Life In The Fast Lane

I don't want to brag or make y'all jealous of the way I live life on the edge, but thought I would share what my weekend looked like:

Saturday:
Woke up.
Rolled over.
Woke up again.
Got up.
Sat in Recliner #1 with glass of tea and a Rice Krispie treat.
An hour later, washed face and brushed teeth.
Took a break, sat on Recliner #2.
An hour later, got dressed.
Took a nap.
An hour later, feet were cold so put on slippers.
Grab a bag of Reduced Fat Kettle Cooked Lays.
Had a snack back on Recliner #1.
Had to get up and get more tea.
Exhausted, I lounge on sofa.
I think I dozed off, not sure, but if I didn't, I have blocked an hour of the Food Network from my memory.
Stepped out side and pushed a wire through the floor of the Gazebo. (Dano made me)
While I'm up I'll grab a Weight Watcher Cookies and Cream Ice Cream Bar.
Sat in Recliner # 1 again.
Become engrossed in a book and read until it's time to move to Recliner #2.
Time for dinner. Put on real clothes, combed hair and waited in Recliner #1 for Dano to get dressed.
Went out for dinner.
Came home, put left overs in fridge.
Put on jammies.
Went to Bed.

Sunday:
Woke up after Dano hit me square on the head with his elbow.
Laid on couch and seethed with anger.
Woke up.
Sat in Recliner #1 with glass of tea and bagel.
Watched a Betty Davis movie from start to finish.
Showered.
Dressed for church.
Went to church.
Went out for lunch.
Came home, changed into sweats, took a nap.
Woke up and read more of my book.
Woke up again and read more of my book.
Got dressed for evening Bible Study.
Went to Evening Bible Study.
Went out for Pizza.
Came home.
Put jammies on.
Went to bed.

It was just a blur. Just a frenzy of activity. And I enjoyed every last minute of it.

The Proper Perspective

I had a crummy day at work today. People were grouchy and argumentative. And it seems like the harder I work the less I get done.

They raised the interest rate on my credit card. If I don't use it ever again, the rate will stay the same but that means now that I have to go through all the automatic things that I have it linked to and update them. That is irritating and really makes me kind of mad.

I got a stain on one of my favorite shirts. Dang it. It's not like I have a closet full of clothes to choose from and besides I really like that shirt.

I came home and caught up on some of my favorite blogs and read this one about Stellan.

Yeah, my stuff is nothing. I'm sorry I even mentioned it.

Oh How I DON'T Miss Bowling

Last weekend when we weren't eating cake, we were eating out! Usually when the kids are home I try to cook at least once or twice but I just didn't have it in me this time. I did make Lynn Wades Amazing Cheese Soup for their Easter After Church Farewell Gotta Get On The Road Dinner and it was good and not nearly as time consuming as the typical ham, potatoes, deviled eggs, salad, two vegetable, dinner rolls and Paula Deen dessert kind of meal that I would have liked to prepare!

So it ended up that we were very International this visit.
Wednesday when Steph got here we had Fiesta Cancun. I tried the Tacos Carnita's and it is now my favorite thing there. You just can't go wrong with pork!
Thursday, Elizabeth and Rob didn't get in until later so we went to Chili's before they got here. Friday, after Chris and Kelly got in, we went to Thai Basil. I had the Shrimp and Asparagus and Mushroom Trio and I give it a big thumbs up.
Saturday, after the shower Chris wanted to try a Moroccan Bistro we have in town for his birthday dinner, but we heard some bad reviews so we opted for his second choice San Jose. I know Mexican two nights in one week, but you just can't go wrong with tacos, burritos and quesadillas. Because it was Chris' birthday he got a free dessert and of course he had to wear the obligatory sombrero and so did everyone else that sat at his booth. (We had to sit a different booths because they were so busy.)

Then after dinner, for entertainment we went bowling. Let me fill you in on the root cause of my deep seated hatred of bowling. When Dano and I started dating he was on two or three bowling leagues and either because of his deep love for me or his attempt to demonstrate his masculinity, he always wanted me there. So because I was young, in love, and wasn't old enough to drive yet, I went and sat through endless hours of strikes, spares, splits and pick-ups (bowling pins, not me!). So here I was back in the bowling gallery again. And let me just say that the bowling atmosphere has not changed one iota since the mid 1970's.

It was fun to see the kids trying out their bowling gene's that was passed on to them through their father's gene pool. So with these last pictures, we close the chapter on Easter Weekend '09. It was a fun filled weekend of Baby Showers, Birthday's, Bowling and Blessings!

Dano The Bowling Legend

Liz the Budding Bowler

Steph does the bowling dance.

Chris contemplates what color ball to use next.

Rob takes this next attempt at a spare very seriously.

This is what you do when you can't bowl, you don't have your own car, and you are in love.

Party for the Little Man

Last Saturday was Chris and Kelly's baby shower. It was given by Aunt Liz, Aunt Steph and Cousin Vicci. They did an amazing job....a "Martha Stewart Approved" kind of job. Great Job Girls!

