I began mid September looking for jobs - of which there are FEW! I applied with Pueblo City Schools to do secretarial sub work and have had four jobs, but have been unavailable for a couple of weeks, so I am hopeful it will work out for the long run. I recently increased my school choices, so I will see if I get more calls. I have the "C" schools, so far. Centennial, Central, Columbian and Carlile. Centennial HS has requested me twice, so that looks hopeful for future calls. It is fun to be back in the schools.
Bree and Josh had me sit for Wyatt while Owen had a diabetes check up. Wyatt's question when I walk in the door is always, "Hap". (translated that is Papa?) He always asks if Papa is coming down. Sometimes he will ask a couple of times. Shep loves it! Wyatt and I had fun outside in the sandbox and using a squirt bottle to wet the garage door. Oh, the simple things it takes to keep these children entertained. Owen writes books (with Bree's help) about monsters and comes up with the cutest names and illustrations. When I was over the other day, Wyatt was cooking on the floor with pots and pans and had opened an envelope of instant oatmeal - such fun!
I went to Los Alamos the second week in October. Devin was on his annual Moab trip, so Becky and I watched kids, did projects and generally got caught up (but not on sleep for her). It was fun and the fall drive was beautiful! I found a better route through Ft. Garland, and Taos, so it is only about 4.5 hours. It won't be so great in the winter to go that way, but I am a fair weather traveler. Logan and Laila are really growing up and are such fun! Becky did a 10K run and improved her time from last year by 7 minutes! Laila did a 100 yard dash which had us all cracking up. She's pretty athletic and loves to run with her buddy Mabel. Logan and his friend Ella did the 1K race. Logan fell once but held up well. They got ice cream and a medal after the race - we had a good time. Becky and I had a project - cute animals on shirts for the kids cut out of fabric and sewn on. We had quite a lot of fun designing them, but it took the whole weekend to get them cut out and ironed on the shirts. Laila was so cute running in the front yard. She would count to twelve and take off in a mad dash. Logan & Laila often just hug each other for no reason - pretty cute. Each night after dinner they would have a dance party - such moves!
The boys, Shep, Ben & Josh went Antelope hunting this month. The Hobgood kids were all at Bree & Josh's house. We had quite a good time with all the little ones. We took them to the Fountain Nature center and threw rocks in the river - that is always a great activity! We had a picnic after a great hike and the kids came home for naps. We actually had 4 kids sleeping at once! That must be a first in this family. Owen and Amelia had a lot of fun together. Cavan loved walking around and heading for the stairs. Wyatt was cute as ever and talking a bunch! They boys got an antelope and returned late in the afternoon. Josh & Ben started cutting the meat, and I helped Ben finish packing all the meat for the freezer - brings back memories of my childhood. We had a quick family meal and returned to Pueblo. Fun weekend!
Amelia is growing like crazy and liking her brother Cavan a lot more these days. Cavan is entertainment central from what Mom and Dad say. He has been such a character since he started walking. Amelia is just as adorable as ever. When she talks on the phone she has this cute little voice that is purely innocent (yeah). I am anxious to see them during the Thanksgiving Holidays. They will probably stay here, so I can catch up with them. Brenda's brother Troy moved to Colorado from Wisconsin and stayed with them until he could find a place to live and a job. He's working at Whole Foods and hopefully can join us for Thanksgiving, too.
Shep and I went on another trek to the Nature Center headed for Pueblo Reservoir. I finally got to see tarantulas, but, alas, they were both dead on the trail. We also saw this enormous caterpillar that will probably be a huge moth (have yet to identify it). The laugh of the day was when I was riding ahead of Shep (who gawks and is a bit slow). Shep was looking at a bird, stopped his bike and stepped off the side into thin air. He tumbled down a ditch about 2 feet. I couldn't figure out why he wasn't moving along, so I backtracked and found him sitting on a bench examining his "owie". Fortunately, it was not a bad scrape, I guess you could call it a mild case of weed rash. The boys always get awesome road rash from their mountain bike rides, so I guess he was just trying to compete. My oh my, we are getting old!
