Rizzoli Thanksgiving Traditions

It was 8 AM and three-year old TJ walked to the refrigerator and looked at the calendar that was hung up on it by letter magnets and saw that it was Thanksgiving Day. He went running into the living room where his dad was and said, "It's turkey day, it's turkey day." Then he asked his dad, "Daddy are we going to Auntie Jane and Auntie Maura's today? I want to watch the parade and have Thanksgiving dinner with them."

"Yes, TJ and we will be leaving soon. You love spending time with them, don't you? Please make sure you have your jacket and gloves ready. I just have to grab a few things and then we will go." Tommy answered his son as he finished gathering up the supplies he needed to take to his sister's house.

This year Tommy was responsible for cooking the green bean casserole and he had to bring all the fixings to their house. It only took a half hour to cook but he needed to make sure he had the French green beans, fried onions, and cream of mushroom soup. Jane had the pan that he would need. He also had to bring some of the rolls that TJ liked. TJ was still in the fussy eating stage and only liked certain foods. He would love to have hamburgers from McDonalds every day if he could.

"Yes, I love them." TJ said as he grabbed his jacket and gloves. He was ready to go to his Auntie's house. He loved spending time with his Aunties, they were his favorites. He liked Nina but Jane and Maura were his favorites. They always had such fun together and this year the Thanksgiving Day family dinner was being hosted by Jane and Maura at their house.

"Okay the parade starts at 9 AM and we will be there in plenty of time for you to watch the parade with your aunts." Tommy said as they walked out the door. Tommy could swear sometimes that TJ loved Jane and Maura more than him.

"Thank you, daddy." TJ said as he walked behind his father to the car. Tommy had his hands full or he would have been holding TJ's hand as they walked to the car.

They arrived at Jane and Maura's at 8:30 AM and by 8:55 AM they were sitting in front of the couch ready to watch the parade. Tommy loved all the character balloons. He jumped up and down and commented on almost every single balloon. When the parade ended, they had a quick bite to eat.

Each year they have a family football game before they eat and all the cousins play. It's Rizzoli versus Rizzoli. Frank Rizzoli Sr.'s and Carlo Rizzoli's children versus Antonio Rizzoli's and Tommaso Rizzoli's children every year. Cousins versus cousins. The four brothers were always very competitive growing up and that competitiveness was passed down to their children. Each of them had three or more children. So, the teams were set at six members each that way each team had a spare or two. Jane was the Captain of her team and had been for quite a few years now. She loved to call the plays and being the quarterback of the team.

As the cousins aged and married the spouses were allowed to play on the team. So now that they are married Maura was eligible to play on Jane's team. One of her cousins that is on her team was pregnant and not able to play so she wanted to have an extra player ready to play. Maura was competitive and liked to win just like Jane, so she agreed to learn how to play the game.

This year's game would be at Boston Gardens. Jane was really hoping that her team would win this year. Her brothers were always on her team. When they play family football, they play well together. They are a well-oiled Rizzoli football machine. When they played against their cousins last year, they only lost by one point.

Jane had been teaching Maura how to play flag football since Halloween. She was hoping to be able to add Maura to her team this year. Jane threw the football to Maura and after she caught it Jane chased her down. Maura let her catch her and Jane said, "Maur, you aren't supposed to let me catch you."

"But Jane, it's more fun when you catch me." Maura said as she winked at Jane. She pulled Jane down on top of her and continued to kiss her. Jane tried to pull apart so they could continue their lesson and Maura wouldn't let her go.

"I know Maur, and trust me I enjoy kissing you when I catch you but we need to practice for real. We will be on the same team and we need to beat my cousins. They will be out for blood and they will be chasing you down trying to get your flags. So, you need to learn how to dodge their advances. Maybe we need to bring Frankie and Tommy over to practice. My cousins will be terrible this year because of their victory last year. It is the first time they have won in years."

"Okay Jane, I will pay attention, I promise." Maura said and gave Jane a big hug and then broke the hug so they could go back to practicing her moves. They had a game to win Thanksgiving Day.

Once the parade was over, Jane grabbed her team members and headed to the park. She had a game to win. Maura walked hand-in-hand with Jane as they walked to the park. She was excited. Jane said she was ready to play. She had paid attention and learned what Jane had taught her. She felt like she was ready. They had practiced with Frankie and Tommy and they felt she was ready.

