Oh, I love music! I love how I can hear a song & it takes me to a certain time, to a place, to memories of great friends & great times!! I'd say I like most music, but definitely have my favorites! I love what we used to call heavy metal, better known as 80's metal. I also really love some newer music, not sure what the genre is, but I'd say heavy rock. Some of my all time favorite bands: KISS, Bon Jovi, Aerosmith, & Cinderella. Some of my newer favorites: Nickelback, Default, Disturbed, Submersed & Theory of a Deadman. Live music- Concerts is one of D.J. & my favorite things to do. To see the band and hear it live- the guitars, drums, lyrics-Love it!! Hearing a certain song can take me back in time. To hear some Guns N Roses or Skid Row takes me back to high school. Hearing "Live Wire" by Motley Crue takes me to Lake Powell & dancing. Quite a few songs take me to Denver at '92s- we played the jukebox all the time & had our favorites we'd play over & over- one of my favorites: Bon Jovi's "Older"- I'm not old, just older. (above picture is of me & D.J. at a Bon Jovi concert last November where we had front row center tickets- can't get any better than that! My how our life has changed!)
In 2001 we moved from Grand Jct, Colorado over to Denver & lived in Denver for 3 years. I'd like to say "Thanks" 
to the girlfriends I was lucky enough to meet in Denver. (Traci, one of my best friends from high school also lived in Denver) You guys are awesome. We had some great dinners at "OTB" & then over to '92s for a couple of beverages & listening to the jukebox! I just hear a certain song & it takes me back!! Oh, we had some good times!! I can't think about you guys without smiling. Thanks so much for keeping me company while D.J. went back to school. I should also give a shout out to "'92's" & Sandy for always keeping the nights fun. 
It was also in Denver where I started at Archiver's- The Photo Memory Store (Scrapbooking), where I met Noelle, who started as my boss & became a great friend. I appreciate everything Noelle- you are a great mentor to me & a great friend. We love & miss you guys! (Top left: Cindy Lou Hoo, Lora, Traci, T, me & Katie. Right: Sandy & D.J.- Sandy is a bartender @ 92s & she just loves D.J.! Bottom left: Noelle & me)
One month after D.J. & I were married we moved to Grand Junction, Colorado and we lived there for 3 years. During those 3 years we had some of the funnest (I know that isn't a word, but it just fits) times ever! I'd like to thank the awesome people we met while living in Colorado, I love that we still keep in touch & I hope we do forever. Some of my fondest memories come from our trips to Lake Powell-- It's just BEAUTIFUL there, waking up in the mornings on a houseboat with the water just like glass- Thanks Julie & B!! I'd really love someday if we could all take a trip there & stay on a houseboat for a week. We also loved taking motorcycle rides up thru the mountains with Brook & Shonna... it's always more fun to go on a ride with other people & I love trying to look tough with Shonna!
I have to say I feel that I have been blessed with the best girlfriends throughout my life. I have been very lucky to meet some great people through the years. But, some of my best friends have honestly been my best friends forever--from grade school. Yes, grade school and I mean kindergarten! I think that is a rare treat & I'm very grateful for their friendship. I have always said it was one of the best things about living in a small town & going to a small school. 
You meet 
Yeah, we're moving up..... we tried some baby rice cereal for the first time today & I have to say I think everything went great! Here is everyone ready to go with bibs on! We don't have high chairs yet, so we put them in their car seats & sat them on the table. 
Austen did a great job- just exactly what we expected. He's been looking like he's ready for more than just his bottle. Here, he's giggling more than eating! 
Caitlen, was the surprise of the morning, she did a great job! Caitlen has quite a long tongue & likes to play with her tongue, so we weren't sure if she'd get anything down to her tummy, but she did great!! Probably got the most cereal actually eaten. She's ready for another bite. 
Brooklen, was a riot, she made the sour face with each bite. Looks like we are playing more than eating, but that's what makes it fun!
Then later in the afternoon D.J. took some pictures of the kids playing. In the picture above you can almost hear Austen giggling. The picture to the left: look how great they are doing pushing themselves up, soon they'll be on the move, crawling all over! We'll really be in trouble when they figure out they have us out numbered!
Coke collection. It started with just a few items around my bedroom, then when I got my own home... first it was in Cedar Rapids where we decorated a dining room (not a formal dining room, of course). Boy, was that fun to just decorate a whole room with my Coke stuff! Then when we were in Grand Jct, Colorado I decorated my kitchen, it was also in my kitchen in our rental home in Denver. When we bought a house in Denver we moved all the Coke stuff up to the spare bedroom. Here in West Des Moines it remained in the spare bedroom until just a couple of weeks ago.... now it is all in boxes! Yes, it's all in boxes, the "Coke" bedroom will become the "girls" room. My Coke collection will have to remain packed up until we can refinish the basement and then I can redecorate the basement with Coke! Coke Lore: Most people can agree on what Santa Clause looks like--- jolly, with a red suit and a white beard. But he did not always look that way, and Coca-Cola advertising actually helped shape this modern day image of Santa.
I love the smell of Johnson's Baby Lotion. I have always liked the smell, but now I just love it! I love how my babies smell after a bath! I'm sure it's a scent that from now on will remind me of when my babies were babies, so I'm trying to enjoy every minute! I usually dislike most of bath night- it's kind of difficult with 3 babies- I usually undress the 1st baby, hand the 1st naked baby to D.J. who washes him up, in the meantime I undress the 2nd baby & entertain the 3rd, then I get the 1st baby, dry him off, hand the 2nd naked baby to D.J., undress the 3rd baby & lotion up & dress the 1st baby. Then get the 2nd baby from the bath, hand D.J. the 3rd naked baby, dry, lotion & dress the 2nd, then get the 3rd baby, dry, lotion her up & dress her! 
