Talk to me about Thanksgiving

Nukke · November 2013

I'm going down to Pennsylvania for my first American Thanksgiving and bringing DD along (DH works the day after unfortunately, so he can't come). I'm really nervous about driving for 6+ hours with DD in the car, but that's another issue. I was just talking to my in-laws about what time they eat, since I have to leave thanksgiving day to drive there (so I'll need to leave in the morning).

I said, "You usually eat pretty early, right? What time will you eat?"

and they said, "when you get here. We can eat much later if you're here around 4 or 5".

Wait, what? 4 or 5 is still early IMO! My family usually eats Thanksgiving dinner around 6 I'd say. It sounds like my ILs eat their dinner around 2 or 3. Is this normal, or do you think they were pulling my leg? I asked DH and he "can't remember". Anyway, I'm thinking of heading out the door at 8am. That will give me 8+ hours to make a 6+ hour drive and not be crazy late for their potentially really early dinner.

Also, what should I bring to dinner? Keep in mind that I'm crossing the Canada/US boarder AND I have an 8 hour drive. I'm thinking flowers bought at a grocery store on the way maybe?

HBirdie · November 2013

Well, our family does the big meal between 2-3. We have breakfast in the morning, then there's a snack table out with cheese and crackers and chips and dip and stuff, and we graze on that until the meal is ready, then usually around 7 or 8 we pull out the leftovers and have dinner. So I don't think they were pulling your leg!

And if I were you and had to go to my in-laws alone for the day, I'd be stopping for wine.

barnratash · November 2013

I dont think they're pulling your leg. Some families eat big meals like that even earlier. Mine tends to eat around 4ish. And she probably said 4 or 5 because it gives you a range. Everything about Thanksgiving dinner depends on when the turkey finishes.

As for what to bring, a bottle of wine maybe? I don't know what you can/can't bring across the border. That is a long drive though, do you have to go the day of and not before?

michelle7482 · November 2013

About 2:30-3:00

eyris · November 2013

We usually do dinner around 3.

As far as bringing something, I wouldn't worry too much about bringing something across the border. I lived in Toronto for a couple years and I brought pretty much everything back and forth, from my dads potato salad to a hamster. Lol

I think they can get weird about produce, but cooked foods, bottle of wine, flowers, should all be good. Oh and apparently Kinder eggs are illegal here, so not that (google this one).

JLMcWeeney · November 2013

Yeah. It is typical to have Thanksgiving dinner that early. My family's is around 3-5. Depending on when everything is ready. I have two to go to though. My husband's family always eat a bit later. Theirs is at 6-7. I think it I more common to have te early one though.

csspencer · November 2013

Our dinner is going to be around 1ish. Usually it"s around 3, but my sister and her fiance have to go to his side around 5, so dinner is earlier this year. Fine by me, I have football game to watch that night (Ravens/Steelers...wonder if DS fits in his Ray Rice jersey yet).

anotherlady2013 · November 2013

We usually do around 2-3. What about a bottle of wine? That way you don't need to find a grocery store that's open.

ejb23 · November 2013

Yep another one for early dinner on thanksgiving. My mom calls it supper. We eat a ton then sit and talk then eat leftovers later that night if we still have room.

kennazebrowsky · November 2013

We have ours at 2pm usually. There's always a bunch if people at ours so we do it early enough to visit through the day and people won't have to drive at night.

I would grab some flowers close by.

smilingeyes2308 · November 2013

No advice on the timing, just wanted to mention my fiancé is from New Jersey, you had told me your dh was american too in my last post, I'm all to familiar with the 8 hour drive! Just wanted to say that I envy you for doing that drive with your lo! I think I'd be to nervously especially by myself.

bumpuser9130703 · November 2013

My husband's dad's side of the family eats around 1!! My mom usually did 4-5. I think it's not unusual for people to eat fairly early. The meal is so big it's often the only one my family eats that day, so it's better to have it a bit earlier. This year I'm hosting and I am going to shoot for 4-5.

Loveniz · November 2013

We always have Thanksgiving dinner around 2 or 3, because we want to relax, talk and the guys watch the football game later that day. I would bring flowers or wine.

bumpuser10024844 · November 2013

If I was hosting, and you were driving that far with a baby, I wouldn't expect you to bring anything!

Nukke · November 2013

Wow. So an early Thanksgiving dinner seems to be the norm. I wonder if it's because of football that it became so common? Canadians don't really have anything going on in October that I'm aware of as far as sports goes... nothing to make us eat our dinner early. The turkey usually goes in teh oven around 11 or so and we eat around 4 or 5 in my family.

