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<p>WILKES-BARRE &#8212; Pie and turkey made the list.</p><p>So did Jell-O, tablets full of games, Thomas the Tank Engine and a dog named Buttercup.</p><p>Those were a few of the answers three Times Leader reporters heard when we fanned out to find children and ask them, just in time for Thanksgiving, what makes those happy, grateful feelings well up inside them.</p><p>&#8220;We talked about what they&#8217;re thankful for,&#8221; Wilkes-Barre Academy teacher Niki Winters said as she watched first- and second-grade students, all decked out as Pilgrims and Indians with paper hats and head bands, sit down to a turkey dinner in their school lunch room.</p><p>During that earlier classroom discussion, the teacher said, most of the students said they appreciated families and friends and being able to spend time together.</p><p>&#8220;It wasn&#8217;t a lot of material things,&#8221; said Winters, who teaches reading to first and second graders.</p><p>Surveyed as they started eating turkey, mashed potatoes, green beans and pumpkin pie, some of the children explained they&#8217;re grateful for families and friends &#8212; and teachers, too.</p><p>After all, who wouldn&#8217;t be grateful for grownups who make you a Pilgrim headpiece or show you symbols for mountains and oceans and lightning so you can decorate your Indian tunic? They&#8217;re likely the people who tell you all about that first, long-ago Thanksgiving, right? The one when venison and pheasant and fish were probably on the menu.?</p><p>&#8220;I think they had corn,&#8221; 6-year-old Lia DeGraffenreid said of that early meal.</p><p>In addition to the students at Wilkes-Barre Academy, we found children to interview at the Osterhout Free Library in Wilkes-Barre and the West Pittston Library in West Pittston.</p><p>Read on to find out for what they are truly thankful:</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">A bed and a house. Ayden Acernese, 4, of West Pittston. *** My tablet and books. Emily Griffis, 4, of Exeter. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/web1_AydenAEmilyG2.jpg</photo0><caption0>A bed and a house. Ayden Acernese, 4, of West Pittston. *** My tablet and books. Emily Griffis, 4, of Exeter. </caption0><photoCredit0></photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/web1_LucasMaira22.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">The turkey and the smell of the turkey, and my tablet because I have a lot of games on there. Lucas Maira, 5, of Pittston. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/web1_LucasMaira22.jpg</photo1><caption1>The turkey and the smell of the turkey, and my tablet because I have a lot of games on there. Lucas Maira, 5, of Pittston. </caption1><photoCredit1></photoCredit1></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/web1_SamaraCampenni2.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">My friends. Samara Campenni, 10, of West Pittston. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo2>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/web1_SamaraCampenni2.jpg</photo2><caption2>My friends. Samara Campenni, 10, of West Pittston. </caption2><photoCredit2></photoCredit2></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/web1_JohnGetzie2.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">All my family being able to come and celebrate Thanksgiving. John Getzie, 9, of West Pittston. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo3>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/web1_JohnGetzie2.jpg</photo3><caption3>All my family being able to come and celebrate Thanksgiving. John Getzie, 9, of West Pittston. </caption3><photoCredit3></photoCredit3></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/web1_ElianaParra2.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Living in a free country. Eliana Parra, 9, of Wyoming. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo4>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/web1_ElianaParra2.jpg</photo4><caption4>Living in a free country. Eliana Parra, 9, of Wyoming. </caption4><photoCredit4></photoCredit4></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/web1_ConnorKostik2.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Friends and cousins. Connor Kostik, 8, of Wyoming. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo5>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/web1_ConnorKostik2.jpg</photo5><caption5>Friends and cousins. Connor Kostik, 8, of Wyoming. </caption5><photoCredit5></photoCredit5></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/web1_MiaBelles2.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">That I have lots of food and clothes. Mia Belles, 10, of West Pittston. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo6>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/web1_MiaBelles2.jpg</photo6><caption6>That I have lots of food and clothes. Mia Belles, 10, of West Pittston. </caption6><photoCredit6></photoCredit6></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/web1_MaxGetzie2.