More fun, fewer teeth and split decision on Obama, Cubs

On this holiday filled with tradition, I offer you the 13th version of my Thanksgiving Day column tradition. Our twin sons, Ross and Ben, were born on Thanksgiving Day 13 years ago. Will came along in 1999.

As I have for every Thanksgiving since my wife and I became parents, I ask for your indulgence as my family dishes out another helping of thankful moments from the last year. We are thankful-

For Will's unbridled enthusiasm about 2008 (with his dad's unflinching assurances) that leads him to gush, "Just think; this is the year that I'll finally get to play pitch ball, Barack Obama will be president and the Cubs will win the World Series."

For the way Will learned how to hit a pitched ball, begged to stay up to watch Obama's acceptance speech but fell asleep midway through, discovered that his dad is right only two thirds of the time, and got another painful lesson in what it means to be a Cubs fan.

For Ben's courage and humor after breaking both permanent front teeth and chipping a third tooth during a late-night game of "Ghosts in the Graveyard" at Fountain Park.

For the way Ben relearned to play the oboe with his new teeth.

For the day gym teacher Mr. Skowron called me at work just to let me know that "Ross is a great kid."

For the way the mere threat of applying one of those embarrassing "honor student" bumper stickers is enough to get the boys to do their homework.

For Ben's sincere ignorance of how he ended up winning some sort of citizenship/civil rights award.

For the hilarious Father's Day "column" Ross wrote, and for his understanding that we won't print it until his grandpa and I are dead.

For the ways the boys' relentless lobbying to buy the gory, mature audiences only, zombie-slaughter video game "Left 4 Dead" actually succeeds after Ross writes a persuasive essay that wins me over.

For the way our boys get more phone calls in a week than I get in a year.

For coed soccer.

For the postgame phone calls to Grandma Lois, who says Will's ballplayer stories always remind her of Grandpa Willy's.

For the way Will's vicious foul ball puts the first dent in our Prius.

For nine cousins.

For the way our home construction project creates the perfect battleground for epic Nerf gunbattles amid two-by-fours and drywall dust.

For all the fun had during those years with three boys sharing one bedroom.

For the way a much-more-tolerant Ross and Ben suddenly break their habit of bad-mouthing "teenagers" just in time for their 13th birthdays.

For all those times Grandma Jean and Grandpa Paul came to band and orchestra concerts and piano recitals.

For oboe lessons with Peggy, piano lessons with Terry and impromptu jam sessions with drums, a saxophone and a violin.

For the way my sweet and beautiful wife smiles through car pools, school projects, recitals, lessons, games, home construction, work and the day-to-day stress - even after a birthday party dodgeball game leaves her with stitches.

As our family celebrates today's holiday, we wish you and yours a Happy Thanksgiving - and a long list for which to give thanks.