Oompa Loompa

I am thankful for Willy Wonka. I honestly don't know how this guy hasn't won a Nobel Prize yet. Because of him we have not one, but two great movies.Willy gave us a new term for people who aren't very tall, and a bonus tune to hum around them.

And though those are all great things, those aren't even the best things we have to thank Willy for. The movies place most of the focus on his chocolate bars.

But that is just the beginning of all the sugary deliciousness that he has made available to us.

Candy wouldn't really be candy without Willy Wonka. And he doesn't stop providing us with new items.

Who can remember a childhood without sitting on the curb enjoying some Fun Dip? Nobody.

Would life really be the same without having tasted the everlastingness of a Gobstopper?

And who can forget my personal favorite, Bottle Caps. I still can't see these in the store and walk away. I secretly sneak them to work and avoid the wrath of my dental assistant wife. (Whoops! We probably should keep that on the down-low. It will be our little secret.)

And the list goes on and on. You probably have a favorite Willy Wonka candy too. So, I am thankful for Willy Wonka.

Ask and Ye Shall Receive

One of my cousins suggested that I say that I am not thankful for my wife, but am thankful for my cousin instead. I was shocked by the suggestion, because I am always thankful for my wife and couldn't fathom someone thinking otherwise. I won't mention which cousin it was.

I am thankful for Sara(h), my cousin. I am thankful for the extra puff of breath that the 'h' at the end of her name causes. I don't know what I would do without her. Sara(h) is tied for the title of Favorite Cousin Whose Name Ends With the -uh Sound (Along with Vanessa and Melissa. Sorry Samantha). If it weren't for her, how would we have tested the integrity of the sliding glass door at Grandma Rich's house? Somebody could have seriously gotten hurt, and we wouldn't have thought to put stickers on the new glass.

Without Sara(h) we probably wouldn't have had C-Money marry into the family (Don't worry Liz, your secret crush is still safe with me).

Without Sara(h) I wouldn't know what I would eat whilst in Las Vegas. Sara(h) fancies herself to be the family secretary. She does a pretty good job of it. If we ever want to know a birthday, phone number, or address of another family member, we ask Sara(h).
If there is a family event, you always expect Sara(h) to be a part of it.Sara(h) has a "lovely singing voice"-Morrissey (from Sing Your Life). She has a decent sense of humor and is involved in so many things that I have suspected she might be a zombie at times (because they don't sleep). All things considered, Sara(h) is pretty darn o.k.So, I am thankful for my cousin, Sara(h) (but I am most likely more thankful for my wife, Sara).

Machine Gun

I am thankful for Bodie. He gave us quite a scare when he was first born, but things have worked out pretty well since then. I know that I am not his favorite person in the world (One of the first things he ever clearly said to me was, "Go away!"). He gets away with things that the other children never have. He doesn't really have a bed time, and his favorite time of the day is when the other kids are put to bed and he gets to stay up later. He can cause tears to run down his cheeks instantly, and uses that skill to his advantage. And, he thinks he is way older than he actually is. Even with all the animosity he has toward me we still spend good times together. He is the only one in the family who is willing to sit and watch Dawson's Creek or Beverly Hills 90210 with me, so at least we know he has good taste. Currently my favorite thing in the whole wide world is to walk in the door after work and be greeted by Bodie. He doesn't run over to me and give me a hug like most would expect. He usually just sits there watching T.V. or playing with something and says, "Hey dad" with the tone of a teenager who is going through the motions. I don't know if that is the norm for other dads, but I really like it for some reason. He has entered into some sort of violent stage of his life and takes just about every opportunity to hit, kick or jump on me. At his height he is within reach of the baby maker, so I have to keep a close eye on him. He also gets a kick out of sitting on me during push-ups. Madison has taken him under her wing, so it is just a matter of time before they team up to destroy me. But until then, I will enjoy the time we spend together. Life wouldn't be the same without his dimples. So, I am thankful for Bodie.

The End.