Thanksgiving tends to be somewhat predictable each year. No matter how many times family thanksgivings occur, the things that stay the same might be surprising after all.

Relatives come that aren't seen as often. Football streams live on the TV. Something always goes wrong in the kitchen. No one ever watches the whole parade.

If the family is lucky enough to be hosting thanksgiving, it all starts right away in the morning. Mom is already hard at work for the relatives coming to the house. However, Dad is already watching SportsCenter.

"Hide," or, "Go back to bed," are the first thoughts that come to mind. Otherwise, step foot in the kitchen, and be put to work. That's how it always goes.

Then, earlier than expected, Grandpa shows up with a cooler full of food and drinks and anything under the sun. Then, Grandpa has his first beer of the day. He will wander back and forth between helping in the kitchen and the watching the game in the living room.

Grandma is already hard at work in the kitchen with Mom. She's talking talking about recipes she saw on Facebook last week while peeling potatoes and starting the stuffing. And don't forget the big hug the first time all the grandkids are spotted.

Then cousins and aunts and uncles arrive, but there is always the late aunt too. Then all the guys are watching football and yelling at the TV. In the meantime, it's a wonder how that many people can possibly be huddled around one stovetop.

Suddenly, there are shouts and cheers from the living room because the team just scored and Grandpa almost spills beer number four. Now Mom remembers that if she doesn't put the turkey in the oven soon, it will be as cold as the ham from Christmas in 2010. Something is bound to go wrong like every year.

Soon cousins are screaming and somebody got hit in the head with a toy, so guess who's on babysitting duty. It might just be better than the hot kitchen, though. While wrangling in the little ones, the thought comes to mind, "Is the 'little kids table' still a threat this year?"

Once one kid stopped crying and another's Nerf gun is confiscated, it's back to the kitchen. Here, Mom jokes about needing another oven (again) and the table needs to be set. The plates are almost dropped due to impatience and the silverware will never be in the right order, but it's a good attempt.

Sometime later, Mom somehow drags Dad away from the football game to carve the turkey because the little kids are driving grandma kind of crazy and complaining, "I'm hungry."

Finally, the food is ready, the table is set, and everyone is ready to eat. Grace is said, and Dad asks what everyone is thankful for this year. As everyone goes around the table passing food and being thankful, Mom and the amount who was late realize they forgot the pie in the oven.

And through the stress and craziness of it all, it's nice to have everyone together again.