The cake was beautiful, the decorations were adorable and the games were HARD!! But it was fun and Little Man Cantwell got so many nice things. The generosity of our friends and family always humbles me. Thank You from the bottom of my heart.

Here are a few pictures from the party...enjoy!

The Cake



The Diaper Cake
(one of four!)




The Games




Some of The Gifts

The Guests

We Are Family.....I Got All My Sisters and Me

It doesn't take much to pull all of the Cantwell women together for a party!! But throw in cake and gifts and not one of us would miss it for the world!! I will share more about the Baby Shower later in the week.

This picture is a picture of all the women from my husbands side of the family. When I see all of these smiling faces it just blows my mind at how fortunate we are. That's not to say that there hasn't been difficult circumstances in these lives because there has been. There have been some very devastating losses and some serious health concerns. There has been heartbreaks and heartaches. But in spite of the sad times, we have remained family. We have also shared an abundance of joyful times. We have celebrated graduations, marriages, births, new homes, new jobs even new landscaping! (Remember...it doesn't take more than a reason and cake for us to celebrate!)

I count it such a blessing to be included in this group of women. Their strength, courage, kindness and love has encouraged me as much as my own flesh and blood family has.

We don't see each other nearly as often as we should or would like to. But we are always in each others hearts and prayers and never more than a phone call away. I thank God for this group of Cantwell Women.

I love you girls!!

He is Risen, He is Risen Indeed!

He is risen! The tomb is empty! He Lives!!

Christmas in its miraculous splendor was only the beginning, the best was not to be realized until almost 33 years later after three days of great anguish, sorrow, pain, suffering, mourning, and hopelessness. Not until the third day when the tomb was discovered empty and the One who had come to save the world had won the battle over sin's grip on humanity was the reality of what the birth of that baby really meant to the fallen world.

It's the empty tomb that allows me to say I am forgiven. Its the empty tomb that allows me to say the debt of my sin is washed clean by the blood of the one who is no longer in the tomb. Its the empty tomb that offers the hope of salvation to every person willing to accept the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, the Risen Savior as a gift of mercy.

He lives...He is Risen....I am Saved.

I hope that today has been a blessing to you. It has for me. My children were all here this weekend and have now all gone their separate ways to their separate homes to live their separate lives. But just for a few days, they were all here together. I don't take these times for granted for one moment.

I have lots to share about all the things we got to do together, but for now I will just leave you with a picture of Easter present!!

April 11, 1980 Was A Very Good Day!

Happy Birthday
Chris!

Put on Your Easter Bonnet

Easter 1963
Me and my basket!

Easter is just a few days away. There is still time to get out and get that extra special Easter frock. I don't know if we were rich or poor when I was growing up. Didn't know if I missed out on anything that all the other kids had or not. But I do know that every Easter we were guaranteed a new Easter outfit. I even remember one my mom made for me when I was 12 or 13.

I continued that tradition when I had children. Every year Chris would get a new suit, the girls would get a new dress, a bonnet, gloves and white patent leather shoes. And of course new hair doos. The pink sponge rollers had to go in about 3:00 Saturday afternoon in order for the hair to be good and dry by Sunday School time the next morning. Oh how I miss those days. But I am sure Chris would rather die than let me pick out his Easter duds. And the hair.....my girls would tie my hands behind my back and put me down with a strong sedative before they would even let me near their hair with sponge rollers. But I am thrilled to have them all home this weekend to celebrate Easter with me. I will take them with their unmatching, non-frilly outfits. I don't even care if they don't wear bows in their hair. I will just remember them the way the were and love them for the way they are.

Easter 1955

Danny's family minus Danny---He didn't come along for another 4 months

Easter 1983
Chris and Elizabeth

Easter 1985
Still only Chris and Elizabeth

Easter 1988
Ta Da!! Chris, Elizabeth and Stephanie

Easter 1989
Will they ever forgive me?

Happy Easter to All!!

Just Doing My Part to Stimulate the Economy!

I have been a shopping maniac this week. When we first found out that my son and his wife was expecting their first baby, our first grandchild, everyone was expecting me to hit the stores and start building his wardrobe right away. But I refrained. From the results from this past week I think that was a very wise decision.

Monday I was at Babies R Us.
Tuesday I hit Target.
Wednesday I was in Kohl's (had a 30% off coupon!!).
Thursday was a trip to the mall and hit several stores there.
Friday was Walmart.
And today I went to the other Target and Kohl's.

I have requested a new debit card because the numbers on mine have been whittled down to just nubs.

I have had so much fun and wish that I could show you all the goodies I bought but I don't want Chris and Kelly to see them until the shower next weekend. I will just have to give you an idea of the amount that was purchased with this picture.



I will have lots of pictures to share after the shower.

Oh, and just so you don't think I have become selfless and turned all my Kohl's Cash over to the Little Man, I picked up a few things for myself! These are my favorites.