Comments on: Home for the Holidays: The Good Times Abound

By: Liz C

Liz C — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 09:03:18 +0000

The birth order thing doesn’t always hold up. My third sibling is the one who is most likely to get hurt feelings over anything, and holds grudges forever. The fourth sibling is my sister, and while she’s definitely not a peacemaker, everyone accepts hearing hard truths from her, so that’s good.

My third child is NOT a peacemaker… she’s the main button-pusher around here.

Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving!

By: Melissa M.

Melissa M. — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 16:57:59 +0000

Angie f, my condolences! I hope your turkey turns out beautifully, even though the job was foisted on you. It certainly makes it harder to cook and host when you’ve been dealing with sick kids. Make your FIL do the dishes–it’s the least he can do.

Kristin, yes, birth order is fascinating. Someday we’ll have to do a whole post on it. And that’s quite a party you had. I hope today is enjoyable and stress-free.

And Jenny, that’s a pretty good tradition you’ve got going on. You’re making the rest of us jealous.

And now I’m off to put in the turkey. Happy Thanksgiving!

By: Kristin

Kristin — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 15:59:50 +0000

Interesting thought about birth order. I am the fourth of five, actually, but I can see how my third child (of five) often plays a peacemaker role in our home. I’ll have to watch her and make sure it doesn’t become too overwhelming.

My sisters are only a year apart. Then there is a 10 year gap to my brother, 6 years to me, and 4.5 years to the baby…making a 21 year spread. The whole family pretty much seemed to revolve around the third child, so that peacemaker role fell to me instead.

Though I don’t want to hijack this thread going too in-depth about my family, I do so appreciate the supportive comments here.

As to “And if you host Thanksgiving, who comes to your house and do you enjoy entertaining?”

We often have hosted friends or the missionaries over the years, or gone to friends’ homes. I do enjoy entertaining. We have an annual family party (open house style) the Friday before Thanksgiving which I thoroughly enjoy (my kids do too). This year we had nearly 90 guests come. This event helps fill my desire for the large family holiday gathering.

Happy Thanksgiving to you all today!

By: al

al — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 05:21:14 +0000

Amen! I could have written this post.

Oh, only add in being the only member in your family, the “crazy Mormon.” It’s a kick in the pants!

By: Angie f

Angie f — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 05:03:38 +0000

Since we moved to the desert near my in-laws, my FIL and I divide up the menu and we host at our house since we now have the dining room table DH grew up with and the space. This has worked reasonably well through the years. It is so completely not my parents’ Thanksgiving that there are no expectations on my part and since this is our real life, no one really sinks into old roles. This year I am tired and grumpy and my baby has been sick, so I bought costco pies and rolls and planned to make the sweet and mashed potatoes, beans etc and FIL said he would do the stuffing and the turkey. Apparently, “do the turkey” meant that FIL would arrive at my house at 7pm tonight (wed) with a semi-frozen turkey and some veggies to cook in the cavity and leave. This is not helping the tired and grumpy. So, what the he$%^, I am now brining the bird. I hope it is as wonderful as everyone has said. Thank you in advance for the recipe!

By: Jenny

Jenny — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 03:22:49 +0000

Lovely! Funny! And fun to think about.
I remember thinking how annoying it was, to watch as my husband would slip back into the role of the son, as we would go back to his parents’ house on holidays. Now I find it kind of endearing.
My secret to the sanity at Thanksgiving is somehow never managing to host it. 20 years and counting…

By: Human Bean

Human Bean — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 02:10:18 +0000

One more note about the recipe (as if you haven’t heard enough from me already!) I don’t use the apple brandy for several reasons- and the results are still heavenly.

By: Melissa M.

Melissa M. — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 02:06:37 +0000

Oh, I see you already posted the link. Thank you!

By: Melissa M.

Melissa M. — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 02:05:39 +0000

Kristin, I sympathize. Sometimes those holiday gatherings can be so hard—not the joyful reunions we would like to have. I hope your heart heals over time and that you find some peace and resolution with your family situation. I thought Kathryn’s comment was interesting. My younger sister, the third child, is definitely a peacemaker in our family.

Genavee, I hope you and your husband enjoy this unique Thanksgiving. One of my favorite Christmas memories is of the Christmas my husband and I spent together after our first baby was born. We had our own little Christmas Eve dinner by candlelight, with our baby in her car seat next to us, and I felt so content and thrilled to be with my own new little family, starting our own traditions. I hope you feel some of that coziness and contentment this Thanksgiving.

And Human Bean, my sister is requesting your recipe for your maple butter—do you feel comfortable sharing?

By: Human Bean

Human Bean — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 02:05:07 +0000

For those of you interested in the Maple Herb Butter here is a link to the recipe I have been using for almost 10 years now-

http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Roast-Turkey-with-Maple-Herb-Butter-and-Gravy-4438

I always make EXTRA Maple Herb Butter so there is plenty leftover to be used in the gravy- absolutely DIVINE! Enjoy!