OK, we all just finished watching the most recent episode of 20/20. Time to discuss...
What story did you find more intriguing: the college kid surviving a car crash & helicopter crash in the same night, or the U.S. soldiers being held hostage for 5 1/2 years in a Colombian jungle by FARC?
Matt, would you like to start us off with your thoughts?
Friday, February 27, 2009
WEEK IN REVIEW
The Ross household enjoyed a lovely visit from the Rosses of Kentucky this weekend. Madeline and Meredith have seemingly dropped "baby" in front of Edwin's name which means that Edwin must be growing up. We did a combo celebration of Mindy's 30th birthday and Valentine's Day. It was quite fun! I made a new dessert and it turned out quite well. Let's just say German chocolate cake mix, Eagle Brand milk, caramel ice cream topping, cool whip, and toffee chips. YUM!!! Cli
ck on "dessert" above for the link to heaven. HA! We got to see the webcam in action b/w Mindy's laptop and Grandma's computer. Awesome idea and it r
eally worked well. Matt was pretty excited when we finally saw Dave and Grandma on the computer screen and he let out a scream. Well, this caused poor Edwin to lose it, full out tears and screaming. Sorry Edwin, I guess you haven't been around for a Steelers game yet to see Uncle Matt in full excitement. Lent has begun which means there is no chocolate eating or beer drinking for Matt and me. I am interested to see if this means that there will be some weight loss as well. After dinner on Wednesday, Matt announced that is was time for bathtime. Madeline, 'why do we have to get a bath?'. Matt, 'b/c you stink'. Looking at the bowl between Matt and herself Madeline replied, 'eh, I think it's the shrimp!'. Funny. And finally, Madeline had her haircut for the first time p
rofessionally. She was the perfect little lady there. And it turned out so nicely. For
those of you who see this in action, I have included a video of Meredith calling for Uncle Dave. "DAVE, WHERE ARE YOU, DAVE?"
ck on "dessert" above for the link to heaven. HA! We got to see the webcam in action b/w Mindy's laptop and Grandma's computer. Awesome idea and it r
eally worked well. Matt was pretty excited when we finally saw Dave and Grandma on the computer screen and he let out a scream. Well, this caused poor Edwin to lose it, full out tears and screaming. Sorry Edwin, I guess you haven't been around for a Steelers game yet to see Uncle Matt in full excitement. Lent has begun which means there is no chocolate eating or beer drinking for Matt and me. I am interested to see if this means that there will be some weight loss as well. After dinner on Wednesday, Matt announced that is was time for bathtime. Madeline, 'why do we have to get a bath?'. Matt, 'b/c you stink'. Looking at the bowl between Matt and herself Madeline replied, 'eh, I think it's the shrimp!'. Funny. And finally, Madeline had her haircut for the first time p
rofessionally. She was the perfect little lady there. And it turned out so nicely. For
those of you who see this in action, I have included a video of Meredith calling for Uncle Dave. "DAVE, WHERE ARE YOU, DAVE?"Dave's Morning Bus Ride Decision Model
1. Leave house & walk 1 block north to intersection of 6th St & Linden Ave then look to the east - Is bus in sight? If yes, stop & wait for bus #23. If no, proceed to step 2.
2. Look at watch & check then time - Is it between :25 & :33 or :55 & :03? If yes, proceed to step 3. If no, proceed to step 5.
3. Assess weather conditions - Are conditions bad for walking (e.g., snow ice/covered sidewalks, very muggy)? - If yes, stop & wait for bus #23. If no, proceed to step 4.
4. Assess reading materials - Do I have something I feel like reading? If yes, stop & wait for bus #23. If no, proceed to step 5.
5. Walk west along 6th St and look back at every halfway point between intersections - Is bus in sight? If yes, proceed swiftly to end of block, stop & wait for bus #23. If no, proceed to step 6.
6. Head north at intersection of 6th St & Monmouth St and look back halfway point between 6th St & 5th St - Is bus in sight? If yes, proceed swiftly to end of block, stop & wait for bus #11, #16, #23 or #25. If no, proceed to step 7.
7. Assess mood - Am I feeling adventurous? If no, stop & wait for bus #11, #16, #23 or #25. If yes, proceed to step 8.
8. Walk 2 blocks north to intersection of 3rd St & Monmouth St; then walk 1/2 block west to final bus stop before bridge to Ohio (cringing if bus passes during these 2.5 blocks) - Is bus in sight? If yes, stop & wait for bus #11, #12, #16, #20, #23, #25 or Southbank Shuttle. If no, proceed to step 9.
9. Reassess mood - Am I feeling super-adventurous? If no, stop & wait for bus #11, #12, #16, #20, #23, #25 or Southbank Shuttle. If yes, tell self "I didn't feel like riding the bus anyway" and walk across the bridge and the rest of the way to the office.
2. Look at watch & check then time - Is it between :25 & :33 or :55 & :03? If yes, proceed to step 3. If no, proceed to step 5.
