The tables will extend far out into the living room. I like to have everyone seated together - even the little children. It's a formal affair with silver, china, crystal, and flowers. The only one of the year for my very casual family members. This will be the first time I will have my grandson at my Thanksgiving table, not to mention our niece and great niece. There will also be some contenders for my other niece's hearts. We will have a chance to check them out, as they do the same. There will be a puppy and a tiny little dog to keep Lucy company. They will make sure the floors are kept free of crumbs, I'm sure.
The next day is movie and sandwich day, and also the start of the soup. We buy our tickets ahead of time if the movie is new and hard to get into. Sometimes we split up if we have little children. More and more I'm happy to go with them to the G-rated Disney movies. This year there will some who will want to see the new Harry Potter movie, which is not at all for small children. I'll have to wait for it to come out on DVD - as I'll probably be in Tangled, a new animated movie about Rapunzel. I wouldn't even think about parting from my 2.5 year-old grandson on movie day.
Some will depart for Sacramento on Saturday, and the house will get a little quieter. We'll probably take a ride to Lake Tahoe and show off our beautiful lake to our niece who grew up in DC. Hopefully the roads will cooperate.
By Sunday morning as my daughter drives off to Portland with said niece and grand-niece it will get quieter. And by the time my older daughter is put on the plane with my grandson is will be quiet as a tomb. And time to clean up, I might add.
What about you? Can you believe Christmas is just around the corner?
31 comments:
How perfectly wonderful...all of it...turkey day, movie day, taking a drive and time with your grandson...I am so happy for you. I have no doubts that the meal will be delicious and your hospital warm & inviting. I am sure you will enjoy every second with all these special people in your life. Doing the happy dance for you! In the meantime, happy weekend. XX
Sounds wonderful, especially all the children and pets.
We are having friends in from Kentucky. They used to live here and still own a business here so are working it. We've just finished our new kitchen and my girlfriend and I will cook while her husband and mine watch football. My mother in law is helping and supplying all the china and silver as mine is packed in the basement below. Should be a really fun week. I'm putting my grocery list together now.
Happy Turkey Day to you!!!!!
This sounds absolutely fabulous. My parents always did the big Thanksgiving deal, and after the divorce my mom ramped it up to the formal affair with 20+. It is so lovely to have that many folks. Not to mention all the help with the dishes!
It sounds like you'll have the opportunity to spend quite a bit of time with family-the entire purpose of Thanksgiving, in my opinion. We'll be traveling to GA, first to my mom's and then onto my cousin's for our annual cousin gathering. I'm thankful for the opportunity to see those I rarely see.
I think you'll have a lovely time. Don't be nervous, just enjoy it.
I'm glad Christmas is nearly here, it's my favourite time of year!!
CJ xx
I do hope you have lots of help! That many people will feel awesome! A family reunion at Thanksgiving is most fitting. Happy Day to you and yours.
p.s. the side bar, Chesterton's writing is most appropriate on such a day.
Oh Nancy, this sounds wonderful.
It sounds as if our Thanksgiving will be exactly the same, right down to relatives converging on our house from all over the country and the pre-event jitters, even the movies and leftovers ritual the day after.
I'm glad somebody else understands the jitters. I feel a little silly for having them given how well we all know each other and how much love exists among us, but there you are. I think it's about wanting everything to be perfect, and we just need to know that everything will be perfect even if it isn't!
Happy Thanksgiving!
It sounds like a wonderful couple of days. We are going to our daughters house. It will be the first time she has hosted her family. Usually they go to her BIL's MIL's house so her husband can see his brother and his nieces who live 4 hours away. So it will be my daughter's core family and her family.
ugh. dont remind me about christmas...and how cool you will be having everyone for thanksgiving...traveling to my parents...
It will only be me and my Significant Other for Thanksgiving this year. My family is mostly in Texas and there is no way I will be getting on a plane for that experience. With phones and iChat, we will be virtually with family!
You will do fine, all 22 of you will be having a blast, it sounds like!
Sounds like it will a time of much happiness and love ♥
It sounds great, nancy! Megan has deserted us for her boyfriend's house this year. Told her if she didn't come home for Xmas, she would be disowned!
