With the holiday season quickly moving in on us, I thought this might be an interesting topic.

I have been married for 41 years and we have had Thanksgiving at our house for all of them (I think anyhow). Of course, when we were first married, it was a small affair. We'd have my father over and our two girls. As time went by, my brother-in-law and his wife became  regulars. After my father moved back to Norway, our girls were older and son-in-law and boyfriends became part of our Thanksgiving. Soon grandchildren were added. I believe this year it will be daughter, husband and 3 kids, other daughter and boyfriend, her daughter and her boyfriend, brother-in-law and wife. I enjoy Thanksgiving out of all the holidays because we all get together and we give thanks for all the good things that have happened during the year. It also gives us a chance to reflect on the people we've lost, both family and friends.

We have had open house on Christmas Eve since we've been married. It has gone from chips and dip to a buffet any restaurant would be proud of. It's a lot of work, especially for my wife. She's old school and likes to make everything from "scratch". Chicken salad, ham salad, stuffed cabbage, meatballs, lasagna and bunch of other stuff. She keeps saying she is going to cut back, but every year, out comes the meat grinder that gets screwed onto the table. I get to grind all that needs to be ground. I have to do something! :-) When the visitors arrive in the evening each person goes for their favorite. It's funny how every year people go for their favorite food and it hasn't changed from when they were kids and now adults. My wife keeps making everything because she doesn't want to disappoint anyone. Christmas morning we have a brunch of any leftovers. This has become a tradition for us.

So what are your holiday traditions?