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.