My world...in living color!

Scrapbook Kit Giveaway!

2011-03-05T22:54:00.002-05:00

I'm following WeScrap Kits and think you'll be interested in it as well. To check it out, follow this link: http://wescrapkits.blogspot.com/

And you won't believe the giveaway going on right now!! Check it out!!

Difficult Days Ahead

2010-12-21T15:21:00.002-05:00

Well it is sadly official...........Pat is now unemployed indefinitely. I am so scared. I don't know how we will keep our heads above water especially since we were barely making it with him working full time. It is time to look for a good Realtor and try to get this house sold so we don't lose it to foreclosure. I feel so badly for everyone who is experiencing the difficulties of lost jobs during this economic downturn. I will be saying prayers for us all...........

Paper Secrets Holiday Blog Hop ~ Dec. 10th!!

2010-11-06T22:36:00.009-04:00

My favorite place to hang out is planning on another blog hop just like the one we did for Halloween! This is the Holiday Blog Hop and I do hope that you will all come over and join us for the fun! Lots of great holiday ideas and lots of prizes along the way! See you there!!

Check out this participating blogger for an "early" giveaway!! http://beautifulcrazyscrappylife.blogspot.com/2010/11/its-that-time-again.html

I found a very talented artist!

2010-10-15T17:50:00.003-04:00

Check out Lisa's "Living In Color" Blog......you won't be disappointed!!

Paper Secrets Spooky Blog Haunt ~ Oct. 15th!

2010-10-15T11:35:00.003-04:00

Come on over and join us in the Spooky Blog Haunt taking place at Paper Secrets ~ it's my new place to hang out on the web!!

http://papersecrets.friendhood.net/blog-candy-blog-hops-f5/2010-paper-secrets-spooky-blog-haunt-oct-15-18th-t1014.htm

So much fun! So many challenges!!

The Best Laid Plans....

2010-10-15T10:22:00.006-04:00

Ok you know what they say about the best laid plans right?? Well I have a renewed determination to post in my blog but I have no grand ideas of trying to catch up from where I left off so let me give you a short update of what has been going on in my life since I last posted.......

I'M A GRANDMA!!!!!!

That says it all doesn't it?!! ~~GRIN~~

Grayson was born July 7, 2007 and he is the light of my life! Pat and I have been so fortunate to be able to watch him every weekend since he was born and WOW! how he has changed our outlook on life! He is an amazing little boy who is now 3 years old. He has such a cute personality ~ he loves being the jokester ~ he LOVES trains, cars and firetrucks ~ and, unfortunately, he has asthma and severe eczema. He was just released earlier this week from his 2nd hospital stay due to asthma. My poor little guy! :( Aside from his medical challenges though Grayson is one of those kids that you just can't believe is real ~ he uses his manners (most of the time), he sits quietly and patiently for the dentist, barber, pastor, etc. , he loves to share, he never fusses when it's time for his nap or bedtime, he happily brushes his teeth, he loves to eat his vegetables and fruits, and his smile and kisses and hugs are the most amazing you could ever imagine!

I LOVE HIM!!!

OOPSIE!

2008-03-25T09:31:00.007-04:00

Have I ever been a bad blogger or what??? Goodness gracious so much has happened since November 2006 ~ where should I begin? I think what I'm going to do is make a list of all the things that I wanted to post on my blog and post each one individually with the date that it should have been posted so that I will be able to look back to events and have the correct date.

I'll make my list while I'm at work this morning and when I get home I'll get busy on the photos that I want to put in my posts and then I'll get to work on getting my blog updated.

What do you think? Are you ready to get caught up on my crazy life?

COLTS WIN THE SUPER BOWL!!

2007-02-05T11:59:00.007-05:00

Pat and I invited Brad, Ashley, and Patty (Brad's mom) over for a Super Bowl party on February 4th. Our Colts were in the Super Bowl!! I decorated with balloons and posters and everything blue including blue vegie dip! I prepared all kinds of goodies and we enjoyed catching up with each other and cheering for our team. (Notice Ashley's "baby bump"? She's now 4 months pregnant!)
We had never enjoyed watching a football game more than on this day. Jumping up and down and screaming and yelling for our Colts...........and it payed off!!

COLTS WIN THE SUPER BOWL!!!
Here's just a few photos from online news reports of the awesome win

Happy Birthday Patrick!

2007-01-28T10:49:00.007-05:00

On January 23rd (Tuesday) I invited the girls and Pat's friend David and his family over to celebrate Pat's 50th birthday with cake and a few little gifts. But this was surely not the way to celebrate the BIG 5-0! I had a huge SURPRISE 50th birthday party planned for Pat on Saturday January 27th and boy was he surprised! There were so many people here to help him celebrate this milestone and he had so much fun!

