Our Christmas Morning....

Christmas morning arrived for us right around 7 a.m.... Once up we took our time getting around..... First a cup of hot coffee to get us started (International coffee is still coffee) and then we made our way back to the living room to check out our gifts from Klaus, Olivia, and boys.... Bruce and I had agreed not to get anything for each other this year as we had already gotten ourselves a few nice things throughout the year and really didn't want or need anything.... But it was still nice that we had a couple of gifts beneath the tree to open.... I really liked that they (Olivia) thought to put an "It's a Wonderful Life" angel on one of our packages..... She remembered our tradition every year of watching the movie with the Shoen's.....


Knowing that Bruce has his big ole Red Dodge Ram truck (with a hemi), they couldn't go wrong buying him stuff with the Dodge emblem ...

And oh the JACKET!!!.... He really liked that.... Had no trouble having him try it on and model it for me.....

Once Bruce was finished opening his gifts, then it was my turn..... I got a pair of really nice black dress gloves with a matching black shawl....

But I have to say, what I really liked the most were my charms.... One was of star fish, and the other of a dolphin.... The dolphin being my favorite, as it reminded me of our day at the beach when we saw them swimming in the ocean and of one of the pictures I took of Olivia and the boys and later saw I had also captured a picture of a dolphin jumping out of the water....

Thanks for the great gifts Russell Family.... We just loved them!!! But not as much as we LOVE EACH OF YOU!!!

2007 - Christmas Baby

At 11:30 a.m., on Christmas morning, our grand-daughter, Moriah, gave birth to a beautiful baby girl.... Natalie Sky....... Natalie weighed in at 7 lbs 2 oz with a full head of black hair..... Wish I could post pictures but unfortunately, they live in New Hampshire and Bruce and I won't be able to get down to visit with them until mid January 08..... We received a couple photos via cell phone photograpy, which at least has given us an idea what she looks like but can't share here.... You can count on our return, I'll be busy posting plenty of pictures of our newest great grand daughter, our first great grand daughter, as well as my daughter and her family.....

Visit from Jay & Amy

December 23rd..... Bruce's son, Jay, and his lovely bride, Amy, stopped in to spend a little time with us on their way to Albany to visit with her family......

This is their dog, Armani' .... Armani' will be staying with Amy's Dad while she and Jay are in Iraq (they're leaving in February).....

A family photo session before they leave..... (That tripod Bruce gave me is coming in real handy these days).....

Thanks.... Jay & Amy.... for fitting us into your busy schedule... we know you have a lot of family you're trying to get to in a very short period of time.... You'll be in our thoughts and our prayers while you're away..... Can't wait to see you again when you return home!!!! WE LOVE YOU!!!!

Office Christmas Party - 2007

December 21st.... Time for our Office Christmas Party..... A little Christmas music to set the mood....

Plenty of good food.... (way more than enough I might add).....

Gifts beneath the tree.......

All the right ingredients for a good ole office Christmas Party..... Here's Pete and Mark with their gift from me.....

I filled their jars with an assortment of M&M candies, Bridge Mix, Nuts & Berries, and some Chex Mix......(Brain Food as Pete calls it).....

Bonnie (now in full retirement) was also present for our party.... Just wouldn't seem the same without her there..... Here she's opening a gift from me......

Just a little bling to wear to one of those wild parties she'll be going to ......

Another gift from me to Pete was this photo I took of a beautiful sunrise when visiting my son and his family in South Carolina... Pete had said how much he really liked that picture, so I had it blown up and matted and framed for him....(I even autographed it for him)....

Bonnie gave me this neat gift..... Once Christmas is over I plan to find just the right place to set this out ..... I think it should be a very soothing sound as the water flows over the rocks....

My gifts all packed and ready to take home.....

Before the day ended, Santa stopped in for a visit..... (Mark trying to decide if he should give Santa his list or not.... probably cause he knows he was more naughty than nice (smile)).....

Bonnie and I putting in our request.....(We're always good)

Pete making sure Santa has the correct dimensions of his gift, while Mark's in the back office loading up his plate again.....

One of our vets stopped by with a box of chocolates...... We're very blessed with a unique clientele of veterans who have served our country from WWII all the way to the present.....

What a fun day we had..... Late afternoon we were paid a visit by a small group of carolers even..... I ate way too much food (of course) and could barely move by the time I left the office.... And believe it or not, there was plenty of left-overs to take home with us....

Before we knew it, it was time to wind things down and start packing things up and think about heading home..... And believe it or not.... we did manage to get a load of work done as well..... Just a few more days and Christmas will be here..... Hope you all have a good one!!!

Hallelujah Hunnies' Christmas Dinner - 2007

December 18th, 2007.... Dinner with the Hallelujah Hunnies' to celebrate Christmas together..... This first photo is of our two Queen Mums (original and current).... Donna (on the right) started the club, and Linda has since been given the honor of being our new Queen Mum.... Donna is now in an Honorary position... . As Linda has become so active, since she's joined our group, coming up with new ideas and events for the Hallelujah Hunnies to do, it was voted unanimously that she should now hold the position of Queen Mum....


Lil brought each of us the cutest little Christmas "JOY" lamb..... Every Christmas she's come up with a cute gift for us.... Thanks Lil for your thoughtfulness.... I just love my little "JOY" lamb....

Isn't he just adorable.....


Ms. Betty....

Ms. Debbie....

Ms. Merredith....

Ms. Helen.... (smiling and always ready for a good time this one)....

Our waiter Brandon also got a "JOY" lamb.....

Ms. Linda with her gift from me.....

Ms. Donna delighted with her gift......

Ms. Jan and Ms. Debbie showing off theirs....

(A Pink Hatter) Ms. Theresa with her Christmas stocking.... (Sorry this turned out so blurry Theresa)....

Another Pink Hatter, Ms. Ellen with her gift.....

And yet another Pink Hatter.... Ms. Kim showing off her new "bling"....

Ms. Lil with her gift.....

And Ms. Betty with hers .....

Ms. Helen gleefully showing off her gift.....

Dinner has been served and eaten.... Gifts given, received, and opened.... Wonderful conversation between good friends has been had.... Reluctantly our evening is drawing to an end..... And the moment we all look forward to finally arrives.....time to pay the bill..... Jan and Debbie counting out their money making sure they have enough... No one wants to end our joyful evening in the kitchen washing dishes .....

Jan says, "Yay" I don't have to wash dishes!!!".....

And here we all are ..... posing pretty in front of the giant Christmas Tree they had set up in the main dining area.... We had our young waiter, Brandon, to take it for us..... (Thanks Brandon, you did a good job).....

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE.... FROM THE HALLELUJAH HUNNIES TO YOU!!!

Christmas Dinner-out with Girls from Work

Throughout the year , the girls from work (and I) like to get together for an occassional dinner out.... So of course a Christmas Dinner is a must....We all work for the same county, but in different positions and although a few of us use to work side by side, we've long since been scattered about to different locations through out the county.... We try to stay in touch, but you know how that goes... Everyone has such busy lives..... This is our chance to catch up ..... A time we all look forward to ....

Ann playing around .... I think this is the first time I got a picture of her with her eyes open, so had to post it.... (Sorry Ann)...

And of course with every dinner out..... there's good food to go along with good conversation....

(Yeah... this is my plate.... the bland one... Fettuccine Alfredo... one of my favorites)

And here we all are... We had a great waitress who was willing to snap a few photos of us.....

Starting from left to right: Me, Cheryl, Vicki, Ann, Chip, Brenda, and Sue....

Merry Christmas from all of us..... to all of you......