Just take the occasion for everyone to come together for a little bit uninterrupted by the pressures of everyday life and enjoy it to the fullest.

Sorry, I’m wondering why it is my job to keep everyone happy. I know this probably sounds like the sourest of sour grapes but I’ll do my best to provide a great dinner, a wonderful atmosphere, fun activities but beyond that I’m really not all about making sure everyone is happy. I think that’s up to them.

That being said, I’m anticipating a wonderful and joyous Thanksgiving. I guess if someone isn’t happy I’ll suggest they take a long walk and change their attitude.

PS We always concentrate on what we are thankful for, doesn’t everyone. I have a tablecloth and permanent markers and everyone writes what they are thankful for and then we read the new additions and talk about why those things in particular have been great this year.

We’re done the candy corn blessing for 24 years and we listen intently to what everyone says (so we don’t keep saying the same thing over and over). Since there are 7 grandchildren 7 and under, I will have more fun projects for them to do. Our weather is still no nice, so I’m setting up a table outside for Grandchildren projects (painting, pasting, play dough, bubble blowing, etc.) We will also make a THANKFUL BOOK–go through magazines and find things they are thankful for and put on a paperbag book (just fold bag bags over and hole punch and tie with ribbons) or just simmply put in photo albums. My advice to myself is to try and SIMPLIFY and concentrate on enjoying my family more.

Gratitude! Our family is so blessed with family who are truly friends. Our Thanksgiving will share an assortment of humorous, good-natured adults with at least seven grandchildren and six great grandchildren. We will make sure everyone there will know how grateful we are to have them in our family. Thanksgiving is about having your heart filled as well as your tummy.

Promptin stories from older family members about past holidays that leads to more stories of their lives.

Okay – I guess my family is different…Zoloft, Prozac or what ever and an adult beverage go a long way in helping keep everyone happy during the holidays! hahaha! Just kidding – trying to keep this light…

Cooking together and doing the dishes together is really what makes it special to me…my Grandma still doesn’t have a diswasher, but we all line up, someone with suds, someone rinses, 2 people dry and 2 people put away – when I was old enough I realized all the good stories were had while doing the dishes!
And don’t forget tossing a football outside – that’s always fun!