A Most Thankful Time of the Year

Thanksgiving was probably one of the most entertaining vacations ever spent with our most incredible family!  We rented a vacation home near Salida (it was hard to find one to sleep 15 people) and met on Wednesday afternoon with a myriad of luggage, coolers, coats, toys and children!  The house was two levels with an incredible view of the mountains, 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms and two living areas for plenty of space to stretch out (or get away for a peaceful minute if needed).

We spent the afternoon and evening settling in our rooms, tracking down children, and preparing our evening meal.  The kids played chase throughout the house with the boys chasing and the girls screeching.  It was pretty entertaining.  The surprising part was there were no injuries, nobody ran over the top of Molly and they ran off a lot of energy before dinner.  In fact they were quite ravenous after the ride in the car and an hour long game of chase and the excitement of reuniting with the cousins.  They bonded quickly and spent the remainder of the time in various pairs or threesomes of play.

We decided to give the children one bedroom downstairs and it was fun to try and settle down 6 kids (Molly slept upstairs with Mom and Dad).  Reading didn't help, threats didn't help, and finally I think they were too tired to fight it any longer.  They settled in for the night and the adults relaxed for a glass of wine or beer and we all enjoyed catching up with each other.  It has been since the "pre children" era that we have all been under the same roof with quiet surroundings to visit without interruption.  What a treat!

Logan and Owen spent the better part of a day with Shep and Devin learning how to play chess. Logan had given Devin a chess set for his birthday and the boys were anxious to learn.  They got it!  (which is more than I ever have)  They had the patience to stick with it and learn strategy.  When Owen got home, he got out his own little travel set and played by himself.  We also found him playing a game by himself and he told me that white won.  Guess we have two little math boys!

Thanksgiving day we fixed a big dinner and the kids all got out for exercise because the weather was incredible!  Dads took the kiddos for disc golf and they loved it. The grandchildren continued to play chase, legos, guns, my pretty ponys, and some various other random games.  None of the activities was particularly quiet, so I think I spent most of the time enjoying just sitting back watching the action.

Wyatt in his pumpkin hat

Laila with her usual smiling face

Amelia before Nana's hair salon

Logan reading in the recliner- Oh the 1st graders.

Owen reading beside Logan - how the boys love school.

Laila and Amelia after Nana braided hair

Owen contemplating his next move

Cavan with a laser sword breaking ice

Friday we went for a hike and ended up by a frozen stream with the kids cracking the ice with sticks.  It was pretty hilarious watching them search for bigger sticks and then watch as the water bubbled up from the stream.  What a treat to get outside with the crew and marvel at their energy and enthusiasm.  It doesn't take much to entertain!  Here are a few pictures of the afternoon.  Left to right:  Owen, Logan, Laila, Becky, Devin, me with Molly, Brenda, Josh, Bree, Wyatt, Amelia (blue coat) Ben and Cavan.  Shep is the photographer.

Sticks, ice, water - how can you beat that!

The morning entertainment on Ben's IPad (Molly was not interested yet!)

Molly is chowin' down - a winning smile as always

Owen, Laila and Wyatt at the Salida Park

Typical Molly climbing on something

Brenda, smile, you're on Shep's Camera

Becky is lovin' it outside

Only Ben would wear shorts today

Bree finally gets to eat

Josh enjoying Wyatt and quiet

Devin enjoying a cup-a-joe

Logan is unusually serious

Brenda, Becky and Linda doing a puzzle

On Saturday we visited a park in Salida, had a dance fest with the kids as well as running, swinging, and checking out the river.  We all headed for home and were sad to leave the happy clan, but ready for a little peace and quiet as well.  It seems I no sooner get home, get a good night's rest, get the laundry finished, and I am ready to start it all over again.  I really believe that communal family living would be wonderful.  (Provided there was a built in escape hatch).  

