Lasagna Dinner

All the kids were here for lasagna dinner tonight. I made a big tray, plus a little tray for Erick to take home. It is part of his Christmas present. I had given him a 'voucher' good for several lasagna dinners through the year.

Everyone is signing a card to my Aunt Mary, who broke her hip a while back. I'll get it off tomorrow. It's just hard to get everyone together and I wanted all the names on the card.

We also decided on the hotel for my mother's 90th birthday party in July. Four rooms for all of us over the weekend. It should be a lot of fun to see the whole family, especially the new babies!

Another squirrel pic

Yeah, I'm squirrely for squirrels. Especially when they do cute things like munching on crusts of cinnamon toast!

Update

Okay, Nick wasn't chosen this time around. Probably because it was a cop-killer trial and they want people with more 'life's experience' for something so serious.

On Thursday, Katherine, Michael and I met at our favorite sushi restaurant. I had 'Spring Jamie' rolls (ha, since I have a son named Jamie) and sushi made with sweet potatoes. Both were out of this world. As usual, I had a great time with my kids. Katherine and I went shopping at Bed, Bath and Beyond after that.

Mike and I hit Home Depot the other night. Mike brought home white rocks and cedar mulch to put around the trees. He also picked up 4 really heavy bags of potting soil for me. I have opened one and used it to fill a big container in which I've planted lettuce. I also filled some peat pots which are sitting in my kitchen window with seeds for tomatoes and cauliflower. I'm hoping that by starting indoors I'll have better luck this year than I usually do. I'm trying for heirloom tomatoes!

I also planted sunflowers in some coffee cans! It would be cool if I could get some big ones!

Today Mike and I are meeting his brother and family and Uncle Jimmy to celebrate Uncle Jimmy's birthday at Outback. I don't really feel like going out but I figured it's better than sitting at the computer all day. And I'm in the mood for one of the 'wedge' salads.

Nick at Jury Duty

Nick was on telephone standby for jury duty at the courthouse in Brooklyn--federal, that is. Of course, he got called to come in. Mike and I put together a map and directions for him, since getting there involves the railroad and subway, in both of which he has very little experience. I dropped him off at the station to get a train that would take him in the general vicinity of the courthouse about an hour before he needed to be there. The second train would have cut it too close.
Nick told me later that finding his way was 'frustrating.' But at least he knows what he's doing now, since he might have to go back next week. He has to call Tuesday night to find out. I'm hoping 'no,' but at least now I won't worry about him getting there okay. It would surprise me if they did pick him for jury duty, since he's so young. But it would be a life's experience, I guess!

Easter

The kids came over for Easter dinner of ham, fettucine alfredo (with homemade noodles!) and salad. They really seemed to enjoy it. Katherine gave me some beautiful flowers. I wasn't going to do Easter baskets this year, for the first time. I even left the baskets up in the attic. But Mike said I should do something so I just put together little bags for James and Nick and filled some Easter boxes for Michael and Katherine. And for Erick, too, of course. Erick, unfortunately, was sick and missed the dinner.
Just a nice, quiet holiday--nothing fancy, just the way I like it.

The flowers are several varieties that I will try to replant out in the garden in a month or so. If I'm lucky, they'll come up again!