Thanksgiving Plans

[CNYHopeful]

Anyone have big Thanksgiving plans?

Still trying to figure out the whole holiday schedule thing? What''s your favorite Turkey Day tradition?

SO and I are going down to NJ to visit my parents and immediate family. Most of my siblings, their spouses, and kids will be there (I am youngest of 7) so it''s usually a loud and fun time.

I think SO might try to have a private "chat" with my dad, but I don''t want to jinx anything. SO indicated he wants to ask my dad in person, and considering he wants to propose before the summer and this is the only planned visit with my parents before then, I don''t see how he''d have another opportunity. They live 3.5 hours away. Yet, I don''t wish to "ruin" it for him by knowing too much. He joked about me giving him "lots of alone time" with my dad and I know he really wants all of these plans to be top secret. Any of you ladies have suggestions how I can give them the space but not make it seem like I''m expecting it (although I am)?

 

[tabu]

Hello CNY! For my thanksgiving my SO and I are going to my aunts house, my moms sister. My sister and cousins will be there as well, pretty small, just about 12 of us but it is very fun!

As far as your SO having a chat with your dad, I think it would be good to maybe help your mom clean up or help her in the kitchen...? That way, the boys can watch football or whatever while the girls are doing their thing. You don''t want to make it too obvious ya know? However, maybe he has already called them and planned out that he is going to talk with your dad so your mom is planning on having you run an errand...? You never know what he has up his sleeve.

I think the best thing is to just stay out of it though, I''m sure he has a plan

 

[Lauren8211]

My parents are flying FF and I out to Las Vegas to visit them for Thanksgiving. That''s what we do every year. This year my parents put us at the MGM Grand and I''ve never stayed there, so I''m very excited!

We''re eating dinner at one of the casino restaurants.

 

[ladypirate]

K has to work the next day, so it''ll just be the two of us on Turkey Day this year. I''m actually really looking forward to it.

It''s also a big wine weekend here in Portland, so we''re probably going to go wine tasting on the Saturday.

 

[Clairitek]

FF and I are hosting his family (parents and brother) and mine (parents and "brother" from Bulgaria with his girlfriend) at our home in PA! I''ve bought new dishes and gotten nice place settings together for the event (posted a thread a little while back about them). Should be interesting!

Did I mention that this will be the first time we''re all together.

No... I''m not nervous AT ALL!

heh....

 

[Clairitek]

Date: 11/19/2008 3:28:28 PM
It''s also a big wine weekend here in Portland, so we''re probably going to go wine tasting on the Saturday.

Oooh I''m so jealous! I

Washington/Oregon wines!!

 

[sunnyd]

Date: 11/19/2008 3:34:44 PM
Author: Clairitek

Date: 11/19/2008 3:28:28 PM
It''s also a big wine weekend here in Portland, so we''re probably going to go wine tasting on the Saturday.

Oooh I''m so jealous! I

Washington/Oregon wines!!

Yeah, they''re pretty tasty.

Hehe!

This will be Thanksgiving #2 for us, and our parents made it difficult on us this year! Last year both families got together (they''re all good friends) and it was a huge party. This year they''re doing it separately so I think we''re having dinner at my parents'' house, then dessert at his. Yum, there''s nothing like a good food coma on Thanksgiving.

 

[gwendolyn]

I haven''t decided yet what day we''ll be celebrating (we''re in England so I have to work on Turkey Day itself). Probably Sunday, when both J and I have off from work.

 

[chocolatefudge]

Ladies what is thanksgiving?? What is it for? When is it? What do you do? Is it like Christmas? I''ve seen it on Friends and it looks lots of fun but what is it?!? Am wondering why we don''t have it over here in England?

 

[gwendolyn]

Date: 11/19/2008 4:04:12 PM
Author: chocolatefudge
Ladies what is thanksgiving?? What is it for? When is it? What do you do? Is it like Christmas? I've seen it on Friends and it looks lots of fun but what is it?!? Am wondering why we don't have it over here in England?

Thanksgiving is celebrated every year on the 4th Thursday of November and is an observance of the pilgrims giving thanks for their health and food. Nowadays it's a time to gather together with family, eat yummy food, sometimes watch (US) football on TV and generally appreciate all that you may take for granted during the year.

Here's some official stuff on it, if you're more interested: linky link.

 

[CheshireSmile]

This Thanksgiving will be rather hectic! We''re going to SO''s parent''s house on Wednesday and staying until mid afternoon and then driving to my parents house - which is luckily only two hours away. We really wanted to spend Thanksgiving together - it''ll be the first time in our 4+ years together and I''m really excited for it.

 

[LtlFirecracker]

I will be post call rotating at a hospital that is out of town for me.

If my aunt is around, I will probably just go there. If she is not, than my BF said he would come to keep me company

 

[Erin]

My bf''s Mother died in 05 and his Dad last Nov 29. It''s going to be hard for him. He is divorced and so he won''t get together with his kids and his siblings until Sunday.
My sister is flying out to see my brother in Vail so
Bf is coming to my parent''s house with me on Thursday.

