Life in Our 30s

What does Thanksgiving mean to you?

Thanksgiving is just around the corner and we'd love to know: what does Thanksgiving mean to you? From grandma's pumpkin pie to sitting down to a big family dinner, what are your favorite Thanksgiving moments? Tell us about your best Thanksgiving memory, a family tradition or that special dish that makes the day complete. If only a picture will do your holiday table justice, post it here and let us see how you celebrate!

*Note: Your story may be used in an upcoming iVillage Thanksgiving feature.

                      

   

                   

well kristie,

 i will be honest I AM NOT used to having a family again when the holidays roll around..  It had been me and the cat for so long that thanksgiving for us usually meant take out or deliverey(lol) nothing like being a bachelorette with a cat who loves pizza..(LOL)....   she likes the crusts(LOL again),

  jeffs mom usually does the family dinner thing... doesnt let jeff do a whole lot nor debbie.... so since its around the corner now.. maybe something will happen..

Thanksgiving is just an exciting holiday for me. I get to cook myself silly, eat, and spend time with family. My mom makes this amazing stuffing with Parks sausage, I bake sweet potato pie, and maybe some cookies if we're going somewhere for dinner, and it's a big spread on the dinner table.

We used to travel to spend the weekend with my dad's family in NJ. His brother and sister and their DH & DW lived around the corner from each other. They would cook and the other brother and DW would travel down from MA and we would have fun. I was the only kid there so they doted on me.

Then everyone got older, my dad died when I was 8 and my mom didn't make the trip up there as often. So we would host dinner and have about 15-20 people each time. Mom grew tired of that, as there were no reciprocating invites or offers to make it potluck so it was just we 2.

Mr. Pooh came along and he usually had to work on Thanksgiving, so we would have dinner and then pack dinner for him and deliver it. He loved that. His DS and her family will host a dinner and then Mr. Pooh's parents will have dinner and so we're invited to those. Since my mom can't stand his parents, she begs off and I take dessert after dinner at home.

His mom hasn't decided where she will order her fully-cooked meal from yet - yes, folks, she cooks NONE of it. (When she cooks, I alert the media. She hasn't cooked since 1978, Mr. Pooh told me.) I told Mr. Pooh "dinner is at 4:30. Mom will set a place for you."

It speaks volumes to me that he would rather dine at our house than his.