Christmas 2005 With the Russells

Christmas Eve, evening... 2005.... the Russell Family arrived just about 7:30 p.m.... After bringing in all their other baggage.... Klaus made one last trip out to the car.... Here he is bringing in this huge box.... just loaded with Christmas presents... And rather than bring Oreo in through the front door... Klaus took him around through the back so he could do his business... and once inside... give him a little time to calm down before letting him loose in the house.... Is was dabatable whether or not Bruce and I wanted to deal with a "dog" in our home... but we decided that spending valuable time with our family was more important then whether or not we had to deal with a dog or not... (Oreo is a dog with a high energy level)....As it turned out... once Oreo acclaimated himself to his surroundings.... he did quiet down a bit and all went rather well....

Here Klaus is finally getting around to putting the presents beneath our tree... It's very important for Klaus and Olivia that they do all they can to provide a good Christmas for their boys... this year no different than the others....

Being grateful to Bruce and I for letting them bring Oreo along... Klaus gave Bruce and I big hugs and a heartfelt thankyou.... It really meant a lot to the whole family they could share their Christmas with Oreo as well as us....

Olivia particuarly like this shot of Klaus giving Bruce a big hug.... Hmmmmm? Wonder why that is?? Hmmmmm??
We decided that a step in helping Oreo feel comfortable with his new surroundings... it wouldn't hurt to let him open one of his Christmas gifts early.... This one is from Bruce and I.... A stocking filled with all kinds of doggie treats.... You go Oreo!!

Here's my grandson, Kyle... jiving with some music he's listening to.... You go Kyle!!! Mr. Music Man....
The downside of their visit was my other grandson... Jasonn.... poor guy.... started out his first night not feeling well .... body aches, complaining of a sore throat, and running a low grade fever... By Christmas day... his temperature was up to nearly 102.... Kind of put a damper on things for him...

Then came Christmas morning.... When Bruce and I woke up... we came out into the living room to find that Klaus had a nice warm fire going in the fire place and Olivia had a pot of hot coffee

brewing in the kitchen.... Not a bad way to start a day.... We let the boys open a couple of presents to keep them happy and then Klaus and Olivia fixed us a really nice breakfast....
We had pancakes, scarmbled eggs, and bacon.... Bruce usually is the one who makes breakfast for the two of us and when we have company... But this morning he got to sit back on the couch and relax and read his morning paper....Thanks for the great breakfast and start to our morning...Klaus & Olivia!!

Ok.... time to open more presents.... Here Oreo gets to open yet another gift.. this one from the Russells... another stocking filled with all kinds of doggie toys.... Not sure who was enjoying them more......

Kyle or Oreo.....

And here's Jasonn... trying to fight past not feeling well and playing with one of his new toys... some kind of magnetic lego toys....

Kyle got the same gift, except in a different color.... From the reaction they showed... I think this was something definitely on their wish list for Christmas.....

Papa had fun handing out the gifts....
And here he even gets a nice friendly "Thank You" from Olivia... I think he likes the way she says thank you, from the smile on his face..... Jasonn and Kyle taking a little break here to check out some of their new toys.... And Bruce checking out some of the directions to one of their new games....
Klaus is checking out some of Oreo's doggie treats.... Better watch him Oreo... you might have to learn to share ......
Olivia getting a little thank you loving from Oreo... He's a very affectionate dog.... he loves his family and they love him....
Doggie kisses.... yuck!!!

We got the boys a couple of Yoyos each... Here Papa is checking out one of them... Much to our surprise they also made music.... That was kind of neat...

Jasonn & Kyle showing off a few of their gifts.... Both boys got a Varsity Basketball shirt from the Nana and Bruce... Both of them play football and now basketball... I was able to catch one of their football practices this fall.... but unfortunately... I have't gotten to see them play basketball... sure would like to catch one of their games or even a practice or two..

