Faithr Posted November 19, 2015 Share Posted November 19, 2015 This year is going to be strange. Most of our extended family couldn't get together on Thanksgiving day for various complicated reasons, so we've opted to do the traditional dinner the Saturday after Thanksgiving. I can't bear the thought of cooking up a turkey and all the fixings twice, once for just 5 people. So I am trying to figure out what to do on that day instead. I'd like to go to Mass at 10:00 and then maybe maybe have some kind of special brunch afterwards. Do people go to the movies on Thanksgiving? Are theaters open? What to do to make the day fun. I am afraid everyone will find the day depressing. I'll have two teenagers, a 20 year old and a husband at home all that day. I also thought about maybe volunteering at a soup kitchen or something, but I haven't gotten any further than that. I wonder if they don't get flooded with volunteers on Thanksgiving Day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ethel Mertz Posted November 19, 2015 Share Posted November 19, 2015 Buy or make appetizers and have that instead of a huge meal? Declare it movie-watching day, make popcorn... Watch the Macy's Parade in the morning and then watch White Christmas later in the day... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SparklyUnicorn Posted November 19, 2015 Share Posted November 19, 2015 I can't bear the thought of cooking up a turkey and all the fixings twice, once for just 5 people. Welcome to my world. This is what I do every single year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TammyS Posted November 19, 2015 Share Posted November 19, 2015 I've been contemplating something similar. We've never had extended family for TG (for boring and sad reasons), and I'm not really feeling the whole "fix a giant turkey dinner" thing. For one thing, we cook at home all the time, including turkey (I bought a bunch on sale last year, so we've been eating them from the freezer about 1x per month). I'm not really all that big a fan of turkey, to me it's not majorly different from chicken, it just takes a long time. So, we're pretty much decided that we're going to see the new Hunger Games movie on TG day. Whether or not I cook that day will depend on what time the showing is (because the theater is 45 minutes from our house). I hadn't thought about going to mass. I'll have to check mass time for that day, it's a good idea, thanks. I'm also thinking of calling around and seeing if anyplace has take out that day. I had posited the idea to my husband of a restaurant TG, but most places would be about $120+ for our 4, and he wasn't liking the idea. I'm also wondering about just going to some of the sales that I guess stores will be having (which would be an outing for us, because we hardly ever go shopping just to look at stuff). The other thought I've had is a board game day, but that's hard because my kids are 17 and 5. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Desert Strawberry Posted November 19, 2015 Share Posted November 19, 2015 Plan a game day or a movie marathon. Cook a special meal-easy, but fun. My dad was a grocery clerk. He usually worked Thanksgiving. We would have our dinner on the Friday or Saturday following, and spent the actual day just hanging out, cooking and baking together, and generally relaxing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
regentrude Posted November 19, 2015 Share Posted November 19, 2015 If we had to do this, we would go on a hike as a family as something completely non-Thanksgiving-y. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Annie G Posted November 19, 2015 Share Posted November 19, 2015 We watch the Macy's parade in the morning and either play family games or go to a movie that afternoon. We watch Christmas Vacation on Thanksgiving night, always. We start decorating for Christmas on Thanksgiving also. That weekend we start a family puzzle. It's fun to sit around and talk while putting it together, and snacking the whole time just makes it even better. BTW, Theaters are open. For the past 6 years or so we have gone to the movies on Christmas Day too. It's usually pretty crowded. Our soup kitchen needs no volunteers on Thanksgiving - they usually fill those slots early. But last week the Salvation Army was asking people to take a 2 hour shift on Thanksgiving- I bet it's a heavy donation day but harder to get people to take a shift. Would your teens like to make a gingerbread house? Bake cookies to give to friends? Learn to play a card game like Tripoley where they can bet pennies? I don't think your family will be bored- if they enjoy being together, just plan a few things and enjoy a relaxed day. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mamiof5 Posted November 19, 2015 Share Posted November 19, 2015 I love going to mass on Thanksgiving day!! For me, that's the best way of giving thanks :). Ask dh and the kids? What would they like? Movies? Hike? A formal brunch but less formal dinner? Or they do want a formal dinner? Doesn't have to be turkey. Ham? Roast beef? Salmon? Do they like board games? Would they like to go for a drive somewhere in the afternoon? What about decorating for Christmas, with dessert and movie after? Working on a big puzzle together? Just some ideas... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marbel Posted November 19, 2015 Share Posted November 19, 2015 We just do normal "day off" stuff on a holiday that we're not celebrating. Go for a hike, to the movies. Options may be limited because some places are closed, but not everything. If we're behind on raking, that's what we'd do. I wouldn't celebrate Thanksgiving twice in one weekend either. But the actual day is not that important. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rockhopper Posted November 19, 2015 Share Posted November 19, 2015 Where do you live? Did you know that all the Smithsonian museums are open Thanksgiving Day? If that's not local to you, maybe some museums in your area are? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TammyS Posted November 19, 2015 Share Posted November 19, 2015 Where do you live? Did you know that all the Smithsonian museums are open Thanksgiving Day? If that's not local to you, maybe some museums in your area are? Really? Are they crowded that day? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rockhopper Posted November 19, 2015 Share Posted November 19, 2015 Really? Are they crowded that day? I just discovered this last month, so I'll let you know! :-) That's our plan this year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dmmetler Posted November 19, 2015 Share Posted November 19, 2015 Go look at Christmas lights/displays. Most of the big hotels and the like will have them up by Thanksgiving, as will some of the houses. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MEmama Posted November 19, 2015 Share Posted November 19, 2015 We always go for a hike or go snowshoeing. Thanksgiving isn't a big deal around our house though, it's just a nice day off together. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Southern Ivy Posted November 19, 2015 Share Posted November 19, 2015 On years we've been home, we have: done breakfast or bruncheaten at a nice hotel's Thanksgiving buffet (usually need reservations)eaten at Cracker Barrel (need reservations, but a decent Thanksgiving meal)gone to the movies (Get your tickets as soon as the theater opens, go enjoy your day, then get to the theater EARLY for the showing. It will be packed.)played board games gone out to see Christmas lights Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bettyandbob Posted November 19, 2015 Share Posted November 19, 2015 Movie theaters are open. You could do a movie marathon/board game day with appetizers. You could do a decorate the house for Christmas activity. You could hike at a local park and come home to homemade hot chocolate and marshmallows. You could combine all these things. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fairfarmhand Posted November 19, 2015 Share Posted November 19, 2015 Cook a special breakfast. Play games all day. Christmas movie marathon. Make candy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
happi duck Posted November 19, 2015 Share Posted November 19, 2015 (edited) Our Thanksgiving is always 'just' the four of us and is never depressing! What do you normally do on Thanksgiving day? Can it happen with five people? Or be shifted? For example if you normally play a game that needs ten people can you play a game for five? If you have a 'share what you're thankful for' tradition that can happen twice. On other Thanksgiving threads people have shared that they cook 'favorite foods' for Thanksgiving which has always sounded like fun. Edited November 19, 2015 by happi duck 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carol in Cal. Posted November 19, 2015 Share Posted November 19, 2015 Our local zoo has a special Thanksgiving Day program called 'Feast for the Beasts' in which members are invited to come to a special tour with food treats for all of the animals, mid day. For years we would get up early, go to church, go to the zoo, and then head out to family Thanksgiving whereever that was that year. If there was no family Thanksgiving, we still would have had a full day. We probably would have stayed at the zoo longer, and then gone for a hike, and then come home and had hot cider in front of a roaring fire. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redsquirrel Posted November 19, 2015 Share Posted November 19, 2015 I have a friend whose family is small. There are no living grandparents etc. So, their Thanksgivings are always very low key. They make a meal where everyone gets to pick a favorite thing and they spend the entire day in pajamas, watching movies. It is very low key and they just enjoy being together. In fact they turn down invitations to other people's houses for a 'real' thanksgiving, 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ottakee Posted November 19, 2015 Share Posted November 19, 2015 Chinese buffets are usually open if your family likes that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jean in Newcastle Posted November 19, 2015 Share Posted November 19, 2015 We do school. We often don't celebrate Thanksgiving on the actual day since the Canadian cousins don't have that day off of work and will come down to celebrate with us on the weekend. So we have a normal day - including school. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MeaganS Posted November 19, 2015 Share Posted November 19, 2015 This is us this year. Dh is working on Thanksgiving and we plan on doing our dinner on Saturday, when he's off. I'm liking some of these ideas. I think my kids are too young to really care, but I want it to be somewhat special. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AK_Mom4 Posted November 19, 2015 Share Posted November 19, 2015 One of our favorite memories for Thanksgiving is the year everyone else was traveling and just DS19, DD14 and myself were home. I'm not a cook, so we slept late, went to see a movie - Theaters were not crowded! - and then came home and ate pizza. It was the most relaxing holiday ever! Many years, we do board games, skiing, sledding, theater movies and a movie night on Thanksgiving. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chiguirre Posted November 19, 2015 Share Posted November 19, 2015 Last year Dh had to travel for work on Thanksgiving so we moved our family dinner to Friday. The kids and I went to the movies and baked pizza at home. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rachel Posted November 19, 2015 Share Posted November 19, 2015 I'm running a 5k and will then cook my family a nice breakfast. We might go to movie if something is playing the kids will like. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris in VA Posted November 19, 2015 Share Posted November 19, 2015 We do school. We often don't celebrate Thanksgiving on the actual day since the Canadian cousins don't have that day off of work and will come down to celebrate with us on the weekend. So we have a normal day - including school. :svengo: Just kidding. :D 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bettyandbob Posted November 19, 2015 Share Posted November 19, 2015 Where do you live? Did you know that all the Smithsonian museums are open Thanksgiving Day? If that's not local to you, maybe some museums in your area are? And you can make a reservation to eat at the cafe at the museum of the American Indian. They do a Thanksgiving meal with traditional Native American foods. It's a great place to eat and they don't normally required reservations, but do for this special meal. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miss Tick Posted November 19, 2015 Share Posted November 19, 2015 I just heard an ad for a local bowling alley, if that is ... of interest. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MysteryJen Posted November 19, 2015 Share Posted November 19, 2015 Because we are trying to sell our house and are living at dmil's, we are having "mom's perfect thanksgiving." Pizza, beer and football. No stress and no relatives (except for dmil who is lovely and told me to push for what I want :)) 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted November 19, 2015 Share Posted November 19, 2015 We only live near my inlaws. The full fixings are normal for us. We just freeze leftovers :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alice Posted November 19, 2015 Share Posted November 19, 2015 I would go to the movies. Dh and I have gone to the movies on Christmas Day together for the past 6 or 7 years. At first it felt weird but my parents are here and so we have babysitters. And the kids are always happy to be playing with their new presents. There are a lot of people at the movies on Christmas and I would assume the same on Thanksgiving. It always feels kind of festive. On Thanksgiving we usually go for a long walk and play board games or card games so I might also do that but just do it without the big feast. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Faithr Posted November 20, 2015 Author Share Posted November 20, 2015 Wow, I was so busy all day I only came back to this thread just now to find it has been labeled 'hot!' I've never been considered hot in my life. LOL. Anyway, thanks for all the great suggestions. We do live near Washington DC and I have never been to the American Indian museum. I love that idea! However, I don't know if my family would be up for it. They are picky eaters and anyway I realize there is football game on, so I will never get dh away from the TV. He and his brothers and father would eat their dinner on the couch watching the game. Last year though one of his brothers died just after Thanksgiving. So it's sad. Anyway, I love all your suggestions and I will present them to the family and see which ones appeal to them. I think mass then a nice brunch (I'll haul out my waffle iron, I only do that a few times a year.) And then I'll make soup and biscuits for dinner. Honestly, I'd like to spend some part of the day just cleaning. My house has finally gotten grubby enough that I would like to go on deep cleaning spree and I only get that impulse once in a blue moon! I also really would like to see the new Charlie Brown movie. I heard it was good. maybe somehow before or after football? Thanks all! 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NorthwestMom Posted November 20, 2015 Share Posted November 20, 2015 I would have a Joy Dinner. Each family member prepares a food that brings him or her joy. At my house, it would look like: chocolate cake, a burrito, Dungeness crab, pickles, and pizza. We would laugh pretty hard, though! And then we'd have the traditional dinner on Saturday. I worked at a movie theater in high school and we got SLAMMED every holiday. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Annie G Posted November 20, 2015 Share Posted November 20, 2015 I would have a Joy Dinner. Each family member prepares a food that brings him or her joy. At my house, it would look like: chocolate cake, a burrito, Dungeness crab, pickles, and pizza. We would laugh pretty hard, though! And then we'd have the traditional dinner on Saturday. I worked at a movie theater in high school and we got SLAMMED every holiday. For a few years we did that at Thanksgiving- let everyone choose a favorite food to have. But we never had a name for it- I LOVE the name Joy Dinner. We're going to do it for one of the upcoming holiday meals- Christmas Eve or Christmas Day or New Year's Day....I'm happy to have such a perfect name for it. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ktgrok Posted November 20, 2015 Share Posted November 20, 2015 We're having our Thanksgiving family dinner on Friday. Usually, we decorate for Christmas on Friday. So this year we're making all kinds of appetizers on Thursday and decorating. This is my plan. At least, as long as I can sell DH on it. We are doing to my mom's for thanskgiving dinner on Friday, and turkey dinner two days in a row seems insane. So I'm thinking turn on the parade, have a nice brunch, and decorate the house. I'm also hoping to con him into getting the tree Wednesday afternoon/evening, as I htink he gets out early that day and the place we go will be open Wednesday evening. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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