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.
