Day #10
My Dad
I'm grateful for my Dad. My relationship with my dad has really changed over the years. Started as a little girl who looked up to her daddy, to a teenager- when your dad just doesn't understand you and now being a parent and getting to see my dad as Grandpa Jim. It was last Christmas when my dad came to Iowa for a few weeks that I think we got close again. I loved being able to tell him in person that I was pregnant and then grateful that he was still here when we found out there were 3- the excitement he had was great! He kept in great touch with me throughout my pregnancy to make sure everything was going good with me & the babies. I really appreciated the phone calls to find out how I was feeling or how a doctor appointment went & how much the babies were weighting. He was able to come to visit and see the trips for the first time beginning of August (their actual due date). It was fun to spend time with him and to see him as Grandpa Jim. Thanks Dad, I love you!

Day #9
My Mom
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
Dairy Queen
As many of you know I love ice cream & I'm pretty plain about it... vanilla ice cream, sometimes with a couple of Oreos. One of my favorite desserts is a DQ Oreo blizzard (love the DQ soft serve). When I was pregnant I actually went out on a limb...they had a blizzard of the month: Brownie Batter Blizzard, it was creamy smooth DQ® soft serve vanilla blended with brownie chunks& brownie batter-- that sounded pretty good (I also love brownies), so one night I thought what the heck. Oh, it was so good, like the DQ website says: one irresistible taste sensation! For a couple of weeks I think I ate it daily. It was a double treat for me- if I was feeling up to it I'd hobble to the car & we'd go for a short drive to DQ, get me a Brownie Batter Blizzard & I'd be a happy camper!! Well, after the trips came home we decided one night to go out for a drive (I believe it was a Friday night, oh how my life has changed!) we drove to DQ to get me a Brownie Batter Blizzard-- they didn't have it! So, I settled for a Brownie Chunk Blizzard (vanilla soft serve with the brownie chunks minus the brownie batter). It was good, but not as good as the Brownie Batter Blizzard. The other night D.J. ran to DQ for me & guess what he came home with.... YES, a Brownie Batter Blizzard! It was delicious!! Thank you DQ for bringing back the Brownie Batter Blizzard!

Day #7
Election Day
Today is Election Day and yes, I am grateful for America & our democracy. We, as Americans, can vote and majority rules. We can actually choose who we want to run this wonderful country- America the beautiful. But really what I am grateful for is after today I won't have to watch the horrible negative advertisements or listen to the negative phone message campaigns from all the candidates running. What happened to the days of the candidates telling us about themselves, what they stand for and how they can make America better? Now all they do is bash the next guy, digging up past dirt & "mud slinging", but not telling us about themselves, we are well aware that not everyone is perfect. So today, November 7th, I'm grateful today is election day.

Day #6
Christmas Music
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.

Day #5
Indian Summer
I'm grateful for Indian Summer. I can say that I'm not really a fan of summer, I do not like to be hot.... but I think Indian Summer is really an extended Fall & I love Fall. It's the perfect time of year. It's nice out, the air is crisp, you can smell apples and pumpkins, it gets chilly in the evenings- just beautiful. It's supposed to be a great week outside! Our last chance to get outside, enjoy the beautiful weather before I have to lock these poor babies up for the winter (RSV scares me!). Hopefully, we'll be able to get outside for a couple of walks, open up the windows & let the fresh air in.

Day #4
Austen, Caitlen & Brooklen
My 3 miracles!! And true miracles they are, we are so blessed. I am so grateful for my children! It's still a little weird for me to say children. To jump from having no kids to 3 kids, will I ever get used to it? I am loving being a mom. I never thought I could be a stay at home mom, but the thought of having to leave them every morning to go to work, oh, it breaks my heart- I hope I never have to do that. All the trials I had to go through while I was pregnant were all worth it... the bedrest, the hospital stays, the shots, my enormous belly... leading to yes, even the stretch marks & the new jean size I need to get used to, all was worth these precious miracles! I also don't know how I got so lucky to have such good babies... does that mean I'm in for it at the toddler stage? They are all smiling & giggling- I just LOVE IT!! It makes me cry with joy. It is just the cutest sound I have ever heard! We were lucky enough to get Caitlen on video giggling the other day, it's hard to get it on video- I think my children are shy of the camera, we'll have to get them over that! So today, everyday, I'm so grateful for my children! My little miracles!

Day #3

Starbucks Chai Tea Latte
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!

Day #2

My Husband (picture: one of our favorite past times, riding the Harley up thru the mountains of Colorado looking at the changing leaves)

D.J. is the single greatest thing that has ever happened to me. He is such a great husband, great friend, the one I truly lean on for everything. Today I'd like to take an extra special moment to say "Thank You" to D.J. I don't think I say that enough. I am truly grateful for all that he does for me. He is so supportive in everything I do and all that is important to me. We moved to Iowa so I could follow my dream job (that I have since left to care for our adorable children!) He encourages me when I'm afraid and is there to catch me when I fall. He is a hard worker & strives to learn and do his best everyday- don't ever let anyone take that away from you! Not only is he a great husband, but he is the greatest father! He was there by my side to do anything & everything I needed throughout the pregnancy: to give me shots, make me meals, help me get up & down from the couch, sit with me at the hospital, remind me that everything was going to be all right! Do all the housework, yard work, grocery shopping- everything while I was on bedrest and unable to do so much. I was thrilled to give him the greatest father's day gift ever- 3 babies!! Once they came home he has shared in everything, from midnight feeding to changing diapers, feedings, changing diapers, feedings, changing diapers- feels like that is all we do some days! He'll stay home with the kids in the evenings so I can go scrapbook & sit and talk with my friends. He is so great with the kids. I love to watch him with them, I love how they look at him. You know they say the first person a girl falls in love with is her father- my girls are so lucky!

Thank you D.J. for all that you do! I am grateful everyday for you!

I love you with all my heart & soul- Forever!

"Things I'm Grateful For"
November houses one of the great holidays of the year, yet a holiday that I think gets almost overlooked. It's stuck between the 2 most awesome holidays: Halloween & Christmas! But Thanksgiving- it's a time to be thankful for all we have, it's a time for family get togethers, great food & football!! But it's almost forgotten about, so to help remind myself of all the things I'm grateful for, during the month of November I am going to post a daily "Things I'm Grateful For" (ok, I'm going to try to post daily) Some of the days will be things I am truly grateful for & some days it'll be things that make me happy...sometimes it's the little things in life. I am bloglifting this... is that even a word? Bloglifting... well, I'm borrowing the idea from a fellow blogger- Laura Barlow. Now I need to begin by stating that "Things I'm Grateful For" is in no particular order!

Day#1
Laura's blog
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!