We had the best night last night. Kimmee watched all three boys while Jamie and I took Lucy and Grace to Maid Rite for dinner and then to a movie..."Open Season" (which was great - I love Ashton Kutcher). We had the BEST time with the girls.
Thursday night we took the girls to the Homecoming Parade. It was a beautiful night. We wanted to get the kids out of the house and hopefully get some socializing in ourselves. Didn't run into many people we knew...most were IN the parade. But James W. saw us and helped push the triplet stroller up Iowa Avenue. What a riot! Anytime there are two guys walking side by side pushing babies...well you can't help but think they're gay. James got to experience the massive amounts of attention...mostly from all the high schoolers. We both thought that next time I'm pushing this many kids through a group of high schoolers, I'd have to have a sign or wear a shirt that says something like "Abstain - or this could be you".
I really needed encouragement on Wednesday night...and God sent it to me. Kim knocked on my door around 5 pm. She helped me feed boys and said Wednesday is her laundry night...so took some of mine home too. Sometimes I feel like these kids are a piece of cake. Sometimes I feel like God's given me more than I can handle. Usually when I feel like that - He sends in the reinforcements. I'm so thankful to Kim, and to You, God, for sending her. The small things You do show how mighty You are...how You are carrying me...how You really are there and know all. And mostly how much You love me.
Even through the toughest times, it's amazing how God is working. Donna always jokes about how I had to have triplets for us to connect. These babies have been a huge blessing to us. We love them so much. They have brought so much joy to our lives. They have also brought so many other people to our lives. People who we are falling in love with, becoming friends with, becoming part of our family. Mona, Steve & Donna, Kim, Jackie & Brad, Jean - we think you are amazing for how willing you are to give up a part of your lives EVERY SINGLE WEEK to help with ours.
And...I don't know how we'd have survived without my mom, mom and dad b., auntie Jenna & uncle Terry, and Aunt Jenny & Uncle Paul.
It is so true how it takes a village to raise a family. Or maybe it takes a family to raise our village. :) But there have been soooooo many people right there with us along the way. Andrea said Thursday night that we make it look easy. How sweet. It has been much easier than we know it could be if it wasn't for everyone who has helped.
I don't know how I got here in my blog. I wanted to just write about the great night we had last night. God just kept reminding me of everything I have to be thankful for.
Uncle Paulie is coming up to help Jamie build a fence today. I'm helping host an "Open House"/baby shower for precious Madelyn & Mindy and then off to a birthday party for my dear friend Kendall. Aunt Jenna is coming up to help watch some of the kids. Grace is crying for mommy...so the craziness begins again.
Saturday, September 30, 2006
Vaughn Rolled Over
First he rolled over "half way" when Jackie, Jean and Brad were here on Tuesday. Since then...all three boys have been rolling half way.
Yesterday when mom was watching the kids while I was at work, Grace pointed out to Grandma that Vaughn rolled over. This time he rolled from his back to his stomach.
Although I'm not sure which is more amazing...that he rolled over or that Grace pointed it out to Grandma. She knew that he had done something that he'd never done before.
Yesterday when mom was watching the kids while I was at work, Grace pointed out to Grandma that Vaughn rolled over. This time he rolled from his back to his stomach.
Although I'm not sure which is more amazing...that he rolled over or that Grace pointed it out to Grandma. She knew that he had done something that he'd never done before.
It's 7AM
Fed 2 babies
Cooked 2 Breakfast Casseroles
Made Potato Casserole - waiting to bake
Started a pork roast in the crock pot
Pumped 16 ounces of baby milk
Wrapped one baby gift
I feel like "Super Mom" today.
Cooked 2 Breakfast Casseroles
Made Potato Casserole - waiting to bake
Started a pork roast in the crock pot
Pumped 16 ounces of baby milk
Wrapped one baby gift
I feel like "Super Mom" today.
