Edwin's Dream Come True

While spending the weekend with Grandma Nikki and Papaw Mike, Edwin got to ride on a digger...what a day!!!

WEEK IN REVIEW

Yet another birthday celebration occurred at the Ross household. Matt has officially turned 34 years old on Wednesday. After working, then a seminar, I hurried home to take Matt out to eat his birthday dinner. He chose Youngstown Crab Co. YUM!! We were half the crowd there. What a shame! I think the location kills it (and the high prices).Madeline felt all grown up ordering the salad and baked potato kid's meal. She loved it!!!

We returned to our house for gift giving, card exchanging, and icing making. Matt wouldn't commit to a dessert all week. I offered to make him buttercream icing on Tuesday night, but he refused saying that he would just eat it all. Once his birthday night rolled around and we were discussing dessert, he finally agreed to me whipping up a quick batch of icing. :) In his opinion, the cake is just filler. So I mounded the icing up into a volcano, put some candles into it, and we sang "happy birthday". The girls loved the idea!

The highlight of our weekend is when we took Madeline for her dance photos. I had to dress her all up in her recital costume with full makeup. She wasn't too thrilled with placing the eye makeup on, but we did get through it. Matt said it was like watching the pageant girls on Toddlers and Tiaras.

Happy Birthday Uncle Matt!!!

Spring has just begun & we're already planning for fall

OK, Greater Cincinnati Steeler fans, the 2010 NFL schedules are out.

Here's the breakdown*...

Games you will not have to leave your house to see:

1. 10/31 - Sunday night @ New Orleans
2. 11/8 - Monday night @ Cincinnati
3. 11/14 - Sunday night vs New England
4. 12/5 - Sunday night @ Baltimore
5. 12/12 - Sunday 1 p.m. vs Cincinnati
6. 12/23 - Thursday night vs Carolina

Games that don't conflict with Bengal games that you might have to leave your house to see:

1. 9/12 - Opening Day 1 p.m. vs Atlanta (on FOX, Bengals on CBS)
2. 10/17 - Sunday 1 p.m. vs Cleveland (Bengals bye week)
3. 11/28 - Sunday night @ Buffalo (Bengals on Thanksgiving)
4. 12/19 - Sunday 4:15 p.m. vs NY Jets (Bengals on @ 1 p.m.)

Sunday 1 p.m. games that conflict with Bengal games that you will have to leave your house to see (unless Steelers or Bengals are flexed to 4 p.m. or Sunday night on NBC):

1. 9/19 - @ Tennessee
2. 9/26 - @ Tampa Bay (yes, Bengals on FOX the same day)
3. 10/3 - vs Baltimore
4. 10/24 - @ Miami
5. 11/21 - vs Oakland
6. 1/2/11 - @ Cleveland

* Note: I realize that if you have the DirecTV NFL Sunday Ticket, this entire post is moot.

WEEK IN REVIEW

I actually almost forgot to post this week. OOPS!

We were at Aunt Betsy's birthday party in Oil City on Sunday. When we arrived back home, I was too tired to do the computer thing. I am 34 ; guess I am getting old. Tuesday we celebrated my birthday with dinner at Michael Alberini's. We had never been there before and were impressed by the food and atmosphere. We would definitely return there, but maybe without the kids ! Afterwards, Grandma returned to our house for an oreo cake (made by an Oral Surgeon's wife who has a bakery connected to his office).

The girls were treated to ice cream on Monday after Madeline's dance class. They sure do love their chocolate. Check out the beards they sported after finishing their cones :)

Megan came to town for Betsy's birthday as well. On Saturday we went to Salsita's for dinner where I had the largest margarita ever. It was like a bowl of margarita. Really? I didn't finish it. What was I thinking? On Sunday, we recruited Megan to help out with some card decorating to take with us to Oil City.

Before going to Betsy's party, we did have a chance to visit briefly with Grandma Marge, Aunt Lou Ann, and Uncle Bob. It was nice to see them all . Grandma spent the majority of the time figuring out who Chris was and where he was sitting. NOTE: Chris was in Columbus. It was Matt sitting next to me. HAHA.

The girls really had a good time at Betsy's birthday party. Their highlight was playing the drums with Jill and eating ice cream. All that other stuff like eating and opening gifts was just a means to an end.

If you got the Parade section of the newspaper this week, you would've noticed the section interviewing Nick Jonas! I decided to cut out his face and put it on the fridge. Madeline was actually the first to notice, but it was Meredith who was all giddy about it. Oh man!

Pennyrile Photography Competition

Spent a fabulous weekend at Pennyrile State Park with two of girlfriends. I participated in a photography competition and although I didn't win any awards this year, I had a blast!!!! Below are a couple of my favorite pics. ENJOY!

Happy Birthday Aunt Melinda!!!

So, I think we worked on HAPPY EASTER too much...hahahah...anyways - HAPPY BIRTHDAY AUNT MELINDA!!!

TAKE I:



TAKE II:

WEEK IN REVIEW

I am happy to report that this was an uneventful week. YAY! The power washing of the house seems to have done the trick for the siding. The grass continues to yellow in a rather small area in comparison to the entire front yard. I do not know what to expect as far as the rest of our bushes, trees, and yard. I am crossing my fingers that the worst is behind us. HAHA

OUR NEW CUSHIONS !

I started listing strange things that have happened to us since January 1, 1010.

-mailbox broken by plow

-piece of roofing/siding ripping off during a windy , snowy day (it is next to be replaced)

-a leaking area from the roof into the laundry room (currently an issue b/c company is defunct)

-hot water heater breaks

-water meter clogged /needed replaced

-surprise tire replacement in van

-outside light fixtures breaking apart (need to replace all these eye sores)

-obvious hydraulic oil slick

-front door sidelight windows have lost seal, now cloudy looking (don't know what to do about it)

-toilet handle busting AFTER the plumber left

-vacuum died (not as tragic as some of the previous ones)

I truly hope that this is the end of our "house" repairs for the year of 2010. HA! I am not holding my breath.

Madeline enjoyed a week off from school and dance. Everyone involved enjoyed a week off from taking her to and from these. :) The family came to visit me at work on Wednesday to get their teeth cleaned. Meredith once again was being a wimp and wouldn't even entertain the idea of getting her teeth cleaned. Oh well. Afterwards, we headed over to Burger King for lunch and entertainment. The entertainment was the play area the kids had all to themselves.

Matt hasn't broken down yet to cut grass even though the neighbors have done it twice so far.

So that pretty much wraps up our boring week :)

p.s.

Matt is doing taxes for us and Grandma. Excitement right? We owe. BOO! Grandma is cooking us dinner , YAY!

Field Trip

I spent a lovely day with Tamara visiting a sculpture park in Hamilton, OH. It was beautiful and I had such a great day. Thanks to Dave for hanging out with Edwin all day...and to Tamara for inviting me on her adventure! Below are some of my favorite shots of the day.