We came. We Saw. We conquered that tough old bird: Tradition.

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving 2009 and, in addition to basting the bird and stuffing our faces, there can sometimes be a heaping of family tradition that is hard to swallow.

Dinner disasters, family arguments, football rivalries -- these are the moments Norman Rockwell did not capture.

Because, sometimes the fruit cake at the table is not limited to dessert.

Retired educator Joan Carroll, 68, who recently moved to Washington County from North Carolina, remembers her first holiday -- a Thanksgiving -- as a young married.

"I was determined to show my mom and in-laws that I could cook. Of course, I left the giblets in the bag in the turkey cavity. That was after my guests discovered that the hardboiled eggs I had made were not, well, hard. My guests mopped up through the first course, laughed through the entree and were hysterical by dessert -- a pumpkin pie that oozed like pus.

"I threw up after dinner, blaming dinner party nerves. It wasn't. I was pregnant. [Daughter JoAnn is now grown and living in Arizona.] And for this I'll always give thanks," she said.

Ms. Carroll, who recently moved back to the region to retire near family, said she "still blushes at the memory" of that first family holiday and dreads that tomorrow someone is bound to bring it up.

"No one remembers that I have, indeed, learned to boil an egg," she said.

It is the season for family, so we asked some residents of the South Hills: What are your family traditions? Can you share a Thanksgiving story that's funny or poignant? What will you do tomorrow?

We found that the recipe for a great Thanksgiving here is homemade meals with a generous helping of friends, family and football.

"The men always help cook and clean up, and watch football. Dad puts on his apron and carves the turkey," said Jeff Sabo, 36, of Elizabeth Township.

"One year it was cooked without the bag of giblets taken out. It was still alright, just a little bag of crispy stuff inside," he said of one of more memorable Thanksgivings.

At age 11, Josh Dionis, of Castle Shannon, already has a Thanksgiving memory he said will last a lifetime.

"My aunts and grandmas and other family always come to my house, and we play board games. Last year, we played the 'Say What?' electronic game, but left the game on. In the middle of the prayer before eating, we heard a voice call, 'I'm outta here.' It was the game," he said with a chuckle.

At the Popovich home in Mt. Lebanon, Thanksgiving is also a time to sing "Happy Birthday."

"My wife was born on Nov. 24, which often falls on Thanksgiving. Even if it's her birthday, she insists on doing all the cooking," said Jay Popovich, 61.

"Once we went to Las Vegas to visit our son at the university. Even there, she cooked for our son and his friends," Mr. Popovich said.

For Meghan Graham, 23, the customary Thanksgiving gathering at her uncle's house is a golden opportunity to map Black Friday strategy.

"Everyone brings something to eat. Afterwards, my mother and sister and I plan our route for early-bird shopping the next morning starting at 6 a.m.," said Ms. Graham, of Bethel Park.

With others, the continuity in people, places, and roles from one Thanksgiving to the next is the best part.

"I always go to my grandma's in Washington. She bakes broccoli casserole and pumpkin roll, and my mom brings pumpkin pie. My step-grandpa bakes the turkey," said Devon Williams, 12, of Bethel Park.

"I enjoy it because we talk, and I don't get to see them all the time," he said.

"My daughter cooks enough for eighty-seven thousand people," said Robert W. Daley, 82, of Mt. Lebanon. "I live with her, so I don't have far to walk," he said.

"Instead of entertaining as we did for years, we are entertained," said state Rep. Harry Readshaw, 68, of Carrick. "We go to church, eat at my oldest daughter's home in Baldwin Borough, and watch football."

Both sides of the family, up to 22 of people, descend each Thanksgiving on the Cannon home in Munhall.

"It's open invitation all day, and sit anywhere you can find a seat," said David Cannon, 44, whose wife cooks two turkeys while guests bring side dishes or dessert.

With nine children, Deana Wuenschel cooked for years for more than 20 people, a tight squeeze in her Mt. Oliver home.

"Guests would say, 'Take half of that wall out.' But I said, 'My house will fall in.'

"But my new tradition for the last nine years is I go to one of my kids' homes," she said.

Bob Wawrzeniak, 79, of Glassport, has been spending the holiday at his daughter's in Elizabeth Township for the past 20 years, where he is one of about 35 guests.

"We eat at two long tables in two connecting rooms," he said.

The only other activity is watching football and "simply enjoying each other's company," he said.

"Everyone comes to my house or my wife's sister's house. It is the same group but a different location," said Tom Milczarczyk, 57, of Bethel Park.

After dinner, everyone watches football and plays poker or a dice game.

"The kids take my money," Mr. Milczarczyk said.

Mark O'Brien, 50, of Bethel Park, said tradition is not only a comfort, but is a way to honor deceased family members.

"My three kids and father-in-law come to our house, and my wife, Kathleen, does all the cooking. I help her, and afterwards everyone sits and talks. We go to my sister-in-law's at night for dessert.

"We try to keep the family together. It is a great way to remember those who are no longer with us," he said.

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