DINNER OUT

Steve and I recently had dinner with Garrett, Natalie, and Amanda.  We spent the evening at the Iron Horse Restaurant in Glendale. 

I knew before we arrived that dinner was going to be a little pricey based on the pictures of the dinner entrees on their website.  But Steve and I were up for it.  Sometimes it's not about the cost but about the conversation and atmosphere and that is exactly what we found. . . lots of great conversation, the 'CAIN' style of conversation, that can get a little juicy from time to time, and a very relaxing atmosphere with live music that caused some occasional toe tapping.

Steve had the Flat Iron Steak

special accompanied by a scallop

and asparagus.  Gotta love the

 presentation of the asparagus! 

And of course, Steve especially

liked the 'green goo'.  Oh sorry. . .

Salsa Verde!!

Amanda, Natalie's sister, had the Roast Chicken entree, note the green goo again, while Garrett and Natalie both had the Sea Scallop entree.   While my pictures do not do justice to the creativity of the chef, the scallop meal was the most beautifully presented.  

Last but not least, I chose the
Classic Steak Frites, with red
onions and french green beans. 
I chose this entree first of all because it was s-t-e-a-k and secondly because  it had a vegetable other than asparagus, YUK and spinach, YUK-YUK.

TWO THUMBS UP to Chef Jackson Rouse.  Had I given the asparagus and spinach a chance I may have liked them both but I have memories of canned spinach and canned asparagus from childhood and  cannot bring myself to eat them as an adult.  TWO THUMBS up to the owner of the restaurant for the atmosphere, and last but not least TWO THUMBS up to Garrett, Natalie, and Amanda for a great evening!

Little Miss Mia

And this makes eleven. . . .

. . . grandchildren turned on to

TOOTSIE ROLL POPS !!!!!

While playing and having fun is our speciality, Granddad and I often do not quite measure up when it comes to mealtime.  It's not the eating that is the problem it is the mess that often overwhelms us!! How many smashed peas can one kitchen floor actually handle? Supposedly the Pizza-Shaped Pasta with Turkey Sausage in Herb Tomato Sauce Gerber Graduate meal is one of Mia's favorites.  Maybe at Aunt Stephanie's house but not at Granddad's.  Even with a few blueberries mixed in it may be difficult to determine if the food on this tray represents what should be going IN the mouth or something that was spit OUT!!!

Nevertheless, when all else fails  Granddad comes to the rescue with. . . . . . . CHEESE!!  

Yes, as I always say. . . Everything goes better with Cheese. 

We are soooo looking forward to NUMBER 12!!!!

I know I'm cute but can someone find me a

better hat????

The Mathews Crew

It's a Webkin World





ALWAYS lots of fun and laughs with the
Mathews Crew!!!



Could YOU do this????
(Without breakin' a leg?)

There's only one
NUMBER ONE, NUMERO UNO,
TOP DOG!!

What's been goin' on?

First of all we had a great time when Whitney and the kids visited us in February.  Cade showed off his excellent basketball skills and then we all met up at Ashley and Aaron's for a belated Christmas gathering.



Nice shoes!!!!!



GrandDad converts another to Tootsie Roll Pops!!





GrandDad is just one of the BOYS!



 We have a lot of gamers in the family, young and old.  Even I played Pong back in the 60's but there is no way I could keep up with even

the youngest gamers in the family. 

Go get'em Chase Dylan!!

Our  'CAKE BOSS' !!!!!!!!



I can't believe that it has been a year since we were blessed with Mia Flora.  This youngest member of our family has brought Steve and I tons of  joy and laughter.  She is taking steps on her own, eating canned peas like they are candy, and has plenty to say but so far neither of us is speaking her language.  Her first birthday party on February 26th was a huge success and of course she was showered with gifts galore from all of her admirers!!  We cherish the moments we spend with her because we know, from experience, how soon she will grow up. 

 

Steve and I have two claims to fame:  Aaron, for his 5 second television debut on NBC's Dateline and Matthew, the outstanding head coach of the Minnesota Gophers Women's Track and Field Team!  Purdue University hosted the Big Ten Indoor Championships this year.  We had a great time watching the girls, visiting with Mike and Pat, and Whitney, Jack and Trey.  Before the track meet we met Whitney and the boys at Five Guys, a hamburger/hotdog joint near the university.  Of course I had a hotdog as did Steve.  Picture this:  a soft bun,  a grilled, sliced hotdog smothered with cheese and grilled onions.  I would have to rate it number 2, right behind BK.  Steve added bacon to his.  YUM! Sometimes we just have to shut the calorie counter in our brains off and enjoy!  My mother used to make us kids broiled, cheese filled, bacon wrapped hotdogs.  We loved them.  Just ask Stephanie how good they are!???!  

I wish I had pictures of the hotdogs.  Nevertheless, the 'meat', oops, meet was a ton of fun.



  

To be continued. . . . . . .

Birthday Boy

HAPPY BIRTHDAY STEVE



Yes, Steve is 62, as if you couldn't tell!  We had a great time at Rick's tavern, great food, great fun, and great family!!!!




HAPPY BIRTHDAY GRANDDAD, from Mia Flora Cain!!!!!!!



HAPPY BIRTHDAY GRANDDAD, from Jace Michael Costello!!!!!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY POOTER, from Cade Jameson Costello!!!!!!!

The Search is Over

I spent the last quarter of 2010 looking for a new light for over the kitchen table.  I went to variety of lighting stores and lighting departments looking for just the perfect light, at just the perfect price, with just the perfect wattage.  I searched on-line numerous times.  I saw plenty of beautiful lights but my heart was set on a drum pendent, a special drum pendent with style and class.  I found some very stylish and classy lights but they also had a very classy price!! And even I have my limits $$$$$$, even though Steve always says, well, you know what he says. . . "You can't take it with you".  I may not be able to take it with me but I want to go out with a little something left in my pocket!!!!! There might be a BK Root Beer stand on my way out!! Yum, can't wait 'til they open in the Spring. The light search was becoming less fun with every day so eventually I just gave up.  Christmas was coming, our trip to Florida was getting close, and I just felt a little stingy with the dollars.  Fast forward to January 2011.  I can't remember what I was going to Lowes for but while I was there I thought I would look through the lighting section just one more time and lo and behold there it was, hanging in all its glory, making every other light near it look light crap.  "WOW" I said. "That's it".  It just looked like something Steve and I would both like.  It met criteria one:  stylish.  It met criteria two:  classy. And it met criteria three:  enough wattage, and YES, it was in my price range!!  Off I went to get a cart, snatched that baby up, and headed to the check out.  Swipped the card, said thank you to the nice voice from the self checker and off I went before anyone stopped me.  Sometimes you just gotta do what you gotta do, or should I say 'buy what you gotta buy'!  That is just one of the perks of not having children at home any more.  You too, if not all ready, will get there someday.



So, what do you think?  Nice huh? And Steve never complained once about hanging it.  I am so lucky to have a husband you will do anything I ask of him, well, at least when it comes to home improvement!  He is my "Handy Man", written and sung by James Taylor, which reached #4 in 1977.  Google it.