I usually reserve my 24 things posts for Faith's big milestones, but her 17th-month birthday landed on Thanksgiving, so I thought I'd make a list of 24 things I'm thankful for this year. I would love to post a picture with each thing, but I need to save some photos for the big 24 things post on Faith's 18-month marker, also known as Christmas Eve. And away we go...
1) a healthy baby. plain and simple.
2) my husband, who is secure enough in his manhood to enjoy crafty Christmas decorations, black Friday shopping and a dog who wears sweaters.
3) a mom who I can only hope to turn into someday. The woman is a Thanksgiving goddess.
4) ISU friends who are willing to arrive at a game 6 hours early even if we are picked to lose by 30 points (Kaylee and Eric) and rush the field with us like we're college kids (Summer and Luke).
5) best friends from high school who will always be best friends no matter how much time passes and the distance between us.
6) in-laws who accept me with welcoming arms into their family and are easy to get along with...just don't try to compete with grandma's yams. :)
7) Faith's expressions. The girl can grin, scowl, act surprised, play shy and light up the room with the smile in her eyes, but my favorite one is just her look that says "I'm OK, mom" when I need a little reassurance that I'm not a total screwup at this whole parenting thing.
8) a dad and stepdad who love my daughter like she is their own.
9) my job. I come up with fun things to post on Facebook and Twitter and get paid for it. Pretty soon I'll be paid to blog for UNMC. You don't even know how thrilled this makes me.
10) my health. Remind me of this next time I need motivation to go for a training run.
11) Howie's personality. You never know what you're gonna get with a dog, but we got a personable one. I trust him with children of any age, too.
12) Not that we're rich, but I'm thankful we don't have to worry about money. Or putting food on the table.
13) For the belief in God that was instilled in me from a young age. I love knowing there's something for us all beyond this life.
14) Where we live. There's nothing like being close to family for more than just the holidays.
15) My sisters and stepmom. Talk about some of the most caring, kind people you know.
16) Daycare. This one might seem weird, and maybe it's a little bittersweet, but I'm really happy with how Faith is learning new things each day and how she gets along well with other babes.
17) my Nikon. I can't wait to capture more of Faith's future memories with pictures that will do them justice.
18) Paul Rhoads. He's the only reason I maybe be going on vacation this year. Thank you bowl game.
19) my past. Sure, I'd change a few things, but I've loved my journey up to this point and can't wait to see where the path leads.
20) Technology. I love that I know what so many others are thankful for this year solely because of Facebook.
21) Country music. It's not for everyone, but Lady A, Sugarland, Zac Brown and Mr. Garth just speak to me.
22) everyone I should have mentioned but didn't because I don't do my best work after 8 p.m.
23) The fact that I'm a mom to a human being I helped create. How freakin' cool is that.
24) The Native Americans and Pilgrims. Without em, I might not be typing this "Thanksgiving" post.
What are you thankful for?
We Were There
And that, my friends, is why they play the game. Because on paper, Iowa State is a 27-point underdog to #2, undefeated Oklahoma State. But paper doesn't account for a Friday night game on ESPN. Paper doesn't account for needing that sixth win to become bowl eligible. Paper doesn't account for a stadium filled with fans armed with gold "terrible" towels.
Going into Friday night's game, I thought the setting just might be wacky enough for a Cyclone victory. Sometimes you just have that feeling. It's one of confidence in your team and being an Iowa State football fan, it's not exactly a familiar feeling I get at Jack Trice.
If you saw the game, Iowa State dug themselves a hole of 17 points. But it never felt like 17 points and slowly but surely, the Cyclones stormed back to tie the game. Credit "Sandstorm" for about half of those points. It made the crowd go nuts and by that I mean Rob Lindquist broke out his air glowsticks.
(Damn me for not taking a picture of this).
By now you probably heard Iowa State won in double OT.
Let me put that in perspective for you.
Earlier this year we took Faith to the Texas game in Ames. Let's just say our corndogs were the highlight of her first time in section 18.