3. Assess weather conditions - Are conditions bad for walking (e.g., snow ice/covered sidewalks, very muggy)? - If yes, stop & wait for bus #23. If no, proceed to step 4.
4. Assess reading materials - Do I have something I feel like reading? If yes, stop & wait for bus #23. If no, proceed to step 5.
5. Walk west along 6th St and look back at every halfway point between intersections - Is bus in sight? If yes, proceed swiftly to end of block, stop & wait for bus #23. If no, proceed to step 6.
6. Head north at intersection of 6th St & Monmouth St and look back halfway point between 6th St & 5th St - Is bus in sight? If yes, proceed swiftly to end of block, stop & wait for bus #11, #16, #23 or #25. If no, proceed to step 7.
7. Assess mood - Am I feeling adventurous? If no, stop & wait for bus #11, #16, #23 or #25. If yes, proceed to step 8.
8. Walk 2 blocks north to intersection of 3rd St & Monmouth St; then walk 1/2 block west to final bus stop before bridge to Ohio (cringing if bus passes during these 2.5 blocks) - Is bus in sight? If yes, stop & wait for bus #11, #12, #16, #20, #23, #25 or Southbank Shuttle. If no, proceed to step 9.
9. Reassess mood - Am I feeling super-adventurous? If no, stop & wait for bus #11, #12, #16, #20, #23, #25 or Southbank Shuttle. If yes, tell self "I didn't feel like riding the bus anyway" and walk across the bridge and the rest of the way to the office.
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
The Webcam Experience
Yes, that's us on our new webcam...
We also got one for Grandma Ross, so now Edwin can see his out-of-town grandma face-to-face on a regular basis.
If you would like to join the fun and have some profound video web chats with the Rosses of Kentucky, here's what you do:
1. Get a webcam - If your computer didn't come with one, there's plenty of Logitech webcams on Amazon. I think we got ours for less than $40.
2. Get a Gmail account - Although I'm tempted to proselytize to those of you don't use Gmail yet, this is not the forum. This is simply the service we've chosen to use, you can sign up here. You already have our @gmail.com addresses (mindyleeross & davidedwinross), right?
3. Install Gmail's voice and video chat plug-in - It's pretty simple. You can learn all you need to know here.
We also got one for Grandma Ross, so now Edwin can see his out-of-town grandma face-to-face on a regular basis.
If you would like to join the fun and have some profound video web chats with the Rosses of Kentucky, here's what you do:
1. Get a webcam - If your computer didn't come with one, there's plenty of Logitech webcams on Amazon. I think we got ours for less than $40.
2. Get a Gmail account - Although I'm tempted to proselytize to those of you don't use Gmail yet, this is not the forum. This is simply the service we've chosen to use, you can sign up here. You already have our @gmail.com addresses (mindyleeross & davidedwinross), right?
3. Install Gmail's voice and video chat plug-in - It's pretty simple. You can learn all you need to know here.
Monday, February 23, 2009
Sunday Driving
After a fun-filled weekend hanging out with the fam in Canfield, one of our (read: my) favorite things to do on the car ride back to KY is listen to the the '90s channel on Sirius. Every Sunday at noon, they play the Top 40 countdown from a particular year from my formative decade.
Yesterday, they played the countdown from this week in 1998.
Ahhh...winter of freshman year. So many memories. I decide to see how many of the Top 10 songs I can guess. Somehow, I get Mindy to join me.
After hearing some of the songs in the bottom part of the countdown, it becomes evident that there's definitely a stickiness to songs in the Top 40 as songs I associate with summer and fall of '97 are still on here (e.g. "Fly" by Sugar Ray, "Brick" by Ben Folds Five). So we take that into account on our guesses.
We don't try to guess the order, but I want to at least have the #1 picked out...I'd feel like a failure if we miss that one. We cheat because we probably end up with 12 or 13 guesses.
Wrong guesses include "Torn" by Natalie Imbruglia and "Still the One" by Shania Twain, but I was pretty sure we were jumping the gun on those because I don't recall those until a few months later in '98. "Bittersweet Symphony" by the Verve was another wrong choice, but I was fairly certain that wasn't that big (or at least lasting) of a U.S. hit. The other wrong guesses were pretty desperate and not worth mentioning.
Before we get to the top 10, I call that there was a Lisa Loeb song out at the time called "I Do" but didn't think it was top 10 material. It was #11, so I feel good about our guesses headed into the top 10.
Here's how we did:
10. "Kiss the Rain" by Billie Myers, 0 for 1 - We both remember this song from this time period, but never knew the artist, and aren't mad at ourselves for missing this one.
9. "Together Again" by Janet Jackson, 0 for 2 - We definitely heard this song before, but wouldn't have known if it was from 1988 or 2008, so we're not upset for missing it but are starting to get frustrated we have no correct answers yet.
8. "You Make Me Wanna" by Usher, 1 for 3 - Finally, we're on the board! This was in fact, one of my confidence picks. I remembered being so annoyed by the song freshman year and just knew it had to be here. And yes, that means like me, you've been not enjoying Usher songs on the radio for 11 years now.