Shep and I have spent a couple of weekends this fall in Conifer helping Ben and Brenda on their new house. They will be moving in before Christmas so we will go up a couple of days early to help out.  They have the most amazing friends who have put in incredible hours and offered lots of expertise.  The house and location are great, but it proved to be in need of a lot more repairs than initially thought.  I am excited because there is a bunch of stained glass and an art studio that I think must have my name on it!  The property includes room for the kids to play in the front yard where it is flat, a huge asphalt driveway to ride bikes, boulders to climb, a meadow for picnics and a potential mountain bike course.  It will be awesome!  Cavan and Amelia are adjusting to the life in one house and the work on the other one.  Ben and Brenda are burning candles at both ends, so they will be relieved when Conifer is their only residence.  There is a huge workshop, 4 car garage, art studio and an office for Ben with a bay window off of the workshop and in a building separated from the house. Cavan was so funny last time we were visiting  He wanted to "go to your home..do you remember your tools?"  Out of the clear blue sky he commented, "remember, there are bad guys in this world."  (from Brenda's stranger danger talk).  He spends a good deal of time on Papa's lap when we visit.  Amelia is such an artist.  I have some awesome pictures she has painted and colored for me.  She loves kindergarten and her gymnastics class.  The little leader has Nana tied around her little finger.  One of my great joys is how much she loves to have me read to her. 

The Hobgood Five are busy with school and kids activities.  Bree is constantly busy chasing Molly, who never stops moving unless she is asleep.  In Salida for Thanksgiving the girl was all over the house, up and down the stairs and climbing on everything.  She is really a great jumper, too, off of boxes, stools, chairs, whatever she can find.  She acted just like she was one of the older kids.  Her sense of humor is great and she's a bit of a tease.  Wyatt has such a great belly laugh it is contagious.  Their dog Marly scared him one day when he turned suddenly, and so he has to be separated from the dog.  I asked him when he would NOT be afraid any more, like maybe on his next birthday?  Oh no, he said he would not be afraid of Marly any more when he was 20.  He likes the number 20 for some reason. We all had a good laugh - but he really meant it.  Owen is doing great in 1st grade and as you can see from the pictures above, he loves to read.  He and Logan loved the legos and star wars games they played.  He is awesome with Molly being a protective big brother and trying to teach her new things.  I think teaching must run in the family.  He is extremely patient and full of great advice for his little sister-he puts his arm around her and gives her hugs.  Josh has been busy at school as always, playing tennis with a friend (at least before this cold spell).  Bree still does Yoga and gets out with her friends.

Becky and Devin have kept a busy schedule this fall.  They both run a few times a week and work hard at their jobs.  They have been on several camping trips this summer and fall. Logan's 1st grade experience has been great for him, his teacher is married to a guy who is just like Logan - enthusiasm plus, so she can really relate to him.  He is such an outgoing child.  While riding in Shep's car he asked what the window cranks were.  Shep replied that they were to roll the window up and down and he said - "Wow, I bet those really cost a lot of money."  He is playing basketball again and Becky said they look forward to all of his rebounds.  Just like with soccer, he loves to get down and keep the ball out of his area.  Laila is taking ballet and loving it.  She looks absolutely adorable in her dancing clothes.  She is just starting to ride a bike, and when I asked her about it she said they couldn't find the chain, but they would get it fixed.  When I asked her the most fun thing she did at Thanksgiving, it was playing disc golf.  She still has the cute little accent.  She and two good friends have play dates that sound just like Becky when she was little playing with Megan and Wendy.  The family is hoping to have a great winter of skiing again, but the snowfall isn't cooperating.  They will be through here for the trip north to visit all of Devin's family for the holidays.  We always enjoy the stop off visits.

Life in Pueblo is great, as we continue to meet some really interesting people (mostly transplants like us).  Shep is the typical social connection - everything from meditation, Tai Chi, choir and investigating churches.  It makes life interesting, for sure.

My job is great, with no shortage of work.  I enjoy the challenge and an opportunity to keep my mind sharp (ha ha).  I am staving off dementia by stretching my mind learning a new database program.  It has been quite an effort, but well worth it.  Bessemer Historical Society does 2 big fundraisers a year and 4 smaller ones.  Shep and I went on a bike tour through the Bessemer neighborhood (older steel worker homes).  It was crazy to learn about the architecture from 1904 on, when the town was being built and the industry was starting to hire immigrants.  We just finished Saints 'n Sinners where people toured 6 churches and 11 taverns.  Shep and I had a a great time on that one.  We missed the churches, but sat in a tavern for a few hours and visited with people.

