A Thanksgiving Friday Five

From the Revgals site:

1. Did you go elsewhere for the day, or did you have visitors at your place instead? How was it?

We hosted a total of 23 people at our house yesterday! (This is a lot for us.) It started last Sunday when one of my sisters rolled in with her husband and two kids (3 and 1). The next day sister #2 turned up with her husband and two girls (6 and 3). The my parents, the next day. That's all of my side except for one sister and her kids. (My husband is very patient.) Then all of his family came for the day: his parents, his brother's family, and his sister's. We haven't all been together like that in ages. It was chaos, but fun.

2. Main course: If it was the turkey, the whole turkey, and nothing but the turkey, was it prepared in an unusual way? Or did you throw tradition to the winds and do something different?

We bought two smoked turkeys (fundraiser from Mr. Incredible's church). Then we bought a honey-baked ham (yum), a turkey breast, and gravy from Honey-Baked Ham. I LOVED doing it this way, since I have cooked turkeys before and have never been satisfied. I have a little turkey phobia, I think, and this took a lot of the pressure off.

3. Other than the meal, do you have any Thanksgiving customs that you observe every year?

I usually like to go around and say what we are grateful for, but we had too many people, and toddlers being fed and put to bed at odd times, to manage that. There was a lovely prayer before eating. A little parade-watching. That's about it.

4. The day after Thanksgiving is considered a major Christmas shopping day by most US retailers. Do you go out bargain hunting and shop ‘till you drop, or do you stay indoors with the blinds closed? Or something in between?

I HATE shopping in crowds. Love a bargain, but it's just not worth it to me. Plus, I think I am still recovering from surgery, and who needs to do all that walking?? In fact, I am home right now, while the other sisters took their kids (and one of mine) out to a park , and I am enjoying a little quiet with my feet up.

5. Let the HOLIDAY SEASON commence! When will your Christmas decorations go up?

WonderBoy and I agreed today that we both need a little Advent before full-fledged Christmas. I like to put up decorations in stages. The Advent wreath is the first thing to come out, and it will appear in good time....