#16 - The Past 10 Years

In case you wondered if I had forgotten to mention my adorable significant other, I needed to wait to mention this HUGE gratitude until today.  You see, 10 years ago today my life was forever changed - "FOR GOOD".

10 years ago today, I married my very best friend.  I married the man of my dreams.  My check-list guy! :)

Photo by Katelyn

10 years later - we have moved and settled in Naperville, Illinois.  We have 3 beautiful, amazing children.  Patrick is finally done with school and practicing law.  I am working at my dream job.  Our lives have truly been blessed and I am still married to the man of my dreams.

What I didn't anticipate was that things would just keep getting better.  I hoped, but had no way of knowing what an amazing father Patrick would be.  I hoped, but had no way of knowing that he would be successful in the career he would pursue (at the time he was going to be a doctor.)  I also didn't know that by marrying him, I would find out who I really am - the good, the bad, and the ugly.  Patrick has allowed me to be completely myself.  He has commented that I have many layers (like an ogre or an onion) but he just gets me.  He has turned me into a city girl, but loves that there's a little country in me as well.  He makes me a better person.

There aren't words to adequately express my gratitude for Patrick.  I adore him!  I love him!

#15 - My Dad

Today, I - a mother, a wife, a grown-up - needed my Dad!  I haven't outgrown the Daddy's girl thing.  Sometimes, there is just no one else who understands me or listens or calms me like my dad does.  My mom has often said that we are clones.  I'm going to go ahead and take that one as a compliment!

He stays young by playing basketball 3 days a week.
My kids think he's a professional basketball player1

He is a great sport!  Even when he gets talked into doing crazy mountain bike trips!

My kids LOVE him.  They have never been shy around him and aren't phased my his teasing!

This past summer we were able to go out to the farm and take the kids horseback riding.  It is always fun for me to see my dad in the place that he loves.  He is a cowboy who wears dress pants to work everyday!  The saddle that the kids rode, was my Grandpa Nielson's old saddle.  It was a special day for me.

My dad is great.  There is no one in the world like him.  I'm so grateful that he's mine!

#14 - My brothers and sisters

Over the weekend, I was able to talk to each of my siblings at least once.  I am so grateful that we're friends!  My dad used say ALL.THE.TIME that friends would come and go, but family would be here forever.  Well, he was right.  These kids are amazing!  I love them!  I am grateful and proud to be their oldest, bossy sister!

This is the 6 of us after running a 10K together this summer.  I came in dead last!

2009 Family Reunion

#13 - Seasonal foods

It's no secret that I love to eat, but this particular time of the year is my favorite!  I'm grateful for a season of yummy food!  Although it would be nice to have them around all year, it is a treat to look forward to things like honeycrisp apples, pomegranates, clementines, every kind of pumpkin dessert that can be made, oranges - mmmmm, YUM!

#12 - Katelyn

On November 12th, Katelyn and I were able to have a girl's day!  We went to downtown Chicago to the play Pinkalicious.  We went to American Girl, the Disney Store, and Ed Debevics for lunch.  What a fun day for us!

Katelyn is at such a fun age.  She is a great little reader and LOVES school.  She also loves her friends and playing soccer.

Katelyn is a wonderful big sister and I'm so grateful to have her for my oldest and only daughter.  There's a lot of personality in that six-year-old girl.  I'm excited to continue to watch her grow!

#11 - Veteran's Day

Today I think it's appropriate to be grateful for the freedoms we have and the Veteran's who have protected them.

My cute Grandpa was a Veteran.  He was proud to be a Veteran and even though I know little of what he actually did in the war, I was always proud of him.

#10 - Jake aka Kellen Moore

My list of gratitudes are in no particular order of course, but today I'm grateful for my little Jake.  When Jake was born he was so sweet and calm in the hospital that a couple of the nurses joked with me and told me it would never last.  I should go find those nurses and introduce them to my sweet 3-year-old Jake.  He is such a blessing in our family.  He is often a calm between two storms.

He is currently obsessed with Boise State and Kellen Moore.  Within minutes of waking up in the morning, he is wearing his "Boise States".  He reluctantly changes into normal clothes to go to school, but promptly puts them back on when he gets home.  The other day he came swaggering into the kitchen and told me, "Mom, today you don't have to call me Kellen Moore.  You can just call me Kellen if you want to."  He's a crack up. 

