The holidays look different this year

Nathan ended up being a Gladiator for Halloween. We weren't sure if we would get any trick or treaters or if neighbors would be handing out candy due to COVID-19 restrictions.  We had a decent turnout, though, and Nathan did a little bit of trick or treating.  They didn't do the costume parade at his school, but he did have a class party.  

I went to Reid Park Zoo on 11/2. My June Noon bloomed again on 11/7.  I think it was confused with the record heat we got this summer.  I went to the Desert Museum on 11/12.  Nathan lost 2 more teeth on 11/13 so he got $13 and $14, respectively, for his 13th and 14th tooth.   I went to Tucson Botanical Gardens, Green Things Nursery and the Pima County Cooperative Extension Gardens on 11/20.

Nathan has the whole week off for Thanksgiving.  We don't really have plans for Thanksgiving this year.  Paul is working and is supposed to be off on Thursday and Friday.  We plan to just have a small meal at home.  However, I have a "cold" and have lost my sense of taste.  I am really hoping it comes back by Thursday so I can enjoy some turkey and good food.  Maybe we will get our Christmas tree up later this week, too.  We decided not to put up our big one in the living room since Paul and Nathan have their desks in there now.  Paul has been working from home and Nathan started off the school year doing remote learning so we set up that area as their office.  I think we are only going to put up "Nathan's tree" in the loft/my office.  It is really hard getting in the Christmas spirit.  It's been a tough year with COVID-19 restrictions.  It looks like cases are spiking again which they anticipated so it won't be a big surprise if they start closing things down again.  I have also been struggling with peri-menopause this year.  Now I am sick with a cold or whatever this may be.  We have had miserable record heat and even today, 11/22, it is like 90 out there.  I am hoping that 2021 is a better year.    

Almost Halloween

 Nathan lost his 11th tooth on 8/27

I went to the Desert Museum, Reid Park and Pima Prickly Park on 9/12.

I went to Reid Park Zoo on 9/14.

I went to Tucson Botanical Gardens and Pima County Cooperative Extension Gardens on 9/29.

We went to Apple Annie's on 10/3/ to pick our pumpkins.  

On 10/10, we went up to look for Fall colors on Mt Lemmon.  We found some in Bear Wallow!  We were surprised by how much color there was there, especially after the bad recent fire.  We ate the Iron Door Restaurant.  

For Nathan's Fall Break, we decided to take a short trip to Sedona/Flagstaff to try to find some more Fall color.  On 10/15, we went to Sedona.  We ate lunch at Picazzo's (my favorite...they have the best chicken piccata).  We went to Red Rock Crossing.  There was some nice Fall color there, but also a lot of people.  Sedona is becoming very crowded.  We drove through Oak Creek Canyon on our way to our hotel in Flagstaff to stay the night.  The next day we spent the day at Bearizona.  The following day we went to Lockett Meadow.  We drove our car (Ford Fusion 2018).  The road was pretty bad and a lot of people were parking on the side about a mile and a half away from the trailhead.  So we did, too.  We walked to the trailhead and started walking the trail.  Nathan didn't get very far before he complained he was tired and couldn't go any further.  So he and dad stayed there while I continued on.  There wasn't as much color as we were hoping for and many of the leaves had blown off.  However, I hiked all the way to the top of the trail and there was more yellow to see of the Aspen trees.  After hiking all the way back down and back to the car, I figured I did about 8 miles of hiking that day (I forgot my Fitbit at the hotel).  Our last day we made a last minute decision to head to Meteor Crater, Winslow and to Petrified Forest National Park.    

Nathan made high honor roll for the 1st quarter!  The odd thing is that he said 70% of the class got high honor roll, another 20% got honor roll while only 10% did not make honor roll.  It wasn't like that when I was going to school.  Only the elite got honor roll.  We hope that he is getting a good education.  He performed well on the standardized tests last year so we will see how he does this year.  

Nathan lost his 12th tooth on 10/24.  He got $12 from the tooth fairy.

It's still hot!

 This has been such a hot summer with very little monsoon action.  We are still breaking heat records into September.

I had another June Noon bloom on 7/30.

On 8/1, I went over by Saguaro National Park to look for mammillaria in full bloom.  I found one.  I also saw some javelina with a baby.  Unfortunately, my check engine light came on.  I was without a car for a few days while the dealership looked at my car.  It ended up needing a new sensor.  