Wednesday, September 27, 2006
A Moment of Honesty
Cried on the way home from work today. Not wanting to come home to 3 hungry, crying babies and 2 demanding girls...or the dirty house, piles of laundry and the contractor who's coming over to hear about what we need him to redo. Don't want to cook supper. Just want to go home and be alone...sleep, watch tv, flip through a non-thought-provoking magazine or swing outside in the fresh autumn air.
Tuesday, September 26, 2006
Went to Davenport Friday. Panera for supper, then Sam's. Saturday - spent most of the day cleaning house and hanging with the kids. Sunday we went to Coralridge mall. Somehow we spent about 5 hours at the mall. Fed the boys there twice, ate lunch, played at Playland. Monday, took the boys to Steve & Donna's house. Took the girls to play at the riverfront park. Spent most time throwing rocks in the river. Had a great time. Nothing too exciting going on here. Teething boys, tornado girls.
Wednesday, September 20, 2006
Best Husband
While I was at mom's house, Jamie cleaned the house. This was no small task. He did laundry, dishes and cleaned the kitchen and living room while I was gone. I was amazed he could accomplish so much in such a small amount of time. It was so, so nice to come home to a semi-clean house (it would take days to get it really clean). Of course after unloading 2 bags and 1 basket of laundry, 3 totes of 6-12 month boys clothes, 2 diaper bags, and at least 6 plastic bags full of food, bottles, dirty laundry and more...well - there's a lot to do again. But it was the greatest feeling to not come home to a completely dirty house.
I love my husband and my kids love their dad. We are all so blessed to have him in our lives, leading our family.
I love my husband and my kids love their dad. We are all so blessed to have him in our lives, leading our family.
Gracie's Birthday Breakfast
Took McKenna, Lucy and Grace to McDonald's for Grace's birthday breakfast. Nana, Jamie and the boys were sleeping and I wanted to keep it that way. Girls were way to excited to sit still. It was raining out. While there, I got the pleasure of seeing Lucy teach McKenna and Grace the Pinky Dinky Doo Dance. What a treat. For the full effect, you should view Pinky Dinky Doo do her dance first. Go to this website and click on "Storybox Song" underneath "Videos".
http://www.noggin.com/shows/pinky.php
http://www.noggin.com/shows/pinky.php
Papa and Lucy
Lucy loves her Papa. And the one thing to get her to sit still - read to her.
Papa reading The Gingerbread Man
Papa reading The Gingerbread Man
Trip to the Pumpkin Patch
On Saturday (Gracie's Birthday) we all went to Kathy's Pumpkin Patch with Nana, Papa and McKenna. The biggest hits were the corn pool and the play houses. We also made Apple Gourd Birdhouses. Before the pumpkin patch, we went to Donnellson for their "Apple Daze" event. Girls rode on a train and jumped in a big bouncy thing. Ate lunch at the Wooden Pig.
Gracie loves the corn pool.
Lucy in the corn pool.
McKenna Lucy & Grace
Lincoln
McKenna and Lucy in the playhouse
McKenna making a birdhouse.
Vaughn
Didn't get many good pics of the boys...but once we started posing them EVERYONE was taking pictures of them.
Gracie loves the corn pool.
Lucy in the corn pool.
McKenna Lucy & Grace
Lincoln
McKenna and Lucy in the playhouse
McKenna making a birdhouse.
Vaughn
Didn't get many good pics of the boys...but once we started posing them EVERYONE was taking pictures of them.
4 kids
Mom took Vaughn for the night last night. I'm at her house now. It was a treat to only have 4 kids to take care of. Things were definitely easier. Lincoln and Vaughn are definitely both teething.
Every single room in my house is destroyed right now. Glad to be out of it. :)
Every single room in my house is destroyed right now. Glad to be out of it. :)
101 Things About Me
1. I am the second of six siblings. 3 boys, 3 girls. I am the oldest girl.
2. My 3 year old brother died of cancer when I was 4.
3. I have been to 4 concerts in my life. Van Halen (twice), Sting (in Spain), Prince (in Spain). The best one was Sting.
4. I love to travel.
5. I have traveled to 2 other continents (Europe & Africa).
6. I worked as a day camp counselor on a Navy Base in Rota, Spain for 3 months. It was the greatest experience of my life. It was entirely paid for and I received 12 college credits for doing it.