Sounds utterly iconic. A lively Norman Rockwell canvas.
I don't think I can recall 22 for any one meal. It will be "interesting" to put it mildly. But it seems you've got it very well planned, and I trust there will be lots of helpers to pull it off.
Could a Bear come to play with the puppies?
Sounds wonderful! Ours is going to be very quiet, 2 daughters aren't able to come home and third daughter is expecting any minute! So, other than possible arrival of baby Madeline, not too much going on.
I was getting the nervous jitters just reading about your expected guest. We have a very small family so our celebrations are equally as small...sometimes even non-existent.
Sounds like you have a great week ahead. Enjoy.
Sounds absolutely wonderful, no wonder you are looking to it.
Please do not mention the 'C' word in my presence. I am loving it and dreading it all at once. :O
Sounds delightful and it's as if we are on the same page! There will be 23 of us and I've already started cooking the make ahead dishes. Have a very Happy Birthday and a wonderful Thanksgiving! Cheers!
This sounds like a perfect way to spend the holiday.. surrounded by your wonderful family. I'm happy for you that everyone will be with you. I like the tradition of movie day the next day, too. Have a beautiful Thanksgiving, Nancy. I know you will.
Its what i love most about the holidays! just beautiful Nancy!
Enjoy to your hearts content! Those were the kinds of numbers at Thanksgiving that I grew up with- great fun! This year, for the first time ever, I'll be apart from my loved ones but we all join up at my daughters for Christmas so I hold that in my heart. Blessings on you and your family.
I'm so glad that you will have everyone with you this Thanksgiving! I remember childhood holidays where the number of relatives stretched the table to the max. Enjoy this special time with your children, grandson, nieces great-nieces et al--especially movie day, when your only obligation is to sit, watch & have fun!
Happy Thanksgiving, Nancy!
I hope it's even more wonderful a time for you and your family than your beautifully written portrayal of what you can expect. Reality always trumps our imaginings, doesn't it?
This will be the first American Thanksgiving I'll miss in 33 years but we plan to have a small celebration of it on our own. Christmas cards and a few presents will be on their way to friends and family soon. We've already had some snow here and Halifax's annual parade marched past our apartment building last night.
Lastly, I would very much like to be first in offering you all the very best wishes for a Happy Birthday tomorrow. May all your finest dreams come true.
This is the first year that my whole family won't be together for Thanksgiving. Son #1, who now lives in Phoenix, can only come for one holiday, so he chose Christmas.
bless your holiday joy!
Nancy,
That sounds like a perfect weekend. So much to be thankful for.
do not leave Harry Potter for dvd!!! He's definitely worth the trip to the big screen!!! I'm sure he'll be on long enough for you to go later... in the meantime let me know about Tangled! I haven't been this curious about a Disney film in a while!
no turkey plans... alone in Belgium so... pfffft! I actually thought I had missed the date and that it was last week! :s
sounds like you have a wonderful time planned, ENJOY!!!
It sounds absolutely perfect. I remember big Thanksgivings like that as a child. Exactly as it should day.
Have a wonderful time.
I hope there will be pics from your feast. Yes?
Feast, toast, brawl and boast!! Cheers.
Sounds heavenly Nancy. This will be the first Thanksgiving in years that we won't all be together due to unbloggable things going on.
nancy, thank you for this beautiful post...i am missing my kids and grandkids now having just had our BIG get-together a couple weeks ago...NOT wanting anyone to have to fly during the crazy holiday nuttiness, especially with the "scans"...reading your description brought back so many memories of past gatherings and while i surely do not have the energy to pull it off just now, i would give it a good try if i were so lucky as to have them here tomorrow..thank you for sharing your plans and love for your family and friends...it just sounds lovely. xoxox
Happy Thanksgiving Nancy! I hope your "full house" fiesta is in full swing and the house is full of merriment and the delicious smells of home cooking.
hugs!!!
22? Oh, Nancy. I've done 18, never 22. How brave and organized you are. Or crazy.
Sounds like a grand time. As I read this, you are finishing Friday. Hope you've enjoyed yourself immensely.
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