We've had the week from you know what!  On Friday we planned to go to Confier to help Ben and Brenda but as I was cleaning I heard a mysterious dripping sound.  Hmmmm - I went to the basement/crawl space and sure enough - water on the floor (not much, fortunately).  Well, after a call to the plumber, an hour long diagnosis, it was the main water line.  After negotiating a horrendous cost, they got to work digging 4 foot trenches in the back yard to run a new line (which was 60 years old).  Well, cold weather set in, they couldn't work for 2 days.  Today they came back and discovered a problem with the sewer line, too.  Well, more negotiating on cost, more trenching, more pipe laid and we now can flush to our hearts' delight.  Tomorrow the main water will be hooked up, the trench filled, and my yard will look like crap.  I will get seed and organic matter to replant my grass this spring.  Check out the pictures below.

I had a flat yard, now I have new berms!

A new landscape in the making.

Monday I got into my car to head to work - guess what?  The battery.  Shep helped me charge the battery, I drove to Sears, and now own a really good battery and my checkbook is crying!  I figure with the water line, sewer line and battery -if bad things come in threes, I should be good for a while.

We are looking forward to the holidays and hope that all of you are safe and healthy.  I miss my friends in Grand Junction and hope to get over the hill this spring.  

Fall of 2012 - where has the time gone?

The summer has slipped quietly away and the mornings indicate that fall is in the air, except the days are mostly in the 80s.  Crazy weather has been the norm this summer.  As much as the heat and yard work make me happy, I am rethinking the heat part of that picture.

June flew by with the Sand Dunes trip and the Bailey Hundo, then July came without much fanfare because of fire bans in Colorado.  We saw a lot of the kiddos in July during various visits.  In August we had a big outside event at work that kept me busy and Becky and Devin visited again with the kids. Josh and I celebrated our birthdays after the JRDF Walk for the Cure.  We had such a fun day on the walk.  You will have to look at the kids' blogs to get the great photos.  The kids got me a camera for my birthday, so I can stay on top of things!  It is a point and shoot which is just up my alley.  I have already forgotten to take it once, when Ben and Brenda came with the kids a couple of weeks ago.  We went to the Pueblo Zoo and forgot to shoot pictures.  DUH!  I still am having trouble with videos - will post some when I can.

Laila and Logan at the Restaurant in Chimayo

Becky and Devin have had a fun packed summer trying to squeeze in plenty of camping and trips to Colorado and San Diego.  The visits with the kids are so entertaining!  During the July trip to Pueblo, Wyatt and Laila learned to dunk their heads in the plastic swimming pool.  Laila had not done the full face thing, and when she
 discovered how much fun it was, she played in the pool for about an hour.  Logan did the usual-vacuum my house-I even labeled the vacuum as Logan's.  He loved attaching a garden cart to the tricycle and pulling it around the yard.  He and Devin enjoyed disc golfing.  We always spend time with Josh and Bree while they visit, so it was fun to get all of the kids together.  In August Becky and Devin went on their 10th anniversary celebration to the Monarch area while Randy and Georgie kept the kids.  They dropped the kids off here and the family spent the night with us.  Shep took Laila and Logan to Starbucks for a treat, and on the way in his truck, he had some BBs rattling around in the console.  Logan said "Papa those BBs are annoying me!" The funny thing is, he left them in the console so we get a chuckle every time we hear them.   Logan was fascinated with the hand cranks on the truck windows and asked Shep if he had to pay extra for them. The end of September I went to Los Alamos to spend a few days.  Becky and I limited our projects to painting one bookcase.  Usually we get in way over our heads, but not so this time.  Devin was on a trip to Moab for his annual guy's thing.  Logan and Laila had birthday parties to attend and we all went to Becky's work BBQ (it was a bit cold) - it was lots of fun to meet the people from work.  The kids had a great time.   Logan loves 1st grade and will be starting basketball soon.  Laila is in preschool and playing soccer.  She just started dance lessons this fall, and her teacher was sure that she had classes before, she was so coordinated. They are both growing up so fast and are fascinating to visit with.  I still get in a lot of reading time.  Logan's Star Wars books really are not my cup of tea.  He loves the technical stuff, and his books on tanks, too.  Laila and I read some great chapter books.  It makes me realize how fast they have grown up because I am not reading the same book over and over.

Wyatt with upside down sunglasses

Molly being her sweet self!