7. "Tubthumping" by Chumbawamba, 2 for 4 - Mindy's contribution to the list which definitively illustrates the lag factor to the Top 40 charts. Her selection of this inspires a later correct guess of mine. And surprisingly, even though you haven't just heard this song 5x/day for 5 months, this song feels as overplayed now in 2009 as it did 1997-8.
6. "Show Me Love" by Robyn, 2 for 5 - OK, it stinks being under 50% for the 10 through 6. Fun fact: we learn Robyn is from Sweden and is the same age as us.
5. "Walking on the Sun" by Smash Mouth, 3 for 6 - Back to .500...this was my choice inspired by Mindy's Chumbawumba call. I'd have thought these songs were dead by February of freshman year, but the pop charts are a funny thing.
4. "3 a.m." by Matchbox Twenty, 4 for 7 - Last second choice just as the top 10 started, and really, what was 1998 without drunk college kids from the suburbs singing Matchbox Twenty songs? I start to question how I was able to keep my sanity during this time period with all this going on around me.
3. "As Long As You Love Me" by The Backstreet Boys, 5 for 8 - Another lock of mine...how did I remember this? No comment.
2. "Truly, Madly, Deeply" by Savage Garden, 5 for 9 - Ouch, how'd we miss this? Remember this song being everywhere freshman year? Check. Hated this song being everywhere freshman year? Check.
1. "My Heart Will Go On" by Celine Dion, 6 for 10 - The 3rd of my 3 locks, and it's great to get the #1 song right. However, I started to doubt myself when they kept mentioning we have a new #1 this week. I figured this would've been #1 from back in December when Titanic was first out, but whatever.
So we finish at 60%, not bad.
Bonus...we switch over top the '80s channel after our countdown ends in time to here the #1 song from this week in 1980: "Do That To Me One More Time" by Captain and Tennille.
Yesterday, they played the countdown from this week in 1998.
Ahhh...winter of freshman year. So many memories. I decide to see how many of the Top 10 songs I can guess. Somehow, I get Mindy to join me.
After hearing some of the songs in the bottom part of the countdown, it becomes evident that there's definitely a stickiness to songs in the Top 40 as songs I associate with summer and fall of '97 are still on here (e.g. "Fly" by Sugar Ray, "Brick" by Ben Folds Five). So we take that into account on our guesses.
We don't try to guess the order, but I want to at least have the #1 picked out...I'd feel like a failure if we miss that one. We cheat because we probably end up with 12 or 13 guesses.
Wrong guesses include "Torn" by Natalie Imbruglia and "Still the One" by Shania Twain, but I was pretty sure we were jumping the gun on those because I don't recall those until a few months later in '98. "Bittersweet Symphony" by the Verve was another wrong choice, but I was fairly certain that wasn't that big (or at least lasting) of a U.S. hit. The other wrong guesses were pretty desperate and not worth mentioning.
Before we get to the top 10, I call that there was a Lisa Loeb song out at the time called "I Do" but didn't think it was top 10 material. It was #11, so I feel good about our guesses headed into the top 10.
Here's how we did:
10. "Kiss the Rain" by Billie Myers, 0 for 1 - We both remember this song from this time period, but never knew the artist, and aren't mad at ourselves for missing this one.
9. "Together Again" by Janet Jackson, 0 for 2 - We definitely heard this song before, but wouldn't have known if it was from 1988 or 2008, so we're not upset for missing it but are starting to get frustrated we have no correct answers yet.
8. "You Make Me Wanna" by Usher, 1 for 3 - Finally, we're on the board! This was in fact, one of my confidence picks. I remembered being so annoyed by the song freshman year and just knew it had to be here. And yes, that means like me, you've been not enjoying Usher songs on the radio for 11 years now.
7. "Tubthumping" by Chumbawamba, 2 for 4 - Mindy's contribution to the list which definitively illustrates the lag factor to the Top 40 charts. Her selection of this inspires a later correct guess of mine. And surprisingly, even though you haven't just heard this song 5x/day for 5 months, this song feels as overplayed now in 2009 as it did 1997-8.
6. "Show Me Love" by Robyn, 2 for 5 - OK, it stinks being under 50% for the 10 through 6. Fun fact: we learn Robyn is from Sweden and is the same age as us.
5. "Walking on the Sun" by Smash Mouth, 3 for 6 - Back to .500...this was my choice inspired by Mindy's Chumbawumba call. I'd have thought these songs were dead by February of freshman year, but the pop charts are a funny thing.
4. "3 a.m." by Matchbox Twenty, 4 for 7 - Last second choice just as the top 10 started, and really, what was 1998 without drunk college kids from the suburbs singing Matchbox Twenty songs? I start to question how I was able to keep my sanity during this time period with all this going on around me.
3. "As Long As You Love Me" by The Backstreet Boys, 5 for 8 - Another lock of mine...how did I remember this? No comment.