As you can see from this shot... Poor Jasonn... still struggling with a sore throat .... Klaus and Olivia got Bruce this really neat Fleece sweat suit... He looks really sharp in it too, guys.... as well as keeps him nice and warm on those cold winter evenings setting around the house watching football.....
This year Bruce and I decided our gift to our kids would be a 8x10 framed portrait of the two of us....
Last year for Christmas... the Russells bought me this beautiful charm bracelet and Jasonn & Kyle gave me a charm from each of them with their birthstone in it.... Klaus gave me another charm for my birthday with his dob and initials on it... This year they added to my charm bracelet with a couple more charms.... Jasonn & Kyle gave me a sparkly snowflake.... They told me that they were told it was one of a kind and they knew they had to get it for me because I was also one of a kind....
Major emotional tear time here..... My heart was overflowing with so much love towards my two special guys....
And if that wasn't emotional enough... Olivia added to it by also giving me a charm from her with her birthstone in it.... Now I'll have the whole Russell family on my bracelet.... Thank you guys for making my Christmas so special .... I'll never forget this one.... NEVER!!! Love you all so very much.... (I suppose I'll be getting one from Oreo next Christmas right.... just to make it really a Russell charm??)

Bruce got me this great chair for my computer desk.... I've been wanting/needing one for some time now.....

Nice chair.... huh!! I really like it alot and it's also very comfortable.... Thank you for my great chair Bruce.... and also for my beautiful new coat (not shown here).... You're the best Honey!!!
Although Bruce got a whole new set of custom made golf clubs this past summer and we agreed they'd be an early Christmas gift for him... I just couldn't let him not have a gift to open... Here he is checking out his new Braun Activator Shavor....

All too soon it was time for the Russells to head out and visit with some of their friends... the original plan was for Klaus and his boys to stay over night in town with one of his friends so they could drive to Massachusetts early the next morning with another one of his friends... Klaus was going to help his Dad out with putting in a new hardwood floor.... Olivia and Oreo were going to head home as she had to work all week... (Retail for you)... Unfortunately... Jasonn was't feeling any better and still running a fever... so he went home with Mommy and Oreo and Klaus and Kyle spent another night with us and left early the next morning after breakfast...
Klaus cooked us another fine breakfast as Kyle sat at the kitchen island counter sipping on some hot chocolate....
And here I am at one of my more constant posts... washing dishes....Good thing I have a nice view outside my window....

And all too soon our Christmas time with the Russells was finally over.... Klaus had his and Kyle's belongings packed up and loaded into the car..... I gave them a ride down to the city to meet up with his friend.... they hit the road to Massachusetts and I headed back home to spend a quiet and peaceful day with Bruce.... We had to rest up for our company coming that evening... Bruce's son, Jay and his his girlfriend, Liz... stopping in on their way to Messena to spend time with Jay's family there.... Alyson would also be stopping over to join us....

Christmas 2005 with Alyson & Ben

Christmas Eve was finally upon us.... A normal work day for Bruce... He was up early and out the door before the sun was even close to rising.... I slept in to a comfortable 7 a.m.... I knew what had to be done and figured I had plenty of time to do it in.... We also figured the earliest we'd get our first visit (from Alyson & Ben) would be somewhere around 2:30 maybe even 3 o'clock in the afternoon... And I wasn't expecting Bruce much before that.... About 11:30 the cell phone rang (Asolomeo)... I knew it was Bruce... and I was knee deep in housework at the time.... He'd just received a call from Alyson... She and Ben would be arriving right around 12:30.... And he'd be home, himself, around the same time....Looking around me, I knew I had way more than an hour's worth of housework facing me and I hadn't even hit the shower yet.... I thanked my husband for his heads up and told him I had no time to visit.... There were things that had to be done.... I don't know how I did it.... But somehow I managed to get things picked up and put away... and even have our dining room table spread out with delectable snacks.... The house was in order, we were ready for company.... And even got my shower in and myself presentable by the time they did arrive..... We had a very enjoyable visit as well.....

After we had a chance to visit and snack a little... It was time for our gifts exchange.... We made our way to the living room, and made ourselves comfortable.....We gave Alyson a framed 8x10 photo of Bruce and I along with an AAA Membership .... Bruce worries about her being on the road traveling as much as she does... We also got her a gift card for Bed, Bath, & Beyond... She says that is one of her favorite places to shop.... Knowing Ben is a Bills fan (take a good look at this one photo... The Bills were playing and guess where his attention really was??)... we decided it was only fitting he got something Bills related.... So we found this nice shirt with the Bill's logo on it.... Nice pose Ben... one can hardly tell your attention was really on the TV and the Bill's game....
Alyson had this great idea of getting her Dad an NFL Giant's Jersey and ran it by her brothers, Jay & Matt, who jumped on board with her idea.... They all went in together and got him this great NFL Giants Jersey.... All he lacks are the shoulder pads to help fill it out...
I'm not sure who the number belongs to... but Bruce and his boys know... And I thought it fitting that it is also his age...
Alyson gave me this great little mirror... It's lighted (3 different settings) and also has a magnifying mirror on the opposite side... With these aging eyes of mine... I'll probably be using that side more than the other.... Thanks Alyson!!