Anyway, thanks for the advice. My ILs aren't big drinkers, so I think a bottle of wine sounds perfect. And also a big basket of kinder eggs

And I've crossed the border many many times and I've had oranges, half-eaten ham sandwiches and bananas taken from me. So I'm not going to chance bringing fresh flowers over the border.

Nukke · November 2013

@barnratash my husband needs the car the day before to go to a job interview

averettgirl · November 2013

We usually have dinner around 2:30-3:00. It used to be later than that but family members were staying waaay too late when we had dinner at 5 or 6, to the point where we were more thankful when they left than thankful they were there lol. I agree with PPs, you can never go wrong with a bottle of wine. Or a pie of some sort (pumpkin, sweet potato, etc), if they don't drink.

barnratash · November 2013

Well good luck to him then @nukke!

Mrs.AllyH · November 2013

Good luck to you! Early is normal. This is my FAVORITE holiday. Apple cranberry baked french toast for breakfast, full feast around 2, italian dinner around 7... although we're not doing the italian part this year, so leftovers it is! Mmm

eyris · November 2013

@nukke Yeah, they don't want you to bring produce.., but I wouldn't think flowers would count? Lol at the half eaten sandwich. Maybe they are more strict there, I'm guessing you cross in Buffalo? I'm usually going across at Port Huron/Sarnia. I have been searched plenty of times though and never had anything confiscated, but I never brought produce, just prepared foods and booze.

HBirdie · November 2013

@nukke- We live about 30 minutes south of the border so we go up to Canada a lot to go to IKEA, visit Vancouver, or go to this arcade/family fun zone thing, and we've never had anything taken away from us! And sometimes I feel like we've been snacking or had food in plain sight while talking to them...

magdalina.h · November 2013

We used to have two Thanksgiving on Thanksgiving. So my family would eat between 1-2 and his family around 5.

We're hosting his family this year and "dinner" is at 1 because MH has to leave for work at 5.

princessvespa1 · November 2013

Nukke said:

And I've crossed the border many many times and I've had oranges, half-eaten ham sandwiches and bananas taken from me. So I'm not going to chance bringing fresh flowers over the border.

Fresh cut flowers should be fine. They get concerned with potted plants because of the dirt. I was a summer student at CBSA for two years. Also, which border are you going to be crossing at? - I find that will often make a huge difference. As far as your 6+ hour drive, remember that it is a huge holiday in the states and traffic will be a nightmare - so will the bridges/tunnels. Also, what paperwork do you have for LO to cross the border with? A suggestion - make sure you have a hand written note from your husband saying he knows that you are taking your LO across the international border and a phone number where he can be reached if they have any questions and have him sign it. Some customs/immigration officers can be real sticklers for that information. Otherwise, good luck!

princessvespa1 · November 2013

eyris said:

I'm usually going across at Port Huron/Sarnia.

That`s where I worked for two summers!

Nukke · November 2013

princessvespa1 said:

Nukke said:

And I've crossed the border many many times and I've had oranges, half-eaten ham sandwiches and bananas taken from me. So I'm not going to chance bringing fresh flowers over the border.

Fresh cut flowers should be fine. They get concerned with potted plants because of the dirt. I was a summer student at CBSA for two years. Also, which border are you going to be crossing at? - I find that will often make a huge difference. As far as your 6+ hour drive, remember that it is a huge holiday in the states and traffic will be a nightmare - so will the bridges/tunnels. Also, what paperwork do you have for LO to cross the border with? A suggestion - make sure you have a hand written note from your husband saying he knows that you are taking your LO across the international border and a phone number where he can be reached if they have any questions and have him sign it. Some customs/immigration officers can be real sticklers for that information. Otherwise, good luck!

Thanks! I think I'll go with flowers then. That's cool you worked at the CBSA! My husband has been considering applying for a job there too. We love watching that CBSA show that's on Global too, LOL.

I'll be crossing at the 1000s Islands. I find that border pretty easy to cross at. @eyris I used to live in Sarnia (my parents live between Chatham and Sarnia), and was never searched even once at that border, nor the Windsor/Detroit border, and especially not the walpole island ferry! haha

princessvespa1 · November 2013

@Nukke you got PM!

Nukke · November 2013

@princessvespa1 you've got a PM!

Sunleo81379 · November 2013

Yeah we eat around 4:00

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