Happy Holidays

"My approach to life can't be summed up in a pithy quote, and if yours can, you're in trouble" - Mark Rogers

I guess this sums up what has been going on for the last couple of months. Life goes on, seamlessly, don't we all wish!

Work has been much better after a month of working nearly 40 hours a week. I am back to my half time schedule, which is better. The job is so enjoyable-I get to learn a new data base program designed for museums. The experience has really stretched my brain and taught me a few things about calling Tech Help when I need it. I've really made only one big boo boo, but the whole office learned a lot and we got our back-up process fixed. I enjoy the people and get to organize the furniture and supplies - love it! If you are interested to see what the museum and archives are like go to www.steelworks.us. I even have a yucky picture on the page.

Shep is still driving a truck and enjoying it. He took a couple of weeks off for the carpel tunnel surgery which went great. We had another appointment at VA in Denver, and it required a trip to IKEA-that's not all bad. Shep even liked the store! He has been working some crazy long hours on occasion, but has the weekends off, so we can relax and enjoy ourselves.

Thanksgiving was a joy at Ben and Brenda's house. It was so beautiful we took a long hike with the kids. Brenda's brother Troy joined us and we had really competitive games of Shanghai after the kids were in bed at night. The food was great and the kiddos were loads of fun. Cavan is talking up a storm, most of which I can understand after an hour or so. His phrase of the weekend was "Go to Nana Papa's house some day?" He talks about coming here much of the time. He is a really lovable boy, although he still can give the "stink eye" if he is unhappy with something. He and I had fun building with his trains (kind of like his cousin Logan). He can stay occupied for a long time with them. Amelia greeted me at the door with her usual exuberance and wanted to know if we could read books. Of course, I would never refuse a grandchild. We do enjoy our reading time as with all of the kids. Amelia is growing up so fast. We saw many princess outfits complete with shoes, a purse, and tiara. These girls are all into princess stuff - which is funny when you think about their athletic Moms! Brenda is busy with the kids doing lots of fun activities and squeezing in time to work out and do a home-based business selling books. Ben is expanding his company and feeling the growing pains. He has been able to work fewer hours lately, which helps. We had a great visit and are anxiously awaiting Christmas when the whole family will be together!

The guys (Ben, Shep, Josh) all went hunting in October and got 2 deer. They were full of the typical manly hunting tales, and did some great male bonding. That probably includes cigars, chew, food and beer. We were all glad to stay home. Brenda was here with the kids, and we got to see Bree and her crew. The kids are getting old enough to really play together - it was a treat to watch them. In November they had the second hunting trip and Devin joined them. I think he really enjoyed the experience. They didn't get any game, but they still enjoyed the company. My goodness, the supplies they take along takes two trucks! I don't know where they would have found room for any game.

A couple of times a month I babysit for Molly and Wyatt while Bree helps in Owen's kindergarten class. She loves to get back into the learning environment, and I always jump at a chance to spend time with those little ones. Molly is walking (at 10 months) and she doesn't even hesitate. If she could run, I am sure she would. She has such a sunny personality. I spent time reading to her last week, and like Laila, she likes to take the book and babble to herself. Wyatt is just as jolly as ever. His Star Wars moves with the light sabers are hilarious. He loves to dress in the capes and masks! It is so easy to make him laugh, and it is contagious. He is quite the tease. Owen loves school. The other day Shep and I were there when he got home from school. We practiced his sight words, and he told us all about each paper in his folder. What a good student - he was student of the month for staying on task. That's Owen! Bree is so busy with three kids and still manages to get sewing done, gifts made, and cook and clean. I so enjoy our visits! Josh is still liking Fountain Middle School as an AP. I always enjoy talking school with him when we get a chance. He had a great tomato patch this year with several heirloom varieties. I hope to get some tips from him for next year. His schedule is pretty reasonable and he certainly enjoys his time off taking the kids out and spending quality time with them.

Becky and Devin went to Scottsdale for Thanksgiving, so they got to enjoy the warm weather. The day I talked to her she was in shirt sleeves. It was quite a car trip for them, but the weather was good, so they had a nice visit. Logan has really blossomed since he's been in kindergarten. His passion for trains is still going strong. I remembered that we have a mine rescue car at the Steelworks Museum,so I will take him to see it at Christmas time. Laila is quite the princess, dancer, reader and generally a girl! She is so fun when you get her to giggle, what a card. She is really anxious to be 5 years old like her brother. The two of them are such good buddies.

I ordered new countertops for the kitchen last Thursday and they called yesterday that they could install them today. I have the guy here working on them right now. I am trying to juggle a couple of projects at work, lunch today with the staff, and a kitchen that is currently on the floor of the family room. I hope to get everything back to normal by Friday when kiddos arrive.

I had lunch with the girls from the CSU-Pueblo Foundation the other day We had such a fun visit. It is great to keep in touch with them. What neat ladies.

Our neighbors are having us over for some Christmas Cheer on Friday. We'll squeeze in a couple of glasses of wine before Ben & Brenda get here to stay until Tuesday. Becky and Devin will be through earlier in the day. They will stay in C Springs this year. I will have to post pictures.

We have had a major snow storm. Shep has been stranded the last two nights, one in Rocky Ford, and last night in Raton. What fun! He said the roads are treacherous, cars and trucks are stranded all over. We had about 8 inches of snow - a lot for Pueblo. Been shoveling the white stuff for my exercise.