Nathan started 5th grade on 8/5.  He was supposed to start in school learning, but the school changed their minds and said that only those scholars who had parents that were essential workers or who didn't have access to a computer/internet at home could be on campus.  Even those on campus would be doing distance learning with monitors at the school.  Nathan did distance learning for about a week and a half before the school decided to allow kids back on school....with masks.  Distance learning was not going well for Nathan.  He could not focus on school while being at home and he wasn't getting that interaction he needed with his peers, teacher, etc...  Nathan started in school learning on 8/17.  He was actually excited to be back at school!  His teacher is Mrs. O'Connor.  This year he says he actually likes all of the kids in his class and his teachers!

8/12 was the last night of VBS.  It was water night so Nathan had fun getting wet and getting others wet!

I went to Pima County Cooperative Extension Gardens and Pima Prickly Park on 8/17. 

Nathan lost his 10th tooth on 8/20.  The tooth fairy gave him $10.

I went to Tucson Botanical Gardens, Pima County Cooperative Gardens and Pima Prickly Park on 8/21.  

The zoo finally opened back up so I went on 8/27.  I loved watching the baby elephant, Penzi!  Nathan lost his 11th tooth on 8/27, too.  The tooth fairy gave him $11.  

On 8/28, I had another June Noon bloom.

Summer 2020

The Desert Museum opened back up on 6/15 so I was there.  Being so hot I didn't stay long. 

Nathan received his Masters Club awards at church on 6/21.  He got the Testimony Badge, Patriotism Badge, First Aid Badge, Do Unto Others Badge, God's Creation Badge, Bible Study 1 Badge, Bible Series 1 Badge, Discovery Bronze Badge, Uniform Inspection and Sunday School Faithfulness Badge.  That day was also Father's Day.  We didn't get to celebrate it much because we decided to go to Chicago the next day.

We decided to go visit our family and friends in Chicago 6/22-6/30.  6/24 we went with my friend Debbie Madl and her kids to Summerfield Farm & Zoo.  The next day we dropped Nathan off at Aunt Lisa's for a sleepover so Paul and I actually had some time alone.  We picked up Ledo's pizza for lunch and ended up by Lake Katherine in Palos Heights.  I took a lot of pictures there because there were baby geese, baby swans, a waterfall, waterlilies, flowers, etc...    

On 4th of July, there were no fireworks due to fire danger and COVID-19 gathering restrictions.  Paul cooked out, we swam in our pool and we made smores.

Tucson Botanical Gardens opened back up so I went there on 7/9.  

My June Noon and Apricot Glow cacti decided to bloom on 7/12.

Another Apricot Glow flower opened on 7/13.  I went to Pima County Cooperative Extension Gardens that day, too.  I thought they were closed due to COVID-19, but someone told me that they were open.  

I went back to the Pima County Cooperative Extension Gardens on 7/16 and 7/17.

I went over to Saguaro National Park on 7/21 to take sunset pictures.  

Nathan went with me to church on 7/22 for VBS.  I have been helping with the snacks this year. 

We celebrated a late Father's Day at Vivace's on 7/24.  Later that night I went over by Picture Rocks Rd and Contzen Pass to take sunset pictures.

We decided to go peach picking and tomato picking at Apple Annie's on 7/25.  Paul and Nathan had peach pancakes and we all had some roasted corn.  Later that night lost his 9th tooth!  It had been 3 years since he lost a tooth.  The tooth fairy gave him $10 and a certificate.
  

COVID-19

I title this post COVID-19 because it has changed our lives since the last post.

On 1/25, I hiked Bear Canyon to Seven Falls.  Paul and I had last hiked that way back in January 2009 shortly after we moved to Tucson.  It was a tough hike, but I felt like I did better this time than in 2009.

On January 27th, Nathan went to Phoenix to visit the Musical Instrument Museum for a school field trip.

On 1/30, I went to the Tucson Botanical Gardens.

On 2/1, I went to the Ladies Luncheon at church.  Afterward, I joined my friend Greg Lyons from church on a hike at Redington Pass.  It was my first time there.  I hiked down to the water, but I wasn't able to hop along the rocks in the water bed with my camera.  It was a beautiful area, though, and I hope to return to get more pictures. 

On February 2nd, I participated in the Parade of Flags at church for the first time.  I represented the Apache Indians. 

We went to the Tucson Gem and Mineral show at Kino  on 2/8. 

Bella turned 12 on February 11!

Nathan had his 10 year pediatrician appointment on 2/12.  He weighed 68 pounds in the 38% and he was 54.5 inches tall in the 45%.  All else checked out fine.

I went to Tohono Chul Park, Tucson Botanical Gardens and the Desert Museum on 2/13.