Well, last night instead of dressing them right away we let them lay around naked- oh, they were so cute I had to get a couple of pictures, but of course by the time I got the camera Brooklen was ready to be dressed & eat.
Today, I'd like to say THANKS to Kim & Jenni- I love you guys!! Now, if you would have asked me when I was in high school what I thought of having 2 sisters I may have had a different answer- No, just kidding. We didn't always get along, but we always had each other backs! We'd share (steal) each others clothes, we'd go places together, sometimes we'd pick at each other and the best part is we were always there to share in a secret. I feel so lucky to have 2 sisters, I think a sister bond is very close. When I lived in Colorado it was hard not to be able to see my sisters
whenever I wanted to, but we did talk on the phone a lot- & sometimes about absolutely nothing! I love knowing if I have a bad day or if I have a great day, I can call one of them to cheer me up or share the news. When I found out I was having triplets I was thrilled to know there was 1 boy & 2 girls (if I could have picked that is exactly what I would have picked). We got a both sexes and my girls have a sister! I hope my girls relationship with each other is as strong as my relationships with my sisters.
I'm grateful for such great In-Laws. There are such horrible stories about In-Laws, Monster-in-Laws... boy, did I get lucky! I get along very well with Sharon (my mother-in-law). She has been so great to me & D.J. and she is a wonderful Nanna!! I have always enjoyed how much Sharon and my mom (Linda) get along, they would travel out to Colorado together by train or by car. It was so nice they had someone to travel with & we'd get to see both moms. I'm also very grateful for all she did when I was on bedrest. She came down and cooked, cleaned, whatever we needed- THANKS!! Now, that the babies are here, she just absolutely adores them. I also get along with my father-in-law, Jon. He is a very generous man to his family and I know he loves his grandchildren.
o-o-o- ...ice cold milk & an Oreo cookie, they forever go together, what a classic combination, when the dark delicious cookie meets an icy cold sensation, like the one & only creamy, crunchy chocolate, O-R-E-O. I love Oreo Cookies! They have always been one of my favorite treats. I love to dunk them in milk, I love them crushed in my ice cream, I love Oreos! My extra special treat....
I really love around the holidays when they come out with their special White Fudge Oreos- ohhhh, they are just delicious!
Here's my mom (Grandma K) talking with Austen (sorry, I'm such a bad picture taker sometimes that all the pics of Grandma K with all the trips are blurry- sorry!!). I'm so grateful for my mom, she is such an awesome person. She has truly always been there for me. I know I wasn't the best teenager, but who was? Even as a teenager we had a good relationship. I did tell her most things & she always knew where I was and I'm sure she had a good idea what I was up to. Throughout the years our relationship has grown. I truly think of my mom as a best friend. I love to shop, go out for dinner, just hang out and talk with her. It was hard when I were living in Colorado, living so far away, but one thing I loved was our visits-- she'd come visit for a week or we would come home for a week & we'd actually spend almost every waking minute together- I loved it! Now, I love living closer (& wouldn't mind being even closer!) She came over to help out when I was put on bedrest with my pregnancy, she cleaned, cooked, took me to the doctor and kept me company- THANK YOU! Now, I'm a mother and I feel the unconditional love for my children, a love I reciprocate to my mom. I can only hope I can follow in her footsteps and be a Great Mom!! Mom I love you & am so grateful for you! Thank you for always being there for me!
Day #8
I love Christmas music- it just puts me in a good mood. Yesterday, (November 6th) I was on my way home from seeing my mom & sisters... by the way it was the first time all 8 of our kids were together- it was great. I'll post a picture as soon as I get one. Anyway, on my way home I came across a radio station out of Cedar Rapids http://www.kdat.com/ that is playing Christmas Songs already!! Yeah- I think I could listen to Christmas music all year around. Let's see the count down is on, there is only 47 shopping days until Christmas! The picture is of my favorite Christmas Album ever- yes, album. It's by the Caroleers, we used to listen to it all the time when we were little & wore out the album. The songs are silly little Christmas songs that no one else has ever even heard of, but we love them! My sister, Kim, was able to purchase a copy of the album on ebay a couple of years ago that was in much better shape than our old one & she had it copied onto a CD. I love to listen to it & reminisce of old holiday memories. Now my kids will be able to sing my silly Christmas songs too.
I love Starbuck's Chai Tea! Ok, here is my order: Venti Iced Chai, skinny, lite ice with 8 pumps of chai. Oh it is soooo good. I went to the Starbucks website to help me explain how good it is and this is what I found: Tazo® Chai: An exotic, spicy blend of robust, full-flavored black teas and Madagascar vanilla. Doesn't that just sound delicious? It ddefinitelyis my guilty pleasure- guilty mostly because it costs $3.60, how can a beverage cost so much, but it's worth it! It's my pick me up with a little caffeine. It's funny how a nice beverage can make you so happy. So today- November 3rd I'm grateful for Starbucks Chai Tea Latte, for Starbucks to serve something to us non coffee drinkers!
Today I'm grateful for Laura's blog, for giving me this wonderful idea & for reminding me to be thankful everyday! To give you a little background Laura is currently a mother of one, soon to be mother of two! She is one of the most positive people I know, I truly feel I am a better person for having known her. She was a wonderful staff at Archiver's while I was lucky enough to have managed the store here in West Des Moines. Laura & her husband, Ben and daughter Emilie currently live in New York. If you get a chance please visit Laura's blog: http://www.thesimplethings.typepad.com/ she is a great blogger! Thanks Laura!! I'd like to add I'm thankful for blogs- it's a great way to keep in touch with friends far away & friends close. Love to see everyone's pictures & read about what's going on. Keeps everyone in touch!
