THANKSGIVING AND FAMILY QUESTION............

just curious............... b/c it actually makes me a little sad but does anyone elses family not do the "big" family celebrations?

for example, this year it will be my mom, dad, sis and me and craig at my moms, the rest of my moms family is in Florida

his family doesnt do much in terms of thanksgiving celebrations, twice, my parents invited them and they came but have not ever extended an invitation to my parents so my mother didnt invite them this year..................


does anyone else have these small just you and your parents and your DH and siblings kind of thing?? Is this normal? LOL
I hope I am not the only one

Next year, I plan to invite both sets of parents and siblings to my house but this type of thing seems common at holiday time so I guess this year his parents just stay there home alone? I told craig that we can go there after we eat at my moms......................

Re: THANKSGIVING AND FAMILY QUESTION............

It will just be my husband, my brother and I.

Re: THANKSGIVING AND FAMILY QUESTION............

All together there will be 5 people at our thanksgiving table. Our family is very small and most of them live out of town so it's always like this.

Every family is different.

THere were a few times we had big T-day gatherings and they were so much fun!!!!

Re: THANKSGIVING AND FAMILY QUESTION............

Tammy - don't feel bad. This year it is only 5 for Thanksgiving too - me and Lou, my mom and dad and youngest brother. The other brother is going to his wife's family's house.

Lou and I rotate thanksgivings and it is my year. I had offered to do it for my whole family and so did an aunt but for some reason (long story) it only wound up the 5 of us and not 15+....But we pretty muhc have had them small like this for the last 5 years - once we got older and stuff things really changed. I agree it is nice to have a big group and do a family thing...but not happening this year for us either. I am fine with the 5 of us though...

Re: THANKSGIVING AND FAMILY QUESTION............

I am glad I am not the only w/ sometimes small gatherings, I was sad about it this morning. You hear all these things on tv, radio and A lot of people I know have such big family dinners.

I was thinking why doesnt either one of our familys want these?? isnt this what families do? LOL but I guess all are different

Im sure it will be a nice day but I just wish everyone could be together, it seems like neither parents seem concerned about big GTG's while me as an INDIVIDUAL seems to like the idea


HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Re: THANKSGIVING AND FAMILY QUESTION............

This year, actually my mom and dad and two brothers will be eating without Rob and I!

Since we rotate each year, it's Rob's family's turn.

Happy Thanksgiving to you too!

Re: THANKSGIVING AND FAMILY QUESTION............

I have a small family so I am used to this. Gary's family is pretty big (immediate) and they all get together but we seem to always do Thanksgiving with my family. I do like the large celebrations but I appreciate the quiet ones as well!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Re: THANKSGIVING AND FAMILY QUESTION............

We will be having 11 people for Thanksgiving dinner...that is a small one! My MIL and 2 BIL's are ALWAYS invited to join us for Thanksgiving because of 2 things....1- my MIL';s apt is tiny and so damn hot....I would die and 2-its a way for both of us to spend time with out families!!

Re: THANKSGIVING AND FAMILY QUESTION............

We dont have a big family at all. I am having Thanksgiving and it will be my mom, dad and his family. It will be 7 of us. My brother lives in florida so most holidays are small.

Re: THANKSGIVING AND FAMILY QUESTION............

This year it will just be me, hubby, my brother and SIL. However, mom and dad is coming to MD on Friday for the weekend. I can't wait.

Re: THANKSGIVING AND FAMILY QUESTION............

DH's family is like that. Holidays are his parents and his sister and niece. THye all live in the same house, and sometimes she is working on the holidays. At my family we go over my aunts house, and my other aunt and cousins come, so it is a bigger deal. I can't wait to ahve it at my house, so I cna have bothe sides over, and then it will be a full house.

Re: THANKSGIVING AND FAMILY QUESTION............

You are not alone. There are so many people I know who are having a small gathering this year.

I think the idea you mentioned where you invite everyone over to your place next year is a great one! That way both families with be there. If you like large gatherings don't be afraid to invite other distant relatives on both sides as well. Plan next year in advance so that you will give everyone enough time to plan to be by you.

I love large gathering during the holidays as well. Every year I try to have a gathering with friends and family and we eat and play games. I usually do this close to Christmas or New Years.

Have a great Thanksgiving!