Owen must be thinking

Josh and Bree had a great summer.  The beginning was a bit rough with the Waldo Canyon fire that was quite traumatic for the entire city of Colorado Springs.  The view from their house was frightening. They did their annual trip to Grand Lake and caught some fish - the kids loved it.  I have been down to sit with kids a couple of times a month as Bree meets with school staff to get Owen ready for all day at school.  His school is a couple of blocks away, so it is really convenient for this new schedule.  He has done very well, so things are settled in right now.  Owen is such a little scholar and so diligent about his school work.  It is great to have Logan and Owen both read to me - wow - I don't think I read so young!  Owen has a great grasp of math (Bree's genes?).  One visit this summer Owen couldn't get enough of my goop (cornstarch and water).  It was pretty funny having him try to enjoy the feel of it, but keep it off of his clothes and arms.  He still has that deep voice.  Wyatt is such a character these days.  He talks a lot about halloween, citing everyone's costumes, and what they will do for halloween.  He has talked about it all year!  He still loves dressing up in costumes, fighting with laser swords, and teasing.  He goes to little gym, so we always get a little show of his new moves.  Bree said that he naps some days, but never on the weekends when Owen is home.  Little Molly - oh my - that girl is full of energy and has a great sense of humor.  She will try anything the bigger kids are doing and usually succeeds.  It seems just like Becky was as a toddler - no limits.  She is full of energy and lots of fun.  When we did the JRDF walk, she went 1.5 miles - farther than some older kids.  Molly will be quite a talker like her cousins.  She speaks very clearly and has this cute little voice.  She loves her brothers.  Owen is an awesome big brother -very protective and loving.  He really watches out for her.


Amelia making sidewalk pictures for us

Cavan happily posing with the geese in the background.

Ben and Brenda have had a busy summer.  They put their house on the market, sold it, found another one in Conifer (closer to shopping).  They closed last week, and I will go down to help this weekend.  They came here to visit in September over the weekend of Josh and my birthdays.  We did the JRDF walk on Sept 8 (forJuvenile diabetes).  We had a huge group of people with friends and family all dressed in green.   They stayed with us one night and we tried to figure out what to do in the heat with Cavan and Amelia.  We took them to city park and they chased the geese and ducks.  It was more fun than a playground.  Cavan is really talking a lot and has this deep slow voice.  He is such a lover and Papa is one of his favorites.  Amelia is still my girl and we have lots of fun playing with my Mom's old costume jewelry and reading a ton of books.  She and Cavan enjoyed the back yard with the tricycles and loading stuff in the wagon and pulling it.  Ben and Brenda got to get out a little while they were here.  Cavan started preschool this year and is doing great.  He and papa built a wooden tool box from Home Depot.  Amelia is in kindergarten two days a week and seems to like it.  She loves to read and is now old enough to correct me if I make a mistake.  I noticed Laila does that, too.  She and Laila are really cute together.  Brenda is still the Race Director for the Bailey Hundo, and Ben continues to be waaaaay busy with work.  They are looking forward to the new house in Conifer.  It is on 5 acres with bouldering in the back yard, hiking, and a flat front yard for the kids.  Ben will have an office off of a wood shop that is separated from the house.  There is a 4 car garage, too - what a treat.

Work is still great.  I have enjoyed my half-time schedule.  We did a huge event Aug.4 which will become an annual thing.  Saints 'n Sinners is in November - it is a tour of churches and taverns in the Bessemer neighborhood, last weekend we had a 4 mile bike tour, in February our FACES of CF&I fundraising event.  These keep me pretty busy along with mass appeal mailings and keeping the membership up to date.  I have liked learning a new database program and the people at work are awesome.  I am known for my hard work, ability to fix vacuum cleaners, organize the mess, and know where all of the supplies are.  Lately I have added picking locks to my resume (only one on a display case).  I don't know why I like organizing so much, but it gives me such satisfaction.

I've started more home improvement projects.  The storm windows were messy and the windows all over the house needed paint. I spent two weeks stripping paint with a heat gun and repainting and re-caulking all of the windows (10) on the outside of the house.  I took down the storm windows and cleaned them up.  Some of the window panes were so bad I am surprised they did not fall out.  Now I am into the inside of the windows no that the weather is cooler.  I did the main bathroom - spent 2 days stripping, caulking and painting and my hands are a mess!  I don't know what I would do if I had a house that didn't need work!

We have been wining with our neighbors every couple of weeks.  We have met other Pueblo transplants and seem to have found some fun people to hang out with.  They are real foodies - so we get some great food and good wine.  It has been fun to have neighbors, so we can drink wine and walk home!  How can you beat that.  We also share plants - Carol and Rene like gardening as much as I do.  It hate the thought of winter when I have to see my plants go to sleep!  We are planning to do some winter projects.