7. I went to Africa for a day.
8. Jamie and I tried for six years to get pregnant.
9. I have been through InVitro Fertilization 5 times.
10. The first time I had a miscarriage.
11. The second time I had my first child Lucy.
12. The third time I had two frozen embryos implanted and became pregnant with Grace.
13. The fourth time didn’t work.
14. The fifth time I got pregnant with triplet boys: Lincoln, Gavin, and Vaughn.
15. We have one frozen embryo left and plan to use it.
16. I am deathly afraid of spiders.
17. My favorite flower is the gerber daisy.
18. I love the smell of hyacinth.
19. My husband is the best man I have ever known.
20. I took 6 years of Spanish but can’t speak a complete sentence.
21. I played tennis in for four years in high school and 1 year in college.
22. I went to Catholic Schools for 12 years.
23. I became a Christian when a lady knocked on my door and asked me if I knew for sure I was going to heaven, then proceeded to tell me how I could know for sure.
24. My parents owned an ice cream business when I was young. I rode one of four ice cream wagons around town and sold ice cream bars out of it.
25. I had a paper route when I was 10.
26. In sixth grade, I used to buy bubble gum on my way to school and sell it for a profit.
27. I would love to be a teacher if I could plan on the lesson plans and activities but didn’t have to teach. :)
28. I never had a best friend until 10 years ago. She is still my best friend.
29. I am fascinated by the lives of famous people.
30. If we had twin girls we were going to name them Olive & Lucy. (We thought it was funny that it sounded like I Love Lucy.)
31. Autumn is my favorite season.
32. I met and married my husband in the spring.
33. I’ve been with him for more than half my life.
34. My favorite cuisine is Mexican…but not authetic Mexican. Tacos, Burritos, Enchiladas…anything wrapped in a hard or soft corn or flour shell.
35. I graduated from the University of Northern Iowa with a degree in Marketing and International Business.
36. I am currently working for Pearl Management Company. It's my fifth job since college.
37. I’ve worked at 3 major retail stores – Wal-Mart, K-Mart, Shopko.
38. I’ve never worked in a restaurant.
39. Singing is my favorite form of worship.
40. I love to sing and dance with my kids.
41. I am not good at it, but they think I am.
42. I love to make lists.
43. The first house I owned was on five acres of farmland.
44. Now that I have kids I wish I was still there. They would love it.
45. I believe that Jesus Christ was the son of God.
46. I believe that I will meet him someday in heaven.
47. I believe that it doesn’t matter how good of a person you are, the only way to get to heaven is through Christ.
48. I believe that even the best person is a sinner and that a sin is a sin…none are better or worse than others even though our society thinks so.