2. "Truly, Madly, Deeply" by Savage Garden, 5 for 9 - Ouch, how'd we miss this? Remember this song being everywhere freshman year? Check. Hated this song being everywhere freshman year? Check.
1. "My Heart Will Go On" by Celine Dion, 6 for 10 - The 3rd of my 3 locks, and it's great to get the #1 song right. However, I started to doubt myself when they kept mentioning we have a new #1 this week. I figured this would've been #1 from back in December when Titanic was first out, but whatever.
So we finish at 60%, not bad.
Bonus...we switch over top the '80s channel after our countdown ends in time to here the #1 song from this week in 1980: "Do That To Me One More Time" by Captain and Tennille.
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Another Great Weekend Trip
We spent the weekend in Canfield visiting Grandma Ross, Aunt Melinda, Uncle Matt, and Cousins Madeline and Meredith. It was another great weekend trip. We always have so much fun and Edwin LOVES seeing everyone! We celebrated Valentine's Day and my birthday - I know I've been celebrating the longest birthday ever...but what's wrong with that? Special thanks to Melinda for my special birthday dessert!
Here are some pics:
Here are some pics:
Friday, February 20, 2009
WEEK IN REVIEW
Mistake : going to Wal-Mart hungry. I intended to pick something up for dessert for the Valentine weekend and ended up with: package of creme horns, tub of M&M cookies, 12 pack of assorted cupcakes, Cadbury creme eggs and mini eggs, package of Reese's peanut butter hearts .... Anyways, we were not short of sweets this weekend or throughout the week for that matter. I am technically gorging myself on chocolate to get ready for my Lenten chocolate sacrifice.
Today, Madeline had her yearly physical. She got 4 vaccines today, but unlike Meredith who kept saying BOOBOO, Madeline kept telling the nurse, "THAT HURTS" and "how many more?". Glad to report, no tears, and no limping down the hall like she was a gimp. :) She is 74%ile in height and 47%ile in weight. Tall and thin. Lucky girl!! However, we are stuck with the car seat still ... you have to be 4 AND 40 lbs (she is 34 lbs) before getting the luxury of a booster. Stinks.
To entertain everyone a bit, I am posting a video of the girls dancing to Beyonce's Single Ladies this is something that they absolutely LOVE to do. It is hilarious to watch them try to "move" like Beyonce. If I am walking down the hallway and yell,"all the single ladies", quickly to follow Madeline singing back , "all the single ladies", and followed by Meredith singing ,"oh oh oh oh oh oh" while waving her hand back and forth. Priceless.
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Ghost Dog
When your dog dies, do you want it to come back as a ghost dog?
At first this seems like a great idea. You get the benefits of having a dog, i.e. companionship, without all the hassles of feeding it or taking it on walks.
However, upon further analysis it may be more trouble than its worth if the ghost dog isn't obedient. And let's face it, what incentive does a ghost dog have to be obedient anyway? It would probably be constantly pestering you, and you'd have no recourse. If it wanted to lick your face, but you didn't want it to, how are you going to stop it? It's a ghost dog. It can pretty much do what it wants.
Conclusion: a ghost dog would not be worth having as a pet.
At first this seems like a great idea. You get the benefits of having a dog, i.e. companionship, without all the hassles of feeding it or taking it on walks.
However, upon further analysis it may be more trouble than its worth if the ghost dog isn't obedient. And let's face it, what incentive does a ghost dog have to be obedient anyway? It would probably be constantly pestering you, and you'd have no recourse. If it wanted to lick your face, but you didn't want it to, how are you going to stop it? It's a ghost dog. It can pretty much do what it wants.
Conclusion: a ghost dog would not be worth having as a pet.
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Slow News Month
This A-Rod steroid kerfuffle has got me feeling thankful we cut off cable last month, and thus cut off the ESPN hype machine. I can only imagine the coverage being dedicated over there in this, the slowest sports month of the year (no one watches college basketball anymore, right?).
Speaking of steroids, I'm having my 1986 Topps Traded Series Barry Bonds rookie card sent out to be graded. I'll be sure to keep everyone posted on the results.
Speaking of steroids, I'm having my 1986 Topps Traded Series Barry Bonds rookie card sent out to be graded. I'll be sure to keep everyone posted on the results.
Saturday, February 14, 2009
Happy Valentine's Day!
Happy Valentine's Day from Edwin...as you can see, he has no self-confidence problems!
We had an interesting Valentine's Day...
3:00am:
Edwin crying...he's been sick so isn't sleeping well, I sleep the rest of the night with Edwin in the guest bed
Edwin crying...he's been sick so isn't sleeping well, I sleep the rest of the night with Edwin in the guest bed
7:00am:
Dave's alarm goes off...I hear him go downstairs
8:00am:
Edwin wakes up, Dave feeds him and I get another 45 mins of sleep
9:20am:
I head to the eye dr and edwin goes down for a nap
9:30am:
eye appointment (my new glasses come in about a week! YAHOO!!!)