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">My family and friends. Max Getzie, 7, of West Pittston </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo7>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/web1_MaxGetzie2.jpg</photo7><caption7>My family and friends. Max Getzie, 7, of West Pittston </caption7><photoCredit7></photoCredit7></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/web1_LuciaCampenni2.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">My home. Lucia Campenni, 7, of West Pittston. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo8>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/web1_LuciaCampenni2.jpg</photo8><caption8>My home. Lucia Campenni, 7, of West Pittston. </caption8><photoCredit8></photoCredit8></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/web1_BraidonKostik2.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Having a nice family and getting together on Thanksgiving. Braidon Kostik, 10, of Wyoming. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo9>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/web1_BraidonKostik2.jpg</photo9><caption9>Having a nice family and getting together on Thanksgiving. Braidon Kostik, 10, of Wyoming. </caption9><photoCredit9></photoCredit9></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/web1_AndieBelles2.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">My family. Andie Belles, 8, of West Pittston. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo10>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/web1_AndieBelles2.jpg</photo10><caption10>My family. Andie Belles, 8, of West Pittston. </caption10><photoCredit10></photoCredit10></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/web1_Callie-CMYK2.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Family and Jell-O. Callie Drutchal, 2, of Wilkes-Barre </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo11>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/web1_Callie-CMYK2.jpg</photo11><caption11>Family and Jell-O. Callie Drutchal, 2, of Wilkes-Barre </caption11><photoCredit11></photoCredit11></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/web1_Kenzie-CMYK2.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">&#8220;My Little Pony&#8221; and my mommy and daddy and sister. Kenzie Dixon, 4, of Luzerne </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo12>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/web1_Kenzie-CMYK2.jpg</photo12><caption12>&#8220;My Little Pony&#8221; and my mommy and daddy and sister. Kenzie Dixon, 4, of Luzerne </caption12><photoCredit12></photoCredit12></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/web1_Phoenix-CMYK2.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Thomas the Train. Phoenix Houseknecht, 2, of Kingston </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo13>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/web1_Phoenix-CMYK2.jpg</photo13><caption13>Thomas the Train. Phoenix Houseknecht, 2, of Kingston </caption13><photoCredit13></photoCredit13></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/web1_TTL112615littlepilgrims4-12.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">&#8220;I&#8217;m thankful for my family. And pie.&#8221; Isa DeGraffenreid, 6, Wilkes-Barre Academy </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo14>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/web1_TTL112615littlepilgrims4-12.jpg</photo14><caption14>&#8220;I&#8217;m thankful for my family. And pie.&#8221; Isa DeGraffenreid, 6, Wilkes-Barre Academy </caption14><photoCredit14></photoCredit14></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/web1_TTL112615littlepilgrims52.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">&#8220;I&#8217;m thankful for my two brothers and my mommy and daddy.&#8221; Jordan Ceklosky, 6, Wilkes-Barre Academy </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo15>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/web1_TTL112615littlepilgrims52.jpg</photo15><caption15>&#8220;I&#8217;m thankful for my two brothers and my mommy and daddy.&#8221; Jordan Ceklosky, 6, Wilkes-Barre Academy </caption15><photoCredit15></photoCredit15></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/web1_TTL112615littlepilgrims62.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">&#8220;Food, like turkey. And my family.&#8221; Josh Cackowski, 7, Wilkes-Barre Academy </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo16>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/web1_TTL112615littlepilgrims62.jpg</photo16><caption16>&#8220;Food, like turkey. And my family.&#8221; Josh Cackowski, 7, Wilkes-Barre Academy </caption16><photoCredit16></photoCredit16></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/web1_TTL112615littlepilgrims72.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">&#8220;LEGOS and my teachers and my dog and my mom and dad.