I joined our church's junior high kids for a "hike" at Sabino Canyon with Greg Lyons and Wendi Miller Benedict.  We took the tram all the way up to the top and then got off at one of the stops to play on the rocks by the water.   

Paul and I celebrated our 17th anniversary on February 17th (golden anniversary, sort of speak) at Vivace. 

I hiked the Sunset Vista Trail and took pictures of the poppies and other wildflowers at Picacho Peak on 2/19/20.

Nathan had off school 2/20 & 2/21 for Rodeo Days.  We went to the Wildlife World Zoo on 2/20. 

On 2/27 I went looking for wildflowers on Tangerine Road, Lambert/First, Tucson Blvd between Grant and Ft Lowell, Saguaro National Park and I made a stop at Pima County Cooperative Extension Gardens.

I returned to Picacho Peak on 2/28 to hike the Sunset Vista Trail again to photograph the wildflowers.

I went to the Phoenix Zoo on 2/29.

I did my first portrait session on 3/1.  I took high school graduation pictures of Olivia Espinoza from church at the Ventana Canyon Golf Course.  It was a beautiful location and Olivia is a natural behind the camera.  She really came up with most of the poses which made my job a lot easier.  We both thought the pictures came out really nice. 

I went to Tucson Botanical Gardens on 3/5.

I went to the Desert Museum on 3/9. 

I went to the Tucson Botanical Gardens on 3/12.

The end of the 3rd quarter was 3/13.  Nathan ended up with a 91 in History/Geography, 87 in Reading, 100 in Recitation, 93 in Science, 93 in Math, 91 in English Language, M for Art, M for PE/Health, E for Music and M for Latin.  His quarter average was a 92.5. We didn't know it at the time, but Nathan was not going to be returning to school for the rest of the school year.  COVID-19 happened and the school decided to do E-learning for the 4th quarter. 

I went back one more time to Picacho Peak on 3/14 to hike the Sunset Vista Trail and take pictures of the wildflowers. 

Nathan got baptized at Sun & Shield Baptist Church on 3/15.  I went to their church to see him get baptized and it was probably the proudest moment of motherhood.   

I hiked Sabino Canyon on 3/19.  The bridges had a lot of water flowing over them.  I walked through the water on several bridges before deciding to turn around.  The water was flowing pretty high and fast so I didn't want to chance it, especially because I didn't see many other people crossing the bridges. 

We took a wildflower drive on 3/21.  We went up Oracle Road in Catalina and Oracle, to Peridot Mesa to see the poppies and to Bartlett Lake.  The wildflowers were not as plentiful as the super bloom yesterday, but we were still able to find some. 

I went to Pima Prickly Park on 3/27.

We did another wildflower road trip on 3/28.  We went to Tangerine Rd in Oro Valley to Oracle Rd and then to Oracle State Park.  We had never been to Oracle State Park before.  I hiked a couple of trails while the boys stayed in the car.  They had some irises there and I got to see a couple of deer.  I wanted to see Mariposa Lilies, but I don't think they were blooming yet.

I hiked a little to see the wildflowers at Catalina State Park on 3/30.

I met Connie Lyons from church at Ft Lowell Park on 3/31 to take pictures of the ducks.  Connie recently retired and she wants to learn more about photography so I told her she could go picture taking with me.  I also made stops at Bach's Cactus Nursery, Pima Prickly Park and Oro Valley Hospital.

I went back to Tangerine Rd, Oro Valley Hospital and Pima Prickly Park on 4/2 to take more flower pictures.

I went to Reid Park on 4/3 to photograph the ducks and then took a drive through Saguaro National Park.

I went over by Oro Valley Hospital and Pima Prickly Park to photograph flowers on 4/4.

I photographed ground squirrels at Arthur Pack Park and flowers at Bach's Cactus Nursery and Pima Prickly Park on 4/7.

I went to Bach's Cactus Nursery and Pima Prickly Park on 4/9.

Easter was 4/12.  Nathan got an Easter Basket full of goodies from the Easter Bunny and I hid a bunch of eggs for the Easter Egg Hunt. 

I went to Pima Prickly Park on 4/13.

On 4/15, I went to Bach's Cactus Nursery, Pima Prickly Park and Saguaro National Park.

I went back to Pima Prickly Park on 4/17.

I went to Pima Prickly Park and Saguaro National Park on 4/20.

I went to Pima Prickly Park on 4/22.