Jake aka Kellen

Jake is a very sweet older brother and a very patient younger brother!

This is one of his favorite things.  His best friend "Jet".  If he could, he would ride his bike from sun up to sun down.  He's been riding a bike since he was barely 2-years-old.

 Although I'm confident that Jake loves me (he says he wants to marry me), he chooses Patrick over me whenever possible.  That's a little heartbreaking for this mom who wants to be the one to console when he's hurt, tired, or sick, but I'm also very grateful that Jake has such a wonderful dad!

What a handsome little stud!

#9 - Good Teachers

Tonight I was able to meet with Katelyn and Jake's school teachers for Parent/Teacher conference.  Wow!  Have we ever been blessed this year!  Having my little ones leave my home everyday and entrusting them to care of others is something I struggle with and will probably struggle with their entire lives!  I still find myself getting a little choked up on occasion as I watch them walk away from me.  However, after tonight I am SO grateful and very confident that my children have loving, kind, and compassionate teachers who genuinely care about them.  Whew!  That takes a huge load off of this over protective mother!

 Katelyn is is 1st grade and absolutely adores Mrs. Tamburinno.  She is doing really well and turning into a great little reader.  She also loves art and PE.

Jake is in preschool at the Indian Prairie School District program.  I was a little unsure of how he would do, but he loves it.  He also adores his teacher, Miss Hollenbeck.  The funniest thing about Jake right now is that he is pickier about what he wears to school than Katelyn.  Every day - jeans, short sleeve t-shirt, hooded sweatshirt, and Puma socks.  What a kid!

#8 - Ty Baby

Just 18 months ago, we added Ty Bradley to our crazy, amazing lives.  I can't pretend the addition of #3 didn't make our lives crazier.  It was quite an adjustment to add #3, but it has been well worth it! 

I think he was born knowing he was the youngest.  He milks it for all it's worth!

He's silly and playful

adventurous and LOVES being outside

and doesn't like to be left out of anything

and mischievous

and really handsome

and despite tormenting his older brother from time to time, he's a great friend

and he has completely melted me.

He gives lots of hugs and kisses, has huge dimples when he smiles, and jabbers constantly.

Not a single minute of the day goes by that I'm not grateful for this special little guy that fills my days (and sometimes my nights) with love.

#7 - Sleep!

Tonight I'm grateful for sleep!  Grateful for my bed, my down comforter, and especially for the times my kids sleep through the night!

I really should do it more!

Good night!

#6 - Patrick's parents

In my list of gratitudes, I would certainly be amiss if I didn't express gratitude for Patrick's parents.  Their support and generosity has had an overwhelming effect on the way we live.  They have been so supportive and encouraging in the career path Patrick has chosen and have helped us in so many ways.  They are diligent in making an effort to come to Chicago to visit us a couple of times a year and they are always up for an adventure when they come.

Here's some highlights from their most recent visit!

See what I mean!  A camel ride in downtown Chicago!

Grandma and Ty on a pony ride

Katelyn was the only other brave enough to ride the camel. 

Grandpa Pocock made sure the kids were decked out in the appropriate USC attire for the weekend.

Katelyn was more than willing to be a USC fan and was cheering very loudly in the middle of the Notre Dame crowd.

All the fun aside, I'm very grateful that they raised a son who has become an amazing husband and father.  I am forever grateful!

#5 - Groupon

No, really!  I can be grateful for Groupon!  Groupon has actually changed my life.  It has allowed such things as a visit from Molly Maids, trying out new sushi restaurants, a purse shopping trip with the Nielson ladies, and even laser hair removal (sshhhh, don't tell)!

I actually love finding great deals on Groupon, but especially when they allow us to try out new things and force us to do things we wouldn't have otherwise done.

Recently Groupon took the kids and me to a local miniature golf venue that we had talked forever about trying.  We had a fantastic time!  Thanks Groupon! :)

 Cute Jake took it pretty seriously and even helped me on each hole by hitting my ball in as soon as it was close enough.

 

Katelyn always has a pose.  She actually played well and took great care to keep track of her score.

Don't count Ty out!  He was a trooper!