Re: THANKSGIVING AND FAMILY QUESTION............

I end up having to do double duty.

We start out with my family which is about 12 people, then we will go over to DH's parents house, which is just them and his 3 brothers.

I would like to do one big affair as well, but my inlaws are kind of set in their ways and I doubt they will go for it, but I will try though

Re: THANKSGIVING AND FAMILY QUESTION............

x

Message edited 12/25/2003 8:19:13 PM.

Re: THANKSGIVING AND FAMILY QUESTION............

awee Kathy that is sad that they wont get along.

In my case they get along but are not close. For example.... like I said two or three times my mom invited his parents for thanksgiving or passover etc........... and they came,
However, my parents were never invited there and my dad still jokingly says he is waiting for his dinner b/c when we got engaged in 2001!! his dad said how happy they were etc.... and we have to go out to dinner w/ MY Parents to celebrate, LOL
my parents joke they are still waiting for their dinner b/c I guess his dad just forgot about it! b/c it never happened and its been how long now!

Re: THANKSGIVING AND FAMILY QUESTION............

We have a very big family and as much as I love having everyone around....sometimes I wish we could have something small. Either way, I think we should all be thankful to be able to celebrate holidays with family.

Re: THANKSGIVING AND FAMILY QUESTION............

we have big celebrations at my parents house, usually. Aunts, uncles, cousins, etc.

Al's family is rather small (at least the family that is in the US) so gatherings at his house are generally just the immediate family.

But we haven't been home (NY) for Thanksgiving in a few years. I keep saying this is the last Thanksgiving thats "ours" to do what we want with, before we obliged to do the family thing.

Re: THANKSGIVING AND FAMILY QUESTION............

I'm with Scoop.

Re: THANKSGIVING AND FAMILY QUESTION............

Thanksgiving is not that big for my family.. It will only be 11 of us..

For christmas there is 32 of us...

Re: THANKSGIVING AND FAMILY QUESTION............

Tammy don't feel bad. My father this year is not coming and told my mom quote: "I'm not driving out to Long Island for a piece of turkey." So we are having Thanksgiving without el grumpo.

Message edited 11/26/2003 2:14:18 PM.

Re: THANKSGIVING AND FAMILY QUESTION............

this is my first T-giving w/o family (which is why I begged Lisa to do something with us ;) )

as a kid...when dad's side was so big that we had to rent out the VFW hall...they used to make 3-5 turkeys!! there must have been over 50 people some years...

this is making me really sad to type...since the family has aged...we don't do this anymore...and I just heard that T-giving is in Massachusettes this year...

its sad, since my dad's family lived pretty much in the same town that their family had lived in for 300+ years and now everyone is leaving (including me)...

Message edited 11/26/2003 2:20:12 PM.

Re: THANKSGIVING AND FAMILY QUESTION............

see you tomorrow!

Re: THANKSGIVING AND FAMILY QUESTION............

Dont feel bad Tammy. My family doesnt even get along, so we are all doing separate things. I am hoping to start my own traditions with my "future" family that DH and I create. For now, we are eating with his mom and brother. Then on Friday my brother and sister are coming over (I will cook). I know how you feel.

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We are rotating this year, everyone goes to Roger's family and then for Christmas we will all go to my mother, at least whoever wants to accept the invitation, it is open to everyone. Roger wanted it to be all his family and I told him that could not happen anymore, my family is just as important to me as his is to him. As long as we are all together, whether big or small I am just thankful. SOme people have no where to go or what to be thankful for, so I don't even let the # of people bother me. I love intimate gatherings anyway, less dishes to wash

Make the best of it.

PS Erica, I want to come over to your house to meet you and Lisa you should have given me a little more notice Enjoy that is too cool.

Message edited 11/27/2003 8:39:36 AM.

Re: THANKSGIVING AND FAMILY QUESTION............

Tammy I am with you and I hate it. It makes me and Frankie so sad. Since he is from a huge family he hates the fact that yesterday was just my Mom, Stepfather and us. My dad will be having most of his family over and Frankie's sisters all go to their in-laws. I can't wait for us to have a house and have it there with us.

My parents do not get a long at all (long story) but I have told my mother when we have kids I will not be jocking around between 3-4 families. You all can come to us and if you and dad are in the same room then you better suck it up!

I dream of Thanksgivings with our grandkids one day!