How To Get Some Thanksgiving Helpers

Happy Monday!  Mom and I thought it would be fun to share an idea with you each day this week that will make your Thanksgiving day a little easier and a lot more fun.  We are always together on Thanksgiving, and we have done these things in the past.  They put some extra  energy into the holiday.  The first one is a real crowd pleaser and will please the hostess even more.

 

 

My mom came up with a great idea a few years ago to take some of the pressure off of the cook around meal time.   This also serves as an ice breaker if any of your guests don’t know each other.  It’s easy to put this together ahead of time, and it’s something the school-age kids can do for you.

 

 

First, buy a package of thirty foam turkeys at a craft store.  They also have glittered leaves that are cute.

 

 

Now here’s the thing, and you all know this already.  Everybody always offers to help when they come to your house for a meal.  And you probably always say, “Oh, that’s okay.  Just enjoy yourself.”  They really, really do want to help, but you don’t know what to tell them to do.  I promise you, based on what I have observed at my mother’s, your guests will be thrilled to have a task to do – 99.9 per cent of them will, at least.  There is always that one person (you know who you are) who thinks it’s a dumb idea and refuses to play.  So, you need to come up with a list based on your needs and how you prepare/serve the meal.

 

OUR LIST

1.  Set the table. (We ask two people to do this and have everything ready for them to just set out).

2.  Put ice and water in glasses.

3.  Open and pour wine.

4.  Help put food on table.

5.  Say grace.  (I’ll rig it so my grandmother gets this one.  She always likes to say grace).

6.  Help clear table.

7.  Take dessert orders and serve.

8.  Prepare dessert orders.

9.  Take coffee/tea orders and serve.

10.  Prepare coffee/tea orders.

11.  Help put food away.

12.  Be on stand-by.  (This person will do whatever needs to be done that I didn’t anticipate.

 

 

I didn’t make one for my mom or me because we will be finalizing the cooking in command central.    This will surely make your day go more smoothly.  And by the way, you can use the extra turkeys as coasters.

 

 

Is there anything we are missing that you would like to suggest?  Please share in the comments section.

 

We also want to thank Andrea from The Cottage Market for making my bungalow the cottage of the week!! Be sure to stop by her blog to see great ideas.

Cheers!