Wednesday, February 4- Happy BD Amy

As promised, I finally took my camera to Taco Tuesday last night. The first three pictures are from Taco Tuesday. The rest are from Amy's birthday dinner. I've done something so all my pictures look like html code when I am working on the post so I can't figure out where to put the writing. I'll try to figure that out. Any suggestions?

Tuesday, February 3, 2009

This week flew by like all the rest. Let's see if I can remember what we've been up to. First of all let me say that I have 19 months to work. We thought about quitting again but my annuity will be almost $11,000 a year more if I stay until 9/8/2010 as opposed to quitting again so I'm going to stick it out. We have planned two trips. One is a week long trip to Cancun with the kids and the other is an RV trip to Florida. We'll be there about 3/16. We are hoping to see some of our friends down there. Wednesday night Bruce and I went to a Bible study called The Truth Project. Very interesting and very enlightening. We'll miss a couple of sessions so we have the dvd's to study at home. Thursday night I went swimming suit shopping with Amy. She had great success and left with two excellent suits. She is now set for Cancun. When I got home I did laundry and cleaned the house. Friday night, my friend Diane and I made dinner at the apartment while Amy and Bruce went out to dinner and a movie. Diane and I ate, drank, talked, laughed, cried and just had a wonderful evening. With Todd working and Bruce on a date with Amy, we had the whole evening for "girl time". Saturday morning Joy, Alex and James came over. We had a fun day. (Well, most of us did). Alex worked on computers all day. He took the info off Bruce's old laptop and transferred it to the new laptop. He took the info off of Melissa's old desktop and put it on Bruce's old laptop (Melissa inherited the old computer). He took the info off Amy's old desktop and put it on her laptop. He worked from about 10:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Joy and I went swimming suit shopping for her and again there was success. She came away with three great suits and a cover-up. She too is now ready for Cancun. To quote James, he "came along for the food". I don't think he went away disappointed. We did a LOT of eating all day long. They brought their Wii so Bruce and I had a taste of the Wii world. FUN! Sunday Bruce and I visited a different church. We selected the last service of the morning which happened to be the contemporary service and we loved it. We will very likely go back again. It too is a Missouri Synod Lutheran Church and is equal distance from where we live. We think it is time for a change. Who knows. After church I went to a baby shower - the biggest shower I have ever been too. You should have seen the number of gifts. Of course, you would see but I didn't take the camera and didn't even think to take a picture with my phone. After the shower we went to two Super Bowl parties. Last night was sorority and our Valentine gift exchange. I really scored on the gifts. My secret sister is the BEST! Since it's Tuesday, I have to quit this so we can head to Taco Tuesday. We are celebrating the Spaur's 29th wedding anniversary tonight. I'm going to try to get some pictures.

Tuesday, January 27, 2009

Taco Tuesday. Every Tuesday there is a group of friends that gathers at a neighborhood bar and grill called Pickerings for $1.00 tacos and lots of socializing. Tonight we had a record crowd - around 35. We celebrated our friend Glenn's birthday with a yummy ice cream cake. This group has been together for years and Bruce and I were invited to join when we moved back to Olathe last spring. We've missed the last two Tuesdays and when we got there tonight it was like we had been gone forever. We had lots of catching up to accomplish and boy we did! I always feel better when we leave there. It is COLD in Kansas City. We are right on the north edge of the ice but all we got today was a little bit of blowing snow. The roads were fine. Melissa is in Fort Worth at a meeting. They are having a bad ice storm down there but she is safe in her hotel. Winter is BAD!!