10:15am:
Grandpa Randy arrives to help with house stuff
10:45am:
I return from the eye dr and dave/grandpa Randy chop up the tree that fell during our recent ice storm
11:15am:
dave/grandpa Randy run electric to our upstairs hallway
11:45am:
edwin wakes up - happy to see grandpa Randy
12:00:
dave goes to pick up lunch, i feed edwin
12:30pm:
eat lunch - Habanero - YUMMY!!!
1:00pm:
finish electricity project
2:00pm: edwin cranky so i lay with him in my bed and he falls asleep...dave and i decide to join him and take a nap too
3:45pm:
we wake up
4:00pm:
edwin wakes up and eats again
4:45pm:
we leave to go shopping - looking for a tv armoire and desk
5:00pm-6:30pm
shopping is a bust - NOTHING! Homegoods, TJMaxx, Target, and Sams - NOTHING...
6:30pm
ihop for valentines day dinner - our server may have been on drugs...thought everything was hilarious! service was awful. i ate my pancakes dry, so did dave...we never got syrup. dave ordered all you can eat pancakes and ordered a second batch out of principle. bacon was gross. but, the high chair was great and edwin had fun banging on the table. edwin ate at ihop too. he was done with his bottle before our server even took our order...this dinner date will go in the record books!!!
7:45pm
decide to check one more store - OfficeMax...dave runs into Lowes to get light switch covers and meets me in the store. We had all but given up, and then dave found a great table that i will be using as a desk - $80!!! bargain!!!
8:50pm
heading home...bridge back to KY is closed due to an accident so we take the downtown scenic detour...
9:15pm
home sweet home...wake edwin up and feed him for the last time...
9:45pm
edwin in bed...dave and i relaxing...HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!!!
Friday, February 13, 2009
Baseball Players Not Hurting During Economic Crisis
Bronson Arroyo (Cincinnati Reds Pitcher infamous for the Together Again JTM commercial), was on the radio this evening...Dave had it on, not me...
The question was: do you like Spring Training?
His answer was: it is actually my favorite time of year. I'm so worn out from all of the golf tournaments and charity events that I'm involved in that is nice to get back to baseball.
Are you serious??? who is this guy? wah wah wah...golf tournaments and charity events...what a miserable life he leads making millions a year and getting so tired with his extra curricular activities...
Just had to post...with this economy and so many people (including me) with no jobs - his PR rep should've helped him with a better answer to this very normal question.
The question was: do you like Spring Training?
His answer was: it is actually my favorite time of year. I'm so worn out from all of the golf tournaments and charity events that I'm involved in that is nice to get back to baseball.
Are you serious??? who is this guy? wah wah wah...golf tournaments and charity events...what a miserable life he leads making millions a year and getting so tired with his extra curricular activities...
Just had to post...with this economy and so many people (including me) with no jobs - his PR rep should've helped him with a better answer to this very normal question.
WEEK IN REVIEW
For about 2 weeks now, Madeline wakes up every morning asking, "is it my valentine party today?". Finally, this Thursday, we got to say , YES!!! It was our first year making a Valentine Day box and filling out valentines (Winnie the pooh). Madeline actually wrote her name on each card , and there were 17 of them. 3/4 of the way through them, she had completely forgotten how to do an 'e' , and just made an 'o' instead. I don't recall her name being Madelino. If you know me, it was sooo hard not to just take it and do it myself. HA! Speaking of, I cut the pap
er out for the box and let Madeline glue them onto the box and to decorate with stickers (it was Dora the explorer theme). When she was sticking her name on, she didn't care about the alignment .... but I did... however, I succeeded in not correcting them. Yay!!Two nights ago during that terrible wind storm, Matt and I couldn't sleep b/c of this loud thud on our house. He probably went down 3 separate times with his flashlight to 'check it out'. Finally, the noise got really loud and we both shot up. I went down with him this time. We found a big sheet of shingles next to his Envoy that was in the driveway. And walked to the front of the house and found a loose, but still attached sheet of shingles banging on the roof. At last, we knew what the sound was. Just knowing allowed us to get to sleep for 2 more hours until morning. The girls....didn't hear a thing.
I finally remembered my camera at swim lessons today, so here are a few shots. They are by no means the greatest as the mommies have to stay at the far end of the pool to avoid us interfering. :) Madeline continues to get better every day, especially since we 'practice' in the bath tub. I took Meredith with me today. Poor kid was so hot due to the 100 degree atmosphere in there, that her cheeks were all red and her hair all sweaty and curly. She didn't care though.
She kept wrapping up in the towel. Wow~
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Edwin is 8 Months Old!!!
Today is Edwin's 8-month birthday. I can't believe it's been 8 months already...seems like we just came home with a seven lb little baby...now we have a 20 lb little man! Grandma Ross sent Edwin this new outfit - monkeys of course! It is soooo cute!!!! It is a 9-month outfit and as you can see, Edwin fills it out nicely!
Today Edwin brushed his teeth for the first time (what a birthday treat!)...thanks Aunt Melinda for the snazzy toothbrush. He loved it! I'd take the toothbrush out and he'd leave his mouth open and start to cry until i brushed some more...he even brushed a little by himself - growing up too fast!