Another fun Groupon outing was taking the kids to a Hibachi grill restaurant called Shinto.  The kids loved watching the "show" of it and even really loved the food. 

Katelyn enjoying her rice and trying out her chopsticks.

#4 - Minivan

After a particularly crazy day, I was having a hard time deciding what stood out to me as something I was grateful for.  Don't get me wrong, I have TONS to be grateful for.  I just didn't feel passionate about posting about anything.

Then it hit me!  I grew up swearing I would never drive one!  I married Patrick making him promise me I would never have to drive one!  Now after 5 years of understanding what true luxury really is, I am in love with my minivan!  I spent more time in it today than I spent in my house!  I'm pretty sure a woman invented the Honda Odyssey.

One of the places the minivan went today was to take this cutie to her first day of indoor soccer.

This is a picture of her with Coach Sue from her fall season of soccer.

#3 - Music

Today it hit me over and over how grateful I am for music and the love of music that has been instilled into who I am.

I started thinking about it today while I was innocently sweeping my kitchen floor.  Katelyn and Jake were at school, Ty was napping, my house was calm and still except for me scurrying around trying to get my cleaning done in my two free hours.  This song came on my iPod (you must listen!):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OHfSaPse0jY

There is something about this song that makes me teary eyed every time I listen to it.  It made me just stop in my tracks today and remember that all the dried leaves that had been tracked in, all the toys that were cluttered around, and all of the laundry that needed folded was largely in part to my three little butterflies.  Somehow it didn't seem like such a chore anymore.

When I went to pick Jake up from preschool, the song "Thank God for Kids" by the Oak Ridge Boys came on the radio.  Are you serious?  I grew up listening to that song and hadn't heard it in years!  It reminded me that my mom always has music playing throughout her house and I have followed in her footsteps.  That song is on an old Oak Ridge Boys Christmas album so I was also reminded that listening to Christmas music is right around the corner.

I spent the afternoon teaching piano lessons and thought again about what a gift the piano has been in my life.  I am grateful for the years of lessons that my parents made great sacrifices to pay for.  I even remember my mom sewing Barbie doll clothes to earn money to buy our piano.  It has been the greatest gift they have ever given me.

Tonight as I was trying to hurry Katelyn to get ready for bed, she asked me not to interrupt her concert. She was singing so loudly in the shower that I thought she was going to pass out.  I love that she still "sings like no one is listening".  I hope she never grows out of it!

Here's one of her latest performances!

30 Days of Gratitude (& trying the blogging world again!)

After only a year and a half of absence, I'm going to try this blogging thing out again. Imagine how flattered I was when I ran into someone who I adore and haven't seen in at least a decade (you know who you are, Jeanette Weaver) this summer and found out that she had been checking my blog and didn't even know I had 3 kids. I told myself right then that I would get back to blogging and here I am. How did it get to be November already?

I thought it would be a good way to get back into blogging by having a goal, SO. . . I'm going to try to document my 30 days of gratitude.

#1 - Sunshine

Today I'm grateful for sunshine. It was unseasonably warm today and the kiddos and I enjoyed a nice afternoon at the park. Sunshine makes me a better person! I smile easier and complain less when I can see the sun. Kind of makes me wonder why I live in Chicago, but for right now I'm going to soak in this beautiful fall and its sunny days!

#2 - My Dear Mother

Today one of my friends suddenly lost her mother who was way too young. It made me remember that life is short and unpredictable and I have taken my own mother for granted.  I think it took becoming a mother myself to fully appreciate the sacrifices she has been making for the past 34 years!  In fact, my mom and I are closer now than we probably ever have been.  Living so far away has only made me appreciate her more.  I talk to her at least once (ok, maybe twice - or multiple times) a day and have been known to panic like a school child who left her lunch at home when I can't get a hold of her.

I'm grateful for a mother who is who she is and makes no apologies for it! She is full of life, creativity, kindness, energy, spunk, and generosity. I love that she stays young by golfing as much as she can. I love that she is humble enough to take nothing for granted. I love that she loves my dad. I love that she raised us to be independent.  I love that she loves birthdays and Christmas and makes them special.  I could go on and on.

As much as I love the mother that she is, I have been completely overwhelmed by the grandma she is. My kids are truly blessed to have her as a grandma!

WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR GRANDMA LAURIE!