We left at halftime because even if the Longhorns had left for Austin, the Cyclones could not have scored enough points to win. It was fugly, as it sometimes is for our beloved cardinal and gold.
Despite being on the losing end of many an Iowa State football game, Rob and I still chose to get season tickets every year. We enjoy tailgating with our crew whether it be a game of bags, giant Jenga or the occasional Flip Cup that we are too old for never gets old.
But it's not all about what happens in the parking lots. As the loud dude on the big screen always says during a third quarter timeout, "We love Ames, Iowa and WE. LOVE. THE CYCLONES!"
We went to school for four years at Iowa State. It holds a special place in our hearts. Hell, even my license plate says 05CLONE. Not only do we owe our family to that place, but most of our best friends in the world graduated from there too, so they understand how big of a deal Friday's win is for us. There is NOTHING like cheering for your alma mater. Especially when they upset a team they weren't supposed to and especially when something like that happens for the FIRST TIME IN SCHOOL HISTORY. I liken it to the UNI victory over Kansas during March Madness in 2010.
The pride in our team was so overwhelming that when the clock struck 0:00 fans young and old, short (me) and tall (Luke) bounded down the bleachers, hopped over the wall and ran onto the field to celebrate and scream our hearts out.
The chorus of "Sweet Caroline" echoed around the place. It was 11 o'clock at night, but no one cared about sleep right then. The smiles from the crowd on the field could've been featured in one giant Delta Dental ad. Eyes were glued to the screen waiting for a Paul Rhoads speech. No one wanted to leave. It was definitely a "life on pause" moment for me.
Warning: REALLY bad, annoying singing by yours truly. And that's being nice.
The victory is one I won't ever forget. I can't wait to tell Faith the story of the time the Cyclones beat Oklahoma State on a crazy Friday night in my favorite college town. Hopefully she'll realize that I'm SO PROUD to be a Cyclone.
I wanna close by acknowledging the most important thing about the game on Friday: the moment of silence for the two women's basketball coaches killed in an airplane crash. When I heard the news, it made me sick to my stomach. How awful for those families, their players and the rest of the Okie State community. I know how much it would have affected our football team if we lost one of my favorite coaches of all time, Bill Fennely, the Cyclone women's b-ball coach. While I am happy my Cyclones won, when I was watching the game the next night on our DVR, it made me want to cheer for the other team, so they could have something to smile about. It sucks their national title hopes were dashed, but that is insignificant compared to the difficulty Oklahoma State faces as the other coaches and players of the women's basketball team pick up the pieces. An Iowa State fan's sign said it well, "Our Thoughts Are With Stillwater." And our hearts go out to the Cowboys as well.
 |
| Rob's towel picture. |
 |
| My attempt at a towel picture, just as Rob bumped my arm and my phone almost went flying. |
 |
| Rob, Lukey and I had a good feeling. Summer - not so much. |
(Damn me for not taking a picture of this).
By now you probably heard Iowa State won in double OT.
 |
| In case you can't read it, it says 37 - 31. Cyclones Win! Let me repeat, CYCLONES WIN! |
Earlier this year we took Faith to the Texas game in Ames. Let's just say our corndogs were the highlight of her first time in section 18.
 |
| Seriously, the Longhorns just scored again?! says Faith. |
 |
| The game was ugly but Faith is always cute. |
 |
| And the food. Beer bread and fruit salsa. Summer's famous Monster cookies not pictured :) |
 |
| Guys and horseballs. |
 |
| You do not want to cross this angry bird at horseballs. |
 | |
| Me, Luke, Summer, Eric and Kaylee! Diehard Cyclone peeps. |
 |
| Nick and Brooke. They missed the victory, but stayed warm in Jamaica! |
We went to school for four years at Iowa State. It holds a special place in our hearts. Hell, even my license plate says 05CLONE. Not only do we owe our family to that place, but most of our best friends in the world graduated from there too, so they understand how big of a deal Friday's win is for us. There is NOTHING like cheering for your alma mater. Especially when they upset a team they weren't supposed to and especially when something like that happens for the FIRST TIME IN SCHOOL HISTORY. I liken it to the UNI victory over Kansas during March Madness in 2010.