As you can see from the corner of this picture, even Sedona was interested in watching Edwin brush his teeth for the first time!
Lately, I've been trying to fill my time with lots of playdates. Tuesday afternoon we visited Cassie and Amelia. Amelia is just over a year old and moving nonstop - crawling/walking. Luckily, Edwin hasn't started moving yet - except for rolling to get to toys. He has also mastered the face-in-the-carpet technique of lunging for things...it won't be long...I guess we should start preparing the house - definitely not Edwin ready!
Today Edwin and I met Kristen and Maggie at the mall for some mall walking and window shopping. Maggie is 8-months old too...just a couple weeks older than Edwin...I can't wait until they can play together!!! They are bound to be friends!
Lately, I've been trying to fill my time with lots of playdates. Tuesday afternoon we visited Cassie and Amelia. Amelia is just over a year old and moving nonstop - crawling/walking. Luckily, Edwin hasn't started moving yet - except for rolling to get to toys. He has also mastered the face-in-the-carpet technique of lunging for things...it won't be long...I guess we should start preparing the house - definitely not Edwin ready!
Today Edwin and I met Kristen and Maggie at the mall for some mall walking and window shopping. Maggie is 8-months old too...just a couple weeks older than Edwin...I can't wait until they can play together!!! They are bound to be friends!
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Dual Web Browser Household
Helpful tip for households with 2 people regularly browsing the web...
Mindy and I pretty much troll the same sites, Gmail, Facebook, etc., and it was becoming increasingly annoying to constantly re-enter our logins and passwords after one of us logged the other out.
Our solution: we use separate browsers. She uses Microsoft Internet Explorer, and I use Google Chrome.
Mindy and I pretty much troll the same sites, Gmail, Facebook, etc., and it was becoming increasingly annoying to constantly re-enter our logins and passwords after one of us logged the other out.
Our solution: we use separate browsers. She uses Microsoft Internet Explorer, and I use Google Chrome.
Sunday, February 8, 2009
7
1. 7 days later
2. No cable, only 7 channels
3. TV would be boring anyway, no dramatic comebacks by #7
4. So I'll hang out with my 7-month old
5. And spend the off season exploring Cincinnati's 7 hills
6. New season starts in 7 months
7. Then the quest for a 7th championship begins...
2. No cable, only 7 channels
3. TV would be boring anyway, no dramatic comebacks by #7
4. So I'll hang out with my 7-month old
5. And spend the off season exploring Cincinnati's 7 hills
6. New season starts in 7 months
7. Then the quest for a 7th championship begins...
30 Thanks from My BIG 3-0!
1. Thanks to my parents for being crazy enough at 19 to have a baby and name her Mindy.
2. Thanks to my husband for coordinating a wonderful 3-0 party and for always making me feel beautiful!
3. Thanks to my sister for doing her best to always make me look beautiful - hair and makeup for my 3-0 were terrific and noticed by all!
4. Thanks to my son for making me feel like the best mom in the world on most days - including my 3-0.
5. Thanks to my friends for being a part of my life - on my big 3-0 and everyday!
6. Thanks for all of my gifts...I LOVE PRESENTS!!!! (blanket from Tamara, cookies from Treva, purse/bath&body from kirsta/Richard, starbucks gc from nick/jen, bread/dipping oil from kira/tony/dogs, label maker from my mom/mike, lottery tickets from my sister, chili from my dad, too much to list from dave...did I remember everything? hope so, if not THANK YOU!!!)
7. Thanks to everyone who "donated" money to our poker tournament last night - hope everyone had fun...congrats to Andy and Ryan who ended up splitting and to Dave for finishing 3rd.
8. Thanks to my dad for making the chili for the party...must have been good because I don't have much leftover for dinner tonight!
9. Thanks to my mom for making banana pudding...also must have been good because I only got one spoon full and it is GONE!!!
10. Thanks to Treva for bringing my favorite cookies - oatmeal scotchies - also must have been good because I only got 2-1/2 and they are GONE!!!!
11. Thanks to Krista for taking some photos of the party for me.
12. Thanks to Tracy who helped me pick out my birthday outfit.
13. Thanks to Mother Nature who gave me beautiful weather for my birthday party.
14. Thanks to my mom and Mike for watching Edwin so that I could play poker - don't get to do that much anymore!
15. Thanks to my M&Ms for the special birthday song on our blog.
16. Thanks to mom#2 for the birthday money - now I'll be able to get pictures printed and my scrapbook caught up again - THANKS!!!
17. Thanks to my Aunt Phyllis, Grandma Shirley, Grandpa Ralph and the countless others who called me on my birthday...and to everyone who sent cards/emails/messages of birthday thoughts.
2. Thanks to my husband for coordinating a wonderful 3-0 party and for always making me feel beautiful!
3. Thanks to my sister for doing her best to always make me look beautiful - hair and makeup for my 3-0 were terrific and noticed by all!