49. I know nothing about politics.
50. I work in the same building as a political non-profit organization.
51. My favorite fast food restaurant is Taco Johns.
52. I babysat a neighbor boy and girl every summer for 50 hours a week from the time I was 12 until I 20.
53. The boy I babysat is on the list of Ten Most Wanted in the city we grew up in. Not sure what for.
54. I’m still trying to discover who I am and what God’s purpose is for my life.
55. I am afraid of the dark.
56. I read billboards and business signs out loud while traveling. I think they’re interesting.
57. I am once again addicted to Days of Our Lives. I have watched it since I was a little girl with my mom.
58. If I could drive anything I wanted – it’d be a jeep.
59. I am a Capricorn.
60. I am afraid of heights. Not only of being up high, but of being on the ground looking up at tall buildings.
61. I like to fly.
62. I love it when it rains.
63. I like to walk around big cities at night.
64. I can’t cook but love home made food.
65. My favorite appetizer is potato skins.
66. My favorite vacations have been spent in Colorado and Hawaii.
67. I’ve swam in both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.
68. I have crossed the Straight of Gibralter.
69. Ten years ago, this is not where I would have pictured myself in ten years.
70. I am the happiest I’ve ever been in my life.
71. I like to play card games.
72. I haven’t played cards in many years.
73. I believe that pink skies are Mrs. Claus baking cookies.
74. I believe that thunder is the sound of my brother riding his big wheel in heaven.
75. I want my children to know God.
76. I worked at my parents store from 1984 until it closed in 1990.
77. In forth grade I made fake fingernails out of glue on the pencil tray of my desk.
78. When I was young, I asked for Colby Cheese for Christmas.
79. I got it for my birthday after asking for it 2 years in a row.
80. I seriously considered naming our son Colby Jack.
81. I love McDonald’s Coke.
82. I never thought I’d be a good mom.
83. I want my children to think I’m the greatest mom in the world – even after they grow up.
84. Before I had kids, I always knew I’d love them with all my heart. After having kids I realized that there is more love than your heart can hold.
85. Just the thought of how much I love my children is bringing tears to my eyes.
86. I won the school science fair when I was in 8th grade.
87. I used to play the clarinet.
88. I like to make faces in the mirror.
89. My brother and I used to give each other communion with cheese nips behind the rocker/recliner in the living room.
90. One of my favorite childhood memories is going hiking at the primitive area with my dad and brother.
91. My mom let us sleep downstairs on Friday nights. We’d watch Dukes of Hazzard (and then Dallas).
92. My favorite cartoon is The Flintstones.
93. My favorite movie is “While You Were Sleeping”.
94. My favorite actress is Sandra Bullock.
95. My favorite actor is Adam Sandler.
96. I prefer fruity candy to chocolate.
97. I love movie theater popcorn.
98. I love Christmas because it seems magical.
99. I have never read the entire bible.
100. I want to.
101. In grade school, I was in a spelling bee and came very close to winning but lost on the word bivouac.
102. I will never forget how to spell bivouac.
103. I cannot picture what heaven will look like.
104. When I try to picture God, in my head I sing the song, “I see the Lord, seated at the throne, exalted.” And I picture a gentle man sitting on a throne, looking at me with love in his eyes. I know I’m way off. But for some reason my mind always goes there.
105. I am saddened by the sin of the world.
106. If I could change one thing in the world, I would make physical abuse impossible.
107. I remember only one specific thing that my grandma said to me. She said that if everyone in the whole world said the Hail Mary at the same time, there would be world peace.
108. At the time, I thought, how hard can that be.
109. My favorite teacher in school was Mr. Reid. I thought he was fun.
110. In twelve years of religion class, I never learned that the only way to heaven is through Jesus Christ.
111. I miss some of the traditions of the Catholic church.
112. I love the smell of spring.
2. My 3 year old brother died of cancer when I was 4.
3. I have been to 4 concerts in my life. Van Halen (twice), Sting (in Spain), Prince (in Spain). The best one was Sting.
4. I love to travel.
5. I have traveled to 2 other continents (Europe & Africa).
6. I worked as a day camp counselor on a Navy Base in Rota, Spain for 3 months. It was the greatest experience of my life. It was entirely paid for and I received 12 college credits for doing it.
7. I went to Africa for a day.
8. Jamie and I tried for six years to get pregnant.
9. I have been through InVitro Fertilization 5 times.
10. The first time I had a miscarriage.
11. The second time I had my first child Lucy.
12. The third time I had two frozen embryos implanted and became pregnant with Grace.
13. The fourth time didn’t work.
14. The fifth time I got pregnant with triplet boys: Lincoln, Gavin, and Vaughn.
15. We have one frozen embryo left and plan to use it.
16. I am deathly afraid of spiders.
17. My favorite flower is the gerber daisy.
18. I love the smell of hyacinth.
19. My husband is the best man I have ever known.
20. I took 6 years of Spanish but can’t speak a complete sentence.
21. I played tennis in for four years in high school and 1 year in college.
22. I went to Catholic Schools for 12 years.
23. I became a Christian when a lady knocked on my door and asked me if I knew for sure I was going to heaven, then proceeded to tell me how I could know for sure.
