Say What?

Me: "Faith, you want to go help us pick out a toilet?!"
Faith: "Yeah! I want a purple one!"

Faith: "Mom, we have a bad, bad, wild baby."

Me (talking to Gabby): "You're such a big girl!"
Faith: "No, she's not. She's a little baby."

Me: "Whoohoo! Go Cyclones!"
Faith: "Mooommm! The barbies are sleeping!"

Me: "Ouch, Faith, you smashed my finger."
Faith: "No, I smashed your whole hand."

Faith: "I'm gonna splash ya!"
Me: "No, Faith, don't splash."
(splash)
Faith: "Told ya!"

Faith: "Broccoli is my favorite fruit!"

Faith: "Fruity pops make me happy..and friendly!"

Me (to Rob): "Why did you give Faith such a big scoop of ice cream?"
Faith: "Daddy gave me a big scoop because I'm growing up."
Noooooo! Say it ain't so!
 

Why I Owe My Dog A Couple Grand

You could call me a forgetful person. I lose my keys about 7 times a day. You could also call me unorganized. My car is reminiscent of the houses on Hoarders. Last but not least, you could call me frazzled. I'm usually running late and have an "am I wearing pants?" look on my face.

But I'm not irresponsible. Except for the time I accidentally threw my debit card in the trash. Or the time I drove away with my iPhone on the roof of my car. Or the time I left my purse in my seat at a basketball game (In my defense, I was drunk for the last one....wait, does that make it worse?)

So maybe I am irresponsible. That's why it was really no surprise when I looked down at my hand last Sunday afternoon and saw this:

OMYGODMYDIAMONDISGONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sheer panic. Then sheer relief. We had a lifetime warranty. Back to dread: the place where Rob bought it closed last year. A return to relief: we have insurance on it. But that's if the whole ring is lost or stolen. It was an emotional roller coaster made worse by a 3-year-old who claimed "I found it" four different times only to come up empty-handed all four times. (Let's hope she never plays BINGO!)

We searched our floor, but figured it could be anywhere as I'd been to church and a basketball game earlier that day (and remembered to take my purse with me this time thankyouverymuch.) I thought it may have fallen out when I carried Bernie Jr. back to the car.

30 pounds of dead weight!

Basically, I resigned myself to the fact it was probably long gone.

For some weird reason, I never cried, which is very unlike a girl who tears up at the end of every Modern Family episode. It may have been because the baby was sick and I didn't have the energy or maybe I was secretly happy for once it wasn't my fault something had gone missing (see above).

That diamond is special to me, for reasons I plan to blog about later this month. The thought of replacing it sickened me, so I did what any normal person would do: ignored the situation. I didn't call our insurance company. I didn't research how to get it replaced. I did a whole lotta nothing.

Fast forward to Tuesday (yes, pretend my life is on DVR) and there I was playing with the babe, when Howie brought me a toy. Seriously, Howie...cancha see I'm busy. But I did as I always do for the pup who doesn't get enough attention anymore, I indulged him. I grabbed the stuffed turtle and threw it. Then I looked down and there it was, gleaming at me from the carpet. My diamond. Howie had pointed me right to it.

I screamed in delight and woke up my husband, who was equally excited, but more so because he wouldn't have to buy a replacement. The whole family did the happy dance. Yes, Howie too. Rob commented how small the diamond looked when it wasn't in the ring. I pleaded the fifth ;)

It's quite possible we may have found it when we vacuumed, but judging by how often we do that, Rob probably would've already bought a replacement (which I'm sure would've been twice the size, right honey?) and we'd be nearing retirement.

Instead, thanks to Howie, I get to wear the ring, diamond and all, that I've cherished for the last 8 years. And that is why I owe my dog two thousand bucks or so. So far, he hasn't been hassling me for the cash. Hopefully he's just happy with his $50 haircut! And the fact that I haven't manage to leave him at a basketball game just yet.

Howie's "You owe me" face

Talkin' Bout My Resolutions

Ah, my favorite time of year. Resolution Time. I've made 'em for a few years now:

2011; 2012; 2013 if you care to travel back in time. And 2014 will be no different. Continuing with my tradition to make as many resolutions as the last two digits of the year could get a little ridiculous (hello, 2033) so I'm just going to list my goals, (including carry-overs from last year -- don't judge) and see how many I have. But first a progress report on last year:

1) Have a baby. And breastfeed said baby for at least 6 months or through 2013.

Check and check. 

2) Sell our house and buy a new one.

Check and check.

3) Make progress on my thesis. 

Shit and shit. I just don't make time for this at all. Put it at the top of the list for 2014!

4) Fit back into my clothes by the end of the year. Moreso than this, I want to have established an exercise routine by the end of 2013. I want to do ONE race in 2013. Maybe a warm weather one in December. (Are you hearing me, Iowa State football players?)