January 25, 2009

Bruce almost finished the installation of the vanity top. Now we need to patch walls and touch up the paint. Then he will put the end piece on (it's just resting on the wall in the picture). We are also going to order a new mirror and a oil rubbed bronze frame for the mirror. The project is coming along nicely. Last night we went to dinner with Mike and Donna David at the Olive Branch. The Olive Branch is the former St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Gravois Mills, MO. We met the owners. In fact, the owner was our waitress because so many of her staff failed to report to work. At any rate, dinner was wonderful and the company couldn't be beat. Today we slept in until 9:30. Can you believe that? We couldn't. It had snowned a little overnight but nothing to bother anything or anyone. We packed up and were home by 4:00. Amy came over and cooked white chili and fruit salad for all of us for dinner. She did an excellent job. She's going to be a real cook before long.

We are at the condo. Tonight we took the old top off the bathroom vanity and are now ready for the new vanity. I'm really looking forward to tomorrow to see what happens! Since I last wrote, I've had one of my famous dizzy spells. Good news - I missed a day of work. Good news - I didn't fall down once while I was dizzy. I think it was caused by my ears not clearing after the plane ride but who really knows. Last night Amy and I went to a Pampered Chef party and I gathered a couple new tools. Amy is having a party February 28 so I'll have the opportunity to get even more cool tools. If you want anything, let me know and we'll set you up! Today, Alex interviewed for a new and even more responsible job. We know that Alex would be outstanding for the job and pray that the selecting official arrives at the same decision. We are so proud of Alex!! Stay tuned for the finished bathroom.

Catching up (12/26-1/20) Whew!

I am going to get you all caught up on what has been going on since 12/26 so hang on. We are going to go quickly.

Christmas Day was a beautiful day so Bruce and I drove down to the condo. Larry Andrews invited us over for dinner . Wow I didn't even have to cook. We went for a walk and you can see that it was gorgeous. Old Glory was flying proudly!

The most handsome man alive!

Our view from the top of the hill. Can you believe we made it all the way to the top and back?

Anyone up for an icy swim?

New Year's Eve, Bruce, Melissa, Amy and I drove up to SD to celebrate Christmas with my family. We missed Mark, Lori and the boys but the rest of us were there.

Kelsey is intently opening a gift.

The dinner table was set and waiting for us.

Mom is telling Dad something REALLY important I'm sure.

Rick recorded the day's events while Val opened a card from Mark and Lori.

The first annual toast by Grandma and her girls!

It was cold and snowy in SD. We had the pleasure of seeing all the blowing snow on Saturday and a true temperature of -15 on Sunday morning when we left. That makes KS look like paradise!

Life went on as usual until January 15 when we went to Topeka to see James and Michael perform in a Drumline Extravaganza. The house rocked!

Michael is in the middle of this picture. His middle school was the only middle school invited to perform. They were as good the high school drumlines.

James is the captain of the Seaman High School drumline. He composed a song that they performed that evening. Do you think we were proud??

That was Thursday. Then came a very cold and snowy Friday morning in Kansas. By 6:00 p.m. we were on a plan to Phoenix for 3 full days of sunshine and friends. Do you think Bruce enjoyed the sun and 79 degree temperatures?

I just couldn't resist this picture. Shirley and Myrna were working hard on dinner. Bruce does whatever Vince does and this was proof.

Sunday morning we got up and drove over to Sunscape for worship services. Do you think LaVon was surprised when I hollered out her name?

LaVon sings in the choir.

Catching up with friends is so much fun. Don and LaVon have dedicated their life to the Lord. What an inspiration they are to Bruce and I. Praise God for people like them.

Aunt Delores and Uncle Roger arrived Sunday about noon. They were tired and thirsty!

Myrna never does what I say. I said "smile Myrna" and she said "NO" . Charles and Myrna toted us back and forth from the airport plus gave us their bed. Thank you!

Vince and Shirley had us over for homemade lemon pie before we left. The lemons were from Charles and Myrna's tree. Shirley out did herself once again. Vince, Shirley and Uncle Roger.

Myrna Drost, cousin Vickie Cartwright and Aunt Delores.

Charles and Bruce. I think Charles looks like Bruce's other brother!

The three musketeers!