The community college (a block away) does gourmet lunches 4 days a week, so we are going to try it out.  It is only about $7 for a fantastic lunch.  They also do gourmet dinners for $14.  We went a couple of times last year and loved our 5 course meals.  We haven't taken any classes there yet.  I just don't seem to find time.

Shep has quit driving a truck after his hip started bothering him.  He is investigating other work options.

We hope all of you are doing well, and please keep in touch.
Linda and Shep

Spring has sprung in Pueblo –so early and with such gusto.  We are expecting high 80’s today.  I have never thought about the swamp cooler so early in the spring, but we could have used it a couple of days already.

Since January we have been all over the I-25 corridor visiting the grandchildren.  They aren’t grandbabies any more, even Molly! 

In March we went to see Becky, Devin, Laila and Logan.  The trip was great.  Logan had teacher conferences, so he and Laila and I got to hang out for the day.  We visited the bomb museum, Subway for lunch and the library.  Every place we went, Logan introduced me to his classmates and parents.  Even the Subway clerks knew him.  All of the librarians knew the kids, and one even showed Logan a new Star Wars book that had just arrived.  I had a great time reading the Star Wars books to Logan, but I still can’t keep the characters straight.    Logan has loved his first year of school – kindergarten agrees with him.   He is reading every day at home – oh how they grow up!  We played with legos and did a few art projects.  Logan had fun with basketball and is on to soccer this spring.   I always get a lot of refrigerator art to bring home.  Laila played the princess most if the visit.  Her outfits change every half hour or so-complete with tiaras & shoes.  Laila and I have fun with big words.  She will repeat anything and master the meaning.  March was pretty cold, but Becky had found her a swim suit and she wore it one day in the house while I had on a sweater!   She still reads to her animals and dolls-which she enjoys as much as being read to.  When she visits she loves the big monkey and has asked about it on the phone. The two kids are such great buddies and so affectionate with each other and Nana & Papa.  We had a great time at the community activities that seem to be ongoing during every visit.  The food co-op had a great open house, so we enjoyed good food and met more friends – Laila particularly enjoyed the 10 day old goats.  What a fun visit and the weather cooperated nicely.  Devin & Becky are both enjoying their jobs and stay busy with work, training for running events and skiing (before the snow melted).  Both children are skiing now as you can see on their blog.  Devin can even ski on his lunch hour, because the slope is so close.  I am anxious for another visit in May for Mother’s Day.  Look at the Close blog to the right to see current pictures!  More to come after my visit for Mother's Day.

Owen Turns 6

Molly & Mom

Wyatt's smile is way too cute!

Owen turned 6 in March – can you believe it?  We had such a great time at his birthday party with the other grandparents (Ted & Phoebe) and friends of Owen’s.  We met a couple of new parents and enjoyed visiting them while the kids went crazy!  Bree had some great activities including capes to customize and Josh made an obstacle course in the yard – pretty fun and a great way to run off some energy.  Kindergarten has been an awesome experience for him, and first grade (full days) will be a new challenge next year.  His soccer games are really fun for him-we get to see one in May.  He has read books to me and has a great grasp of math.  He seemed so grown up with the boys at the party!  Wyatt is Mr. Talkative – he is a constant conversationalist with tidbits about whatever is going on in his little mind!   He can identify all of Josh’s plants in the garden and some of mine, too.  One visit in March, he was talking in detail about the Halloween decorations and candy and all of the activities.  With a big brother, he joins right in with the light saber wars and never misses a beat.  He has the greatest belly laugh, and has an awesome sense of humor.  It is just awesome to watch his body language – what a variety of moves he has.  Molly – well she is the fastest runner of all!  That girl walked and took off running immediately.  She has a special gleam in her eye – watch out Mom and Dad.  It is fun just to watch her run around and be crazy.  She can keep up with the boys, which is hard to watch, because she is such a petite little thing!  She is quite the climber, loving to jump off of the stool and climb on the kitchen chairs! Her personality really lights up the room.  Josh is busy with school, winding down the school year.  We met him at CSU-Pueblo for our annual lunch – he interviewed teacher candidates at the University Job Fair to hire in his district.  Bree has been helping in Owen’s class, so I get to sit for the other two fairly often.  Bree has been really busy watching little Molly – what a handful. Josh and Bree have been busy this spring putting in wicking beds – flower/vegetable gardens that have a water supply under the soil.  We went to CS one day to help haul rock down the steep slope to the garden beds. 