We had major computer problems this last month. The home computer crashed. We got a new one from Best Buy, had many monitor problems and finally I took it all back into them and asked for a full refund. There were problems with the monitor and cords and computer and I was so furious, I finally gave up. Never shopping there again! Shep ended up going to Sam's Club and getting a better deal and we have a tech service to call. Wow, what an ordeal. Don't want to repeat that one again. Now we are back in the email business.

I will sign off for now.

HAVE A SUPER HOLIDAY! STAY SAFE AND WARM, ENJOY YOUR FAMILIES.

Fall is here!

What a fast summer this has been. Time flies when you are having fun!

We went to Ben and Brenda's mountain home for Amelia's 4th birthday party and had a little sun, a little rain, a clap of thunder and a great time. Brenda had a bump 'n jump for the kids that she borrowed from a friend. Before the party started, Cavan tripped and cut his chin. Ben did the trip to the Dr. to get it super glued shut. It wasn't a horrible cut, but what a way to start the day. He couldn't play on the bump and jump for the day - he was very disappointed! The kiddos were wild and crazy and had a great time. Ben and I did some face painting on the kids - what fun that was. I guess you can imagine how awesome Ben's were - mine pleased the kids, but were no work of art. The little guy that wanted Frankenstein what hilarious. His mom asked if I would come up for Halloween and do his face! Amelia was so cute-she had two grandmothers to dote on her. Brenda's mother, Mary, was visiting from Wisconsin. We enjoyed seeing her again-it had been two years. Amelia is so articulate, and such a little leader. When I have her to myself, we are best of friends and I am the star attraction, but when her peers are around, well, I have to take second or even third place! We so enjoy her bubbly personality and admiration. Cavan is a man's boy - Shep is his consuming interest, and once again I take second or third place. He is such a character - his latest response is "No way, Mom (Dada, Nana, Papa)". He still frowns sometimes and it is the most scathing look (aka stink eye) you have ever seen. Brenda says he talks about Nana, Papa many times a day and says "Nana, Papa house?" Both of the children are such cuddlebugs. Ben and Brenda both are doing "athalons". They take turns training, and I can't even keep track of when they are participating. They are quite busy with house projects, the kids and work.

Josh and Bree have settled back into the school year. They braved a camping trip with friends and we got to sit for Marley-we always enjoy having a dog around. Molly is a crazed crawler and a sunny personality. She is into all of the boys toys and takes off so quickly, she really has to be watched. She loves to head for the bathroom as soon as your head is turned. Yesterday when we visited she chased a balloon all over the house. It is like a run/crawl-boy can she move. Shortly after she crawled, she began pulling herself up and transferring from chair to chair in the kitchen. I wouldn't be surprised if she didn't walk well before a year. When she does it will be at full speed. She has the sunniest personality-all smiles and laughs. Owen has begun 1/2 day kindergarten and loves it, especially PE. He is doing great with the diabetes issues with snacks and being gone from home. Schools are quite accommodating. He is still a Star Wars fan, so we get treated to light saber demonstrations on a regular basis. On our recent visit he and Shep laughed while looking at the Wall Street Journal? He is great with puzzles and art projects. Wyatt is such a talker, he jabbers all the time. He has the most hilarious stances when he is doing his Star Wars performances. When I sit for him, we always build blocks so he can destroy them-what fun. The other day Bree was watching the credits at the end of the movie and Wyatt said, "that guy looks like Papa that lives with Nana". Josh is busy with the beginning of the school year, and still working on his garden and yard. He planted a bunch of heirloom tomatoes and other plants. He even keeps spreadsheets on them so he knows what works best. The yard is a long term project, but the terracing and play area are pretty much finished. He likes getting his hands dirty as much as I do. Bree is busy with the kids, taking Owen to school, getting together with other families and keeping up with Molly and the two boys. In her spare time she invites us down for BBQ or some other great fare! We so enjoy the visits.

Becky and Devin have settled back into a regular schedule. Logan began full day kindergarten and loves it. He was so ready-and he loves it. His teacher will be going on maternity leave, and their previous neighbor will be the substitute. She is a friend, so it will be interesting to see how Logan does with someone so familiar. He is such a curious child and full of a gazillion questions. We kept them while Becky and Devin stayed in Salida two nights and biked the Monarch Crest Trail. The kids were great. Logan was obsessed with trains, of course. Every time we heard a train he wanted to drive to the train yard to see them. Once he heard them coupling and said, "Nana, the train is coupling-can we go see it? I heard it!" He knows more about trains that I ever have. We did finally see one after 4 trips. We took him to the college a block away and he rode his bike in the parking lot. We also took him to the Riverwalk, but the police kicked him and Shep off of the trail (oops, there were signs here and there, but not where they were looking). They did get a little ride in, though. Logan and Shep wrote a story (now a tradition) and Logan had to type in cuss words (what a laugh). Laila and I read a bunch of books and she read a lot to her dolls and animals. She loves to swing in my backyard, even 1st thing in the morning (brrrrr!) We were out there and I am in a sweater and long pants and she has on her sundress. She looked at me one morning and said, "Nana, you have a grandma neck!" I cracked up, because only in the summer heat do you see my neck, the rest of the time I wear collars or turtlenecks. She thought it was pretty cool - so there! She had such fun with bubbles. She would twirl around with the bubbles then sing and dance like crazy for about 45 minutes-talk about stamina. We had a great visit and I am planning a visit the end of the month to do projects and go shopping maybe.

