Hello, everyone! Not sure how many of us "vets" are around this week due to Thanksgiving. It's been crazy busy here and I haven't been online much.

My MIL is coming to visit for Thanksgiving week. She'll be here on Monday. We've been cleaning like maniacs. My house is usually clean but I go a bit crazy when we have company. Truth be told, we need to have more company and do deep cleaning more often. But the closet floors in the boys' rooms are spotless. Yes, I know no one will check! All cabinets in the kitchen have been emptied, vacuumed, wipes out, and repacked. Even steam cleaned the couch and family room rug. My MIL is lovely and would never, ever care or check about the cleanliness. It's just me being nuts.

Here are a few questions for the week.

1. What are your Thanksgiving plans?

2. What is your typical Thanksgiving meal?

3. Have you started your holiday shopping? Will you hit the Black Friday sales?

4. When do you start decorating your house for the holidays, if you do?

5. What is the one thing (tradition, food, drink) that is unique to your family for the Thanksgiving holiday?

Have a great week.

Sharon
12 year old b/b/b + 16 year old son

I'll start!

1. What are your Thanksgiving plans? It will be a very small gathering. Just the 6 of us, my MIL, and my parents. I'm used to having 20 or more people!

2. What is your typical Thanksgiving meal? We do a turkey on the BBQ (moist and delicious after brining it overnight). Also, a ham. Then, the traditional sides of mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, green bean casserole, etc.

3. Have you started your holiday shopping? Will you hit the Black Friday sales? Not a big start yet. This is very unusual for me. I'll have to get going. The problem is my boys aren't very particular about any wants this year.

4. When do you start decorating your house for the holidays, if you do? We typically decorate for Christmas after Thanksgiving. This year, we'll wait until Saturday because we have plans in San Francisco for the day-after Thanksgiving.

5. What is the one thing (tradition, food, drink) that is unique to your family for the Thanksgiving holiday? This is a tradition from my childhood. No one knows how it began but my mom thinks she got the idea from a magazine. We make jello pineapple rings. Using the can of pineapple rings, take the top off and drain the excess juice. Make the jello as directed with 2 cups of hot water but only 1 cup of cold water. Pour jello right into the cans of drained pineapple. Set overnight. Unmold in the morning by cutting the bottom of the can off and using a butter knife to slice around the pineapple . It comesout in rings. During Christmas, I make red and green jello cans. Very pretty and the kids love it.


Have a great week.

Sharon
12 year old b/b/b + 16 year old son

1. What are your Thanksgiving plans? a late lunch at my parents and then snacks and cocktails at my dfil's

2. What is your typical Thanksgiving meal? Turkey, ham, all the usual sides.

3. Have you started your holiday shopping? Will you hit the Black Friday sales? I am DONE! My ds still has to buy something for his cousin, but dh will take care of that.

4. When do you start decorating your house for the holidays, if you do? I will probably start the first week in December. I'll do a little each day.

5. What is the one thing (tradition, food, drink) that is unique to your family for the Thanksgiving holiday? I really can't think of any.

Sharon,
I am hosting Christmas Eve for my side of the family and need to do some serious deep cleaning! Not that my mom hasn't seen my filth before, but I just feel better!

"Just remember, you can do anything you set your mind to, but it takes action, perseverance, and facing your fears."-- Gillian Anderson

1. What are your Thanksgiving plans?
We'll go to my sister-in-law's for lunch and then my sister's for dinner. I don't get completely out of cooking. I'll make cranberry salad and a spinach salad for both and probab;y cook a whole meal the next day because I love the leftovers!!

2. What is your typical Thanksgiving meal?
Turkey, cranbeery salad, potatoes, gravy, stuffing, veggies (either carrots, peas, corn, asparagus and/or green beans) and a (green) salad.

3. Have you started your holiday shopping? Will you hit the Black Friday sales?
I have several things tucked away but am still looking for the "big" electronic thing. Cameras? camcorders? Laptops? Looking for a deal.

4. When do you start decorating your house for the holidays, if you do?
Usually we do it all the weekend nearest St. Nicholas Day but as I am feeling my age lately, I might get the outside lights up after Thanksgiving to avoid hanging from a ladder in a snowstorm.

5. What is the one thing (tradition, food, drink) that is unique to your family for the Thanksgiving holiday?
I don't think we have don'e anything unique. My Mom, sisters and I always go to mass in the morning but the kids prefer staying home to watch the parades with the Dads We pick names for the Christmas exchange and exchange lists with the grandparents. Love to see some ideas to jazz it up!

It's been a long since I've been on here so thought I would try and catch up! We are headed to my mom's Tuesday afternoon for Thanksgiving. My brother and his family from New York are coming (to Kansas). We will have Thanksgiving with my family on Thursday and then with Kraig's family on Saturday. Even though we have a little vacation, the time is already packed with things to do.

1. What are your Thanksgiving plans? Headed to my mom's

2. What is your typical Thanksgiving meal? We usually have turkey, brisket, noodles, sweet potatoes, mashed potates, corn, green beans, and homemade rolls. And of course lots of sweets!

3. Have you started your holiday shopping? Will you hit the Black Friday sales? I've ordered a few things online but that's about it. I'm still debating wether or not I will go shopping Friday.

4. When do you start decorating your house for the holidays, if you do? After Thanksgiving

5. What is the one thing (tradition, food, drink) that is unique to your family for the Thanksgiving holiday? This one is a hard one. Can't think of anything except we always make homemade dinner rolls that was my grandma's recipe

Hope you all have a great Thanksgiving!

Karri
Kolton (14)
Madison (9)
McKayla (9)
Dalton (9)