We have been to visit Ben, Brenda, Amelia & Cavan during nice winter weather this year.  It is always a touch-and-go situation missing storms.  Amelia and I have to read the minute I walk in the door, first thing in the morning, and at bedtime.  I really think she could probably read the books on her own – she must have them memorized by now.   She has learned to color in the lines and creates great paintings for Nana to bring home.   Her dance classes are going well, and she has all the right moves.  I hope we get a video posted below.   When they left last Sunday, she cried and said she wanted to stay here – oh how that flattered me, but she was really upset! Cavan is just like Wyatt – talks all the time.  I have seldom seen a two year old who could play by himself for long periods of time.  He is narrating a story the entire time he plays and collects his goodies, putting them into piles or in sacks.  Amelia speaks pretty fast and has a great vocabulary, and in contrast Cavan is very methodical and has a hundred facial expressions to go with his words.  When he got ready to leave this trip, he kept saying he wanted to go home to see his mama. Ben brought the kids for the weekend while he did a mountain bike race in Pueblo called Voodoo Fire.  We took the kids to the race, but missed Ben going by, but had fun anyway.  Ben brought two guys with him in a pop-up camper in the driveway.  We enjoyed a dinner and after race recap the next day. Brenda had a book show and could not come.  She is busy with a job as coordinator for the Bailey Hundo in July.  It is the 100 mile mountain bike race that Ben does every year.  She gets to do all of the detail work before and during the event.  She is already busy – I will sit for the kids the weekend of the event.  Ben is busy with work and building his computer desk and tower for the computer.  He should post pictures soon of the finished product.  Pretty cool. 

Amelia at Ben's race in Pueblo

Cavan helping Dad

Shep and I have been busy with household projects, dinner and wine with neighbors, trips to Colorado Springs, Bailey and Los Alamos.  In May I will go to see Becky & Devin & sit for Josh & Bree.  The families are all meeting the first week in June for a camping trip to Sand Dunes.  I have never been to the Dunes (shame on me!), so I am anxious to go.  Some of us are also meeting up for the Westcliffe Blue Grass Festival and the Bailey Hundo in July.  In between will be birthdays for Brenda, Cavan, Laila & and Logan. 

My trip to Grand Junction with Cindy Jobe was great in March.  The time is always too short, but I did get in a few visits.  It is great to get caught up on all my friends and their lives.  Cindy and I always enjoy getting trapped in a car for long hours.  Where do we find so much to talk about?

Newly decorated spare bedroom.

The kitchen is mostly finished - check out the picture    I’ve decided that installing ceramic tile is great fun.  We are trying to get a vent hood installed, but we keep running into problems.  It stinks to get old and not be able to climb around the attic and on top of the roof like I used to do.  The thought of hiring someone to do the work makes me cringe.  It is so hard to find someone competent! 

I spent several days on the spare bedroom with a quilt and fabric I bought at the Goodwill Store in Colorado Springs.  Had much fun, and it only cost $25.  The white bed frame is one that belonged to Mom (Eenie) and spent a few years in Ben & Brenda's house.  They have new furniture for their rooms, so I took it, sanded and painted it and now have a headboard and it looks like a real guest room.  Let me know when you need to use it - we love having company.





The yard is my favorite place to be these days.  My neighbor Carol and I enjoy wine, coffee and plants!  She is thinning plants, so I get her cast offs and have had so much fun this spring with the flowerbeds I made last year.  It certainly doesn’t do much for my manicure, but there is something really good about dirt under the fingernails.  I am happiest outside this time of year.  Although our winter was short, I realized why people move to warmer climates as they age.

Shep and I are looking forward to some local trips this summer to places we have not visited yet.  I hope we can go to Carlsbad Caverns again, but who knows.  Time does fly when you are having fun.  I have found a great recipe for the kids – Goop.  It is ½ c water and 1 c cornstarch.  Mix with your hands as you add water slowly.  It is great.  Owen and Amelia particularly enjoyed it!  Squeeze it and it gets hard, then let go and it becomes liquid.  FUN

We're welcoming in 2012!

Josh, Bree, Molly, Shep, Ben, Brenda, ME, Devin, Becky

Wyatt (with his pirate eye patch), Cavan (watching Owen make faces), Owen (making faces at the camera), Logan (he's making noise or sining), Laila (with one of Eenie's necklaces), Amelia (with her favorite Christmas book from Nana & Papa).