Work at the Bessemer Historical Society, Steelworks Museum, and CF&I Archives (long name) has been fun. We just completed a huge first-time event called Welcome Back to Bessemer to commemorate the 125th incorporation of the community of Bessemer. We started out with 2 buses to tour the steel mill. We ended up finding a third bus and toured people from 8:30 am to 3:30 pm for an hour each. We filled the buses and the tours were a huge success. Evraz owns the mill that recycles steel. It is an enormous production process. I did not get to tour that day. People stayed on the buses with a guide and could not take pictures since it is a working mill. The event brought in about 1100 people, much more than we first anticipated, so it looks like we will do a similar event next year. What a lot of work. I spent 40 hour weeks helping to get ready for it. The following week, I got to tour the steel making mill. Our tour was walking through the mill with hard hats, goggles, ear plugs, long pants and sturdy shoes at 100 degrees outside. It was an awesome tour, I had no idea how huge the operation was, nor how hot! We were all drained by the end of the tour, but it was great. I am back to a regular work schedule of 20 hours a week, which I much prefer. Our next big event is called Saints 'n Sinners which is a self-guided tour of the bars and churches in the Bessemer neighborhood. It is a popular event, but not nearly the work like the 125th.

Shep and I are busy with work and household projects. My grass is a pain! Last year I had grubs and replanted this spring. This year I have fungus among us! I will replant this fall. I have such a small grassed area, it takes only 15 minutes to mow. What a hassle, but I love the little bit I have. It has proven to be quite the ordeal, though. I have a great flowerbed and two huge cherry tomato plants. They got so tall that I staked them and they grew over the top and down again. Shep built a workbench/potting table so we can do more work outside.

I am still making the nursing aprons, and I had so much trouble with the cheapo sewing machine I bought that I purchased another one at a local store (it was also a birthday gift from Shep). Now I can have fun sewing without the air turning blue! I think I will put a note on it that I couldn't get it to work and donate it to ARC. If any of you ever want nursing aprons let me know. I usually make six at a time, and they are gone before I know it. They are fun to make, but picking out the fabric is the best part!

We went on a picnic with Ken and Carol next door. We went to Lake Isabel in the San Isabel National Forest. It was a gorgeous day. We had chicken, potato salad, fruit, cheese and, of course wine. Carol does things right - real wine glasses, sterling silver and cloth napkins. Carol and I visited while the guys fished. It was great to get away and enjoy nature. We wine with them often.

Devin's parents-Georgie and Randy-stopped by on the way to Los Alamos, and we had a great visit. It is nice to stay in touch with them a couple of times a year. They were a lot of fun.

That's the news from here. I hope to hear from all of you soon.

Summer fun is here

Wow, the summer is speeding by like crazy. It is already mid July and I feel like it just began.

Brenda went to Wisconsin to visit her family for two weeks the beginning of June, so Ben and I planned to do some projects (we love our project time together). I went up for a couple of days the weekend she was due home. We managed to install two new doors in their bedroom, put a gutter on, and clean the house for Brenda to return. I assure you that the list we hoped to accomplish was huge, but he and I and our concept of what is possible is pretty interesting. One night we didn't finish til 11:00 - my bedtime is usually much earlier than that! This all started because he and I wanted to make concrete counters for our kitchens. Brenda was smart to want other projects done first. As it turns out, maybe the counters were a little ambitious. I will probably settle for formica.

Ben did his Baily Hundo bike race on June 18th and improved his time by over two hours! If you could see the country he rides through, you would be stunned. The race start in Bailey and climbs into the mountains, through the burn areas, and back into Bailey at the end. Shep and I went up to Deckers which is just over the half-way point. We got to see him racing by and wave. He looked pretty spiffy, I must say. Brenda, Cavan and Amelia joined us for ice cream and a little visit before we returned home. There is nothing more fun than watching kids eat ice cream. Amelia was somewhat neat, but Cavan had it all over his face. It was a gorgeous day and a lot of fun seeing the kiddos. The following Monday Ben left for New York City for three days. He had a big meeting with new clients. He enjoyed the city but was glad not to be living there. They are really leading a busy life these days. The following weekend we drove to Bailey for Cavan's 2nd birthday. On their blog you will see a picture of him eating his birthday cake while lying in a deck chair. He was sooooo funny - he would put some cake on his finger and slowly lick it off. He sat there for a long time. We had such a good time at the party meeting their friends. Shep had an errand to run in Conifer before the party and while he was waiting, he heard a guy playing the banjo. He had a half hour to waste, so he went over and just listened to him plan. They also chatted a while about Bluegrass music. He told us the story when he got back to the house. As the people arrived for the party, guess who showed up - the banjo player. We had a good laugh over what a small world it is! Amelia was just totally entertained with the kids. It was fun to see her take charge. Amelia still loves her Nana and we read plenty of books. She is so talkative these days and she remembers so many details. Cavan is such a loveable child-he always asks for Nana and Papa-Brenda says he talks about us several times every day. We will see them all this coming weekend when they drop Ella off for us to dog-sit while they head to Los Alamos to see Becky & Devin.

