January update jobs, etc.

Before I tell you about jobs, our family has another announcement - Ben & Brenda are having a baby in June! They will find out whether it is a boy or girl in February. That will make #6 for me - how cool is that?

I am enjoying my job at CSU Pueblo Foundation Office - it is really busy now, which is fine by me. The job was pretty boring before Christmas, so I am a happy camper now. It looks like I might be there three more weeks. My boss posted the job and is requiring a similar degree and 2 years experience on databases. I don't come close to qualifying, nor do I want to sit and number crunch all day. I actually like what I am doing, but she is going to hire a receptionist after she hires the dababase administrator. The pay would be $7.50/hr. I can't pay bills on that kind of wage, so I will bow out.

There are few jobs anywhere right now, even scams on Craig's List. I got a mailing ready this weekend to send to random people I have talked to since I have been here. I updated my resume and cover letter. This week I will use my lunch hour to pass out resumes. I have gone through a pack of 100+ sheets of resume paper so far! Oh, well, I am thankful I am not starving or homeless. Maybe the temp service will have more for me when this job is finished.

Brenda, Ben, Amelia and Ella will be down the weekend of February 6 to see little Wyatt. I look forward to seeing them again and finding out if we get a girl or a boy. They have been busy since Christmas getting their bathroom finished at the house, and back to work. Amelia is as cute as ever. Check out their blog on this page.

Josh, Bree, Owen and Wyatt are doing great. Owen does great with Wyatt. Josh got to take a few days off work, and Phoebe was here to help Bree. Wyatt had to be under the lights for a few days, but they could do it at home, so it was inconvenient, but less disruptive than going to the hospital. It is so nice to be close by and get to visit them! They have updated their blog, too.

Becky, Devin, Laila and Logan are enjoying the snow in SLC. Devin has an interview in Berkley in February for a Post Doc position. He is pretty excited to get an interview. He has been looking like me, but it is tough all over and in all areas. Other places they are considering are Los Alamos, San Diego and Golden. Logan and Laila are growing and changing like crazy. I miss being close, but Becky and I do visit on the phone a lot. They will be updating their blog soon, so keep checking.

Time to go now. I miss Grand Junction and Fruita friends, but I like it here.

Wyatt Spencer Hobgood has arrived!

Josh and Bree have a new baby boy: Wyatt Spencer Hobgood, 5lbs. 12 oz., 18", dark hair. He decided to appear face up to everyone's surprise, but no complications! I just came home from the hospital and he is adorable (not a proud Nana here). He is nursing like a trooper and Bree just looks great!! The whole experience was easier than Owen's delivery, so the family is doing well.

Phoebe, Bree's mom, is staying with Owen and he is doing just fine. He came to see his brother, and after warming up to him, he couldn't understand why he couldn't take him home. He told him how they were going to eat Life cereal together.

Bree will probably go home tomorrow sometime. She is tired, but feeling fine. Josh is staying at the hospital with her tonight.

Update January 7

DenaSue, my boss at CSU Pueblo Foundation Office, sat down with me Monday and we had a good visit about where to head from here. She wanted to know if I would consider staying on because I was such a good fit for the office. The problem is the teaching/learning curve for both of us was far more than either of us wanted. Database administration is not what I want, nor would I be that good at that type of job. As it stands, I am going to stay on and help during interviews, and be flexible if they need to have someone come in for a working interview. The up side of all this is that DenaSue is going to pass on my resume and help me look for work. Finally, a well connected native to use for networking. She can also speak to my work ethic, which makes a difference!!!! I don't know that opportunities are out there, but at least I have someone local to use for a reference. So...I will work until whenever and be glad to get up every day and make my $10/hr.

Christmas was a blast!

Owen at Nana's











Amelia - the Star











Logan Loves his Play Doh










Laila thinks Sweet Potatoes are great











Logan and Laila spending quality time together










Laila the happy camper-always smiling
See videos below.

Family is just the best during the holidays! All the children and grandbabies got to meet/see each other. Becky, Devin, Logan and Laila were here for 3 days in Pueblo and 2 days in Bailey. Owen and Logan had fun with Nana's toys and played around each other most of the time. It was great fun to watch their different personalities. Josh & Devin got to take the boys on outings since the weather was frigid. Logan and Owen both like to go on disc golf outings just a mile from my house. Becky and I stayed busy with sewing projects which did not get finished. We always plan waaaaay too much in the short time we have together. Bree spent some time taking it easy, but she and Becky got to visit. She has to rest 20 minutes of every hour and keep that baby in the cooker for a few more weeks. I kept the Close kids one evening while Becky and Devin went to Josh and Bree's for the parents to talk for a change. It is nice to have two houses, but still hard not to have the evening time when the kids are in bed, so they enjoyed the time to catch up.

We went to Bailey on the 23rd with my car packed to the brim. The weather looked horrid on I-25, so we got to go my favorite way, on 24 through Woodland Park and Deckers - it was dry most of the way. We caught nap time for Logan and Laila which made the two hour trip quite nice for them. Ben, Brenda and Amelia were bombarded with all of us and we figured out sleeping arrangements. The men went to pick Shep up in Denver.

The next day the guys went shopping for dinner (Cajun Boil). We watched kids play and waited for the return of the men, which took a while, but the wait was worth it. Ben's partner Andrew and his wife Shelly joined us for Christmas Eve - we had a great dinner after the kids were in bed!

Christmas morning the kids were up bright and early and we opened gifts. After a big breakfast, Becky, Devin, the kids and Shep left to meet Devin's brother Cory in Broomfield, so they could go to Greeley for Christmas there. I stayed on in Bailey until Monday, because Ben and I had to do a project (the ususal!) We demolished their master bathroom, and I learned how to do ceramic tile! I left them in a huge mess, but I needed to get home. The travel this holiday was great. Weather in Pueblo has been awesome - in the 50's and 60's. I have enjoyed the warmth.

Jobs are non existant right now. I have tried everything, but the time of year isn't right. Maybe later this month. At least I get to go to work on Jan. 5! I am getting anxious. I tried to go to the Police and Sheriff offices today, but nobody was around to give my resume to. This was not the best time to look for work. I am still plugging along, though.

Check out these videos - what a joy they are!!!


Amelia

Owen & Devin playing with the puppet show

Christmas Morning

Christmas morning