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 s
o 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!
