Sunday, August 24, 2008

Today we got to meet Logan and Olivia in person. Aren't they sweet?? Logan and Olivia will be 6 months old on September 10. I think they would like to spend way more time with us. What do you think. Jasmine has a friend at the lake. This young lady likes to sit on the deck and look into our bedroom at Jasmine. Jasmine didn't want to play so Mrs. Duck waited patiently! I have all kinds of pictures to blog so I'll get busy and get them posted. Don't give up on me. I promise to post this week!!

Wednesday, August 6, 2008

Greetings from the humidity capitol of the world!! You would think I would sweat off a few pounds in this heat but no such luck. Friday we went to Manhattan, KS for the wedding of Laurie Wilms and Jake Powell. It was a perfect wedding.

Jake is a fireman in Manhattan, KS and his dad is a fireman in Wichita, KS. The get-a-way vehicle was so fitting:

The reception was held at the Kansas State University Alumni Center and the DJ was the K-State announcer. We had a good time! Here we are with Pastor Mark and Leigh Frith, Bev and Rob Henning, Melissa and Amy.

Jim and Lisa are the very proud parents of the bride. Lisa is a planner extraordinaire!! The smiles tell the whole story. We spent the night in Manhattan and slowly made our way home on Saturday. Saturday evening we went to dinner at Jumpin' Catfish with the Rinne's, the Brandt's, Kari and Marilyn. YUM. Sunday we spent a leisurely day doing very little. We met for our Bible study at 4:00, went to 6:0o worship service and then to dinner with the Bible study gang.

Monday was Alex's 30th birthday. Bruce is twice as old as Alex this year! They are both getting OLD! We will celebrate his birthday the weekend of August 16 and 17th so we are looking forward to that. Our friends Mark and Mary Gash gave us tickets to the Royals vs Red Sox for Monday night. It was 97 when the game started and way down to 94 when it finished. It was a great game and the Royals actually won 4-3.

We had some good news from Mayo Clinic on Tuesday. Bruce's PSA was up a tiny little bit in April so they retested it the end of July. His PSA was exactly the same in July as it was in April and the doctor was very pleased with that news as were we! God blessed us yet again! We are always thankful for a good report. He will have his blood tested again in three months.

Tuesday was another retirement party at work. This one was easy for me though because the retiree and his wife bought all the food and brought it in. All we had to do was set it up and serve it. Jimmy Watkins retired with 42 years of government service!

Here's a shot of the kitchen crew: Lisa Watkins (wife of the retiree), Linda Wall, Shirley Goode, Cheryl Brewer and me. Lisa is Supervisory Air Traffic Control Specialist. Linda is a secretary. Shirley is the Manager of the Automation Unit. Cheryl is an Air Traffic Controller and I'm the Queen of the Office. We know how to give a party. The blond guy is my boss, Brad Schwartz. He is presenting Jimmy with his plaque and certificates. No gold watches from Uncle Sam - after all Jimmy only worked for 42 years!

Bruce, Brian and Monica Boutte. Is chocolate cake on Bruce's diet? Brian worked for Bruce before Bruce retired and Brian still works there. Monica and I have been friends for a good long time. We even made a trip to Cancun together before Bruce and I were married. Monica worked for Jimmy when she was in high school. She's a stay-at-home mom now.

My boss gave me a cash award so last night we went to Best Buy and picked out an Ipod. I have loaded a few songs on it and I'm having fun with it. As I sit here typing, Brooks and Dunn are singing in my ears. I should be sleeping but I'm having too much fun. Jasmine is not getting any better. She wet out bed Tuesday night, Wednesday morning and tonight. The medicine is not doing anything. I think our only option is dog diapers. Oh joy of joys. It's 10:45 so I better get my self to bed. Man I hate getting up in the morning!