I finally bought a cactus from Bach's Cactus Nursery.  I thought I had bought an Argentine Giant Big Bertha.  It bloomed 4/23, but ended up not being Big Bertha.  Big Bertha is white with a red underside.  The cactus I have is white with a green underside.  It bloomed several flowers at once that day, though, and I had just bought it within the last week.

I went to Pima Prickly Park and Saguaro National Park on 4/27.

I went to Bach's Cactus Nursery and Pima Prickly Park on 5/1.

It was Western Day at Sun & Shield Baptist Church 5/3. 

I went to Saguaro National Park on 5/6.

Mother's Day was 5/10.  Paul got me 2 dozen roses and cooked food on the grill for me.  Nathan got me a HUGE card.

I went to Bach's Cactus Nursery and Saguaro National Park on 5/12.

On 5/15, Nathan and I went up to Mt Lemmon to look for ladybugs and to meet my friend Greg Lyons from church.  We didn't find many ladybugs :(  Greg was camping up on the mountain and invited a few friends, including Dawn Davis from church and her kids.  Nathan and I zip lined for the first time!  I had to bribe him with Pokemon cards, but he ended up doing it twice!

The next day, Nathan had a swimming lesson.  My friend Alisa Celentano from church offered to teach him.  I think the first lesson went really well. 

I bought several more cactus plants at Bach's Cactus Nursery - Argentine Giant Big Bertha, June Noon torch cactus, Apricot Glow torch Cactus and a Flying Saucer.  The first cactus I had bought that was white with the green underside decided to bloom again the morning of 5/19.  My Apricot Glow torch cactus also bloomed that morning.  I took a few quick pictures before we headed out of town for vacation.

5/21/20 was technically Nathan's last day of school.  The school froze the 3rd quarter grades with the chance to improve them by completing all at homework and showing extra effort in the 4th quarter.  Nathan ended up getting a 99 in History/Geography, 95 in Reading, 100 in Recitation, 100 in Science, 100 in Math, 99 in English Language, M for Art, M for PE/Health, E for Music and M for Latin.  He made high honors - 98.8!   

We did a last minute trip to Utah on 5/19.  We headed to Zion National Park first.  On 5/20, we hiked the Riverwalk, up until the part where you had to start crossing the water to get to the Narrows.  We weren't prepared to do that so we thought maybe a future trip we would attempt that.  On 5/21, we hiked part of the dry canyon near one of the car tunnels.  Another highlight that day was seeing a family of big horn sheep climb down the rocks and cross the road.  Later that day, we went to Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park.  5/22, we stopped in Red Canyon and I did a little hiking.  From there, we headed to Bryce Canyon National Park.  We saw pronghorn antelope and prairie dogs.  Paul hiked the Navajo Loop trail to Wall Street.  It is a series of switchbacks which go down into the canyon.  It is intimidating from the top so Nathan and I chickened out at first.  When Paul got back up, he convinced me to give it a try.  I went down and honestly it wasn't near as bad as I thought it would be.  On 5/23, we went to see the Mossy Cave waterfall which is part of Bryce Canyon.  From there, we went back to Red Canyon and I did a little more hiking.   On 5/24, we left Bryce and stopped at Escalante Petrified Forest State Park where I hiked 3 miles to see the petrified wood.  Then we did a 6 mile family hike at Cave Creek Recreation Area to see the waterfall there.  5/25, Memorial Day, we went to Lake Powell.  We also made a stop at Horseshoe Bend.  We stayed the night at Jacob Lake.  The hope was to visit the Grand Canyon North Rim, but they had it closed due to COVID-19.  So 5/26, we drove through the Vermillion Cliffs National Monument, briefly stopped at Lee's Ferry and then made our way home.   

It's 2020!

11/5/19 I went to Tucson Botanical Gardens and Pima County Cooperative Extension Gardens.

Tulla turned 13 on 11/9!  Our dogs are getting old!  Bella turns 12 on 2/11.  They just had their 6 month vet appointment and the vet didn't say anything was wrong with them.  We noticed Tulla has gained weight since changing her food to deal with a minor incontinence problem.  We are now feeding her less of that.  They both seem to have one or two cysts on their body, but we aren't going to biopsy them or anything at this point.  Tulla had one a year or so ago and it turned out to be benign.  They both got their teeth cleaned this time, but soon they are probably going to be too old to handle the procedure.  Paul and Nathan went to see Arctic Dogs at the movies that day.

We went to a NASCAR race in Phoenix on 11/10.  Hamlin won that day.  We sat in the stands this time as opposed to on the hill.

I went to the Reid Park Rose Garden and the Pima County Cooperative Extension Gardens on 11/14.

