Thanksgiving

[katepoet]

Thanks Mandy. I will look, too.

Angie, when you get to make and eat all that good food, take a bite for me and let me know just how much I enjoyed it! lol Glad you could find a way so Mom could be a part of your traditions.

[Tink]

For many years dhs' family has had Thanksgiving at his brothers house and celebrated Christmas at the same time because 3 of the 5 siblings live a distance away and winter driving in our part of the country can be challenging at best.

This year we'd planned to do the same, but dh is so angry at his brother that he's decided we're not going. There's a long history of serious problems in the family, that started 50+ yrs ago... so it's nothing new really, but has reached a boiling point. It's actually a relief for all of us since it's not a lot of fun to go when you only see these people once a year and there's always tension in the air. My feeling on it is that it's one less obligation to worry about.

So we will be having Thanksgiving at home with our own kids this year. Katie plans to cook for us this year, so that should be fun.

[Janet]

Sounds like you have a plan Tink. I understand your husband's wishes. Another reason I have Thanksgiving for hubby's side is I really don't want to be around my two brothers. Oh I love them very much, but my younger brother is so moody, I feel I have to walk on eggshells around him. Not a comfortable feeling. My older brother always wants to agitate and it gets people upset. He also always has to be right and wants to keep an argument going. Not sure why they are like that, so as long as I can have Thanksgiving for the in-laws, I'll save Christmas for my family. Once a year is enough for a family get together under these circumstances.

[katepoet]

You all sound like you have got it worked out as far as family. Nice to look forward to a more relaxing holiday than it might have been otherwise. I love my family but I prefer to see them one sib at a time with their immediate family, than to get together as a group. There is too much tension in the group. For us I think it comes from the ages we were through my mother's illness and death, and the way that my father coped with it. We all did our best but the family took a lot of damage and the shadows of it still linger. We did so well through our father's death that I had hoped the healing from that would last longer. Some of it does, though.

Point being, my dh, son and I don't go to the big holiday gatherings as we want to enjoy our family, not be stressed out by them. All my bros go to their wives families on the actual holidays, too. It would be my sis and her family that would join with mine, and we are separated by too many miles to handle the drive with the rest of the country.

Maybe I will send her a web cam to mount on her computer so at Christmas we can at least visit webface-to-webface. I went to a party that had them set up so the relatives who couldn't make it could still be with us all - we are in Virginia they were in Maine. Has anyone tried that?

[Janet]

Haven't tried the webcam yet, but I'm thinking of asking for one for Christmas. Sometimes you get two for the price of one...we'll see.

[katepoet]

My sister and I agreed we are going to try it this year for Christmas. Too late for Thanksgiving day but our sons will be testing it out over the weekend Hope you get one Janet. If not, I'll send you one - I know there's a spare in a box of computer parts in the office.

[judy]

Jessie wants me to get a webcam. I don't know anything about them, so any info you guys can share would be appreciated.

I also signed up with Consumers Reports so I'm going to look them up there.

If anyone needs info about anything they're looking to buy, let me know and I'll look it up for you.