24. My parents owned an ice cream business when I was young. I rode one of four ice cream wagons around town and sold ice cream bars out of it.
25. I had a paper route when I was 10.
26. In sixth grade, I used to buy bubble gum on my way to school and sell it for a profit.
27. I would love to be a teacher if I could plan on the lesson plans and activities but didn’t have to teach. :)
28. I never had a best friend until 10 years ago. She is still my best friend.
29. I am fascinated by the lives of famous people.
30. If we had twin girls we were going to name them Olive & Lucy. (We thought it was funny that it sounded like I Love Lucy.)
31. Autumn is my favorite season.
32. I met and married my husband in the spring.
33. I’ve been with him for more than half my life.
34. My favorite cuisine is Mexican…but not authetic Mexican. Tacos, Burritos, Enchiladas…anything wrapped in a hard or soft corn or flour shell.
35. I graduated from the University of Northern Iowa with a degree in Marketing and International Business.
36. I am currently working for Pearl Management Company. It's my fifth job since college.
37. I’ve worked at 3 major retail stores – Wal-Mart, K-Mart, Shopko.
38. I’ve never worked in a restaurant.
39. Singing is my favorite form of worship.
40. I love to sing and dance with my kids.
41. I am not good at it, but they think I am.
42. I love to make lists.
43. The first house I owned was on five acres of farmland.
44. Now that I have kids I wish I was still there. They would love it.
45. I believe that Jesus Christ was the son of God.
46. I believe that I will meet him someday in heaven.
47. I believe that it doesn’t matter how good of a person you are, the only way to get to heaven is through Christ.
48. I believe that even the best person is a sinner and that a sin is a sin…none are better or worse than others even though our society thinks so.
49. I know nothing about politics.
50. I work in the same building as a political non-profit organization.
51. My favorite fast food restaurant is Taco Johns.
52. I babysat a neighbor boy and girl every summer for 50 hours a week from the time I was 12 until I 20.
53. The boy I babysat is on the list of Ten Most Wanted in the city we grew up in. Not sure what for.
54. I’m still trying to discover who I am and what God’s purpose is for my life.
55. I am afraid of the dark.
56. I read billboards and business signs out loud while traveling. I think they’re interesting.
57. I am once again addicted to Days of Our Lives. I have watched it since I was a little girl with my mom.
58. If I could drive anything I wanted – it’d be a jeep.
59. I am a Capricorn.
60. I am afraid of heights. Not only of being up high, but of being on the ground looking up at tall buildings.
61. I like to fly.
62. I love it when it rains.
63. I like to walk around big cities at night.
64. I can’t cook but love home made food.
65. My favorite appetizer is potato skins.
66. My favorite vacations have been spent in Colorado and Hawaii.
67. I’ve swam in both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.
68. I have crossed the Straight of Gibralter.
69. Ten years ago, this is not where I would have pictured myself in ten years.
70. I am the happiest I’ve ever been in my life.
71. I like to play card games.
72. I haven’t played cards in many years.
73. I believe that pink skies are Mrs. Claus baking cookies.
74. I believe that thunder is the sound of my brother riding his big wheel in heaven.
75. I want my children to know God.
76. I worked at my parents store from 1984 until it closed in 1990.
77. In forth grade I made fake fingernails out of glue on the pencil tray of my desk.
78. When I was young, I asked for Colby Cheese for Christmas.
79. I got it for my birthday after asking for it 2 years in a row.
80. I seriously considered naming our son Colby Jack.
81. I love McDonald’s Coke.
82. I never thought I’d be a good mom.
83. I want my children to think I’m the greatest mom in the world – even after they grow up.
84. Before I had kids, I always knew I’d love them with all my heart. After having kids I realized that there is more love than your heart can hold.