&#8221; Jaxon Pikul, 6, Wilkes-Barre Academy </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo17>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/web1_TTL112615littlepilgrims72.jpg</photo17><caption17>&#8220;LEGOS and my teachers and my dog and my mom and dad.&#8221; Jaxon Pikul, 6, Wilkes-Barre Academy </caption17><photoCredit17></photoCredit17></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/web1_TTL112615littlepilgrims82.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">&#8220;Food. Chicken is my favorite.&#8221; Chris Reedy, 7, Wilkes-Barre Academy </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo18>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/web1_TTL112615littlepilgrims82.jpg</photo18><caption18>&#8220;Food. Chicken is my favorite.&#8221; Chris Reedy, 7, Wilkes-Barre Academy </caption18><photoCredit18></photoCredit18></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/web1_TTL112615littlepilgrims92.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">&#8220;I&#8217;m thankful for the Pilgrims who came to North America.&#8221; Q&#8217;uron Drayton, 8, Wilkes-Barre Academy </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo19>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/web1_TTL112615littlepilgrims92.jpg</photo19><caption19>&#8220;I&#8217;m thankful for the Pilgrims who came to North America.&#8221; Q&#8217;uron Drayton, 8, Wilkes-Barre Academy </caption19><photoCredit19></photoCredit19></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/web1_TTL112615littlepilgrims102.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">&#8220;My mommy and daddy and my brother and my dog, Buttercup.&#8221; Sawyer Scaramastro, 6, Wilkes-Barre Academy </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo20>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/web1_TTL112615littlepilgrims102.jpg</photo20><caption20>&#8220;My mommy and daddy and my brother and my dog, Buttercup.&#8221; Sawyer Scaramastro, 6, Wilkes-Barre Academy </caption20><photoCredit20></photoCredit20></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/web1_TTL112615littlepilgrims112.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">&#8220;My family and my best friend.&#8221; Ruby Reinert, 6, Wilkes-Barre Academy </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo21>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/web1_TTL112615littlepilgrims112.jpg</photo21><caption21>&#8220;My family and my best friend.&#8221; Ruby Reinert, 6, Wilkes-Barre Academy </caption21><photoCredit21></photoCredit21></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/web1_TTL112615littlepilgrims13.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Isa DeGraffenreid carries her Thanksgiving feast back to her lunch table with other 1st and 2nd grade students at Wilkes-Barre Academy during a special celebration one week before the holiday. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo22>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/web1_TTL112615littlepilgrims13.jpg</photo22><caption22>Isa DeGraffenreid carries her Thanksgiving feast back to her lunch table with other 1st and 2nd grade students at Wilkes-Barre Academy during a special celebration one week before the holiday. </caption22><photoCredit22>Aimee Dilger | Times Leader </photoCredit22></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/web1_TTL112615littlepilgrims22.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Teacher Niki Winters explains the Thanksgiving feast to 2nd grade student Brian DeMellier at Wilkes-Barre Academy. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo23>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/web1_TTL112615littlepilgrims22.jpg</photo23><caption23>Teacher Niki Winters explains the Thanksgiving feast to 2nd grade student Brian DeMellier at Wilkes-Barre Academy. </caption23><photoCredit23>Aimee Dilger | Times Leader </photoCredit23></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/web1_TTL112615littlepilgrims32.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Akira Linton-Patrick, dressed as a Pilgrim, and Cole Kramer, dressed as an Indian, enjoy a Thanksgiving feast at Wilkes-Barre Academy on the Thursday before the holiday. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo24>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/web1_TTL112615littlepilgrims32.jpg</photo24><caption24>Akira Linton-Patrick, dressed as a Pilgrim, and Cole Kramer, dressed as an Indian, enjoy a Thanksgiving feast at Wilkes-Barre Academy on the Thursday before the holiday. </caption24><photoCredit24>Aimee Dilger | Times Leader </photoCredit24></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><subheadMeta>Children pause to ponder the question before the feast</subheadMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Mary Therese Biebel, Matt Mattei, Gene Axton</p><p>mbiebel@www.timesleader.com, mmattei@www.timesleader.com, eaxton@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div>

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What are you thankful for? Children pause to ponder the question before the feast