 

[ckrickett]

I''m so excited. It''s our first Thanksgiving at our house!

and we are doing dinner here for both families. We are having a traditional dinner but my BF makes a mean butternutsquash risotto and we are doing that and making low cal/fat free desserts!

I''m just so excited this year!

 

[fuzzers]

SO and I are flying to my parents' house! I'm so excited. I haven't been home for over 3 months (school). Plus I can't wait to cook like crazy and show SO what I good wifey I could be. My dad married my mom for her meatloaf, maybe he'll marry me for my broccoli casserole??

 

[bubbly1126]

We''re going to his moms for dinner. I''m excited. (She and I are very close) We usually go to his grandparents (on his dads side, FF parent''s are divorced) and then swing by my parents but this year it''s just his moms.

 

[CNYHopeful]

Thanks, Tabu, that''s great advice. It''ll be a great holiday regardless.

Sounds like a lot of ladies have great plans for Turkey Day. Any suggestions for good side dishes?

Keep us posted if there''s a special Thanksgiving surprise!

 

[Clairitek]

Date: 11/19/2008 10:42:47 PM
Author: CNYHopeful
Thanks, Tabu, that''s great advice. It''ll be a great holiday regardless.


Sounds like a lot of ladies have great plans for Turkey Day. Any suggestions for good side dishes?


Keep us posted if there''s a special Thanksgiving surprise!

I realized that I never answered your question! I agree with Tabu and I would just stay out of it. I went through this a couple of months ago but FF had told me he was going to talk to my father AND my father knew as well. I got nervous it wouldn''t happen but then FF asked my father to show him the boat that we are building so that was a good excuse to hang out together. Afterwards my father started calling him "son" and kept hugging him. It was really cute.

I hope it goes well for you!

I know I''ll be checking LIW once in a while to see if anyone becomes engaged over the holiday.

 

[fieryred33143]

I''ve been with FI for 7 years and have never had Thanksgiving dinner with his family so this year we are going to his grandmother''s house.

I''m secretly not looking forward to it

. My mom makes the best candied yams and his family hates sweet potato so no yams for me this year

 

[Italiahaircolor]

We are going to my parents (like every year) with my entire family there, as well.

We do the traditional donuts and Macy''s day parade thing, dinner at 5, asleep by 10, awake at 1 and off to Black Friday shopping.

 

[that_someone_special]

[The first thanksgiving we were dating we spent apart- he was supposed to come to my family dinner after his "family" dinner but it went until 11 PM!!! So last year I "demanded" I go with. I actually wasn''t flippin invited. But I made sure he had his dumb family invite me. So, I''m invited, and they take FOREVER. We were very clear that we had to leave by X time to get to my parents house and see my side. The actual process of eating dinner took THREE HOURS. We waited foooorevvvverrrrrr. To top things off, his father ignored me the entire time, never said hello to me, never made eye contact with me, and when I was talking, ignored me and turned away to look off into space. I was in tears by the time we got to my house

His dad is still like that towards me, even though he claims he likes me (BS!) SO this year, I was "invited" and I''m not even bothering. I''m not missing my families dinner again this time because his father is rude.

So yeah, I''ll be at my place, he''ll go with his dad and such (dont get me started) and he''ll come over to see my family later. They LOVE him, adore him.

 

[gwendolyn]

Date: 11/20/2008 11:05:48 AM
Author: Italiahaircolor
We are going to my parents (like every year) with my entire family there, as well.


We do the traditional donuts and Macy''s day parade thing, dinner at 5, asleep by 10, awake at 1 and off to Black Friday shopping.

Traditional donuts?! Man, why hasn''t my family ever done Thanksgiving donuts?

 

[Bia]

Date: 11/20/2008 11:57:21 AM
Author: swedish bean
[The first thanksgiving we were dating we spent apart- he was supposed to come to my family dinner after his ''family'' dinner but it went until 11 PM!!! So last year I ''demanded'' I go with. I actually wasn''t flippin invited. But I made sure he had his dumb family invite me. So, I''m invited, and they take FOREVER. We were very clear that we had to leave by X time to get to my parents house and see my side. The actual process of eating dinner took THREE HOURS. We waited foooorevvvverrrrrr. To top things off, his father ignored me the entire time, never said hello to me, never made eye contact with me, and when I was talking, ignored me and turned away to look off into space. I was in tears by the time we got to my house

His dad is still like that towards me, even though he claims he likes me (BS!) SO this year, I was ''invited'' and I''m not even bothering. I''m not missing my families dinner again this time because his father is rude.

So yeah, I''ll be at my place, he''ll go with his dad and such (dont get me started) and he''ll come over to see my family later. They LOVE him, adore him.

God...how difficult this must be!

Not to threadjack but: What''s his father''s problem?

 

[Bia]

I''m doing three Thanksgivings, back-to-back!