Josh and Bree are enjoying the summer with Josh off work for a few weeks. They had planned a trip to Los Alamos over the 4th, but Becky & Devin evacuated as you will see below. Bree went to Oklahoma to see her sister with Molly. I spend three days with Josh and the boys - it was much fun. I stayed with Wyatt while Josh took Owen to swim lessons. He loved his lessons and learned to blow bubbles - he loves the water now. Wyatt is a constant source of entertainment. There is something adorable about the way he moves and he talks a blue streak. He has eyelashes to kill for. Josh and I took the boys fishing - what fun- but did not catch anything. He has a pond close by. It was quite an ordeal watching hooks, casting, baiting and reeling. Owen has since caught a fish there (his second). On the 23rd Shep and I went to Fountain for a firefly hike with Josh and Owen. We had a program on fireflies and made a little craft with Owen, then hiked through the Nature Center to see the fireflies when it got dark. There were probably 15 flies total, but it was really neat to see them. I've never seen lightening bugs in Colorado, before. Because of dry conditions, there were not as many as usual. Owen and I loved hiking along holding hands - pretty fun. The other day I babysat all the kids while Josh and Bree went to a movie. Wyatt and Molly napped for a time and I got to play with Owen. We drew pictures in the book that he is writing - it was great to spend some time alone with him. I learned a lot about Star Wars characters. I decided my drawing leaves a little to be desired, though. It was nice to be able to give Josh and Bree some time to themselves. Josh has been working hard on the yard this summer and it is really getting nice.

Becky and Devin have had quite an interesting summer. They had not planned on a summer visit to Colorado. Well, because of the fire in Los Alamos, they spent a week in Colorado visiting family. It probably wasn't the best way for a vacation, but they made the most of it. Devin's step brother (Ryan) and his wife were visiting from New York. They had just finished a hike and when they finished lunch and looked outside, there was a plume of smoke near the area they had just hiked in. They had to take the long way home through Albuquerque and when they got to Los Alamos the flames could be seen from their yard. Becky ran to the store and when she returned they called her cell phone to let her know there was a bear in the neighbors trash can. That afternoon they decided to evacuate to Santa Fe at least for the night. They were taking care of a friends cat, and their dog Nesta hates cats, so Ryan had to take the cat in his car, and they headed to Santa Fe. The next day they found a place to board the cat, and left for Pueblo. That same day they had a mandatory evacuation and closed the lab for a week. We enjoyed the visit with them. They spent two night here, two with Josh and Bree and headed north to see Devin's family. They came back through the following Tuesday. Their house was never in danger of burning, thank goodness. While they were here, Josh and Bree came down with the kids and we went to the zoo. Pueblo has an awesome zoo. Logan was most interested in the mechanics of everything, Laila loved all of it, especially the penguins. Laila and I enjoyed reading books and swinging outside. She had fun making beds for all of the stuffed animals, including the big monkey (all the girls' favorite). Logan was excited to have Shep show him train videos on the computer. Becky and Devin got to get away for a bike ride or run, I can't remember which. Becky and I did our usual shopping trip to Old Navy! I am glad they are safely home. The countryside is pretty sad, but things are back to normal.

Shep and I are doing fine. We took a wall heater out of the family room and had to put a new piece of drywall in. I love those projects. It took about 2 weeks to finish it. I am always busy with little things. I have my bedroom partly painted (ran out of paint), repainting a chair and a table, making a new awning for the swing and covers for the outdoor furniture (they get bird doo doo on them) The birds in the yard eat the Mullberries from the tree and they poop purple. I must say it is pretty unattractive. My yard is looking pretty good, but for some reason my lawn is a constant hassle. I work at it, though.

Work is great - I couldn't be more pleased. I am learning a lot more about the steel era in Pueblo. The database we have is really pretty neat. I am slowly learning more as I need to. It is fun to have such a variety of work to do. What a great bunch of people.

We went to the Westcliffe bluegrass festival last weekend - what a great experience. The food vendors were great and the music was awesome. We stayed about 6 hours. Our neighbors Ken and Carol met us up there. Carol and I walked downtown to every store. What an interesting town in a beautiful setting. I thoroughly enjoyed the music. They had some big name entertainers!

I had the funniest experience at the ARC thrift store. Saturdays are absolutely crazy busy, but I went anyway. The customer in front of me in the check out was about 75, wearing levis that had been taped together with duct tape (gray) in layers, like 1/2 " thick. His shoes also had duct tape on them. His purchase was $1.19 and I looked over to see what he bought - you'll never believe this - 4 issues of "Martha Stewart Living" magazine. Well, I was stunned. Then, a gentleman in the next line over was dressed in a black blazer with gold embroidery on it. His hair was slicked back and his shoes shined. He turned to the clerk in the next line and belted out "Happy Birthday" in a most beautiful voice. Well, I guess I had better shop at ARC on Saturdays more often. I drove home wondering if I really saw all that!

With that funny note I will sign off. I hope you all are doing well - I miss my GJ buddies. Hoping I can come over in August or September.

I had to laugh at Shep. He had a genuine old geezer conversation with his buddy in Maine. As you know, the New England accent is quite different from our accent. Shep told Rick that he wanted to fish for Chain Pickerel when he visited Maine. Pickerel is a fish that looks very much like a Musky. It lurks in the "pickerel grass" and attacks its prey like a barracuda. They are fairly large with impressive teeth. Rick proceeded to tell him that there was a story in the Portland newspaper about a grandmother who was attacked by a Pickerel. Shep was feeling quite incredulous about a Pickerel attacking a grandmother and became even more incredulous as Rick told him that the Pickerel suddenly turned on the young boy and attacked him. Then, the boy ran to his house and got his father's shotgun and shot the Pickerel. By this time Shep didn't believe a word that Rick was telling him about the Pickerel, but was laughing uncontrollably. It turns out that while Shep was talking about a big fish, Rick was actually talking about a pit bull that got off his chain. Are we dealing with geezers and old codgers here or is this simply a case of distinct differences in regional accents?