The pride in our team was so overwhelming that when the clock struck 0:00 fans young and old, short (me) and tall (Luke) bounded down the bleachers, hopped over the wall and ran onto the field to celebrate and scream our hearts out.
The chorus of "Sweet Caroline" echoed around the place. It was 11 o'clock at night, but no one cared about sleep right then. The smiles from the crowd on the field could've been featured in one giant Delta Dental ad. Eyes were glued to the screen waiting for a Paul Rhoads speech. No one wanted to leave. It was definitely a "life on pause" moment for me.
Warning: REALLY bad, annoying singing by yours truly. And that's being nice.
The victory is one I won't ever forget. I can't wait to tell Faith the story of the time the Cyclones beat Oklahoma State on a crazy Friday night in my favorite college town. Hopefully she'll realize that I'm SO PROUD to be a Cyclone.
I wanna close by acknowledging the most important thing about the game on Friday: the moment of silence for the two women's basketball coaches killed in an airplane crash. When I heard the news, it made me sick to my stomach. How awful for those families, their players and the rest of the Okie State community. I know how much it would have affected our football team if we lost one of my favorite coaches of all time, Bill Fennely, the Cyclone women's b-ball coach. While I am happy my Cyclones won, when I was watching the game the next night on our DVR, it made me want to cheer for the other team, so they could have something to smile about. It sucks their national title hopes were dashed, but that is insignificant compared to the difficulty Oklahoma State faces as the other coaches and players of the women's basketball team pick up the pieces. An Iowa State fan's sign said it well, "Our Thoughts Are With Stillwater." And our hearts go out to the Cowboys as well.
A thank you letter...
So I was told I don't blog on here much anymore, and there is good reason: my wife is such a better blogger than me. That doesn't excuse me from writing on here, I mean, I am the one where the moniker for the title is derived from (I know, Nic's a Lindquist... but she had to meet me at ISU for the alliteration to work) so I need to be a part of it. *I just deleted a winky-smiley-face here, and I'm much happier about it.
Truth is, Nic holds up my end of a lot of deals. Especially starting yesterday: the start of my second coaching season. She's already joined the support groups (Coaches Widows), but I know that she is already doing a lot. In fact, tonight I came home to a prepared dinner, and a nekid baby. All I had to do was watch the breakfast pizza (from "scratch") to make sure it didn't burn, and watch the baby until the bathwater was ready. I know it's a lot of work to do it all, and she does it well... much better than me. I usually complain a lot more (I'm kind of a whiner sometimes). Last night was the same deal - except all I had do to was eat all of the Chinese (food, not people) left out for me.
Consider this my "Ode to my wife"... eh, that title was just used recently. How about, my "thanks". And now that it's on the interweb, it means more, right?
Oh, and blogs are always better with pictures:
~Rob
Truth is, Nic holds up my end of a lot of deals. Especially starting yesterday: the start of my second coaching season. She's already joined the support groups (Coaches Widows), but I know that she is already doing a lot. In fact, tonight I came home to a prepared dinner, and a nekid baby. All I had to do was watch the breakfast pizza (from "scratch") to make sure it didn't burn, and watch the baby until the bathwater was ready. I know it's a lot of work to do it all, and she does it well... much better than me. I usually complain a lot more (I'm kind of a whiner sometimes). Last night was the same deal - except all I had do to was eat all of the Chinese (food, not people) left out for me.
Consider this my "Ode to my wife"... eh, that title was just used recently. How about, my "thanks". And now that it's on the interweb, it means more, right?
Oh, and blogs are always better with pictures:
 | |
| My little helper and I putting up Christmas lights... yes they're up already. |
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)