....

Making a seperate Thanksgiving here on Saturday with my brother and his boys...

Got a call last night as to what I can bring to Dad's from his wife...I was going to suggest to her that we bring the rolls and maybe some pies...I don't have lots of ideas, and we live over an hour by car longer on a holiday...don't want a hotdish....

[KarlaB]

We're heading to my mom's. I don't know what we'll ever do when that isn't an option!! My mom makes the turkey, stuffing, rolls and some sides, and we all bring a side or 2.

I cannot wait to make the pumpkin cake recipe from here and wow everyone with it! LOL

[KarlaB]

I'm not real excited about having to do the whole Thanksgiving thing either... but all the girls started asking about Thanksgiving, so I offered to do it. I know the closer Thanksgiving comes, the more nervous I'll start to get until I get to the point where I'm kicking myself for offering/inviting everyone. Everything always turns out great, and we all have a wonderful time... I just hate the rush before we all get to finally sit down to eat.

Are you just having your girls and their spouses? If you didn't do it, what woud they all do? I can't imagine not going home for holidays - guess I have always just assumed that's what people do.....

[Diane]

Are you just having your girls and their spouses? If you didn't do it, what woud they all do? I can't imagine not going home for holidays - guess I have always just assumed that's what people do.....

That's exactly why I do it each/every year. LOL What's so funny is that were having it early enough so they can all go to their significant other's families houses after they're done eating here. That way they make it to both sides and not just one. I remember doing all that crazy running around when dh and I were first married. Got old real fast... we'd always ended up feeing so tired/exhausted by the end of the day. It got to the point where we really didn't look forward to the holiday's. I'm glad those day's are all over with, but I feel bad watching my kids feeling like they have to do it now.

[KarlaB]

That's exactly why I do it each/every year. LOL What's so funny is that were having it early enough so they can all go to their significant other's families houses after they're done eating here. That way they make it to both sides and not just one. I remember doing all that crazy running around when dh and I were first married. Got old real fast... we'd always ended up feeing so tired/exhausted by the end of the day. It got to the point where we really didn't look forward to the holiday's. I'm glad those day's are all over with, but I feel bad watching my kids feeling like they have to do it now.

Just be glad they are at your house first and will actually want to eat all of the food you prepare. LOL Dh and I tried the 2-in-1 Thanksgiving one year and never again - we were so full and miserable by the end of the day. All we did that day was shove food in and rush from place to place. One day your girls will figure it out, too.

[Linda/NE]

Are you just having your girls and their spouses? If you didn't do it, what woud they all do? I can't imagine not going home for holidays - guess I have always just assumed that's what people do.....

I totally relate Karla. I couldn't imagine not going home for the holidays. My SIL comes from a big family and her and her sisters trade off for holidays. I don't think her mom has it very often. Also they will rent halls or go to her sister's restaurant (which is closed that day) to hold theirs. She's always suggesting that we need to do that. None of my siblings want that. Home is home and that's so much of what makes the holidays special. When we are all there we have 27 people. (that includes 1 infant and 1 toddler.) Yes, its' crowded, yes it's a lot of work for my mom but it just wouldn't be the same. We all pitch in and help mom get the meal on, clean up afterwards, etc. so it's not like we're imposing on her. While she doesn't come out and say it, I know she loves having everyone home--together. I just hope my kids will want to come home. I'll be the type of mom that will feel hurt if my kids have to choose between us and the in laws and the in laws win out.