Administrative Assistant's Day 4/06

Wednesday 4/26/06.... Professional Administrative Day..... Pete, our boss, told Bonnie (my co-worker and 2nd Best Friend) that he would take us out to lunch at Appleby's to celebrate ..... Of course when Bonnie and I started talking about what we should wear.... things started to go a bit to the far side.....as always with the two of us... .. And before we knew it we came up with the little plan to have a some fun with Pete...... We decided we'd go all out and wear something way out there and let him think that was what we planned to wear for our luncheon outing...... Being a Red Hat Lady.... my outfit was a given..... Bonnie had to search her closet but was also able to find just the perfect outfit...... Here I am in mine... I had to stop off at my good friend Jan's home and pick up a few extras.... A little extra bling-bling....including the lovely red boa around my neck..... Just that extra touch I was looking for.... Jan took this picture just before I headed off to the office.... giggling the whole way....just imagining the look on Pete's face when he got his first look at ole BonBon and MerMer..... Here's Bonnie in her get-up.... getting a little needed help from our good friend, Vicki.... BonBon had bling-bling everywhere!! And I'm just loving those sunglasses..... Gives her a look of sophistication don't you think??
Vicki was on the ball with the camera and quick to catch Pete's expression as we walked into his office (Each of us tryinig very hard to suppress our giggles... and look serious)....... I think we got just the reaction we were looking for from this picture..... He didn't know what to think.... and we kept him thinking that this was what we planned to wear right up until time to leave.... What a fun morning that made for BonBon and I.....LOL Of course getting him to pose with us took a little convincing.... but we weren't about to be put off..... Way too much thought and work went into our planning to let him off the hook now....
Of course we had to get a shot of the double-trouble team posing in all our glory.... How do ya like those red ankle socks.... Nice touch don't you think....
A little close up shot of MerMer.....
And a little close up shot of BonBon.....
Mike the mail man showed up while the cameras were still out... so of course couldn't let him leave without getting him to pose with us..... The look on his face when he walked through the door was well worth our little dress extravaganza as well......
And did we get any work done??? Of course we did... Here we are hard at work filing.....


Finally it was time to go out to lunch.... and to our good fortune.... a client came in to keep Pete busy.... and Bonnie and I made mad dashes to change into more suitable office/luncheon attire..... After the client left and Pete came out into the outer office, he was much relieved to see the change ......
This is the dessert BonBon and I shared..... Mmmmmmm mmmmm mmmmm GOOD!!! And Pete not being much of a chocolate lover..... didn't have any at all..... He doesn't know what he was missing!!!
We had a great lunch and great time reminiscing our previous hours of planning and surprising Pete....... We really had him thinking he was taking us out to lunch in those outfits...... And BonBon and I spent much of our morning giggling and enjoying every moment of his discomfort at the thought of appearing in public with the two of us......I think this is a day he won't soon forget.... although I'm sure he'd like to ......By the time we headed back to the office.... we were so full and TIRED.... we tried to talk Pete into letting us sit in the car awhile and take a nap.... but that didn't work..... Time to get back to work...... Thanks, Pete, not only for taking us to lunch...... BUT also for being such a great boss and good sport.....

Visit from Jay 4/17/06

On 7/17/06... We got a visit from Bruce's son, Jay.... He got here right around 5 o'clock ..... Although we only had the one evening together... it was great to see him and we enjoyed the visit we had.... We had some Easter Dinner left overs and spent a quiet evening visiting and watching a little TV... Everyone was ready for bed by 9:30..... Of course I had to get my camera out and get at least these couple of pictures.... but did manage to hold myself back from forcing the guys to pose for me.....

We loved our time with you Jay.... looking forward to seeing again in June....

Easter Sunday 4/16/06

Easter Sunday Morning (4/16/06)... Bruce and I rose early and as we prepared to go to church... I also started preparing our dinner for later in the afternoon when Olivia and the boys would arrive.... Once all that was underway... we set off for church... What a wonderful service we had as we all joined together giving praise and thanks to our SAVIOR... JESUS CHRIST... Once service was over.. we started home... I called Olivia and found out they were on their way but had forgotten the Easter eggs they colored the next morning... so Bruce and I stopped at the grocery store and picked some eggs up along with some food coloring.... To our surprise... when the Russells arrived.... Klaus was with them.... What a great surprise and delight for me... I had no idea he was still in town... thought he had already headed for SC.... We had him take a few pictures of Bruce and I together before we changed from our church clothes.... For the first time in several years... I finally bought myself a new Easter Outfit so I wanted to get a picture of it... Here's Bruce making sure I'm all in place... Klaus shot this one of us in front of the "favorite" spot for posing... in front of the fireplace... (Debbie helped me shop for my new outfit... we bought it one weekend... and this weekend we shopped for the shoes)
Bruce thought he'd like one of us outside too......
Here Bruce and Klaus are looking through some of his "CAR" magazines... Bruce is pointing out this new truck he thought Klaus might like.... actually it isn't even on the market yet... A Dodge Rampage.... has all these great qualities that would be most beneficial to Klaus in his line of work...
Klaus showing Olivia his "new" dream truck... She says he better start saving.... so when it finally hits the market, he can afford to buy it... lol
A little glimpse of our ham.... way more than we could eat... so of course sent plenty home with them....