April & May Winds of Change

Winds seem to be an ever present part of a normal day in Pueblo this year. Either I get out early to work in the yard, or wait until bedtime to go outside! I think I must have had a record number of Elm seeds pile up in the flower beds and by my back door. I have no Elm tree, but my neighbor does, and it was prolific this year. Winds have been so strong, the small Sumac tree next door toppled over. Needless to say, I have had lots of bad hair days. June seems to be a little better, but now the smoke is blowing in from the fires, but the sunsets are beautiful.

Ben & Brenda took a much needed vacation, and I was the sitter in charge. Ben had been working long hours for months setting up a new server, so Brenda was on her own from dawn to dusk with the kiddos. They decided that a trip to San Diego was in order. The first of April I went to Bailey to stay with the kids for 5 days while they enjoyed the ocean and quiet. Cavan has grown so much and is becoming quite a character. He loves to dance when Amelia plays music in his room. The kid really has some great dance moves-he could be on YouTube. We played with lots of toys and had fun outdoors one day in the sand box-he spent the whole time dumping sand into containers and pouring it out. Such easy entertainment. He is not a bit afraid of heights, slides or climbing on obstacles in the yard. Amelia was a "Nana" fan as usual. We read hundreds of books, and this time she was quite the artist, too. She painted me a bunch of pictures with full descriptions and orders to hang them on my refrigerator when I got home. I did hang some, but the volume was a little too much (I ran out of magnets). She may be as artistic as her Dad! She went to preschool two days, and a friend dropped her off from the bus. It was pretty funny when I walked to the road to get her, because she sleeps on the way home-the bus ride is very short, but they have to wake her up to come home. Carrying a tired girl up the driveway was quite a chore-good thing I am still working out at Curves! Ben and Brenda had a great trip and I love having time with the kids. Although the wind blew every night and day at gale force, I had a great time. Shep came up one day to visit and help out with the kids. Cavan loves his Papa, like most of the boys do. When I visit alone, the boys in particular always ask where Papa is.

Mother's day was especially fun, because Ben, Brenda, Amelia and Cavan came to stay in Pueblo, and we got the families together for a picnic at the Fountain Nature Center on Sunday. There is a really beautiful trail that is easy for the kids, so we hiked (walked slowly) and found a shaded area to throw rocks into the stream. We had 6 adults and 5 children and still it was a fete just watching that nobody fell into the water. Cavan could not stay away from the edge, and Wyatt was just as interested. It was pretty funny how we posted one adult downstream and two adults ready to grab the shirts if they toppled over. We had a great time, but at one point I think we all were ready to call it quits. Owen and Amelia are quite the pair. The kids enjoy each other so much-who needs any other entertainment?

The weekend was the first warm one we have had this year. We played in the back yard with the kids and Ella (their dog). Amelia and Cavan shared a bedroom and it worked out well. As these families grow, it gets to be logistical gymnastics to fit in naps and sleeping at night. We had such fun catching up with Ben and Brenda in the evening with a glass of wine and the inevitable game of Shanghai. Ben is training for the Baily Hundo which is the 100 mile mountain bike race on June 18th. We went up last year to watch him at the half way point, for a couple of minutes, then on his way for the rest of the race. It is really crazy to think of the elevation gains for the race. I don't know if we will be there this year, because the following weekend is Cavan's 2nd birthday. Brenda does triathlons a few times a year, so between the two, they get a lot of time running/biking. Amelia calls Cavan little buddy - so cute. She is quite the mommy to him and yet the sibling rivalry is still there. She has learned to talk him into "sharing" with her - pretty funny. She loved the tricycle I got at a yard sale. She figured out how to use it in a couple of minutes. Cavan is talking quite a bit and still has his "what are you thinking" frown. I hope the kids post some pictures - if looks could kill! On the flip side, his big blue eyes just melt your heart, and he is so lovable - gives great big bear hugs. Between the two, I got a lot of hugs and attention.

In mid May, I went to Los Alamos to see Becky, Devin, Logan and Laila. Becky and I got to spend a Mothers' day out - wow! We squeezed in an impromptu pedicure, which is reminiscent of the days when there were no children and we had real time on our hands. We also visited several places in Santa Fe - a Thai restaurant, the Flea Market (wow!) and an artisan fair. It was a superb day, to say the least. Becky & Devin ran a half marathon, and I brought the kids to the event to watch mom and dad. I arrived a minute too late to see Devin come in, but we did see Becky cross the finish line. They both met their goals on a really steep vertical run-hooray for them. Logan had a ballet recital that evening and Devin recorded it, so hopefully they will post it on their blog. Although Logan decided he "didn't like ballet any more" he did a great job and the event was quite fun to watch. Laila and I had a great time reading, and it was so much fun to watch her read books to her dolls and animals. She is such a cutie! What a dramatic personality, like her cousin Amelia. The difference between girls and boys is truly "dramatic". The two kids will be in daycare this summer as Becky works 2.5 days a week. They are thriving in the environment, and have some great friends to share it with. I bought the kids a cardboard lemonade stand from World Market. I assembled it before I returned home. It seems that the kids and some neighbors sell rocks (from the yard) on the street. Logan started at $5, but reduced the cost to 5 cents. They leave the rocks and money on the wall by the street. They have painted the stand now, and are ready for business. The idea that you could let the kids have that kind of freedom is amazing - Los Alamos is such a small, friendly and safe environment for raising a family. Becky has had some great training provide by the environmental firm she works for. I never expected my daughter to be in "nuclear waste management" - she loves her job. Devin is coming up on his second year at the lab, and will find out this fall if funding will be available for another year. They would like to stay in Los Alamos, but who knows. He is in a very international lab setting and has even switched to special espresso coffee that they all use.