I had his friend David take him out for the afternoon and quickly kicked into high gear cooking the food and decorating the house and yard. Brian and Bernie (his bosses) helped by illuminating all the yard signs so that he would certainly not miss them when David brought him home in the snowy twilight of the evening. I even put up Over The Hill Party Zone yellow tape at the end of the driveway. And, of course all the signs had something to do with being OLD!!

Pat even had special guests arrive to help him celebrate! Randy and Denise, dear friends from Michigan, drove all the way down to spend a few hours with him on his special day! What a treat!

I really think Pat had the best birthday celebration ever! Look for yourself.......doesn't he look like he's having fun?

She's Engaged!

2006-12-31T20:05:00.003-05:00

New Years Eve............a romantic setting at home in their apartment........Brad proposed on bended knee to my little girl Ashley (ok, not so little but as far as I'm concerned she'll always be my little girl!) and she said YES! The wedding won't be until September because Ashley is still a full time college student and is on my medical insurance which she will need for the baby delivery in July"ish". If they marry now she will lose the insurance which just isn't an option. I scrapped a 2-page layout of the proposal.

The NEWS!

2006-11-14T13:56:00.000-05:00

On November 1st my youngest daughter Ashley and her boyfriend came over with news. I'm going to be a Grandma on (or near) July 1, 2007. Although this came as quite a shock to us, they are very happy so we are happy for them. Since Ashley's insurance is on mine, because she is a full time student, they won't be able to get married till after the baby is born but they are planning the wedding shortly after. I'm so looking forward to a new little one in the family! I only hope that I can come close to being the wonderful grandma that my mom was to my girls.

My Creative Space!

2006-11-12T07:17:00.005-05:00

My youngest daughter is the manager of the video department at our local Marsh but unfortunately the company is going through changes and needing to make necessary cuts to keep the company above water. My daughter is being transfered to another department but she is in charge of closing down her department first. They have these AWESOME heavy duty 3-drawer units that they keep all their videos/DVD's stored in and I asked what was going to happen to those after the closing.

What? They are being sold to whoever wants them?? ME ME ME!!!! I WANT THEM!

The store manager asked how many I wanted (up to 6) and I told him 6 of course! He said, "They are $10 each." WHAT???? And I can only have 6???? Ok, ok.....I know I should be considerate of others who want some too.

So........I brought them home and totally reorganized my scrap space. WOW!! What a difference!

Here's my new room. What do you think?

A seaon of change...

2006-10-15T12:48:00.000-04:00

...Everyone must take time to sit and watch the leaves turn ...Elizabeth Lawrence

What a beautiful time of year! Fall.....my favorite. The end of summer flowers but the bloom of firey color. The crisp cool air. The crunch of the leaves beneath your feet. The musty smell of a change of season. There is nothing like walking along the trails in the dense woods and viewing all the splendor of God's canvas. What a beautiful world we live in!

Good outcome!

2006-10-13T00:42:00.000-04:00

I have had a lump in my throat for about 3 months and it has caused problems with swallowing and pressure in my left ear. I was referred to an ears, nose, & throat specialist who completed a very UNPLEASANT scope of my throat and then sent me to have a CAT scan for a better look. The results are in......NO CANCER! WHEW!! I was so relieved! I have a lymph gland that is calcifying (I have another one that is many years old at my jaw line) and it shouldn't be a problem to leave it alone but if it continues to disrupt my swallowing or causing too much pressure on my ear he will remove the lymph gland. There is something to be said about the power of prayer!!

I've been TAGGED!

2006-10-07T20:07:00.000-04:00

by Rachel that is!

I have to list 5 weird things about me and tag 5 other people...
1. No matter where I am....if I put a blanket on me I WILL fall asleep!
2. I get chronic hiccups! Sometimes it will take an hour or more to stop them!
3. My left foot stays ice cold all the time....year round!
4. I *like* fruitcake. :)
5. I love every kind of vegetable there is....even brussel sprouts and lima beans!

Okay, now to tag folks:
Kisa
Christina
Amber
Kathy
Charlee

At 49 years old.......I am UNWRITTEN

2006-09-28T12:28:00.001-04:00

This says it all for me right now! I am at a turning point in my life. I am ready for a new start. I am ready to write my new beginning. I'm ready to open up and feel who I am and what I want....I want to feel life, I want to experience new levels of existence. It is time for me to define who I am and where I'm going and what I want to accomplish. My life begins now.....