85. Just the thought of how much I love my children is bringing tears to my eyes.
86. I won the school science fair when I was in 8th grade.
87. I used to play the clarinet.
88. I like to make faces in the mirror.
89. My brother and I used to give each other communion with cheese nips behind the rocker/recliner in the living room.
90. One of my favorite childhood memories is going hiking at the primitive area with my dad and brother.
91. My mom let us sleep downstairs on Friday nights. We’d watch Dukes of Hazzard (and then Dallas).
92. My favorite cartoon is The Flintstones.
93. My favorite movie is “While You Were Sleeping”.
94. My favorite actress is Sandra Bullock.
95. My favorite actor is Adam Sandler.
96. I prefer fruity candy to chocolate.
97. I love movie theater popcorn.
98. I love Christmas because it seems magical.
99. I have never read the entire bible.
100. I want to.
101. In grade school, I was in a spelling bee and came very close to winning but lost on the word bivouac.
102. I will never forget how to spell bivouac.
103. I cannot picture what heaven will look like.
104. When I try to picture God, in my head I sing the song, “I see the Lord, seated at the throne, exalted.” And I picture a gentle man sitting on a throne, looking at me with love in his eyes. I know I’m way off. But for some reason my mind always goes there.
105. I am saddened by the sin of the world.
106. If I could change one thing in the world, I would make physical abuse impossible.
107. I remember only one specific thing that my grandma said to me. She said that if everyone in the whole world said the Hail Mary at the same time, there would be world peace.
108. At the time, I thought, how hard can that be.
109. My favorite teacher in school was Mr. Reid. I thought he was fun.
110. In twelve years of religion class, I never learned that the only way to heaven is through Jesus Christ.
111. I miss some of the traditions of the Catholic church.
112. I love the smell of spring.
Monday, September 18, 2006
Pretty Princesses
McKenna, Lucy and Grace in the dress up princess costumes that Cousin Kristy made for them.
Saturday, September 16, 2006
Happy 2nd Birthday Gracie
Two Years Ago Today...God blessed us with a sweet angel. Daddy and I love you so much Gracie. When the nurse told me I was pregnant, Daddy and I just cried. We were so happy. You have brought so much joy to our lives. I cannot believe that you are two years already. It has gone by so quickly. Wasn't it just yesterday that you were moving inside of me?
You love to imitate your sister and take care of your brothers. You love people. You love to give hugs. You have a beautiful smile. You are a very happy little girl. You make mommy and daddy laugh a lot.
You have a special blanket that you have to sleep with. You like to get into bed by yourself by pulling out the chair and climbing onto your play table. Then you open the drawer to your dresser and crawl onto the top of your dresser and then you jump into your crib. You love to do everything yourself...you're getting so big!!!
Gracie's favorite:
Movie - Finding Nemo
Cartoon - Tom & Jerry
Song - When you're happy and you know it clap your hands
Food - Poptarts, grapes, cheese, oreo cookies
Toys - Dolls and dress up shoes
Outdoor activity - swinging and swimming
Phrase - I do it!
You love to imitate your sister and take care of your brothers. You love people. You love to give hugs. You have a beautiful smile. You are a very happy little girl. You make mommy and daddy laugh a lot.
You have a special blanket that you have to sleep with. You like to get into bed by yourself by pulling out the chair and climbing onto your play table. Then you open the drawer to your dresser and crawl onto the top of your dresser and then you jump into your crib. You love to do everything yourself...you're getting so big!!!
Gracie's favorite:
Movie - Finding Nemo
Cartoon - Tom & Jerry
Song - When you're happy and you know it clap your hands
Food - Poptarts, grapes, cheese, oreo cookies
Toys - Dolls and dress up shoes
Outdoor activity - swinging and swimming
Phrase - I do it!
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