Josh and Bree have been really busy with the end of the school year. There are lots of BBQs and going away parties. The kids have had fun going to most of the events. Owen finished preschool and got a piece of artwork in the show. He begins swim lessons soon, so I get to stay with Wyatt and Molly sometimes. Josh has had a great school year, but it is time for a break. He only has one more week. Bree will take Molly to OK to see her sister Lauren in a couple of weeks. We will probably visit Josh for a little reinforcement - like I mind! Bree has had a rough couple of episodes with Molly's ear infections and she also had RSV, but came through like a trooper and was on oxygen at home instead of hospitalization. Things are better now for little Molly. She loves to be in the midst of the action! She has grown so quickly in these 5 months and has such a sunny personality. Her little headbands are the best - especially since she is losing all that pretty hair. Wyatt is just as funny as ever and very outgoing. His belly laugh is especially funny when Shep does "the claw". If I go down alone, he is always disappointed that Papa is not coming. His light saber wars are hilarious-especially with the special moves Owen has taught him. The Star Wars music he hums is right on. Owen is doing well with the diabetes. Josh and Bree have it under control and may even consider a pump pretty soon. We watched a soccer game this spring and he loved to run up and down the field, never caring if he got to kick the ball-which he did a few times. His Star Wars obsession is pretty amazing-he knows all of the characters, including ones I have never heard of. He has a stamp book and can recite the names and explain who they are. (I definitely need to brush up on Star Wars history). I always look forward to babysitting and spending time with them. Bree stays busy with playgroups, library visits and getting together with other moms & kids. Molly has become a real "goer", as third children often do.

Bike riding has been put on hold for Shep and I. We either aren't free, the wind is blowing, it is too cold, or too late. We aren't at all particular, though. Soon we will be back on tract for a couple of rides a week, at least. The nature center, which is a destination, has changed their restaurant, and I guess the food is great, so that is always a reason to ride - coffee & food.

After I returned from Los Alamos, Shep's sister Nancy came to visit from Chicago. We gladly played the part of tourist in the area. We went to the Royal Gorge - great trip and she was really impressed. We spent the whole day there and drove back roads to see some interesting things like Super Max prison in Florence, and the Abbey in Canon City. We had a lot of fun and ate some great food, too. We traveled to Bishop's Castle and met the owner. He is a living testimonial to what one man can achieve. He has built an incredible stone and iron structure - you should check it out online. We had fun climbing around and visiting with him. He was not on his anti establishment soap box, so we didn't get to hear the ranting and raving, which can be very entertaining. The next day we went to see Josh, Bree and kids, then on to Woodland Park to meet Ben, Brenda and kids. We played in the park and slid down slides. Cavan had no fear of the tube slides, and the expression on his face was pretty funny when he got to the end. He was fully capable of playing on the children's equipment as opposed to the toddler level. They are going to have fun with him. Amelia and I had fun swinging and picking dandelions. Nancy really enjoyed seeing the children in person! She left on Sunday after a great visit. We had fun!

Shep and I often entertain ourselves in unconventional ways. We have found a tutoring website called Khan Academy. We go online and learn algebra and other math functions. There is a lot of other stuff on there as well. I love beating Shep at the Algebra problems. How strange is that! It is cheap entertainment. We have really enjoyed our wine drinking neighbors Ken & Carol. We get together every few weeks and imbibe (usually too much). We will join them in Westcliffe for a Blue Grass Festival in July. They are fun and entertaining. We are working with them on an abandoned housing issue in the neighborhood. We will be going to sit for Josh while he takes Owen to his first swim lesson on the 20th - should be fun. Also on the 24th there is a firefly hike at the nature center, so we are signed up. I had no idea there were fireflies here. Shep has been working pretty hard this week. The last few months, they have even paid him for days he did not work, just to keep him available - not bad for a retiree! Occasionally we eat out at Village Inn, and one day after they had remodeled the store and sign, Shep asked why the "6" meaning the VI symbol on the sign. I had a good chuckle. Guess getting older makes our minds work in different ways.

Work has been awesome. I have a scheduled 20 hour week with flexible days and hours. We purchased a new database, and I swore I never wanted to do that kind of work, but I am finding it quite challenging and fun. As much as I like puzzles, it fits me well. I help with events and mass mailings, so there is a lot of variety. The people are especially nice to work with. I couldn't be more satisfied - and having a job in this economy is a huge plus! I look forward to 4 day weekends and a 3 day work week. I get together with the CSU Pueblo girls every month and we have a lot of fun catching up.

Cindy and I are hoping to make a trip to GJ this summer, but I am not sure when. We thought June would be good, but it suddenly got filled up, and here it is upon me.

I hope you are all doing well. I miss my buddies in GJ!

February & March 2011

Well, finally the cold snap is over (at least for now) and today February 15, it is 65 & I am feeling sooo much better. Work has been pretty lean over the last few weeks. We have had several late start days in the schools, and one day I had a job an school was canceled. In addition, I have been having dental work done - two root canals with one to go, and then fillings when the root canal is completed, because they are in crowns. Guess what I am spending my money on!

