The invitations from Kara and Steve were persistent proceeding the busy Christmas season.  The lack of extra funds immediately following Christmas was going to be concerned, but Steve assured me that he could put me to work with him for a few days which would more that cover the costs of travel.  I accepted the invite but Kara was skeptical that, in the end, we would make it down to Arizona.  We had a great Christmas on Saturday and Sunday we had a lot to do.  The list was longer than the kids holiday wishlists:  Christmas cleanup, including tree removal, packing, and prepping the animals.  We worked hard into the darkness.  I finally made it back inside at 9:30pm.  The dogs, goats, and chickens were all fed, water heaters had all been installed and were functioning, and pens were clean and Kim had worked miracles in the house.  Only problem was I wasn’t feeling well and my stomach felt like it was tearing itself apart.  By 10:00pm, I braced for the inevitable, kneeling on the bathroom.  I began the torturous cycle of violently vomiting.  It continued all through the night, long after my stomach had anything else to give.  Kim checked on me early since we were supposed to embark on the monotonous eighteen hour drive at 6:00am.  There was no way I could go, and she left me in my misery.  A little later, Kim came in and reported that I needed to get ready, she had everything packed we were leaving.  I vomited again and weakly shuffled into the Surburban.  The 18 hour passed quickly, at least for me, with very little consciousness.  I was in and out a little, but mostly out.  That was the horrible start to a fantastic trip.

Our kids loved visiting their cousins in AZ for the first time.  Working at Solight was fun, but unfortunately for Steve, it was going take a while before their operations were streamlined.

Kara and Steve have an over the top, festive, neighbor down the road.  The home is completely decorated and the kids loved the light show, choreographed music, and snow (bubble) machine.

Riverview Park in Mesa, AZ was awesome!  It was built by the Chicago Cubs and it had to be the most impressive public park that I have ever seen.  They have so many unusual play structures .  The pinnacle of the park is the pyramid ropes course.  Towering at a staggering height of 49.3 feet, fear and fatigue prevent many from reaching the top.  Alexia and Drake were both proud to summit this rope mountain.