More Family and More School...and More Crying

Finally, Grandma Presley got to see her grandchild. She would never come out and say it, but I am guessing she was happy to see JJ. It was good to see her and have her help out around the house. I felt like a bad host because I was working, studying, or hiding from the crying and spending a lot of time with her. It is weird to have people come see you (or your son) and not entertain them with all the local hot spots. I know they don't come to Tucson on a site seeing trip, but I still feel like I should be a tour guide.

We did get to go up to Mt. Lemmon on a day I played hooky...ok, class got out early one day. It was an interesting trip to the highest mountain just a few miles out of town. Very similar to driving up to Bogus Basin, as far a close proximity to the city. You start out in 80 degree weather and surroundings like this (not like Bogus Basin, espicially in December):

And end up at a ski resort...er...ski lift. Supposedly they get snow in January and some times even have enough to open this hill up. It is limited to a few hundred people because it is so small, so you have to call before going to see if there is enough room. That is not a joke.

It was very scenic and had some really good areas where you could see all around the local area, as well as Mexico and New Mexico.

We also got to play in the snow, since all of our Idaho friends have been bragging about their frolics in the white stuff. I made a snowman, if you can't see (very small) and it would probably be more in the catagory of iceman.

And not to be outdone by the areas that get the white stuff, Tucson makes their own snow. Ok, it was more like foam, but hundreds of people flock to see the next closest thing to snow at a local mall. They dispense "snow" twice a night around this time of year and people get so into that they actually wear jackets and drink hot chocolate.

Although my mother only got to stay for a few days, we enjoyed having her here. Candi and JJ continue to do well, if "doing well" includes crying for no reason and fussing all night...and I am not talking about JJ. No, just kidding, but he has been a bit more difficult these last few days. I don't think we have to worry about under developed lungs. The dogs have actually figured out that if they go outside, they can get away from the inner ear pain. Candi is starting to get mad because she has to go outside and call for me, just like the dogs.

We are looking forward to being home for Christmas. We bought tickets (JJ isn't going to college anymore) and will be home on Christmas Eve and return to sunny Tucson on New Year's Day. Candi continues to update the pictures on our Picasa site and we found out that if you become a "fan" it will email you when we add new pictures. That is all for now, back to studying for my aircraft systems test this week and my first simulator flight.