In late January I went to Los Alamos for a visit while Devin was in Holland giving a presentation an going to meetings. It was great to have time with the kids and Becky, but I always miss Devin, cuz we do like our wine! Logan was a bundle of energy and so excited about the train he got for Christmas. Becky took him to Trader Joes one day when we were in Santa Fe. He asked so many questions at the check-out stand that the clerk let him scan their grocery order! Becky said it was so crowded, but the clerk was awesome. Now Becky will have to backtrack with Logan and make sure he knows that he won't always be able to scan groceries. The other day Becky told me that Logan introduced she and Laila and himself to people they met. Devin was not there, but he told them that, "our husband is Devin". I guess that makes sense. Laila asked me if I got my ring at my wedding, and I said no, then she wanted to know if Shep was my husband, and I had to explain that we were just friends. Hmmnm - so much explaining. We went on a great hike where Logan and Laila could use their bike/tricycle. Logan rode most of the way, and Laila ran nearly the entire 1 1/2 miles. She hardly quit the whole time. Amelia does the same thing! Near the end she said "my legs hurt". I can't imagine why. At home the next morning Laila was running around in circles in the living room, too. I think she takes after her mama - in training for a half marathon maybe. We went to the Children's Museum in Santa Fe and it was closed, but we played outside and build Fairy houses! Much fun. They kids had a great time.

We went to Wyatt's birthday party in Colorado Springs. He got a kitchen for his birthday from Mom and Dad, and the rest of us got him a variety of food items. I found a Moon Dough food making dealie. He and Owen played with the kitchen for a long time. We get lots of pizza. Owen is such a great big brother for Wyatt. They were so cute with Molly, too, who slept most of the time. She looks a little more like Wyatt now, but it is hard to tell yet.

Ben, Brenda, Amelia and Cavan spent mid February weekend in Colorado Springs to see little Molly. Amelia was recovering from Pneumonia (poor little thing), but we enjoyed our time together. Owen and Amelia had a great time playing and Wyatt just joins in like he is a big kid, too. We took everyone to the gym at Josh's school for a couple of hours of running and chasing balls. I was really tired by the time we finished. Those kids have much more energy than I do! We played outside and used the sidewalk chalk and entirely covered the driveway with animals, trails and many other great things. The kids had fun, too, with bubbles - they are always a big hit. In fact, the Easter gifts this year are going to be bags with several bubble toys! Mostly we enjoyed each other and watched the kids interact - nothing better than that!

Beck, Devin, Laila and Logan came the end of February to leave the kiddos with me so they could ski together at Monarch. Their ski passes to Paharito in Los Alamos are also good for Monarch. They never get a chance to ski together, so the headed up to the mountains for the weekend, and stayed a night in Salida. Logan and Laila were really fun! The weather was pretty cold, so we went to the Library. Shep asked Logan to find out of the library had any train books (he is crazy about trains, to put it mildly). He went up to a lady and said, "are you a librarian?" When she offered to help, he said he wanted some train books, but not Thomas the Train, because he didn't like that one. He is amazingly friendly and polite to adults, and not the least bit afraid to ask for help. The good part was having books to read, but the technical train books are a bit beyond me, but he and Laila enjoy them. Laila loved the myriad of animal puppets, the library probably has about 50 of them. We had them scattered out all over the place. There is a little tent that Laila loved to play in. We even went up the elevator and explored the view from above. We went to the park the next day, and walked over to the college to get out of the house. The kids seem to love my crazy assortment of toys and junk. Becky and Devin came home Sunday night and left on Monday AM.

I am now working 20 hours a week at Bessemer Historical Society, or Steel Works Museum and CF&I Archives. They got me a computer and I am set up in an office kind of like a warehouse. I really like working for Julie (from CSU-Pueblo Foundation Office). She is a great boss and has really an awesome personality - she's fun to work for! The environment is great with dedicated people and a relaxed atmosphere. I get to wear jeans every day. Sometimes I organize supplies and clean stuff up, and sometimes I do mailings and work on the database and spreadsheets. I love the variety of duties. Twenty hours is about all I am up for at this point. I can work Tue, Wed, Thur and vary that if I need to in order to accommodate the grandbabies needs! They come first in my book. I have been able to sit for Wyatt while Owen goes to Dr. appts. in Denver, and I always like that. I am so lucky to have any work at all! I am not going to do Secretarial Sub work the remainder of the year. Next year I might put my name in the hat, but the 5:30 a.m. calls are a drag.

We celebrated Owen's 5th birthday in March and really enjoyed the kids. We got him a bug vacuum which he was delighted with! Molly wasn't feeling very well, but she still had a few smiles for us. They all are so entertaining. It is so nice to be close to them and keep connected.

On April 2 I am going to Bailey to stay with the kids through Wednesday while Ben and Brenda enjoy a much needed vacation to San Diego. They are excited about getting away and I am more than happy to get Nana time. May 21 I will to go Los Alamos to see Logan's Ballet Recital, and Shep's sister Nancy will be here May 25 for a few days.

We have been going out once a month or so with our neighbors and having some great social interaction. They are a couple of great people, and we seem to have a lot in common with them. Last weekend we made the rounds of three restaurant/bars and ended up finding a great place called The Hangar. Of course, Shep, the aviator loved the decor and the food was great! It's probably our favorite so far.