What a quick year this has been. Maybe working so much has made the time speed by, but 2011 is past and we are once again trying to remember to write a new year on checks and other documents. Each day seems to be looking forward to 2012 as a year of new experiences, fun with family and plodding along in old age, wondering about a new ache or pain from some mysterious cause. Each day brings about a discovery of new technology - not all of it to my liking. Each day just makes me more thankful than ever that I am still breathing, remembering most of what I need to, and am able to continue my never ending household projects. (Speaking of remembering, I need to mention that I misspelled Cavan's name when I ordered some cards. I was typing Devin, and put an I in Cavan's name. Hope the Hobgood 4 will forgive me.) The nice thing about getting old, is being excused and forgiven for errors. Heaven knows I make enough of them.

During December I finished my stained glass class and made presents for each family. I thoroughly enjoyed the challenge - it is much more difficult than I had imagined. What fun, though, to design and build a creation all my own. Next I may try throwing clay pots or creating fused glass art. As soon as our event at work is complete (After Feb. 18th) I will have more time. The kids really inspired me to take classes and try things I have always been intrigued by.

Becky, Devin and Ben and Brenda all arrived on the 23rd after snow threatened to hold up the travel plans. They converged on the respective homes (Becky & family at Josh's and Ben & family here). We had quite a fun evening getting settled in. In Pueblo we went to Ken & Carol's next door for some Christmas cheer and lots of great food as usual. Cavan and Amelia enjoyed Carol's house and another neighbor couple joined us as well. Cavan spent his first night on the air mattress on the guest bedroom floor. He did remarkably well since he has outgrown the pack 'n play. In the morning the kids get up and knock on my door - usually with a pile of books to read. It is such fun to spend time lying around visiting with them and letting the parents sleep. They all have their favorite books to read.

Christmas Eve we traveled to Colorado Springs and invaded the Hobgood household. We had soup, played in the snow, made a trip to the grocery store and Starbucks, and watched the kids play. I never tire of seeing their interactions! Laila and Amelia had a bunch of fun playing in a clothes basket in Josh & Bree's closet (with the dirty clothes). We never did figure out why it was so much fun, but they were quite entertained. Wyatt would join them in several of the costumes he loves to wear. Cavan was engrossed with a pizza toy (a wooden one). He carried it all over the house and played exclusively with it most of the weekend. Owen and Logan and sometimes Wyatt played with Legos and Star Wars toys and many battles ensued. They play so well together. Molly was all over the house and we had to watch the baby gate at the top of the stairs. She has learned to walk backward. It is the funniest thing I ever saw. She gets this impish grin on her face and backs away.

Christmas Day was quite a chaotic experience- 15 bodies in the house, some large and some quite small- made for an interesting mix of noise and general bedlam. The families converged on our house to open gifts. The children were excited after waiting so long for Santa to reveal his gifts. Logan had to see our chimney to make sure it was okay for Santa - little did he know that the steam was from the furnace! Gift opening was hilarious. We tried to keep some semblance of order, but you can imagine how well that went. Molly (1 year old) is running around uninterested, having a great time tackling the step into the family room, while someone chases after her. Owen and Logan are focused on their Star Wars gifts. Laila and Amelia are talking a mile-a-minute and waiting patiently to open more gifts. Cavan has a big dump truck that occupied all of his interest. Wyatt was quietly waiting for the next big gift just trying to stay out of the shuffle and as usual talking a lot. Becky posted a picture of our living room floor check out her blog by clicking to the right.

We all had fun chasing kids, playing with their toys and reading books. The little ones had trouble napping, who can blame them. We didn't eat our big meal until evening, so it was an eat-fest all day with a little exercise squeezed in. The weather was cold, so the kids didn't play in the yard. We had so much snow before Christmas, the yard was covered and the street in front of the house was like an ice rink.

On the 26th we went to Josh & Bree's so the adults could go climbing at a verticle climbing wall in downtown Colorado Springs. The guys left the girls with the kids, then they returned and the girls went to climb. It is rare that there is an opportunity to have parents get away for their bonding time.

On New Year's Eve, Becky and Devin spent the night on their way back to NM. Becky and I shopped for the afternoon (yea!) Devin & Shep took the kids to a movie. Devin and Becky went to a movie that night while we put the kids to bed. This was a real treat for them to get out for an evening. It is nice to feel like a helpful grandparent when the kids get time away like that.

