Too Fun Tucson?

We arrived in Tucson on February 11th, fully prepared to favorably compare it to Mesa, but now we're not so sure.  The Valley of the Sun keeps out-shining it in almost every way.  Just before we left we checked out Saguarro Lake.

We hiked the Butcher Jones Trail (without my camera)...beautiful overviews!

Ski day at the Snow Bowl in Flagstaff.  

Denny and Laura came to Tucson the first weekend we were here to visit their daughter, Jenna.  Jenna and her husband, Todd, have three adorable little kids and a giant white dog named, Waylon.  We had a great time and family-time has been scarce for us.  Seven-year-old, Ben, even gave me a big hug on his way to bed.  At first he was very hesitant, but when I explained that it had been a LONG time since I had been given a "kid-hug" he shyly obliged.  Kayla, the oldest, shared pictures with us of the father/daughter dance she and Todd had recently attended while Anna, the littlest one, curled up next to Waylon on the living room rug...it was family life at it's finest!  Thank you Todd and Jenna!  This is Anna, Waylon, Jenna, Kayla, and Ben.

The grill master, Todd.

Denny and Laura, proud parents and grandparents.

Saguarro National Forest is a beauty and we have spent many simply perfect days taking it all in along the hiking trails that wind through it.

A snack habit: find a pretty, peaceful place to sit and rest and peel an orange...they have never tasted so good!  This is Sabino Canyon.

Sometimes we have to share the trail.

Saint Fransico Xavier de Bac, a mission called the white dove of the desert, was constructed in 1783 by and for the Tohono O'odham tribe of native Americans.  Father Kino, the founder of the mission is one of Arizona's state heroes featured in the Hall of Heroes in Washington, D.C.

The Tucson Rodeo was fun!

The sunset over our campground. 

We have laughed about existing in this too-cozy white box for three months now, but every time we meet our next-door neighbors, no matter where we go, we don't feel so unique at all....this is FUN!

Roadrunners

We have heard that Phoenix, AZ is the snowbird capital of the U.S. and now we understand why.  Retired people from all over the northern states migrate here in the winter-time.  However, Jerry and I have decided our lives here resemble roadrunners rather than snowbirds. The warm weather and sunshine make us want to load up the car everyday, aim it toward the next chosen point of interest, and GO!  I saw a real-live roadrunner on a desert road the other day and I could totally relate to it's speed and excitement; there is so much to see and do here!

  We signed up for the sunset ride at the Ponderosa Riding Stables in the South Mountains.

Driving the Apache Trail was a bit scary but the views were worth all the nervousness.

The hiking trails took some getting used to, but now they are one of our favorite things to do.

Petroglyphs along the trail.

This is the church we have been attending for the past three weeks in Goldfield Ghost Town in Apache Junction.

On our first visit I was greeted by an usher with a pistol on his hip, which I believed to be part of the costumed 'flare' of the town, until I noticed the pianist.

While making small talk with some folks in our pew, we were told that many members come to church on horseback and need to be armed against the rattlesnakes.  

The Case Grande National Monument, abandoned in 1450.

The Tonto National Forest Cave Dwellings.  

The locals say, "Forget fishing in Arizona."  I'm so happy he hasn't given up yet, even a roadrunner has to be still once in a while.