"Unwritten"
I am unwritten, can't read my mind, I'm undefined I'm just beginning, the pen's in my hand, ending unplanned Staring at the blank page before you Open up the dirty window Let the sun illuminate the words that you could not find Reaching for something in the distance So close you can almost taste it Release your inhibitions Feel the rain on your skin No one else can feel it for you Only you can let it in No one else, no one else Can speak the words on your lips Drench yourself in words unspoken Live your life with arms wide open Today is where your book begins The rest is still unwritten Oh, oh, oh I break tradition, sometimes my tries, are outside the lines We've been conditioned to not make mistakes, but I can't live that way Staring at the blank page before you Open up the dirty window Let the sun illuminate the words that you could not find Reaching for something in the distance So close you can almost taste it Release your inhibitions Feel the rain on your skin No one else can feel it for you Only you can let it in No one else, no one else Can speak the words on your lips Drench yourself in words unspoken Live your life with arms wide open Today is where your book begins Feel the rain on your skin No one else can feel it for you Only you can let it in No one else, no one else Can speak the words on your lips Drench yourself in words unspoken Live your life with arms wide open Today is where your book begins The rest is still unwritten Staring at the blank page before you Open up the dirty window Let the sun illuminate the words that you could not find Reaching for something in the distance So close you can almost taste it Release your inhibitions Feel the rain on your skin No one else can feel it for you Only you can let it in No one else, no one else Can speak the words on your lips Drench yourself in words unspoken Live your life with arms wide open Today is where your book begins Feel the rain on your skin No one else can feel it for you Only you can let it in No one else, no one else Can speak the words on your lips Drench yourself in words unspoken Live your life with arms wide open Today is where your book begins The rest is still unwritten The rest is still unwritten The rest is still unwritten Oh, yeah, yeah

Wicked Chicago Tour

2006-07-10T15:45:00.000-04:00

I arranged for my dear online friend Kathy Carr and I to get together in Chicago on Saturday, July 8th, to go see "Wicked". On my way up to Chicago I stopped along the way to meet another online scrapbooking friend Holly. What a wonderful family they are and we were able to spend a bit of time chatting and getting to know each other better. And before I left we promised to get together again soon! Then off for the rest of my drive to Chicago where I met Kathy at our hotel "Allegro". What a fun blend of colors! Totally art deco right in the heart of the theater district of Chicago! We dined at the magnificent 312 Chicago restaurant for dinner and breakfast and I must say that this is one of the finest dining experiences I've ever had in my life! I highly recommend this restaurant to anyone finding themselves in the Chicago area! "Wicked" was by far one of the best plays I've seen in many years and would love to go see it again! Then before leaving Chicago we took a double decker tour of the beautiful windy city! Oh what fun we had!!

25 Years!

2006-02-14T12:20:00.005-05:00

WOW! Time sure does fly! Patrick and I are celebrating our 25th Anniversary today. Our silver anniversary! Amanda and Ashley gave us a beautiful silver plate engraved with:

Patrick & Shirley Ross
February 14, 2006

We hope your next 25 years be filled with happiness.
May your love last forever.

Love Always,
Amanda and Ashley

It was so sweet of them to remember our very special day in such a nice way. (Thank you girls!)

I made Pat a very special mini album card and then I scrapped a layout about it. Here's the layout:

I love you Patrick! I'm looking forward to another 25 years (PLUS)!!

Happy 49th Birthday!

2006-01-30T06:33:00.003-05:00

Patrick's 49th birthday was on January 23 and I had a surprise for him! I told him that the girls were going to be working on Monday the 23rd and asked if we could celebrate on Friday when they would be off work and we could all be together. Of course he said "Sure!"

But remember what I said........I had a surprise for him!! You see we have a beautiful theater here in Indianapolis, it's called the Murat, and one of Pat's favorite comedians was going to be entertaining there the weekend after his birthday! So I went downtown to the theater to try to buy tickets and after some searching in the computer the lady at the window begins shaking her head no and finally said, "There are no seats available." I was so disappointed and angry at myself for not getting there sooner but actually I never imagined this would be a sold out event! I explained to the lady that I had wanted to suprise my husband for his birthday with a show featuring his fav comedian and she said, "Hold on just a minute, let me check one more thing." Then I hear her say to herself, "Wow! I can't believe those are available!" She steps back up to the window and tells me that she isn't sure why these are available but a VIP season holder had made their seats available for purchase for that particular evening and the seats are the ROYALTY SEATS 1 & 2!!!!!! THE BEST SEATS IN THE THEATER!!!!!! BUT, I would have to pay more per ticket. Of course my first thought is that the price will be way out of my range but I asked anyway, "How much more?" She said, "They are an additional $5 per ticket to cover the cost of us handling the sale for our season ticket holder. OMG!!!! I just about yelled out! What a fortunate stroke of luck!! Those tickets are mine!!!

I invited the girls to go out to dinner with us and told Pat that I wanted to go to a nice restarant for dinner. (I had to tell him a nice dinner so that he would be dressed up a little bit for the theater!) At the end of dinner I told him that I would take care of the bill because this evening was his birthday surprise from me! He looked very confused and that was when I pulled out the tickets and told him about the rest of the evenings plans. He couldn't believe it!! Look at this face........is that one of disbelief or not?

I could hardly contain myself! It was so sweet seeing his face when I told him that I had very special theater tickets for him and when he realized who he was going to see he was ecstatic! The evening was perfect and we were so close to Larry that we could reach out and touch him!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY PAT!!!!! I LOVE YOU!