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!