4. Thanks to my son for making me feel like the best mom in the world on most days - including my 3-0.
5. Thanks to my friends for being a part of my life - on my big 3-0 and everyday!
6. Thanks for all of my gifts...I LOVE PRESENTS!!!! (blanket from Tamara, cookies from Treva, purse/bath&body from kirsta/Richard, starbucks gc from nick/jen, bread/dipping oil from kira/tony/dogs, label maker from my mom/mike, lottery tickets from my sister, chili from my dad, too much to list from dave...did I remember everything? hope so, if not THANK YOU!!!)
7. Thanks to everyone who "donated" money to our poker tournament last night - hope everyone had fun...congrats to Andy and Ryan who ended up splitting and to Dave for finishing 3rd.
8. Thanks to my dad for making the chili for the party...must have been good because I don't have much leftover for dinner tonight!
9. Thanks to my mom for making banana pudding...also must have been good because I only got one spoon full and it is GONE!!!
10. Thanks to Treva for bringing my favorite cookies - oatmeal scotchies - also must have been good because I only got 2-1/2 and they are GONE!!!!
11. Thanks to Krista for taking some photos of the party for me.
12. Thanks to Tracy who helped me pick out my birthday outfit.
13. Thanks to Mother Nature who gave me beautiful weather for my birthday party.
14. Thanks to my mom and Mike for watching Edwin so that I could play poker - don't get to do that much anymore!
15. Thanks to my M&Ms for the special birthday song on our blog.
16. Thanks to mom#2 for the birthday money - now I'll be able to get pictures printed and my scrapbook caught up again - THANKS!!!
17. Thanks to my Aunt Phyllis, Grandma Shirley, Grandpa Ralph and the countless others who called me on my birthday...and to everyone who sent cards/emails/messages of birthday thoughts.
18. Thanks to my mom/mike/dave for cleaning up the house last night...mostly!
19. Thanks to Edwin for going back to bed and sleeping all night!
20. Thanks to Sedona for being nice to our guests.
21. Thanks to Missy for coming and bringing Kaitlyn to the party!
22. Thanks to our new poker guests - Jamie and Jennifer - great to meet you both!
23. Thanks to Kelli for explaining how she knows so much about Regis and Kelly and for telling me about America's Cutest Baby contest.
24. Thanks to Ryan for always keeping me entertained with your shannanigans.
25. Thanks to Krista for making me feel like a hot mama!
26. Thanks to Dave for being interested in older women.
27. Thanks to Bob Evans for making me always crave biscuits.
28. Thanks to FB for reminding everyone about my birthday.
29. Thanks to eye make up remover and shampoo - it will be sad to remove my sister's masterpiece!
30. THANKS FOR EVERYTHING...too much to be thankful for!!!! I am one lucky 30-year-old-lady!
19. Thanks to Edwin for going back to bed and sleeping all night!
20. Thanks to Sedona for being nice to our guests.
21. Thanks to Missy for coming and bringing Kaitlyn to the party!
22. Thanks to our new poker guests - Jamie and Jennifer - great to meet you both!
23. Thanks to Kelli for explaining how she knows so much about Regis and Kelly and for telling me about America's Cutest Baby contest.
24. Thanks to Ryan for always keeping me entertained with your shannanigans.
25. Thanks to Krista for making me feel like a hot mama!
26. Thanks to Dave for being interested in older women.
27. Thanks to Bob Evans for making me always crave biscuits.
28. Thanks to FB for reminding everyone about my birthday.
29. Thanks to eye make up remover and shampoo - it will be sad to remove my sister's masterpiece!
30. THANKS FOR EVERYTHING...too much to be thankful for!!!! I am one lucky 30-year-old-lady!
Friday, February 6, 2009
WEEK IN REVIEW
So of course we had the Superbowl last weekend ending with a Steeler victory. Thank goodness for that as Matt would have been a bear to live with...seriously! Our 'party' consisted of only true Steelers fans....our family and Grandma. HA! It sounded, however, like 50 fans. The girls covering their ears proves that!!
The basement did provide nice distraction entertainment for the girls , so that daddy could concentrate on the anxiety of the game.
Matt was off this week from work. This provided the family with delicious home cooking. YUM!! We are all thankful for that.
Meredith had her 2 year old physical this morning. She is now 34" tall (57th %ile), 26 lbs (45th %ile), and 80th %ile for head circumference. I guess she has a lot of brain matter up in that big ol' cranium of hers! She got one shot in her 
leg today. After she got it Meredith just said, "BOO BOO, BOO BOO". HA! No tears thank goodness, but then you would have sworn she had her leg completely numbed. She wouldn't stand on that leg, and looked hilarious pulling that dead leg behind her as she went down the hall!! Dramatic, she is.
leg today. After she got it Meredith just said, "BOO BOO, BOO BOO". HA! No tears thank goodness, but then you would have sworn she had her leg completely numbed. She wouldn't stand on that leg, and looked hilarious pulling that dead leg behind her as she went down the hall!! Dramatic, she is. P.S.
