It’s the weekend and I must get my ten things of thankfuls posted – I don’t need to tell you all how I did not post them last week, you know why, because I was really busy getting ready for my guests on Easter Sunday – but that is not the real reason, because I am always busy.
Therefore, this is what happened:
I took three vacation days; Thursday, Friday, and Monday and boy did I need them.
Vacation days – first thankful…
On Thursday, the kids and I went out to lunch with my sisters and their cousins – then we went to Old Navy for Easter Sunday Outfits … don’t judge, it was near the restaurant.
They’re cute; right?
Then I took them ice skating where we met a friend and her son – they had fun.
On Friday – I cleaned the house and the kids did too ( they helped)
My second thankful – my kids help out around the house and do all their chores all the time.
On Saturday I did the food shop and ran errands – somehow the Easter Bunny showed up and left these for a couple of teens, the rope was for Teddy.
How clever is that Easter bunny – all of his baskets every year were actually something that can be used – this year Mets baseball caps.
Let’s go Mets!
Thankful Three – Clever Easter Bunny, and Easter baskets.
On Easter Sunday, I made a very simple dinner (ha!).
On the menu was a killer antipasto platter that my sister brought to the house. The best lasagna from my mom and my dad contributed fried artichokes.
I cooked a prime rib roast, roasted potatoes with two salads – first salad was romaine lettuce with pears, roasted walnuts, dried cranberries, and gorgonzola cheese with light honey red wine vinegar vinaigrette. The second salad was a tribute to springtime; a pea and carrot salad drizzled lightly with lemon vinaigrette.
Pea & Carrot Salad – Fried Artichokes
Finally, the desserts were made by our very own Mimi – my sister’s mother-in-law, she made her famous pound cake, rocking brownies, and a gorgeous marble pound cake… (Sorry no pictures.)
Seems like I had a lot to be thankful for and really no excuses of not submitting my thankfuls last week except that when everyone left; both Nick and I started to clean up, once we were done we sat on the couch and it was over, I fell asleep there until I had to go to bed.
Fourth thankful – my guests contributing to our Easter feast – everything was delicious and as always, they go way beyond what they should, you are all the best!
Now because I missed last week there is one thankful that I need to get in and even though it happened two weeks ago, I have to include it.
Two Sundays ago, it was the last CYO basketball game for the season, and although on the Friday before that Sunday, Amelia’s team played and won against the first place team they still needed to play another game.
Do you remember how I wrote that Amelia reminded me of Sue Heck a few weeks back? – It’s because this child does not have a game face and is always smiling. However, in the last part of the season she started coming out of her shell, trying to get the ball, make the baskets, and call out to her teammates that she was open; yet with all her efforts, she did not make the baskets, or get possession of the ball. She didn’t think of it as a negative thing but somehow it uplifted her because she knew she was becoming more involved and comfortable on the court. Then it happened.
Two Sundays ago with 45 seconds on the clock her team was losing by two, she gets hit which results in two free shots, not a sound in that auditorium, yet they all knew she was not the star player, so what can happen. Dribble, dribble – shoot, the ball hits the rim and in it goes- second shot dribble, dribble – shoot all net she just tied the score – another teammate gets the ball, shoots they just won the game and made first place.
Thankful five- is that Amelia did something that made her feel good about herself. – If she didn’t get the baskets in, it still would be okay, really, truly okay. I was not proud of my daughter because she helped get her basketball team in first place– I was just happy for her because she was happy and proud.
Thankful Six – goes to Amelia again last week during dinner she asked me if I noticed anything, I said not particularly, then she said you and I are talking more. Huh really, and I realized in a subtle way she is opening up more to me, talking to me about stuff in her life. Not that we didn’t talk in the past, because we did, but somehow I think she needs me more and is willing to talk about real stuff.
She comes over while I’m cooking and we talk – Little Miss Teen makes me laugh.
Thankful Seven – there’s food in my house to feed my crew- last night we had a simple and quick meal; hot dogs. I asked the kids to think of a side and Amelia asked for dirty fries, or one can call it French fry surprise.
Dirty fries are French fries with brown gravy and melted cheese. Amelia gave me a high-five when she ate them last night.
Thankful Eight – end of the day, my sofa and we are all safe and sound at home.
Thankful nine – laughter
My brother-in-law, and nephews, are laughing at my phone because I just said cheese prompting it to take the picture – he’s being goofy by saying cheese many times.
Thankful ten – goes to James for saving my life yesterday from a chipmunk, oh yes it was vicious, walking across the steps on the side of the house, then scurrying into the yard. All this was happening when I was pulling into the driveway – James jumped into action making sure it was all clear for me to run into the house.
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This is such a great list of thankfuls.
🙂
I love that store and skating. I shouldn't let a little thing like lack of more winter stop me from doing more. I only got to do it once this last season.
Those salads sound delicious.
Thank GOODNESS you avoided the killer chipmunk!
Old Navy is one of my favorite stores!
I would like some dirty fries RIGHT NOW.
Royals 4, Mets 3 top of the 9th 🙂
You can not be too careful with rogue chipmunks. Glad you got out of that scrape alive!
Fun list. The kids are yes-very cute. The feast looks and sounds amazing. I would like to have some first hand knowledge of those artichokes!
This is a gorgeous, sumptuous list 🙂 The pea and carrot and lemon mixture sounds DELICIOUS and now I'm very tempted to try to recreate it for my dinner one night this week, maybe with some rice.
SO glad you were safe from the chipmunk, and I love the idea of the Easter baskets themselves being something useful 🙂 That's awesome.
you're adorable.
your WHOLE family is adorable.
I just LOVE these posts! XOXOXO♥
thank you old navy is my go to because its easy and simple and affordable too.
oh chipmunks not a fan of critters and my kids no this… but it's also amusing to them
dirty fries were good – oh the Mets a love affair at times or just a heartbreak.
absolutely thanks and thanks fried artichokes take some muscle – you need to clean them trim and take out the choke then boil or par boil- followed by dredging in egg and breadcrumbs then fry – I was thinking it can done that way with frozen artichokes but my parents always used the fresh. 🙂
thank you – I also added fresh mint in the salad and chopped mint in the dressing. juice of one lemon, the zest, salt pepper to taste chopped mint about a pinch and stream a 1/4 cup of extra virgin olive oil – maybe even less – if you use fresh peas par-boil them I used frozen thawed, not cooked – then shred the carrots.
the chipmunks have me worried.
every single year with the baskets so smart:)
thank you so are you my dear –
I need for you and your family to re-cook all that food and overnight it to me, ok?! Seriously though, it all looks and sounds like it was amazing and I am now officially starving! Glad things are going so well for you <3 Hope this week has been as lovely as the last few!