Family dynamics

This is my third year hosting The Grand Thnanksgiving party. I have learned much over the last two years what needs to happen and not happen.

I have learned that my family likes to munch on appetizers and spoil their dinner. So, this year I will have a tray of veggies and a tray of slice fruit, crab dip with crackers, country sausage, assorted nuts, and carmel-cranberry crunch this should be enough to suffice their appetites

I learned to make sure the kids are well supervised so the parents don’t have to worry if their baby is going to roll down the stairs. I have one of my nieces help out as an activity director who will keep the 14 children holed away upstairs in organized structured activities like watching dvds-this year I have selected Elf and Shriek 2 these movies will keep them busy. There will also be an arts and crafts table to work on fun thanksgiving projects, This year I will have the children each read a section of the President’s Thanksgiving Proclamation. This will free up the parents to breath, relax and enjoy Thanksgiving.

I have learned that the children will eat first -upstairs in their special room, paper plates and cups and juice boxes-this is a must-I have wall to wall white carpet. Each parent will be responsible to get their plates ready for them.

I have learned that my Family likes lots of Mash Potatos and Turkey. So I will have two 2 twenty pound turkeys and a 20 pound Spiral Ham-No Vegans in this family–! Last year we ran out of Potatos.

I have learned to tell my sister #2 That dinner will be served at 2pm instead of the customary time of 3pm–She was even late to her own wedding. I have her bring the pies as her food item to contribute to the party. -Just in case she is late she will most likely be early for desert.

I have learned that my family enjoys very visual entertainment. The first Year Uncle vic had a slide show presentation of us kids when we where little but unfortunately the slides were not organized and were mixed together with his numerous boring trips with people we didn’t even know and to make matters worse my uncle likes to take pictures far back from the subject. Last year the entertainment went to the extreme with us watching my baby sister hypnotized in an adult-very adult show in Vegas if you know what I mean–pretty provocative.. Thank God Uncle Vic-the priest went home shortly before. I’m sure he would pat her on the back and suggest baby sis would have to go to confession.

I must mention that my two older sisters still have hard feelings with each other about the little tiff they got into at my 40th birthday party. Sister #2 stood up and told everyone that she was filing for a Divorce-I think this was right before me blowing out the candles. I really didn’t think it was a big deal since they are only married for the children’s sake, and they have been on the outs for about 10 years. They continue to live together now just like before. Sister #1 really laid it into here-she is very Catholic. It was very disheartening to see sister #2 cry. I pray today they will call for a truce.

Another major concern for me is BB and my Sister #4’s spouse are in a co-hoots with each other. PLEASE PEOPLE NEVER MIX BUSINESS WITH FAMILY. BB did a major, MAJOR remodeling of their home which ended up having one problem after another-quite the snowball effect. When the project was almost done-their was a major act of nature flood which destroyed much of BB’s work. My brother In law had to find another contractor and basically start much of the project again. BB was already knee deep framing other homes. I don’t know if said brother in law will be coming today-it will be too bad because I have made a beautiful dvd presentation with pictures of his children. I pray today they will shake hands like men and put this all behind them.

Ok back to cleaning!!!!