Thursday we are doing a big family dinner at my BF''s parent''s house--my first with them since I always travel back to Boston to be with my family (I am very sentimental about holidays and have a hard time being away from my folks--BUT this year, I put my big girl pants on!). I adore his family, so I''m really looking forward to it.

Friday morning (crack of dawn style), me, bf, my brother and SIL are driving home to Mass to have a big family faux-Thanksgiving dinner with my family. Then Saturday, we do it again to celebrate with my cousin who has to work on Friday. So, I will be about 20lbs heavier when I report back to you all that Monday.

 

[that_someone_special]

Bia: Yeah. I have no idea. The first time I met him he went ON and ON about how attractive my bf''s ex''s were... and talked about them. It was terrible. Two plus years later, I know that I just have to make the best out of a not ideal situation. He ignores me every chance he gets. He NEVER invites me along for "family" things, and probably doesn''t even remember my name

But, my BF is MORE than worth it to put up with his father.

 

[ash313]

I LOVE Thanksgiving. Easily my favorite holiday. Just people you love, amazing food, no gifts or commercial crap (or not much commercialization anyway). Simply a day to be thankful for the love in your life. *Sigh* So wonderful.

AND we have fun plans this year! We are just gonna hang out Wednesday night, maybe do dinner or something, and then Thursday we are going to the big parade here in Detroit downtown! So we''re getting up super early, making a big thermos full of coffee, bundling up and heading downtown. I''ve never been, and I''m VERY excited!!

Then we''re heading to our hometown (90 minutes away) for a lovely dinner with his family, and we''ll probably swing by my family''s place, too (they''re about 3 miles apart!).

Yay!

 

[sunnyd]

Date: 11/20/2008 11:57:21 AM
Author: swedish bean
[The first thanksgiving we were dating we spent apart- he was supposed to come to my family dinner after his ''family'' dinner but it went until 11 PM!!! So last year I ''demanded'' I go with. I actually wasn''t flippin invited. But I made sure he had his dumb family invite me. So, I''m invited, and they take FOREVER. We were very clear that we had to leave by X time to get to my parents house and see my side. The actual process of eating dinner took THREE HOURS. We waited foooorevvvverrrrrr. To top things off, his father ignored me the entire time, never said hello to me, never made eye contact with me, and when I was talking, ignored me and turned away to look off into space. I was in tears by the time we got to my house

His dad is still like that towards me, even though he claims he likes me (BS!) SO this year, I was ''invited'' and I''m not even bothering. I''m not missing my families dinner again this time because his father is rude.

So yeah, I''ll be at my place, he''ll go with his dad and such (dont get me started) and he''ll come over to see my family later. They LOVE him, adore him.

Good lord! Why wouldn''t he go to your family''s house?!

 

[CNYHopeful]

Claritek, Thanks for your advice! Sounds like your SO and father had a great chat. It''s so sweet that they can have a bond like that and you don''t have to walk on eggshells anymore about whether or not he''s asked your dad.

Sending dust to everyone that may have a special day coming soon. To all, enjoy a great Thanksgiving with family and loved ones!

Swedish Bean - That''s so aweful his dad treats you that way. I hope that you enjoy your Thanksgiving with your family anyway. Have you and your SO talked about possibly alternating holidays visiting family? Like spending Thanksgiving with one family, Christmas/New Year''s with the other? I know it is never easy on either family but it may be a fair compromise. My SO and I decided (partially since my family''s nearly 4 hours away and his family is right around the corner) that we''ll do Thanksgiving wiith my family and Christmas Eve/Christmas with his family every year and Easter we''ll alternate.

 

[Clairitek]

Date: 11/20/2008 11:09:35 PM
Author: CNYHopeful
Claritek, Thanks for your advice! Sounds like your SO and father had a great chat. It''s so sweet that they can have a bond like that and you don''t have to walk on eggshells anymore about whether or not he''s asked your dad.

Funny side story about the chat... FF was helping Dad in the boat shop with some stuff and my father wanted to screw this big heavy heat lamp onto a stand that was close to the ground. So FF waited until my father was on his back on the ground with FF holding this big heavy lamp over his face to say "So what do you think about Claire and I getting married?"
To which my father replied "Oh I think thats a horrible idea." Then FF goes "Me too."

They were kidding of course but it just sort of gives an idea about their relationship. In the few short times they''ve spent time together they have gotten really comfortable around each other. Two peas in a pod! My mother even jokes sometimes that I''m marrying my father because they are so similar.

You''ll have to come back to this thread and let us know how the chat went (if your FF will share any of the details at all).

 

[Pushin40]

I have some pretty big plans! (Don't hate me!)

We're off ot St Maarten tomorrow for the week! It's even sweeter now since MA has suddenly dropped ot the twnties this past week, UHG! Get me outta here!!!

I'll be trying to track down a nice turkey dinner

on the Island.
The best part is..... we don't have to deal with the holiday thing!