The yard is coming along this year. I need to replant grass where the grubs had a ginormous feast last year! I have lots of bulbs blooming, which makes me happy. I love getting outside, but the weather in March has not been the best.

Make sure to check out the kids blogs to the right. They have some great new posts.

December & January

Hello friends & family,

Well, in spite of myself, I have learned to write 2011, although it seems very strange to do so. I thought that 2010 just began and now it is already over! I guess time truly does fly when you're having fun.

I continue to work both for Pueblo City Schools as a substitute secretary and for the Bessemer Historical Society (Steel Museum) for Julie, my previous co-worker at CUS-Pueblo. Both jobs are great and I really enjoy getting out and of course I can always use the money! I work 2-3 days a week, but it is variable every week. I can get calls as early as 5:30 a.m., so I am up and going pretty early most days. On my days off I have been doing a lot of reading. I think I am making up for lost time. Shep got me a Kindle for Christmas (bless his heart!). Now I am really addicted to books. The problem right now, however, is our library will not have Ebooks until June. I have to buy them right now, so I may go back to the real thing, since I am reading two books a week.

Christmas was a joy this year. This year is the in-law Christmas, so we went to Bailey to spend a few days with Ben, Brenda, Amelia and Cavan. We had a great time - the weather was spectacular! Family is the best all year, but they are particularly fun at Christmas with the kiddos so excited about the activities. I had lunch with the girls from the Foundation Office and we had a wonderful time - they are so much fun and such good friends. Even with their busy schedules, we manage to see each other at least once a month. Our neighbors are all staying inside with our cold weather, but our neighborhood watch will meet about once a month, and we are looking forward to seeing those people again.

Bree, Josh, Owen, Wyatt and Molly:
Molly arrived December 22 this happens to be my Mom's birthday, which makes it that much more special! Eenie would have loved that. She is beautiful and a great night sleeper so far. Josh was off over the holidays, so the timing was perfect. The boys seem to be adjusting to her presence very well so far. While in the hospital, Becky, Devin, Logan, Laila, Shep and I all visited Bree & family. Ted and Phoebe (Bree's parents) had the boys in the room as well. We all got to see Molly - what a treat! The room was pretty crazy with that many people, but Bree held up well and Molly just slept! Wyatt is just a character these days-he is talking a lot, running around making lots of boy sounds, and trying to keep up with Owen. He is quite the cook-pots and pans are favorite toys. When we last visited, we walked in the door and he said, "Papa is coming". I think I have been upstaged. Owen is doing so well with the diabetes-he never complains about testing or shots. Since he is phasing out of the "Honeymoon" stage, they are having to manage his insulin much more closely. He is really quite the Jedi warrior these days, and he runs all over with his swords. He knows most of the Star War characters in his book (I've got no memory of most of them). Like the dinosaurs, he pronounces the names accurately and corrects you if you are wrong. I think their little sister will be quite a tom boy if they have anything to say about it. Bree and Owen had strep after Christmas, but are both doing great now. The cold weather has kept us all close to home for the last few days. Poor Bree had to take Owen to pre-school in sub zero weather yesterday (baby and Wyatt, too). Winter babies are difficult.

Ben, Brenda, Amelia and Cavan:

The family is doing great. We went up for Christmas Eve and spent two nights with them. Amelia is growing up so fast-she still loves her dolls and reading with Nana. It is fun to watch these girls changing the babies clothes time and time again, and talking to the dolls. We enjoyed her chatter and her dances with Cavan in the morning-they go into Cavan's room and she tells us they need space, then shuts the door and dances. They really have the moves! Her new pink room is quite a hit. Cavan is into putting toys in bags. His favorite gifts were the gift bags, which he slung over his shoulder and carried around the room. Another favorite was a stuffed guitar that played music-Cavan liked it, but so did the adults. We hiked on Christmas day in light coats-it was so beautiful, but no snow. It was nice to get outside. Brenda's brother Troy came up for the day and evening. It was great to spend some time with Troy, and we introduced him to Hobgood card playing (which can get pretty competitive)-I think he probably thinks we are nuts, but we had a great time.

Becky, Devin, Logan and Laila:
We got to see the family twice during the holidays. They came through on their way to Lyons to see Devin's family. We all got to see Molly on their way north. They came back through and spent two nights here waiting for roads to improve. Logan had a Christmas filled with trains-his most favorite thing in the world. Read the Close blog on the right. He was so much fun-he got to get out his vacuum and clean my floors (I don't complain), he and Shep built a wooden train in our basement workshop-what fun. He is a constant source of entertainment. Laila is really talking-most of which I can understand, too. I got out some doll clothes I made the kids when they had Cabbage Patch dolls, and she really enjoyed them. We did our fair share of reading, but she loves to read herself. I am still trying to get a video of her to work. She still looks forward to seeing my monkey (a big stuffed one). We went to the river walk and rode the boat and looked at Christmas lights with Santa riding along. Logan had a great time talking to Santa. When we went to see Molly, a hospital lady that checks in guests asked Logan something about taking Molly home (not knowing who we were). He had quite a long conversation about how far it was to home, what a long car ride, and she was cracking up. The child knows no strangers.

I hope the new year finds all of you healthy and happy. Let me know what is going on in your lives.

The pictures below are from the Thanksgiving gathering of the family. It was a beautiful day in Pueblo, so we took the children to Mineral Palace Park to play, picnic and feed the ducks and geese. We were lucky to get pictures of any kind - the kids were energized!