TJ wanted to play also but he was too young. Jane told him he could be the ball boy. He could hold onto the game ball. He was so excited. Jane thought that would please him. The game was scoreless going into the fourth quarter. Maura went into the game. Jane was hoping that Maura would be their secret weapon. Her cousins knew that Maura didn't play team sports. They had teased Jane in the past about her wife doing ballet and fencing and not 'real sports.' That is why Jane took the time to teach Maura everything she could to prepare her to do well in the game.

Her cousins just smiled thinking they have this game wrapped up now that Maura is in the game. Boy were they in for a surprise. Jane threw the ball to Maura and she was able to dodge the opponents attempts to grab her flags. She crossed the goal line and scored. Her cousins were shocked. They weren't expecting that from Maura. Maura was what they called the 'girly girl.' Jane had always been a tomboy and been the best at almost anything she tried. So, when Jane hooked up with Maura, they just assumed she was 'the girl' in the relationship and wouldn't be that good at any of the sports. They underestimated her and it cost them the game. Jane's team won by one point and got bragging rights for the year. Her cousins were bummed but it was time to go inside and eat.

Angela had come outside with her sister in-laws and watched the last few minutes of the game. Angela was so happy to see Maura get a touchdown. She knew she could do it. She had been working hard with Jane, Frankie and Tommy. She wanted to help them win the game and she did. Jane ran up to Maura at the end of the game and gave her a great big kiss. She was so proud of her.

The loud rambunctious group came into the house and washed up and then sat down for dinner. People were sitting all over the house. They must've been forty people in the house for dinner. The meal was set up buffet style but before they could eat. Everyone had to say why they were thankful. Angela started. She said, "I am thankful that all of my children are happy and healthy. I pray each day when they go to work that God will take care of them and make sure they are able to come home after their shift."

The Aunts and Uncles gave similar thanks and then Jane spoke, she took Maura's hand and said, "I am thankful to have a wonderful wife and life." Maura squeezed her hand and said, "I also am thankful to have a wonderful wife and family. The Rizzolis are like no other family I have ever known and I am thankful to be a Rizzoli." Jane kissed Maura. Tommy and a few of the cousins shouted, "Get a room." There was laughter and then the thankful comments continued until everyone had a chance to speak and then Jane asked if Frankie would carve the turkey. Frank Sr. was no longer in the picture and being as dinner was being hosted by Jane and Maura, they had agreed to let Frankie due the honors.

Dinner was served buffet style and each table got up and went and filled their plates and then started eating. There was plenty of food to go around. TJ wanted to sit by both Jane and Maura so he asked if he could sit between them. They both nodded and Jane moved over one seat so TJ could sit between them. She loved TJ and she would do almost anything for him. She scooted her seat closer to TJ so she could still reach out and touch Maura. She liked to hold Maura's hand during their meals when she didn't have to use two hands to eat. She was most comfortable when she was in physical contact with Maura.

Jane, Frankie, Tommy and TJ all had a bunch of black olives on their plates and quietly placed a black olive on each finger and then raised their hands into the air to let everybody see. They ate the olives one by one and then reloaded their fingers if they had any olives left on their plates. Maura thought this was ridiculous but this was part of the Rizzoli Thanksgiving Dinner traditions. She however didn't want to take part in this tradition. She was not a huge fan of olives, she had them in her food but didn't eat them by themselves.

The television was on during dinner but the volume had been muted. Once dessert was served the volume was turned up a little on the television so those that wanted to could watch the game. This was also part of the Rizzoli Thanksgiving Day traditions.

When the bulk of the family had left Maura asked if there were any other traditions she should know about and Jane told her, "Yes, tomorrow morning we go cut down our Christmas Tree and then decorate it. It is the last item on the Rizzoli Thanksgiving Day tradition list. We leave at 6 AM just so you know. My alarm is set already. I hate alarms but this is a tradition and I don't mess around with traditions. Frankie, Nina, Tommy and TJ will meet us there with the truck. We will pick out our tree load it in the truck, grad some hot chocolate and if the weather cooperates, we go ice skating. If the ice skating rink is not open yet then we will just come home and start decorating the tree."

"Sounds like a great plan. I suppose you have a whole list of Christmas traditions you will be sharing with me also." Maura asked as she pulled Jane into a hug.

"Yes ma'am, you are a Rizzoli now and you must know all of our traditions." Jane said as she kissed Maura.