Easter Sunday Morning (4/16/06)... Bruce and I rose early and as we prepared to go to church... I also started preparing our dinner for later in the afternoon when Olivia and the boys would arrive.... Once all that was underway... we set off for church... What a wonderful service we had as we all joined together giving praise and thanks to our SAVIOR... JESUS CHRIST... Once service was over.. we started home... I called Olivia and found out they were on their way but had forgotten the Easter eggs they colored the next morning... so Bruce and I stopped at the grocery store and picked some eggs up along with some food coloring.... To our surprise... when the Russells arrived.... Klaus was with them.... What a great surprise and delight for me... I had no idea he was still in town... thought he had already headed for SC.... We had him take a few pictures of Bruce and I together before we changed from our church clothes.... For the first time in several years... I finally bought myself a new Easter Outfit so I wanted to get a picture of it... Here's Bruce making sure I'm all in place... Klaus shot this one of us in front of the "favorite" spot for posing... in front of the fireplace... (Debbie helped me shop for my new outfit... we bought it one weekend... and this weekend we shopped for the shoes)
Bruce thought he'd like one of us outside too......
Here Bruce and Klaus are looking through some of his "CAR" magazines... Bruce is pointing out this new truck he thought Klaus might like.... actually it isn't even on the market yet... A Dodge Rampage.... has all these great qualities that would be most beneficial to Klaus in his line of work...
Klaus showing Olivia his "new" dream truck... She says he better start saving.... so when it finally hits the market, he can afford to buy it... lol
A little glimpse of our ham.... way more than we could eat... so of course sent plenty home with them....

Coloring Eggs and Hiding them for the big Easter Egg Hunt

The night before Easter.... the Russells colored their Easter Eggs to bring to Nana's and Bruce's house Easter Day.... Unfortunately.... they didn't realize until they were nearly here that they forgot the eggs and Easter candy.... On our way home from Church I called Olivia to let them know we were on our way home and to find out when they'd arrive.... Hearing that that they forgot the Easter eggs, Bruce and I stopped at Big M and picked up some eggs and food coloring and by the time the Russells arrived, I had them nearly finished boiling and Mommy and the boys got things set up to start coloring.... Jasonn trying to get his egg to just the right color....
Papa and Mommy helping the boys with their egg coloring....
Getting creative and adding some dots to one of the eggs....
All done and ready to add to the other eggs....
I also bought some already filled plastic eggs for the boys.... And aren't these cute little bunny eggs... I filled them with a little money for the boys.... Mixing it up a little and keeping it interesting for them... We also hid them about the backyard for the boys to find...
While Olivia kept the boys busy inside, Papa and I headed outside... His job was hiding the eggs... and mine of course... taking pictures of him hiding the eggs....
Hiding some in places they'd have to look harder to find... and others in places more obvious....
Try as he would... he just could not get the egg to stay put in that tree.... But finally all eggs were hidden..... Mission accomplished!
Now time for the boys to find them.... OK Boys.... COME ON OUT!!!

Easter Egg Hunt

Now that the eggs are all colored and dinner behind us.... It's finally time for Jasonn & Kyle to look for the eggs Papa hid about the back yard.... Easter pails in hand the boys are ready to start their hunt for the illusive Easter egg..... Trying to make sure one didn't get more eggs than the other... Both boys were in a mad dash about the back yard searching.... Funny how many we watched them run right past in their hurry to out do one another..... towards the end we had to play the warm/cold game with them .....
Looking here and looking there....
Here's a well hid egg.....
And Kyle finds it.... Yaaay Kyle!!!
Papa (Klaus) took this picture of me and Olivia right after the egg hunt... We had noticed that we had on just the reverse top combinations... black and white over shirt and white with black over shirt....
Once all the eggs were found... it was time to bring them inside and see what other goodies Nana & Bruce had for them.... Here they are showing off all their new stash!!
I bought them this interesting stuff called "FLOAM".... It was a big hit with the boys.... It's really neat stuff and kept them real busy making all kinds of interesting stuff with it....

Time starting to run short before they had to leave.... and still Dessert and coffee left to partake in... Tiramisu!! No I didn't bake it.... Store bought but pretty darn good for a store bought dessert too... I put on a pot of Hazelnut flavored coffee (Gavalia) and we all sat back to catch our breath over coffee and dessert... Mmmmm mmmm good!! Needless to say, I doubt I need to eat anything more for the remainder of this day!!
Jasonn & Kyle enjoying their tiramisu....
Bruce took this picture of me and Klaus..... Had to have one more picture of my son and I together... He told me it could be another year before I see him again..... All though we may get to see Olivia and the boys once or twice more before they head out in June (HOPEFULLY)... Work schedules will probably play a big part in that.... But hopefully we'll be able to figure something out....
Time to leave... the boys are already in the Jimmy .... Right after they left I realized they forgot their ham... called them on their cell and they were able to turn back before they even got out of the park.... How'd we ever do it before the cell phone came along....???
What a wonderful day.... And like all great days... they always end way too soon.... but what wonderful memories we have to carry us through until the next time..... We sure are going to miss you until then.... Love you BUNCHES!!

Alyson's Visit... 4/15/06

Alyson and Ben made a trip to New York for Easter weekend... They had a lot of places to go and people to see during their short visit.... So while Ben was visiting with his Grandmother.... Alyson stopped by and spent a few hours with us..... It was so good to see her again.....During the visit she and her Dad had a great time looking through his car magazines and talking about all the different cars they liked.... owned.... or would like to own... Notice all the car magazines lying about .... It was fun for Bruce looking through the magazines and sharing his interests in cars with his daughter.... He doesn't get that much enthusiasm from me..... After a little lunch, I baked a batch of Chocolate Chip cookies to snack on.... Dad and daughter shared a plate of cookies along with a glass of cold milk.....(OK... I had a couple cookies for myself as well)
We had a very enjoyable visit with Alyson and loved hearing all about her new job and the different things she and Ben have been doing since their move to VA.... But all too soon it was time for her to leave.... Here's Dad giving her one last hug good-bye before she left.... We had a great visit Alyson... Thanks for including us in your busy schedule.... We can't wait until the next visit home!!