Becky and Devin are loving their jobs and life in town. There are plenty of activities for small children including skiing and ice skating when the weather cooperates. They have a 15 minute drive to ski, so some weekends each adult gets to go up the slope in the same day. Laila has really taken to skiing with great enthusiasm. She is a real athlete and such a sweet personality. Her facial expressions and body language are hilarious-her hands move just like Becky's. Logan has really become interested in reading and Star Wars (thanks to Owen). Logo building is always a favorite past time, and during visits he loves to work in garages with his uncles, of course reading books about trains. They hope to stay in NM for a long time. Raising kids in a small town really has it's advantages. They can have so much more freedom, the schools are great, and they literally know everyone in town.

Logan with his big smile (Ben & Brenda in background)

Laila opening gifts

Ben has been really busy at work and Brenda is selling US Borne books. They are always on the go with the kids. Amelia is really a bright girl with definite leadership potential. She never lets me skip a page in the books we read (Not that I would do that intentionally). She got a book for Christmas with princess dolls and stickers to put on them for clothes. I couldn't believe how engrossed she was with the book. She kept telling me, "Nana, you got me just the book I wanted, thank you for getting it." Cavan has become very fond of bags to carry his toys in. I have a few bags with tools for the boys when they visit. He would load up a bag and sling it over his shoulder and carry it everywhere he went. Heaven help the person who tried to take his stuff away! The funniest part was when he tried to stuff the Cabbage Patch doll in the bag and it wouldn't fit. He really loves trains, much like cousin Logan. We enjoyed their stay at the house so we could catch up on all the news and spend some quiet time together.

Amelia opening gifts & Cavan's toothpaste from his stocking

Josh and Bree are busy with kids and work. Being in education is so nice for the Christmas holiday time off. Wyatt has a bunch of dress up costumes, and changes clothes frequently. He has everything from cowboys with guns to Star Wars. He has great dramatic gestures and stances. I love his long conversations and explanations. Owen loves school and even talks about it when he comes home. I have been sitting with the other two a couple of times, and when Owen gets home he is all excited about the day's events. He has changed and grown up so much this year. His diabetes seems so normal, he even does his own finger pricks and reads the meter for Bree to record. He is an awesome brother to Molly! She is such an active baby and such a sunny personality. She loved all of the activity with the cousins around. She and Laila both like to read books by themselves. We would miss her, and she would be in her bedroom surrounded by books just reading away. I missed her 1st birthday party (Dec. 22) because of the snow, but went down later. We had more snow than Colorado Springs, which is rare.

Molly in the middle of chaos. Wyatt & Owen looking on.

Work is just awesome. We are planning the 140th Anniversary of CF&I for August which will be another huge event. In the meantime we have a Feb. 18 dinner for fundraising. We mailed out invites last week, so the work begins to get silent auction items, take reservations and keep track of a multitude of details. I worked long hours before Christmas and will keep a busy schedule again. My 20 hour a week job has increased, but I can sure use the money. My boss, Julie, is just the best and I enjoy a variety of work. During the bad storm, I learned to use our little show blower. The custodian was off for the day, and we all went in late. I was not about to shovel wet snow by hand with only one snow shovel, so we went into the basement and found the blower. I guess it helps to be independent and determined. The girls at work couldn't believe I would try to get it going. Yea for me! It took about an hour to clear the snow. In addition, I am getting better with our database and learning a lot about Pueblo and the impact of the steel production.

My latest project is the kitchen. I had new counters installed. Then I had to trim out the misfitting cupboards (from Habitat for Humanity), and I am working on a backsplash. When I took off the old 40's yucky olive green tile, it brought with it a lot of plaster, too. I have spent the week patching plaster walls 1/4 inch at a time. I think I will do white subway tile for the backsplash and paint some crazy color in the cubbies above the sink and stove. No project around here goes fast, but it keeps me out of trouble. The problem is, like with all projects, it nickel and dimes you to death. I think that term is old, because you can't buy anything for a nikel or dime any more

Kitchen before - check out ugly sink & tile

New kitchen with counter and messy walls where I removed backsplash. New pics to come as soon as the backsplash is done. New white sink from Terry White in Fruita. It has been waiting over a year to get installed.

That's the news from Pueblo - just looking forward to another great year!