Alyson snapped this little pose of Bruce and I.. All in all we had a wonderful relaxing visit... and as usual... all too short.... but glad for the time together.... This was the first of many holiday visits to come.... Next upcoming visit will be from the Russell clan...My son, Klaus, his wife... Olivia, and their sons, Jasonn & Kyle... and even the dog Oreo.... yep they were able to talk us into allowing Oreo to come along too.... That story in the next set of photos.....

Christmas at the Office 2005

December 21, 2005.... Our Office Christmas Party.... We've been planning if for weeks now... And as usual.... what kind of food we're each going to bring is the main topic of our planning process.... You'd never guess there were only 3 people in our office when you see all the food we bring... But we gladly share with the other offices in our building.... so works out just fine for everyone....
Our little tree is starting to look more like Christmas with the addition of gifts beneath it... We always try to set a limit for ourselves... but for some reason exceed that as well.... But what fun it is to shop for everyone ......
You might think this looks like a lot of food.... But believe it or not.... more was brought in and added to it.... Being a Wednesday... it was also Bruce's day off from work... He usually likes to cook breakfast for us but this morning I told him not to bother... I knew I'd be eating all day and I did.... I brought in a rye boat and a tray of petite fours and truffles, along with some Croghan Balogna.... Vicki brought down some deviled eggs, Pete's wife baked for days and provided us with this beautiful plateful of different types of cookies and breads.... Mmmmm mmm good!... Bonnie brought in cheeses, crackers, nuts, drinks, and more sweets to add to the list of goodies on our little table... Our friends from the adjoining offices said we really knew how to put on a party.... I agree...

Then non too soon....it was then time to open our gifts.... Here's Pete with his gift from BonBon... A neat little flash light and a drink cup for both cold and hot beverages.... just what he'll need out in the woods trying to find the allusive deer....
Of course once he finds that deer.... he'll need something to process it.... and that's what I got for him... a kit full of all kinds of carving stuff... He got it just in time.... He and his hunting buddies were getting together that same evening to process 3 deer they got between them....

And here BonBon and I are with our gifts from Pete... Kim baked us each a small loaf of bread in these neat little ceramic baking pans.... and of course our $$ Gift Certificates for the Mall.... We usually use our Gift Certificates to get great deals on new outfits at one of the stores at the Mall....Once we buy a new outfit, we'll wear it into the office and let Pete see what he bought us this year....
Once the gifts are all open.... then comes the clean up.... And until time to go home, we set our new gifts neatly back beneath the tree.... and every time someone stops in for a bite to eat... which usually happens all through the day....we once again take the opportunity to show off our new stuff....

Mark (works in maintenence and usually stops by our office for his coffee breaks)...finally showed up and we were able to give him his gifts from us... A decorative can filled with "Brain Food" as Pete calls it (he got one too).... and a neat little measurer thing ..... Mark always says not to get him anything... but just wouldn't seem right if we didnt'... He's just like one of us...

Caught this cute shot of BonBon and Mark before he had to leave and get back to his duties caring for the needs of the county workers.... An unending job, isn't that right, Mark!!

Later in the afternoon, Pete's family started to stop in for a visit.... Here he is in the office with his Dad.... giving him a little a little briefing on how the office is run...

Pete's wife, Kim, also stopped by for a short visit.... She couldn't stay very long... She was on her lunch hour....but we were glad she could make it even for a short visit....

And I was able to talk Pete into letting me to take a picture of him and his parents together.... Believe me.... not so easy on his part... but thankfully, his Mom & Dad were more agreeable....

And before he left, we got Mark to take this one of BonBon and I with Pete... Can't you see how his smile is starting to wear a little thin here.... Patience, Pete... the day's almost over and soon the camera will be put away.... soon.... but not just yet....

Finally Bruce showed up to help me out with all my packages.... Took one last picture of everyone standing around saying their good-byes.... and finally.... time to pack away the camera for the time being and gather up my stuff and head home for the day... All in all... it was a great day... Not sure how much work was gotten to... but I think we did manage to get a few things done... Another successful Office Christmas Party ..... A day spent with good friends and family....