We are thankful today for…

Today is Thanksgiving. When we host it at our house, we do the go-around-the-table-and-say-what-you’re-thankful-for thing. This year, I’m not hosting it so I’ve assigned everyone in our family to write me a list of what they’re thankful for and we’ll do it blog-style this year. I’ll go first (and these are in no particular order):

• My awesome husband (Mr. BK), and everything about him.
• My extraordinary daughters. (Mr. BK doesn’t like the overuse of that word “extraordinary,” but I think he’d agree they’re worth the exception. They are above ordinary.)
• Our health and our togetherness on this day and every day.
• My parents and my in-laws, all of whom are alive, in good health, and live nearby. I am thankful our children still have all four grandparents in their lives.
• My sisters and my sister-in-law, each of whom fill a different spot in my life, and each of whom text me, email or call me daily with all kinds of news from the silly (“Nicole Richie had her baby!”) to the serious (“The pediatrician said it’s swine flu!”).
• Imitrex.
• That I have the skills, tools and resources to put a healthy, home-cooked meal on the table every night, even if I don’t look as pretty or as smiley as Giada.
• Cute shoes that come in wide widths for the unfortunate soles belonging to Little Miss and me.
• My friends scattered across the country and beyond, any one of whom I can call at any time about anything.
• Whole Foods.
• The iced mochas with Truvia and Lactaid that Mr. BK makes me every single morning, no matter what, even when he has to leave the house at 5 a.m. or is late for a meeting.
• Water.
• That we’ve so far survived the economic crisis, job intact, despite the pay cut and longer hours.
• That when the swine flu hit our house as we suspect it did earlier this fall, it wasn’t as bad as it could’ve been, like it was for my poor little nephew, who ended up in the hospital with what he called “the slime flu.”
• That my mom taught my daughters to sew this summer.
• That it doesn’t stay 115 degrees in the desert all year long.
• MAC Lipglass.
• That I haven’t vomited since 1999.
• That my kids rarely vomit.
• That my husband never vomits, unless alcohol is involved. But that was 1997. And in college. A few times.
• The library, and that it’s still free, except for all of our late fees.
• My hair (not that it’s anything special, but whenever I do get mad at it, I think of all the people who lost theirs from cancer and who would be happy to have it).
• That the 15 minutes is almost up for Jon & Kate, Speidi, Octomom and Susan Boyle. (I know, she has a great voice, but come on, could anybody really listen to an entire album of hers?)

Mr. BKs list:

• I am thankful to have my own health and to have healthy family surrounding me. To hear about the medial hardships that some have as part of their normal routine… from chronic conditions to swine flu makes me thankful to be shielded from that burden. Why do I still complain so much?
• I’m thankful for my harmonious family life. I am so pleased with our marriage and the way that our kids are. I love our warm environment, our open communication, the way we talk to each other. So pleased. My heart swells to think about it.
• I’m thankful to be employed doing things that I enjoy. And I’ve said many times that everything that I have to do is great, but the schedules take all the fun out of it. Still, I am thankful to have the career that I have.
• I am thankful to be born in the United States of America. I am fascinated by our country and how well we have done in our short history. Such a unique, sensible, good nation.
• I am thankful for sharp kitchen knives and the way that the people who use them (Wendy) make explicit efforts to follow my “knife rules” to keep them that way.
• I am thankful that Wendy cooks great food from Monday through Thursday of every week. It is also endearing that she quits making dinner every week in exhaustion and exasperation at the whole effort that starts on Sunday. We all love to congratulate her on her weekly retirement party every Thursday night.
• I am thankful that Wendy and I are on the same team for so many things. We have been competitive (and argumentative) since I think back in high school, but that’s no problem when we’re on the same team.

Twin A’s list:

• My family.
• Happiness and peace.
• Faith.
• Education.

Twin B’s list:

• Mommy, Poppy, my sisters, Nonna, Nonno, Grandma, Grandpa, Zi-Zi, Uncle Corie, Aunt Laurie, Uncle Sal, Aunt Cheryl, Uncle Kim, Nicholas, Anthony, Gianna, Aunt Barb, Uncle Jay and all of my friends.
• My school.
• The Big Tree by the Road.
• The Little Tree with the Swing by the Driveway.
• God and Jesus.
• My stuffed animals.

Little Miss’ list:

• My Barbies.
• My stuffed animals.
• My doctor kit.
• My Play-Doh.
• My baby dolls.

Your turn: What are you most thankful for this year? You can add your comment by clicking on the little caption bubble by the post headline.