OK, put down the turkey baster: The bird can wait. Drop that TV remote: The game won't start for hours. Sit back and relax: You've got a little more Thanksgiving planning to do.

After all, we've asked our readers to tell us how they celebrate the holiday. And now that they did, we're thankful we heard these ideas:

Give thanks, and make a note of it

Jean Zipfel of Freeburg has found a unique way to not only give thanks this year, but to remember the blessings of past holidays.

"Our Thanksgiving tablecloth has become a unique record of our family's abundant blessings," Zipfel said. "Annually, we take turns using a colored permanent marker to write on it one thing for which we're especially grateful that year.

"We use a different color marker each year."

Get a start -- on the next holiday

"I give out my (Christmas) gifts," wrote reader Debra Soucy Donze. "Gives the kids something to do (and) play with. On Xmas they are overwhelmed with grandma and Santa gifts and (this gives) the adults more time to regift it!!

"I shop all year! After working retail for many years, I spend time enjoying the season and the true spirit of Xmas!"

Ante up

The family of reader Jennifer Sinde Ford has found a way to remember a special family member and his favorite pastime.

"For the past four years we held a poker 'Turkey Cup' in honor of my father who passed away," Ford said. "Winner gets bragging rights for the following year, and doesn't have to help clean up from the big dinner."

Make it special for the kids

Reader Jane Haggerson remembers a special Thanksgiving tradition from her childhood. While Jane's five siblings -- the kids of Jim and Mary Quade from Edwardsville -- had to finish cleaning the house, she got to help with a special part of the feast to come.

"On Thanksgiving morning she would set up our folding ironing board as a little table in front of me while I sat on the couch," Haggerson wrote. "She would cover the ironing board with an old tablecloth and put newspaper on the floor around where I sat. Then she would anchor an old fashioned hand crank meat grinder to the board and I was in charge of crushing the whole cranberries into a bowl, all while watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Parade!

"I still watch that grand parade every year in my home while I turn the handle of the can opener on the top of the Ocean Spray's Jellied Cranberry Sauce (my favorite brand)."

Get bowled over

"When my nieces and nephews were young ... we would celebrate at their grandparents' home," reader Marcia Billhartz wrote. "The big thing after dinner was ... Bowling For Pies!

"They would set their plastic bowling set up at the end of the hallway and give it their all.

"Yeah, right. Like they wouldn't have gotten pie in the first place ..."

Check out the holiday decorations

Admit it, you know your neighbor already has his holiday lights ablaze. You can take a trip around the neighborhood, to see who else is more efficient than you, or you can do what the Foster family told us in an email.

"After Thanksgiving dinner (and naps)," they said, "our family goes to see the Way of Lights at the Shrine."

Before the parade passes by

One metro-east family has their day planned, nearly down to the minute.

"Up early, dress warm, pack a thermos of hot chocolate, stop at Krispy Kreme and get a dozen donuts then head to the STL parade," wrote a reader who signed her note, "just2letuno 1." "Share our donuts and chocolate with some unsuspecting parade watcher. Then a little ice skating at the Forest Park rink before heading to mom's for turkey and all the fixings."

The parade also holds special memories for the family of Jennifer Miles of Swansea.

"Our family started a tradition 13 years ago to attend the Holiday parade on Thanksgiving morning in St. Louis," Miles wrote. "After the parade we then go out to breakfast, usually at Cracker Barrel.

"This tradition has continued from the time our daughters were in grade school and now continues as they attend college. We all still look forward to waking up getting ready for the parade whether rain, snow, or sunshine to be together on this very special day. I hope our daughters keep this tradition going on for a long time to come."