Well it has been a long time since I've updated this.  A lot has happened.

First, over the holidays, my mother-in-law called to say that her Aunt was dying and that she had colon cancer.  Aunt Helen was like a grandmother to CJ.  He felt very close to her.  Both pieces of news were devastating to him and to us. 

Aunt Helen died that evening. 

We went to NY to see his mom and family for Christmas.  All in all it was a good trip.  CJ started out sick and gave it to his mom (Gail) and me.  We both came down with it Christmas Day.  I took Airborn and got over it much faster. 

We made it home and have been running ever since.  The boys all three had a nasty stomach flu that lasted at least 5 days.  I avoided it and CJ seemed to have a mild version.  I am so sick of being sick!!!  I have another cold and missed even more work.

Last weekend the kids were off Thurs and Friday.  I had teacher work days those days.  CJ had his work days Friday, Monday and Tuesday.  We both took Friday off and we all went to the Boone, Blowing Rock area for a quick ski trip.

CJ had gotten 2 skii tickets and 2 ice skating tickets at a silent auction.  Bud and Dan went skiing.  Hunter and I went skating.  We had a real nice time.  Hunter took to ice skating very quickly.  We were amazed.  I went through 2 very bad pairs of skates and finally gave up.  Wouldn't you know it, I gave away the ice skates I've had since HS just this summer.....

We stayed in a hotel in Blowing Rock that had an indoor pool.  CJ took the boys down to swim before dinner while I rested.  I had forgotten my suit so I wore CJ's shirt and trunks after dinner and went down with them again.  That water was so warm.  Getting out was nasty.  We had the small pool towels that did nothing.  We had to run through the freezing hotel, virtually soaking wet.  But the swim was very enjoyable.

There were several kids that came down with parents so the boys had a blast.  It was nice to talk to people from other areas enjoying a time.

On Saturday we took a ride around the mountains.  We went out to Valle Cruces.  A very lovely place with some great views, nice stores at stuff to do in the summer.  We will go back again.  We will probably take visitors there too. 

We then went south into Banner Elk.  That area was nice but very developed.  We made the grand curcuit back up throught the Grandfather Mountain area and onto the Blue Ridge Parkway and eventually home.

I was anxious to get home because the laptop I had ordered was in and waiting for me.  I am so excited to have it.  We now have 3 computers in the house and since I needed to get my laptop online, we now have the equipment to have all three of them online too.  Mine, of course, is wireless.  I am lovin' it!!