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....