Wednesday, July 29, 2008

Greetings from the working stiffs!! Life here seems to be moving quickly these days. We work during the day and putter around in the evening. There is something on the calendar every day for the next two weeks. This past weekend Bruce went to the lake but I stayed in town so I could attend a baby shower for Melissa's friend, Molly Murray. Wow, baby things have really changed! Friday night after work I went out with a friend from work and then spent a couple hours holding a 10 day old baby girl. I really could have taken her home with me!! She is the cutest little thing with long fingers and toes and beautiful red hair. Speaking of hair, I had quite an experience on Monday. I was helping on an interview panel. After we finished the interviews for the day the three of us on the panel were sitting in the conference room discussing the day. I had a pen in my hand and the cap to the pen in the other hand. During the conversation, I had been putting the pen in and out of the lid. I laid the pen down on the table, ran my hands through my hair (one hand on each side of my head and then both hands over my forehead and over the top of my head. For some reason I looked at my hands and they were COVERED with blue in. About the same time the other people in the room noticed that my face was blue and my hair was blue. I looked like a Smurf! Of course I had ink all over the table and all over my clothes. The good news is that I had a 4:30 appointment for a haircut and color. The hair stylist was really not impressed with my blue hair! Good news is that I love my new haircut and my new shiny blonde hair. We are enjoying the fruits and vegetables from a friend's garden. Amy has had dinner with us the last two evenings. There is nothing like a tomato right out of the garden. Bruce is trying to go to bed but Jasmine is barking because I'm not in bed with them. Guess I'll do what she wants!

Sunday, July 20, 2008

Yes we are alive - just boring old working people! Since I've written last we've spent two weekends at the lake. Both of our daughters and Amy's friend Leah went with us to celebrate the 4th of July. We got in lots of skiing, tubing, and boat riding even though it was a holiday weekend. Gas prices have lessened the boat traffic. YEAH! The next weekend Bruce and I went down alone. Our friends Ken and Ginny Taylor were staying at our condo because their kids and friends were staying at their condo. We had a great time. When we got there Friday night Ginny had cocktails ready and had dinner in the oven. It was great having a wife! We played all weekend. This weekend we stayed in Kansas City as other friends were using our condo for their family. Our weekdays are always busy but nothing exciting enough to write about. Last night we went to the Plaza with Rob and Bev Henning. We strolled through the Plaza and had dinner at Houston's. Om my. The good was FANTASTIC. Undoubtedly the best ribs I've ever eaten. We walked off a tiny portion of the food we ate and were home at 10:30. Tomorrow Bruce and I are going to Ft. Worth. I'm going to learn about Federal Appropriation Law. Bruce is going to keep me company and to drive me around from shopping center to shopping center. I'm glad he is going along. Melissa is going to stay with Jasmine. Jasmine is having a few difficulties. She is getting old and requires more and more care. I've washed bedding two days in a row because of her accidents. She's taking some medicine and we are going to try to see the vet again tomorrow before we leave. We miss our "retired"life more and more every day but every day we are one day closer to returning to the good life!

Tuesday, July 1, 2008

Half of 2008 is gone already. Wow. that means we have only half a year left so we better get busy and make the most of it. Sunday we stopped by the motor home shed on the way from the lake back to Kansas City. When Bruce opened the door I saw that motor home and about cried. WHAT ARE WE DOING WORKING? Then he started the engine and I really did cry. Jasmine got really excited when we put her inside the RV. She just knew that this stint was finished and we were headed out on the road. We had to talk long and hard to each other about the benefits of working because we were both ready to throw in the towel and take off. I told Bruce that he had to go to the RV alone next month because I can't take it. When we got home we went to church and then went out to dinner with our friends the Hennings and the Smiths. We tried Spin Pizza. That was a big yum. Bruce has eaten there four times now and they've only been open two weeks. Too bad we don't have stock in that place. This week has been uneventful. Bruce finished his quarterly reports and I have been doing whatever it is that I do at work. Last night I tried a new place for a pedicure and a manicure. Let me just say that it was WAY too expensive. My nails look nice but not THAT nice. Tonight I got my eyebrows waxed. It's just a crime that women have to do so much to themselves just to stay looking decent. Tonight was family night and Melissa chose Pei Wei. As always I am stuffed. Now Jasmine is sleeping in her bed and Bruce is shopping at Lowe's. YIKES! What do you supposed he's buying tonight?

