Some ladies might enjoy the occasional brunch or girls day out but the Russell women mean serious business when it comes to showing each other they care.The 60 family members from Warwick have gone over and beyond to cook up some serious surprises. They gather once a month to celebrate each other’s birthdays, host regular family outings and an event called Night of the Sages where their young girls can get advice on a variety of life issues.This Mother’s Day, some of the women wanted to do something unforgettable to honour their mothers and aunts.They decided to treat them to an all-expenses-paid trip to New Jersey. The trip included a daily surprise anything from dinner to sightseeing and a Broadway showing of ‘Sister Act’.For nearly a year they secretly sorted out travel details flights, passport renewals and hotel stays.They even had to find a way to get relative Kristy Trott on a plane after she swore off flying since the terrorist attacks of September 11.Family member Wendie Warren said:”We had a taxi pick them up. They thought they were going to Wahoo Restaurant for brunch, but we were headed to the airport.“They knew we were up to tricks, but thought we were doing something fancy at the restaurant.”To get the older ladies, aged 50 to 62, to the airport without catching on, the younger group arranged for a taxi driver to take them to different landmarks around the Island.When the driver got close to L F Wade International Airport, he asked the women if it was all right that he drop something off at Customs. Instead, a surprise was waiting for them.“All the boys in the family came out and surprised them at the airport. We all had the same T-shirts with the family picture on and our grandma’s picture on the back,” said Mrs Warren.The men played a crucial part in ensuring the plan ran smoothly. They were responsible for packing the women’s bags and chipped in to cover the trip costs and additional spending money.In total 11 women flew out from Bermuda, including main co-ordinator Laurie Wilkinson, Tamara Stevens, Alicia Russell, Mrs Warren, Patricia Dill, Jackie Russell, Roseanne Russell, Kristy Trott, Donna Simmons, Vicky Grimes and Jade Russell.Two additional family members — Jenae (Pinky) Scott and Sharon Touzani — met them in the US.The women were treated to a trip to New York City. At the production of ‘Sister Act’ they were allowed to go backstage to meet the cast.Mrs Warren said spending time with each other was very important to the family and part of a tradition passed on from grandparents Alice Russell and Earl (Townsey) Russell.“They always instilled in us a strong sense of family so we were always taught to wait on one another. We really wanted to show them how much we love them and appreciate them being a part of our life,” she said.Last Mother’s Day it was the older women’s turn to surprise their daughters and nieces. They had them picked up in convertibles and taken to Astwood Park for a family photo shoot.“They tricked us and said they would take us to a restaurant called Deja Pa Roty that we had never heard of,” said Mrs Warren. “It ended up being the first initial from all the aunties names.“When we were going to this restaurant, one of my cousins said ‘I left something, do you mind if I go and pick it up?’ When we got to [her] house they had surprised us and decorated it like a restaurant.“We were so touched that same night we started thinking how could we get them back and plan something really special for them.”The idea for the New Jersey trip was developed then.The older women said there was no way they would try and top this next year and instead would just give them a nice day.Roseann described the surprise as a “much needed trip”, particularly for Ms Trott who needed a big push to get back on a plane after September 11, 2001. “They got Kristy to travel again. There was no other way for her to get on a plane, but now she is planning trips again.”It was also a great chance to spend time together as a family, she said.“It was just a great break for all of us and to be able to be together and have so much fun,” said Roseann. “It was really out of this world. They blew our minds and got us so excited. We had no idea about any of it.”