We dropped in at Quail Run to surprise our friends there but I forgot the camera. Rats! They continue to have a good time. I wish we had had 3 months to catch up instead of 30 minutes!

We were back in Kansas City by 11:45 last night. This morning it was back to the grindstone and reality. YUCK!

Today has been a great day in American history. I was covered with goose bumps as President Obama was sworn in this morning. I am proud to be an American and I am looking forward to our country digging its way out of this horrible whole we have dug ourselves in to. I pray for the new administration and I pray for this great country of ours.

Christmas 2008

Do you see what the bottom of Bruce's new remote control says? "Control a woman!" Do you think this will work on his woman? I'll let you know. Amy bought Melissa a new coat for our trip to South Dakota! Bruce really likes to shake his gifts. And he was very happy with what he received - his very own Ipod Nano! Melissa and Amy thought they were really funny capturing the way we look at each other through our bifocals. Amy can go places now with her new Tom Tom! Bev likes her cowboy Christmas tree. Bruce and two of "his girls". Dinner was about ready to eat. We had a great Christmas celebration with the girls on Christmas Eve. We had an opportunity to relax and enjoy each other. We reminisced about all the changes that have occurred in our lives in 2008. We started the year working in AZ . Bruce went back to KC the first of February so he could spend time with his mother. He went back to work. He spent a month sleeping on Amy's couch while I was still in AZ. He flew to AZ and retrieved me. We arrived in KC one week before his mother passed away. I went back to work 2 weeks later. The summer flew by quickly. Jasmine died in October. We have enjoyed spending lots of time with the kids. We have enjoyed getting reacquainted with old Kansas City friends. We have enjoyed growing closer to our lake friends. We thank God for the many blessings in our life! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Christmas with Alex and family, 12/21/08

It is cold in Kansas City AGAIN but it was warm in our hearts today. Bruce, Melissa, Amy and I went to Topeka to celebrate Christmas with Alex and his family. Alex fixed chicken and noodles with all of the trimmings. Oh YUM. He is a great cook and once again we ate way too much. This evening we all went to a Choral Eucharist at Alex and Joy's church, Faith Lutheran Topeka. Bruce and the boys posing for the camera. Aren't they handsome?? Alex played his trumpet during the beautiful Choral Eucharist. Joy sang with the choir and was a cantor as well. I didn't think I should take a picture of her during the service. (This picture was taken during the prelude. Alex, Michael, James, Melissa, Bruce and Amy. Alex's affirmation banner. Joy is quite the package artist. Note how the tag and the package match. I'm impressed. Isn't she pretty? Michael liked his new clothes. Melissa is a Stargate fan. Her collection is now complete. Bruce and Melissa were trying to get warmed up. After Joy figured out that the storm window was up it warmed up in a hurry. It's bed time and tomorrow is another fun day at work.

Saturday, December 20, 2008

BRRRRR It is cold in Kansas City and I don't like it! Today it started out around 20 and by the time we got home for the last time this evening it was 7. Now that is cold but not as cold as it is going to be tomorrow. Thursday was the last Christmas pot luck at work. It was another huge success and we ate way too much again. Friday night had dinner with friends at Il Centro at 51st and Main in Kansas City. It's really a cute little place that is obviously very popular. This morning I finished up the majority of my Christmas shopping. I picked Amy up and we blitzed the mall. Shopping was really good because of all the tremendous bargains. Merry Christmas to me. Amy and I decided we each needed a new coat. They were 70% off and then I got another 10% off because I signed up for a credit card. I am the proud owner of a new red "puff jacket" and a scarf to match. Amy's is brown. That makes three coats she has gotten for herself! Bruce and I spent the afternoon with Glenn and Vickie Youngblood. We went to a warehouse wine sale and then to Garozzos for dinner. We are going to stink tomorrow! The garlic tasted great going down. After church and Sunday school tomorrow will go to Topeka to see Alex and his family.