Day #14
Sisters
I am so grateful for my sisters! 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.

Day #13
Target
I love Target. I can just wander around the store for hours. The Super Targets are great. I'm not sure what I think about so many stores going "super". I did like it when each place had it's own purpose... you got gas at a gas station, you got your groceries at a grocery store & you got all your other essentials at Target, but I have to admit- I do get my groceries at Target, it's just easier. And now with 3 babies & Target just around the corner... we get most things at Target. When I was on bedrest this was one place I missed going! D.J. actually took me out twice while I was on strict bedrest & pushed me around in the wheelchair for about 30 minutes- one just to get me out of the house a bit & two because I missed Target! We wandered around and picked out a few items for the babies. Our Super Target is just down the road... we can take a back road & by walking, be there in 20 minutes. When the weather was nice out we'd walk with the trips to Target on a Saturday or Sunday morning to grab a Starbucks & a bagel, and we'd get our morning little pick me up & get some fresh air.

Day #12
In-Laws
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.

Day #11
Oreo Cookies

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!

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.