Happy Birthday To Tony, With Love, Cleveland

OK, we moved to North Carolina why???  TO GET AWAY FROM THE SNOW.

 

I know that Cleveland and parts East are really suffering in the cold weather, but, hey, did you have to send it down here?

 

Tony woke up on his 68th birthday to find a yard that was snow coated and the sidewalk to our door covered in ice.    YUCK.

 

We are going to Wilmington to have dinner out for his birthday.  Unlike native North Carolinians, we aren't afraid to drive in this!!  We just hope the restaurant isn't closed due to weather! 

 

I know that when it's July and 100 degrees here, we will remember the snow and laugh about it, but for right now.....take it back, Cleveland!!

Our views:

An ice covered walkway

Snow in the front yard

Ice on the driveway across the street

 

Snow on a palm tree....so wrong, so, so wrong on so many levels

The backyard....same as the front...snow

 

Another Leaf On The Family Tree

We went to Charlotte today to attend Anthony James' baptism.  We went to St. Anne's Church, the same place where Coleton was baptized.  I was so glad.  Father Reed is a very nice man and a wonderful representative of his faith. 

 

There were two baby boys being baptized today...and they were both so good.  Anthony seemed to enjoy the water, just like Coleton did  a few years ago.  Today, however, big brother was in a sports jacket with "Father Knows Best" flannel patches on his sleeves and a conservative blue tie.  Every time I see him, I see more of Tony (Jr.) in that small face and body language. 

 

After the service, we went back to Tony and Marie's house for a small party with great food.  Mona contributed some, but it was catered and I hope Tony and Marie got some rest since they didn't have to cook.  They both looked good, but tired.

 

Anthony did great  at church, being accepted into the Catholic faith and posing for pictures and then went right down for a nap after his big baptism debut.  Coleton was all about playing with his cousins.  Marie's sister, Michelle and her husband, Rob, were the God parents and her brother, John, flew in from Kansas.  Some of Tony and Marie's friends also  came to the party and it was good to see the "village" together again.

 

Donna and Bob were very gracious and left their Ohio company at their condo in Sunset Beach to come to the baptism and party with us.  We had fun making the 3 hour drive  both ways and the conversation in the car never lagged.

 

Donna and Bob only have two weeks left of their "southern visit" so we have to fit in another shopping trip.  The "guys" got us a day at a local spa for Valentine's Day so we want to do that soon. I'm thinking a massage and having my nails done...heaven...truly heaven. From there, we will hit the boutiques one more time to ensure there isn't anything we missed in terms of bargains or things we absolutely can't live without.  I'm sure we will find many things that we just have to buy!!! 

 

Please share the highlights of the baptism of Master Anthony James Swegle.

 

Father Reed very kindly re-enacted this for us....I told him I didn't get any good pictures of the actual event.  He is a kind man. 

Anthony enjoyed the water! 

Anthony James...."it's all about me!!"

The Swegle's and Father Reed after the baptism

Seriously, this guy would have made a great "father...."

 

Mommy Marie, "Daddy,"  Pops with namesake, Anthony, "MoMo" Donna and Bob

New hair color...Cleopatra with the cutest guy at the party

Big brother, Coleton with cousin, Leah

Aviana "Avi" Kall, we knew her parents when they were in high school!!

Anthony laughing at Great Aunt, Donna

Now, he's really laughing!!!

OK, now he's just flirting!!

"I have to get used to this...women loving me...alas, it will happen my whole life!!"

The "Love Wall," the Phillips and Swegle family...each side and several families!

 

 

 

Going For Therapy

What do you do when the weather is crappy and your husbands are playing golf????   I'll tell you what you do....YOU GO SHOPPING!!!!

 

Donna and I went out again and attacked the mall, outlet stores and boutiques in the area yesterday.  We had a blast.  And....it isn't our fault if everything we tried on looked great and we had to buy it.  

 

We started at a small coffee shop with crumb cake and black coffee.  It was sunny and brisk, so we sat outside.    The music of our generation was playing in the background and a cool breeze circled around us.  It felt like we didn't have a care in the world.  We talked and laughed and planned our day. 

 

Pretty soon, we ended up at Belk....a department store that we both just love.  It's better than Macy's and Dillards,  has great clothes and I don't think I've ever bought anything there that wasn't on sale.   We love Belk!!  We spent hours trying on clothes, examining how we looked and buying what looked best on us. 

 

After that, it was on to the outlet mall in South Carolina and then to some trendy boutiques for more shopping.  We were out for 5 hours and it was fun. At the outlet mall, we stopped at Kate Spade, New York.  Neither of us had been there before.  It was really nice...we loved their outfits and colorful handbags.  Since the "plus size clothes" in the store were sizes 4 and 6, I was checking out a small change purse when Donna came over and said to me, "the coat on that mannequin is over $400.00."  "No way," I thought...then I checked out the price of a really, really small change purse....$110.00.  I don't know who Kate Spade is, but she has really expensive stuff! 

 

We checked in with our guys after they finished playing golf and then Donna and I went to a cute little neighborhood type bar called "McGhees."   They had great sandwiches and tons of atmosphere.  Donna and I picked up two guys at the bar....well, when you are in your '60's and they are even older, it wasn't like "picking them up...." it was more like smiling and small talk so they had something to concentrate on after they went home and took their Viagra.  Never let it be said that Donna and I don't do for others!!!

 

Donna and Bob are down for another three weeks...their time here went really fast.   I have to work a ton of hours in the coming weeks, but hopefully, we can fit in one more shopping trip...I want to get back to Bleu and get some more heavy leggings and maybe a scarf or two...shopping--the best therapy there is