Baby kid and her BF committed to coming to our place for the turkey ? feast! We will see big kid and her family on Friday. All is well.
Wow. I can see turkey ? on my iPhone. How about a ??
This is my big shebang of the year. This is the biggest year yet with 32. 25 sleep over. Wednesday we’re having my brothers 60th, and it’s a casino night party. My first person arrived, that would be my daughter this morning for her break. Tuesday I have another helper coming. Everyone brings something. I have a little notebook that drives the younger generation crazy - but it dates back years, and it’s my Thanksgiving bible. Each year I put in who was coming, what we’re having each day and who is bringing what. Then I generate the grocery list from that. Finally I write out what gets done each day to be ready and what time everything goes in the ovens and gets cooked on Thanksgiving. It allows me to not feel so stressed about missing something. I also have bought warming trays and 3 pot warmers over the years so as I cook something or something is ready, it can sit on the warming tray. I have a personal thing about wanting all the food warm and this way I don’t freak out so much about timing.
I made my first trip to BJ’s - two carts full. I do turkey, prime rib and a stuffed ham, then about a zillion sides. This year hubby designed t-shirts - each family will have their own color and we’re all wearing pj bottoms or yoga pants or whatever floats your boat and is comfy.
Most importantly the bar will be fully stocked and the signature cocktail for the party is the french 75.
I’m in awe of some of you and the time you must spend in the kitchen over the course of a couple or more days.
My problem with this is that I DON’T want to be tied to the kitchen for hours/days! I want to be visiting with my kids or guests, going for hikes, playing board games, etc. It’s like trying to put on a wedding and then all of a sudden it’s over!
I must be attracted to cranberry recipes this week. I think you could adjust this to use leftover cranberry sauce if you have a thick chunky one - spread it on flatbread, add the additional items. Yum.
http://www.garlicrecipes.ca/cranberry-goats-cheese-flatbread/?fbclid=IwAR2-aKSGw_JuTL58vPwwRc0MRgfi7Cl_wsoJa2gQkDEMQLXwPDyA__zS0DQ
@eyemamom You sound like the ultimate hostess! I’m sure all your guests appreciate the memories you create. I hope you have great helpers. Cooking the thanksgiving feast is one big thing but with 25 sleeping over, that’s a lot of people to feed for much more than one meal!
I just ordered two Dutch ovens on sale by telling myself I was being a responsible hostess. . .
Thanks for that. I even made homemade lemon cello and orangecello and bottled and sealed them as going away gifts. The family comes from all over the country, from California and up and down the east coast, it’s all of our favorite holiday and it was a major consideration when we bought this house. My realtor friend thought I lost my mind. Once a year every sibling and every niece and nephew come with various dates and friends. I have a pool house that I nickname the cousin cottage with cots and beds and they all sleep like prairie dogs. Everyone brings stuff, everyone helps. Tuesday when my niece comes we watch hallmark Christmas, drink cocktails and prep. My husband handles the meat, with his carving crew.
We play pool and corn hole and ping pong and everyone visits. And my favorite is that my brother and his family does the clean up.
I’m a well oiled machine. I joke I could do this professionally and host big parties at my house.
^^^On the one hand, that sounds so fun. On the other hand, I think I’d have a nervous breakdown. 
Wow. We are going off the beaten track this year. Wednesday night we are going out for dinner with all 5 kids, D’s bf and his siblings, oldest son’s gf and her sister and, if she’s up to it, MIL, SIL and the aide. We’re doing Italian.
For Thanksgiving, it will be only H and I with the 3 youngest boys. I have finally admitted to H that I hate turkey, as do the two youngest boys and the middle child (oldest of the 3 youngest) is neutral. Therefore, I am getting H an individual serving of turkey with sides of his choice from our local store and the rest of us are having either Chinese food or halal cart food, if the cart the boys like is open. I am really looking forward to not having turkey.
Finished all my shopping this afternoon. I tried to convince my kids to try some new desserts and there was mutiny. So our old standbys are the menu.
This weekend is dedicated to helping my 13 yr old with her sew projects. 2 days of school next week and then dd comes home from college Tues night.
Looks like a great several days ahead!
I have so much to do (cleaning, shopping, cooking) yet here I am at my computer reading CC.
ditto
DH and I did our big grocery shopping today. We’ll pick up what we may have forgotten or don’t want to get too early onl Mon or Tues. Still need to clean and start cooking.
Was in and out of Fred Meyer by 8:30 this morning. No real crowds. D2 flies in tonight. Fridge is stocked with her favorites — kalamata olives, clementines, hummus, and Starbucks coffee drinks. Episodes of Orphan Black are lined up to watch, too. We are ready for a great holiday week!
Roomba was dealing with the dust and cat hair ? while we were gathering supplies. Turkey has been acquired. Wine has been tasted ? and selected (the vino garage District was a zoo!). Fridge has been fully stocked. ? Phew.
Not ready! Our plans are totally up in the air because our college freshman won’t know until Monday if she is marching at the following weekend’s football game. So we will either stay at home so she can be taken back to school the next day for practice, or we will go out of town and have her till Sunday. I do have my turkey, though!
House is CLEAN! Most foods bought. Now I can enjoy until I get last minute (fresh) stuff and cook.
Cleaned front and back porches (including lots of glass) today before attending a social function. Still working on my grocery list. Will thoroughly clean tomorrow and then probably have to do the floors again Wednesday, especially if it rains. My dog tracks in sooooo much. And he sheds a lot too.
Tried to clean today, then D had an emotional breakdown and was very needy all day (mental health issues). Then I had to try to set up my new computer (that I got last Christmas and STILL haven’t set up, before S17 comes home tomorrow and bugs me about it again. I cleaned some, and steamed floors in the midst of all that. Before bed I just have to make S’s bed then get up in the morning and vacuum and straighten the sewing area and find somewhere to put his Christmas quilt I’m working on. He told me today that he has a job as an LA (sort of like a TA but an undergrad - all TAs at his school are grad students) for physics! Ok, he HATED physics in hs. He also said his lowest grade currenty is a 99! Oh and he was promoted to acting Vice President of his fraternity, had lunch today with a multi millionaire, and we be President of his fraternity in January. Ok. He was heading to his gf’s for dinner and the night before driving home in the morning.
My happy holiday is dependent on getting hot water and heating before Thanksgiving.