Apparently the Cyclones are deaf. I do fit back into my clothes and yes, I ran the Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving, but no, I do not have an established exercise routine at this point in time. Please see resolution #1 as to why.

5) Take a vacation. Outside of Iowa or Nebraska.

Does Missouri for one day count? Because we TOTALLY rocked that. Thanks, Chad and Ericka!

6) Maintain my blogs. Going for four per month both here and on the CB blog.

I managed 3 per month here at Life as a Lindquist. The CB blog totally went on maternity leave with me. I'll shoot for four a month again next year on this blog, but realistically, two a month is probably reasonable for CB.

7) Last year, I resolved to read 12 books. Let's go with 13 for the coming year. 

Check please!

The Light Between Oceans
Defending Jacob
Silver Linings Playbook

Realer Than Real
Where We Belong
Just Like Me Only Better

Attachments by Rainbow Rowell
All You Could Ask For by Mike Greenberg or Greenie of ESPN fame...really good book
HODA
Lucky Man - Michael J. Fox
Always Looking Up - MJF as well (I got lost in the biography section of the library.)
The Girls from Ames - highly recommend
7: An Experimental Mutiny Against Excess - also highly recommend

8) Learn to sew. Well, to hem, mend and sew a button on at least.
I never capitalized on my Christmas gift of lessons from mom, but there may be an opportunity to do so soon. :)

9) Scrapbook our Ireland vacation.
Aha. Ahahaha. Aahahahahahahha. No. This did not get done. I wanted to attend an all day scrapbooking event (we're talking 9 a.m.-9p.m. in which you only take breaks to eat and relieve Diet Coke) but it was held in early June when Miss Gabs was still a newbie.

10) Since I didn't read my camera manual in 2012 as I'd planned, I'll say that again, but more importantly, I want to get better about using and remembering to take our nice camera.
Nope. Damnit, I suck. I'm going to change this one, because let's face it, the idea of reading an entire camera manual sounds about as fun as --- nope, nothing worse than reading an entire camera manual. My new goal is to DO SOMETHING with all the pics I take. Make a photobook on Shutterfly. Print them out for frames. Blow them up for blackmail. Ya know, the usual.

11) Speaking of iPhones, my goal is to disconnect from my phone while I'm home at night, at least from the hours of 6-8 unless it rings or beeps. I hope my husband will join me in this one.
I did really well at this. You could ask Rob how he did, but he might not notice -- he's busy playing Candy Crush.

12) Plant some flowers at our new house.
Does it count if Rob did it? Yes. It totally counts.

13) Be the best wife, mother and person I can be.
Nope. But I want to keep this one every year!

So, for 2014 we have:
1) Finish that THESIS!
2) Blog, blog and blog some more.
3) Read 14 books. (Gotta have the #14 in there somewhere!)
4) Sew something. If that's a potholder with a button on it or pants with an awful hemline, then so be it. I CAN DO THIS!
5) Host a mom's scrapbooking night. If no scrapbooking gets done, host another one.
6) Make a Shutterfly book or imovie video for Gabby's first birthday. (She'll be ONE in five months!)
7) Run/Swim/Bike a triathlon. Been wanting to do this foreva!
8) Give up a biggie or a few biggies for Lent. We're talking food, $, media, etc.
(I'm crediting the Jen Hatmaker book "7" mentioned above for this one.)
9) Do the crossword puzzle in the paper every Saturday. #nerdword
10) Go on one "date" per month. A real date. An advisory council meeting catered by Hy-Vee at the local high school doesn't count, Rob ;) Note: this doesn't have to cost $!
11) Change Christmas, and birthdays. I love giving, so I get that people love to give gifts. But I am so tired of my children receiving too many toys they don't need. When Faith wanted to stop and play with the first thing she opened on her second birthday (a doll) and we had to force her to open the rest, a piece of my heart broke. I'm done with grooming my child to be a spoiled brat. Now to get everyone else on board.
12) Have a garage sale of epic proportions! See #11.
13) Pray a lot more. And teach my daughters to do the same.
14) Love my husband with all my heart. Sometimes I am his worst critic, when I should really be his best supporter. I should thank him for what he does do, rather than complain about what he doesn't. I should respond with love. Not when I feel like it, but always. When I step away from his ability to sleep in no matter what, his inability to say no to others, and his penchant for deviled eggs (just getting it out of my system), I see that he is truly a GREAT MAN and am so happy I got him for the rest of my life. Or his. (The deviled eggs may take him first.)
For the record, nothing prompted this last one, I just know it's something I really need to work on. And am hoping to do so daily in 2014.

Oh lookie, 14 resolutions for 2014. Should probably put "be less predictable" on the list for next year.

So, what are your resolutions for the new year? Anyone want to finish my thesis?