Eric, honey, could you get the Thanksgiving turkey out of the freezer? Oh, wait. It’s a 20-pounder. Donna, could you get the Thanksgiving turkey out of the freezer? -Kitty, That 70′s Show

This year’s Thanksgiving festivities were so much fun. I still can’t believe this was my third Thanksgiving with Match and his family. Time has flown by and so much has changed for the two of us. Match’s Parents hosted Thanksgiving this year which was really nice for us. We were able to have Monkey there and we didn’t have to drive since we spent the long weekend with them.

I got up early and helped Match’s Dad with the cooking. I made cornbread and stuffed mushrooms by request. I make them every year and they a huge pain in the butt. They’re worth it when everyone eats them before I can get them on the plate!

Match’s four aunts were there along with their spouses and a few of Match’s cousins. I liked that it was a fairly small group this year. Everyone was just so relaxed and comfortable. As we sat down for dinner a few of the aunts made a toast to the family. I never make toasts but I felt that this year I had to say something. I stood up shyly and said, “This is my third Thanksgiving with you all, and my first as an official member of the family, and I just wanted to say, I couldn’t be happier.” It was short and sweet, but it teared everyone up, especially my mother in law.

I love that there was no reason to take pills for acne, no one stressed out, no one argued. It was just a warm family dinner. After dinner we played Catch Phrase and Match’s mom led me in a very clumsy (on my part, I have two left feet) dance around the living room.

We had Celtic music playing, Irish coffees, and lots and lots of laughter.

How did you celebrate your Thanksgiving?

Robin: I am Canadian. Remember? We celebrate Thanksgiving in October.

Ted: Oh right I forgot. You guys are weird and you pronounce the word ‘out’, ‘oot’.

Robin: You guys are the world’s leader in hand gun violence; your health care system is bankrupt and your country is deeply divided on almost every important issue.

Ted: [pause] Your cops are called ‘mounties’. -How I Met Your Mother

Jess: Wait, you’re taking off? Is this about your dad? Is he alright?
Sam: Yeah, you know, just a little family drama. -Supernatural

Yesterday Match and I got to celebrate an early Thanksgiving with his extended family. I was all jazzed about lots of food but I barely ate a thing. We hadn’t seen a lot of the family since our wedding and everyone wanted to talk. It sort of felt like my wedding because I was so busy talking I never had time to really eat. I didn’t even have turkey (gasp!). I haven’t been working out for the past month so I wasn’t exactly worse for wear after eating a little meal. Plus I made this incredibly fattening, so of course delicious, cornbread. And I may have sampled a bit before bringing it over. And some of the batter. Maybe.

It was great to see the family but there was an awful lot of driving involved for a Friday night. Both Match and I were worn out from the work week and didn’t feel up for driving an hour and a half through traffic.

Match’s Aunt (one of 5)’s house is pretty nice. They have this cool whole house water filter so you never have to use a Brita pitcher. The house has a great layout with an open kitchen and family room and separate formal living room. There were little scatterings of people all throughout the house and I made my rounds visiting with everyone. My favorite part of the night were the games when one of Match’s cousins busted out Catch Phrase. Not everyone played but those of us who did had a good laugh.

While I absolutely love Match’s family, this potluck made me really homesick for Thanksgivings from the past with my mom’s side of the family. It’s been years since we’ve had a big family Thanksgiving. My mom is also one of five siblings and there seems to be a lot of drama within the family. There’s always one aunt or uncle who’s not speaking to the rest of the fam and it seems to get worse the older we all get. I wish we could go back to how it was when I was a little kid and my cousins were all babies. We’d all crowd into our living room and play charades or sing songs. Sometimes one of my uncles and I would put on skits and tell jokes to entertain the family. I’m betting we had just as much family drama back then but I was too young to know anything about it. To be young and oblivious again…sometimes that sounds so nice.

I’m looking forward to Thanksgiving. Even though it will be a bit more formal, I’m sure after a few glasses of wine I can convince the in-laws to play some games. Maybe sing a few songs. But a skit might be pushing it. I don’t know if I want to see my mother in law that drunk.

Do you have family traditions for Thanksgiving? Any family drama around the holidays? I can’t be the only one!

I am thankful for this beautiful fall we’ve been having. Yeah, the other day I was at the bus stop and this lovely fall breeze came in out of nowhere and blew this chick’s skirt right up. Oh, which reminds me. I am also thankful for thongs. -Joey, Friends

It’s that time of year again, Thanksgiving. It’s not about eating until we’re so full we can’t breathe. It’s not about Black Friday where every store has promotional items at crazy low prices (I will do some online shopping then, because, well, who can pass up those deals?!). What Thanksgiving is really about spending time with family, with the people we love, and being thankful for what we have. (more…)

Gratitude, appreciation, giving thanks. No matter what words you use, they all mean the same thing. Happy. We’re supposed to be happy. Grateful for friends, family. Happy just to be alive. -Meredith, Grey’s Anatomy

Last night we had Thanksgiving dinner with Match’s entire family: aunts, uncles, cousins, the works. It was all so comfortable and easy for me, and I had such a nice time visiting with everyone. Match could walk away and talk to other people and I was perfectly content to make conversation on my own. I really hit it off with Match’s cousins, and at one point we all gathered around baby books of Match and his sis, and had a great time laughing at all the embarrassing photos. (more…)