We should have listened to Madeline when getting ready for bed last night that it's wet over here by the toilet. After putting the girls to bed, Matt and I went downstairs. Madeline cried for us and said that she had to use the potty, so I returned to our bathroom to find the toilet sprung a leak and the floor was drenched. Matt had to become Mr. Fixit. TOILETS SUCK!!!!!!!!!!!! We apologized to Madeline for trying to warn us earlier.
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Birthday Wishes
Today, The Ross Experience would like to acknowledge one of its own...
On this day in 1979, Mindy Lee Giehls was born in Wilmington, Ohio. (She'd officially join the Ross ranks 25 years later). Happy birthday, Mindy. Hope you have a great day!
P.S.: Check out Wikipedia for fun facts about February 5th in history.
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
The weather outside is frightful
What?!? More snow?!?
After all that hard work un-burying the Lumina, I'm currently watching it get pummeled with snow once again. And by hard work I mean never stepping foot in its vicinity for over a week and waiting for the snow and ice to melt on its own.
Seriously, for any you that live in NKY at commute to DT Cincy, you've got to check out TANK. This is my 1st winter riding the bus with any regularity (I've done warm weather stretches in the past). So far I've had zero delays, and therefore, zero problems riding TANK through this Cincinnati bad weather spell.
Monday, February 2, 2009
Is Edwin America's Cutest Baby?
I think so...does America???
I entered the above photo in the Live with Regis and Kelly Beautiful Baby Search 2009.
Make sure you tune in to LIVE the week of March 9th for our Sixth Annual Beautiful Baby Week. On Monday, March 9th we'll find out if Edwin is one of this year’s Top 10 Semi-finalists. You’ll be able to help pick the winner by voting on-line for your Top 5 Babies at: http://bventertainment.go.com/tv/buenavista/regisandkelly/contests/babies09/index.html. And, all week long we’ll be featuring hundreds of our Beautiful Baby entries throughout the shows.
Visit the Beautiful Baby Gallery at: http://bventertainment.go.com/tv/buenavista/regisandkelly/contests/babies09/index.html and check back regularly as we continue to add more photos. Please note that due to the large number of entries we cannot include every submission. The gallery displays a random selection of photos and is in no way related to the contest.
KEEP YOUR FINGERS CROSSED!
Prizes:
GRAND PRIZE: This year, our cover star will also receive $125,000 to be used towards a 4-year college education.
4 RUNNERS-UP: An additional $100,000 will be divided amongst the four runners-up to be used towards a college education.
10 SEMI-FINALISTS: 10 semi-finalists will each get a year's supply of Gerber® products customized for their child using the Start Healthy Stay Healthy® nutrition plan.
Prizes:
GRAND PRIZE: This year, our cover star will also receive $125,000 to be used towards a 4-year college education.
4 RUNNERS-UP: An additional $100,000 will be divided amongst the four runners-up to be used towards a college education.
10 SEMI-FINALISTS: 10 semi-finalists will each get a year's supply of Gerber® products customized for their child using the Start Healthy Stay Healthy® nutrition plan.
Sunday, February 1, 2009
Just a part of the Ross experience...
Jumping on the Big Ben bandwagon when the Bengals stink...
so...
so...
HERE WE GO...PITTSBURGH...HERE WE GO...
There is nothing like watching football (especially the SuperBowl) with a Ross...such animated sports fans! Gotta love it...
I just hope if the Bengals ever make it back to the SuperBowl - Dave will return the fan favor! Good news for him - don't know if that will ever happen!!!
Biscuits and Dinner Rolls
I realize it's Super Bowl Sunday, and there are probably other things to write about, but I have a problem...
Bob Evans. In particular, their biscuits. They're too good. That's not the problem per se. The problem is this.
Their dinner rolls are really good. Maybe some of the best dinner rolls around. However, they are no where near the same league as the biscuits. Now since we don't go to Bob Evans all that often, I always choose biscuits.
I feel I'm missing out on some great dinner rolls, but I don't know what to do.
So far the my only solution has been to order biscuits, let Mindy order dinner rolls, then steal one of her rolls. But then that's way too much bread with one meal.
There's got to be something I can do. Otherwise, this dinner roll guilt will continue to haunt me every time I order biscuits.
P.S.: Bob Evans tip--in bad weather, park on the side of the restaurant and enter through the carry out doors.
Bob Evans. In particular, their biscuits. They're too good. That's not the problem per se. The problem is this.
Their dinner rolls are really good. Maybe some of the best dinner rolls around. However, they are no where near the same league as the biscuits. Now since we don't go to Bob Evans all that often, I always choose biscuits.
I feel I'm missing out on some great dinner rolls, but I don't know what to do.
So far the my only solution has been to order biscuits, let Mindy order dinner rolls, then steal one of her rolls. But then that's way too much bread with one meal.
There's got to be something I can do. Otherwise, this dinner roll guilt will continue to haunt me every time I order biscuits.
P.S.: Bob Evans tip--in bad weather, park on the side of the restaurant and enter through the carry out doors.
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