These kids are oh, so very thankful

Published 5:00 am Wednesday, November 23, 2005

Want to know the meaning of life?

Why the chicken crossed the road?

Sometimes the best place for answers to life’s questions, or at least the most entertaining answers, are best sought out from children.

Want to know why we celebrate Thanksgiving every November?

Yes, history books often tie Thanksgiving to a celebratory feast enjoyed by a group of Pilgrims and Indians — but ask a child the meaning of Thanksgiving and you get a different perspective.

The South Whidbey Record visited South Whidbey Primary School last week and talked to students in Debra Davies’ kindergarten class, Susan Milan’s kindergarten/first-grade class and Kathy Stanley’s second-/third-grade class.

The students were more than happy to share their pint-sized knowledge on what it means to be thankful, and they even talked a little turkey.

Last week, many of the classes at the school were busy finishing craft projects they will bring home just in time for Thanksgiving day.

At South Whidbey Primary School, visitors are greeted by a giant “We are thankful” wreath of colorful paper leaves.

On the orange, yellow, brown, red and green paper leaves are messages written by the primary school’s students. Each is their very own reason why they are thankful for this year.

Thankfulness was given to almost everything — from the family dog, to friends, to video games and to God.

Head into the classrooms and hear even more reasons to give thanks.

It’s about giving thanks

Kindergartner Gracie Colby is thankful this year because she and her family will sit down for “yummy food.”

Many of the students, including kindergartner Elizabeth Donnelly, are thankful for their friends.

First-grader Samantha Clayton would only share what she was thankful for in a whisper.

“If I told you it might not be as special,” she said.

Finally she divulged in a soft voice that it was friends, too, that made her grateful.

Kindergartner Michael Coale acknowledged, “It’s nice to have games and stuff.”

Kindergartner Sophia Nielsen is thankful for her grandmother, and her grandma’s two cats, Jinx and Isabelle.

“She spoils us,” Nielsen said.

Second-grader Roslyn Schoeler

is thankful for her baby sister.

Kindergartner JB Hauser said, “I’m thankful for my mom because I love her.”

Second-grader Rashelle Scriven is thankful for school.

“Well, that’s nice to hear, I’m thankful for that,” said Kathy Stanley, Scriven’s teacher.

Second-grader Alex French is thankful for guinea pigs. Don’t mind the fact that he doesn’t own one, yet.

“I want one. They’re cute, cuddly and furry,” he said.

If he could have a guinea of his own? He’d name it Enrico.

Second-grader Sophia Stoughten is also thankful for guinea pigs and the other pets she has — her guinea is named Squeeky.

First-grader Victoria Nakovski is thankful for all her cats and animals.

First-grader Aiden Crimmins agrees.

“I’m thankful for the animals because they really help others,” he said.

Talking turkey, stuffing and cranberries, too

Second-grader Rashelle Scriven, like many of the kids, is looking forward to going to Grandma’s house for Thanksgiving.

“My favorite thing is the gravy,” Scriven said.

Second-grader Alex French is looking forward to the turkey and sweet potatoes with marshmallows.

“My dad makes them,” French said. “All you do is put marshmallows on sweet potatoes and cook them for about two hours.”

How do you cook that turkey anyway?

“You put it in the oven, of course,” kindergartener Emma Blasko said.

Kindergartner Hunter Bova knows exactly how it’s done.

“You get a turkey. Put it in the oven for 20 minutes. Dad puts some spices on it and then puts it back in the oven for another 20 minutes. Then you eat it,” Bova said.

From the sounds of it, turkey has quite the differing cooking schedule in many of the households.

“Oh, I can’t wait for turkey, mashed potatoes and stuffing,” said second-grader Grace Houck.

And while turkey is typically the holiday choice, many of the kids report that chicken is the bird of choice at their house.

“You put it in the oven for a while and then take it out and put pepper and stuff on it before you put it back in the oven,” Nakovski said.

Kindergartner Maggie Crimmins is looking forward to the “stuffing and stuff.”

Cameron Middlebrook, a kindergartner, likes helping make the beans.

“You put them in a pot, put them on the stove and wait until they’re done,” he said.

Katyrose Jordan is a pro at making cranberry sauce. The first-grader gave a step-by-step introduction to Cranberry 101.

“To make cranberry sauce you need this part from an apple press,” she said. “You put the cranberries in and turn the handle and they come out as sauce. You just have to remember to put a bowl underneath before you start or else they’ll go all over the floor.”

Cranberry sauce is second-grader Sophia Stoughten’s favorite holiday side dish.

“I could eat a whole can of sauce if I was allowed. I practically did one time,” Stouten said.

Stouten usually helps her dad make mashed potatoes for the dinner.

“My dad and I skin the potatoes then mash them and cook them,” she said.

At kindergartner JB Houck’s house his family makes good use of all that leftover turkey.

“We put it with rice and put it with lettuce in sandwiches,” he said.

SUBHEAD: The not-so-traditional

Kindergartner Lori Rosalie likes helping her mom make roast beef for Thanksgiving.

“I help get it ready. I help slice and put it on all the plates,” Rosalie said.

Grapes are kindergartner Lila Stach’s favorite holiday dish.

Callum MacDonald is a fan of macaroni and cheese, even for the holidays. He even has his own recipe.

“You boil the water and put the macaroni in it. Then you put the cheese in it. You cook up hot dogs and slice them, but they don’t go in it they go on the side,” he said.

Second-grader Quinn Kinata shared his secret recipe for ice cream. Ingredients? Carmel, ice cream, white and black chocolate chips.

“Stir it all up. It’s good,” Kinata said.

SUBHEAD: When it all comes down to it

They all might be a little too young yet to have the story of the Pilgrims engraved in their memory. But they all had their own ideas on why we celebrate the holiday.

“It’s a good holiday to be thankful for all that we have,” said second-grader Sophia Stoughten

“We give thanks for our family and friends,” said second-grader Grace Houck.

“We give thanks for food and what we have,” said first-grader Bayley Gochanour.

“Because we should give thanks,” first-grader Max Cassee said.