October 19 we went fishing on the beautiful Arkansas River just west of Canon City. The day was 70 degrees, sunny and perfect fall colors in the canyon. Before we left, we spent a good 45 minutes putting cleats on boots for Shep to prevent slipping in the river. Shep fished and I read a book in my easy chair. After putting on the waders, boots (all new) and putting the fly on the line, Shep headed down the embankment to the river. A few minutes later I saw him out in the middle casting the line looking like a real fisherman, except his wet shirt. He had gone no more than a few feet into the river when he slipped and fell spread eagle face first in the cold water. Fortunately the waders kept him fairly dry, but when he finished fishing an hour later, he was soaked down his front from his shirt to his toes. The breeze was pretty cool! I really enjoyed the ride home in a nice warm car! (First time that has happened). On the way back to Pueblo I was bemoaning the fact that I never saw Big Horn Sheep in the canyon. Not five minutes later, we saw a herd of 5 sheep, and got pictures with the cell phone. There was one huge male with great horns, and he literally hopped up effortlessly about 10 feet off the side of the road onto a steep embankment. It made my day!
Our neighbors Carol and Ken had us over for waaaay too much wine. We really enjoyed the visit and are planning dinner here this month, and a visit to a Blues Bar afterward. They are so much fun! Ken works for a local bank. The VP of the bank is on the CSU foundation board, so I knew him, and his daughter (the bank VP) took my place at the Foundation Office. Small world. Carol and I had fun at the Latka Art Studio one day - we rode over on our bikes and took a hour's tour. We plan on getting together more often. It's nice to share common interests. Ken grew up in Olathe, worked in Paonia, and their daughter lives in Grand Junction.
I took a trip with Cindy Jobe to GJ over Halloween weekend. We had a great time. I got to see a bunch of people from Fruita 8/9 School and FMHS, too. It was great to catch up with everyone and to share pictures of the grand babies. It was great to see Debbie and Chakotah (they are doing so well), the Feathers and their family and grandchildren. Maria's kids have grown so much. Stacey and Luke have two girls and one due about the same time as Josh & Bree (Dec. 24). Joanna and I have bets on who goes first this time. Jo won when Stacy delivered before Becky! Sherry and Terry were fun as usual. Terry gave me a sink, so I can hopefully replace the counter top and the avocado-green sink in my kitchen. White will look so much better. The drive was beautiful and Cindy and I got to catch up on our families and stuff! Much fun.
I best go for now or I will never get this published.
Our neighbors Carol and Ken had us over for waaaay too much wine. We really enjoyed the visit and are planning dinner here this month, and a visit to a Blues Bar afterward. They are so much fun! Ken works for a local bank. The VP of the bank is on the CSU foundation board, so I knew him, and his daughter (the bank VP) took my place at the Foundation Office. Small world. Carol and I had fun at the Latka Art Studio one day - we rode over on our bikes and took a hour's tour. We plan on getting together more often. It's nice to share common interests. Ken grew up in Olathe, worked in Paonia, and their daughter lives in Grand Junction.
I took a trip with Cindy Jobe to GJ over Halloween weekend. We had a great time. I got to see a bunch of people from Fruita 8/9 School and FMHS, too. It was great to catch up with everyone and to share pictures of the grand babies. It was great to see Debbie and Chakotah (they are doing so well), the Feathers and their family and grandchildren. Maria's kids have grown so much. Stacey and Luke have two girls and one due about the same time as Josh & Bree (Dec. 24). Joanna and I have bets on who goes first this time. Jo won when Stacy delivered before Becky! Sherry and Terry were fun as usual. Terry gave me a sink, so I can hopefully replace the counter top and the avocado-green sink in my kitchen. White will look so much better. The drive was beautiful and Cindy and I got to catch up on our families and stuff! Much fun.
I best go for now or I will never get this published.
