I am thankful ...

For my four kids...and their four friends...and their four friends...that I live in Colorado...that my house is the most popular house in the cul-de-sac...that my daughter still lets me braid her hair...that my son still wants to hold my hand when crossing the street...that my dad still slips me a $20 bill when he visits...that my oldest daughter still calls me Mommy every now and then...that the Tooth Fairy and Santa Claus are still alive and well in my family...that Rice Krispie bars take only 5 minutes to make...that my turn is over with the Friendship Bread...for the snooze button on my alarm clock...for my Downy ball...for carpool parents...for tinted van windows so my pajamas aren't obvious on "those" mornings...for good, good coffee...for the smell of freshly baked cookies...for microwave popcorn...for that "A" in my daughter's Home Ec. Class...that my son considers PB&J a gourmet meal...that I can see Daddy's dimples in every one of my kids...that my daughter's eyes are the same color as her father's...that my husband still wears his Levis and cowboy boots and does all the cooking on his days off...that I see a grandfather walking his three grandkids to school every morning - and someday I'd like to meet that person...that both my girls like to read stories to their little brothers...for e-mail...for seatbelts...for brand new babies that need to be rocked...for mechanical pencils...for my Day Planner that attempts to keep me sane...for old friends that know everything about me...for new friends who know nothing about me...that I can make my kids laugh...that my kids think I'm "the funniest mom they've ever had"...that my husband lets me consider December the Month of Christmas...that Pizza Hut always has my previous order in their computer...that now all four of my kids can read ME bedtime stories...for Colorado sunsets out on the back deck...for the sound of cicadas that remind me of Iowa summers...for Slurpy Fridays at 7-11...for my PTSA buddies...for babysitting Co-ops and Scout Troops...for hugs from a friend...that I can call both of my parents and tell them how much I love them...that I have choices...that I know all of my neighbors by name...that my parents have always loved me for who I am and that they instilled in me the strength and spirit to raise a family of my own in today's world.

What are you thankful for?

Susie