The entire clan gathered for Thanksgiving this year - and we have so much to be thankful for! There are 14 family members now (how did that happen?). Bree is expecting a new one any day (am almost sitting by the phone). More on that after my ramblings.
News about my work situation is fairly good. I have been a secretarial substitute for Pueblo City Schools for a couple of months. I average from 2-4 jobs a week, but am off for 2 weeks during the holidays. I vary from elementary to high school, and have worked at transportation as well. Since my boredom threshold is low, I much prefer the action at middle and high school. Central and Centennial HS have called me back fairly often. I am becoming a networking pro. The Steel Museum (Bessemer Historical District) is run by my former CSU-Pueblo Co-worker. She has had me help with several projects recently and more to come. It is fun to stay connected with the neat people I met there. I have lunch with the other 4 girls about once a month to get caught up on the latest news. I need to work more, but have not found much with 10% unemployment in Pueblo. This week I was at Sunset Elementary School and a little 5 year old came in the office to test his blood sugar. He had his kit (just like Owen's) and managed to do the test and record the results. I told him I had a grandson with Diabetes and his name was Owen and he was 4 - the little guy said - well, my name is Owen, too. How crazy is that! He was a cutie.
Shep and I have not been bike riding for quite a while. I really miss my attempts to summit the hill (actually it is not huge, but pretty challenging for me). As the trail rises from the river it is a real leg burner! My goal before the end of the summer was to make it to the top. Well-what are goals for if not to be revised! I did not make it clear up, but I did make it more than half way. Becky and Brenda would speed up there without breaking a sweat! I have been working out at Curves for quite a while now. I started when the stress at work was causing tooth grinding, sleepless nights and other related issues. I figured $34 a month was cheaper than dental bills and sleeping pills. I find that, although it is a 7 mile drive one way, it is well worth the effort. I need the stamina to keep up with 6 (almost 7) grandchildren. The older they get, the more energy they take!
We have been doing small home improvement projects. The house had no baseboards - as usual- when people carpet over hardwood floors, they remove the baseboards and never put them back. Along comes Linda, removing the carpet and leaving funny looking paint at the bottom of the wall. Shep and I finished the living room, hall, and one bedroom. It was pretty funny trying to get the miters right. My mind is kind of weird when I try to visualize how to cut the corners, it took a good ten minutes of consternation. Got the trim done, and it looks great. We've re-arranged the basement area to create a work table and storage. My goal this year is to get rid of junk, but it is harder than I thought.
Shep and I have become involved in the neighborhood watch program and met some great people. What an assortment of personalities. It is nice to get to know the neighbors and watch out for each other. There are a couple of abandoned homes, so we are hoping eventually to develop a community garden.
Thanksgiving was crazy and fun! Brenda, Ben, Cavan and Amelia stayed in Pueblo, and Becky, Devin, Laila and Logan stayed with Josh, Bree, Owen and Wyatt in Colorado Springs. We took turns each day arriving at one house or the other from 10:30 to sometime after dinner. The kids had a great time playing together. Owen and Logan were hilarious with their talking, games, and giggling. They got to have sleepovers in Owen's room and it worked out well! Amelia and Laila were the noisiest of the kids. They would run in a circle at our house up and down a stair and yelling at the tops of their lungs. The two little guys, Wyatt and Cavan would go along with any of the older kids, not realizing they were smaller and younger. No child got munched or bonked the whole time. Shep took the futon mattress off of the frame and put it on the floor. The kids jumped and squealed and thrashed around. It was the hit of the day. Owen and Logan rode on my yard sale tricycle one entire afternoon (we had one warm day). They were hilarious - reminds me of my childhood riding doubles! When the kids all left, I continued my own reading marathon - just not children's books. Amelia and Laila are crazy readers and no amount of talking would convince them to read a different book. What fun - I am looking forward to Christmas.
Shep and I are going to Bailey for Christmas Eve and coming back on Sunday. Becky and Devin will be through Pueblo Dec. 22 for the night, so we will see them coming and going from Los Alamos. Bree and Josh are waiting for the baby, so who knows what they will be doing on any given day!
Make sure you look at the kids' posts on the right of this page. They have great pictures and stories to tell. Aren't my grand kids just the best???
Merry Christmas to all of you. I am hoping you have a joyous holiday season.
Linda