Saturday, June 28, 2008

This has been a busy week. We returned to Kansas City Monday night. Tuesday night we went out to dinner with Melissa and Amy. Wednesday night Bruce went to dinner with the Smiths, Hennings and Keefes. Thursday night Amy and Kari Swan joined us for dinner. Friday night we drove to the lake. I finally posted a few reunion pictures. It is the post right before this one so be sure to check it out. Work was slow this week and for that I am very thankful. However, I forgot that I had volunteered to help put on a retirement party for a gentleman who was retiring after 35 years with the FAA. He wanted something simple so my friend Shirley Goode and I had a luncheon for him. We called it Bing's Bistro (Jack Bing was retiring). Wednesday night Shirley and I shopped for food and decorations from the time we got off from work until 10:00. Thursday morning we cooked, decorated and hosted the party. Jack and his wife Patti had a great time. While we were getting ready for the party it brought back all kinds of fond memories from Quail Run. That was sure good experience for me! Little did I know I'd be putting on retirement parties this year too. Friday after work Bruce, Jasmine and I drove to the lake for a quiet weekend of relaxation. We met Larry and Kathleen Andrews at Sunrise Cantina for fish tacos about 7:15. YUM. Saturday morning the four of us walked the hill and then went for a great boat ride. We stopped for lunch at a new place called "Coconuts". Another YUM. It decided to rain on us on the way home but it didn't spoil our fun. Bruce is enjying his new swing:

In a few minutes the neighbors are coming over for cocktails. Better get some grub out!!

Family Reunion 2008

The second ever and our first annual Anderson Family Reunion was held the weekend of June 21, 2008 at Sunrise Ridge Condominium complex in Sunrise Beach, Missouri with 29 family members in attendance. We were missing Teri Jo and her family, Troy, Travis and Rick. Everyone had a good time getting reacquainted and for some getting acquainted for the first time. I think the pictures pretty well capture what went on.

The captain sailed the ship:

We loved up on each other:

Some played in the water: Ryan told us about the financial software company he started in Chicago: We played games: We rode on the ship (Dad, Mom, Aunt Delores and Uncle Roger): Craig told tales: (Curt, Vickie, Connie and Craig): We toured Eddie Pue's ranch and his game room in his hangar:

We played some more in the water (doesn't Alex look like he's having fun?)

We made each other laugh:We sat around and talked:

We rode some more on the ship: Bruce skied for the first time behind his brand new boat: We rode the tube some more: We posed for pictures:

After a 4 days of boating, cooking, eating, talking, and playing we drank a little: We all said "good bye": And we fell asleep on the floor at home again:

Sneak Preview - June 23, 2008

We have just returned from our first annual family reunion at our condo complex at Lake of the Ozarks. We had 29 in attendance and had a great time. I actually have pictures and I will share them. This is just a sneak preview of what kind of a weekend we had! Bruce is such a proud papa!!

Monday, June 16, 2008

Today started with Bruce and I going for a 45 minute walk before work. We decided that since Jasmine insists on getting us up so early, we would take advantage of the time. Great way to start the day! Work was rolling along nicely when I realized that being the genius that I am, I booked my boss a return ticket from Ft Worth the day AFTER he wanted to come home. Not good - especially since he wanted to return on Friday and I booked him on Saturday. I made the correct arrangements for the rental car but not the plane ticket. I quickly called the airlines and of course the charge for changing it was $150. I got everything straightened out and then went and told my other boss what I did. He kind of laughed it off. The next task was to tell the budget woman what I did and I was really dreading that. Lucky for me, even with the extra charge I was still under the government contract rate so I am still alive and I am not $150 poorer. Sometimes I just amaze myself! I can hardly wait to see what I pull tomorrow. This evening we took dinner over to Amy's condo. Bruce sprayed for bugs because she saw TWO ants!!! He hung her carbon monoxide detector and her cross and we came home. Next we were off to Costco to buy more stuff for the reunion. The shopping trip reminded me of the many excursions to Sam's and Costco for Quail Run so I had to call my shopping companion Shelly. It was so much fun to talk to her and hear her voice. Rick and Wendy are there so I got to talk to both of them as well. Can't wait to read about their dumpster diving adventures. Now we are enjoying another batch of my mocha frapp0s and are getting ready to start all over again.