You're thinking about the turkey, the stuffing, the pies, the cranberry sauce, the rolls, the squash soup, the green beans, the wine, the sparkling cider, the linens, the extra chairs, that extra leaf for the table.  If you're going to be hosting the big day, feeding your flock is task enough.  If you get to just show up and eat, well hey, that's task enough, too.  None of you should have to figure out what to do with your fat and happy selves, so we've come up with a slew of ideas for you, across the state, including turkey trots, museum visits, nature outings and sporty activities.

Every year around the holidays, many readers ask about ways they can volunteer with their children. It's not as easy as you might think. Many charitable organizations have age minimums for their hands-on projects, and even when you do find family-friendly volunteering opportunities, they often book up weeks in advance. But local food pantries and shelters are always in need at this time of year, and you can go through your own kitchen cabinet or closet, or shop your local supermarket, to collect a few extra items for families in need.  

With Thanksgiving coming up this month, we wanted to highlight some great ways Hamptons kids and their parents can help those in need. While kids may not be able to work in a soup kitchen, they can certainly help the homeless and hungry in other meaningful ways. Here are some family-friendly ways to put the "giving" in your Thanksgiving.

In our Poppins Parents series, we’ve featured the founder of a local nonprofit organization, a Boston Marathon runner who raises money for homeless children, a passionate advocate for getting kids outdoors, a musician who helps kids sing their way through cancer, and a yogi whose parenting blog provides reassurance that we're all in this together. It’s a diverse group of people with something in common: They are all local parents who make a difference in the lives of Boston families.

Our newest Poppins Parent hasn’t lived in the Boston area for long, but she’s already made quite an impact. She is a writer, an avid proponent for Boston’s many talented children’s musicians, and the creator of WonderBaby.org, an invaluable resource for parents of children with special needs.

Meet Amber Bobnar; find out what drew her from Hawai‘i to Boston, discover what's on her list of Boston's best venues for children's music, and learn which local resources she has found most helpful for raising a child with special needs.

Thanksgiving isn't the only holiday we'll be celebrating this November. For the first time in more than a century, Thanksgiving and Hanukkah are set to coincide. This is literally a once-in-a-lifetime experience—unless you plan to live another 70,000 or so years. That's the next time Thanksgivukkah is supposed to occur!

Hanukkah starts at sundown on Wednesday, November 27 (Thanksgiving Eve) and continues for eight nights and days, and there are lots of ways to mark the holiday beyond lighting your Menurkey at sundown every evening. In fact, a lot of the best Hanukkah fetes take place this coming Sunday before the holiday even officially begins. From fun-filled Jewish museum family days to giant menorah illuminations to Thanksgivukkah parties honoring both holidays, here are the top eight ways to celebrate Hanukkah with NYC kids.

Our month-long focus on Scarsdale continues with a look at family friendly restaurants in the area. Although Scarsdale isn't exactly known as a foodie haven, there are great places to dine with your family. So no need to traipse into Manhattan for quality cuisine--just head to one of the local eateries for good food that kids will love. Many of these spots are right in the village, with a few closer to the Eastchester line or on Central Avenue. Not all of the places on our list have a dedicated children's menu, however they all make the cut due to welcoming, friendly staff and entree options for even the pickiest palette. Read on for our top picks for family dining in Scarsdale.

It's beginning to look a lot like the holidays in NYC. The Rock Center tree has arrived (though it's not lit yet), the ice-cream truck perpetually parked by my daughter's school is playing Christmas songs (no, I am not making that up) and we're furiously updating our Holiday Fun Guide to help you plan out your season. New holiday-related posts this week include everything you need to know about Macy's Balloon Inflation the night before the big Thanksgiving Day Parade, what's new at the annual Grand Central Terminal and New York Botanical Garden Holiday Train Shows and turkey farms you can visit on Long Island.

Speaking of planning your season, are you coming to our Mommy Poppins Holiday Photo Event this Saturday on the Upper East Side? Cross holiday cards off your to-do list as the pros from Big Apple Portrait shoot playful pics of your kids with Santa or against a seasonal background. Other activities include cookie decorating, crafts and storytime, plus giveaways and discounts on cards. Although the morning sessions are pretty much sold out, we still have space in the afternoon so reserve your spot now!

We also have a super-awesome giveaway this week: Four tickets to see the musical Annie on Broadway. Enter now as the giveaway ends early on Friday.

Here's what else we covered on the NYC site this week:

This weekend, several shows hit the stage. Follow the chronicles of Britt and her friends in Stinky Kids The Musical. Discover what life was like for a family in hiding in The Diary Of Anne Frank. Everyone's favorite mouse, Stuart Little, discovers ways to survive in a super-sized world. Solve the Thanksgiving mystery and find out Who Took Tom Turkey. Feeling more crafty? Head to the South Fork Natural History Museum & Nature Center to make musical instruments, or to create works of art inspired by nature. As always, check our events calendar every day for fun activities for the family.

Happily, this activity is fully booked, but there's a waiting list available for the Mommy Poppins Holiday Photo Event on Saturday. In addition to getting adorable pictures of the kiddies with Santa, or against a seasonal backdrop, enjoy crafts, story time, giveaways, and discounts on holiday cards.