I attempted the Hunter Trail at Picacho Trail on 11/16.  Paul and Nathan went with me, but they didn't make it very far.  They knew I wanted to try and make it to the top so I kept going.  I ALMOST made it.  I stopped just below the bridge near the top.  I decided to turn back because I knew I had a long way down, I was getting tired and my family was waiting for me in the car.  The trek down was hard on my knees.  I don't have a lot of knee problems, but that was a rough hike.  Not sure I will attempt it again, but it would be nice to make it to the top.  Maybe I could try the trail on the other side that also goes to the top.  It is longer, but not as tough as the Hunter Trail, or so I have heard.

I went to Sabino Canyon with Sandy Kaiser at church on 11/25.  We hiked all the way up the tram route and back down.  She is older than me, but I had trouble keeping up with her!  I got 20k steps that day!

Nathan and I went to my friend Wendi's house for Thanksgiving (11/28).  I think Nathan enjoyed playing video games with her son Logan.

I went to the Reid Park Rose Garden and the Reid Park Zoo on 11/30.  Then Nathan and I went to see Frozen 2 at the movies.  He said it was better than the first one.

I went to Reid Park Zoo on 12/5.

Nathan got his brown belt in Taekwondo on 12/11.  He got a certificate, too.

We took Nathan to Air Time on 12/14 to celebrate his birthday.  We got him a Minecraft cake since he wanted a Minecraft themed birthday.  When we went to pick up his cake at Safeway, he came out of the store carrying Buddy, a HUGE stuffed animal dog.  So my baby turned 10 on 12/15.  Double digits!

I went to Tucson Botanical Gardens and Green Things Nursery on 12/16.

We checked out a Christmas light display on Devotion St near River and La Cholla on 12/20.  They had the lights synced to music.

I went to Winterhaven on 12/21 with Sandy Kaiser and Lisa Wabick from church.  My family didn't want to go with me :(  That is OK, us short girls had fun.

Christmas was low key with just the 3 of us.  Later that day I decided to take a drive.  I went through Saguaro National Park.  It rained that morning so I saw a full rainbow and got some pictures of it.  Then I went to the Desert Museum.  I was surprised at how many people were there on Christmas Day!

I went to Catalina State Park on 12/27 to photograph the snow on the mountains.

We decided to go hunting for snow on 12/28.  We headed toward Sonoita.  We didn't see much snow so we went toward Bisbee.  There wasn't much snow there either so we ate lunch there and left.  We headed to Ramsey Canyon.  There was plenty of snow there!  We made a cowboy snowman.

We didn't do much for New Year's Eve.  I took some pictures in the desert with a New Year's headband on a cactus.  They actually came out pretty decent.  We watched the ball drop in New York on TV.

On my birthday (1/2) I decided to go to Sabino Canyon.  I hiked some trails I hadn't done before and saw Sabino Dam.  Paul and Nathan bought me a birthday cake.  Hard to believe I am 45!  I think I MAY be getting arthritis and I am going through peri-menopause, but other than that I feel great.  I lost weight last year and did a lot more hiking and exercise.  Last year I went down from a size 12 to 8.  In the last 4 years, I have lost 20 pounds.  I want to lose 20 more to get down to a size 4, what I was in college.  I think this is going to be harder.  January has been flying by and I am not doing that great.  My diet and exercise has been intermittent, but I just try to do it when I can.

On 1/4/20, I went to Saguaro National Park East.  I had never been to the East one before.  It is a one way narrow road that takes you in a loop around the park.  It is hillier than the west side.  I would like to go back in the Spring to see some flowers blooming and to maybe do some hiking.

We went to Pastor Joiner's funeral on 1/7.  Pastor Joiner was diagnosed with cancer about 3 months prior.  It spread quickly and he passed away on 12/21.  He was my pastor for the last 10+ years.  He was my spiritual leader and mentor.  I looked up to him more than anyone else.  He founded our church over 60 years and pastored it up until he got sick this year.  Pastor Joiner dedicated Nathan as a baby and Paul was baptized on his first Father's Day (June 2010) at New Testament Baptist Church.  Over 900 people attended the funeral.  I will really miss him. 

I went to the Desert Museum and drove through Saguaro National Park West on 1/9.

We went to Phoenix to celebrate my birthday on 1/11.  It is kind of a tradition to go to Phoenix for my birthday every year so I can get my free pizza at Grimaldi's, go to Portillo's and go to one of the zoos or something there.  This time we went to Phoenix Zoo.  I made friends with a mandrill. 

I went to Nathan's 2nd quarter honors assembly on 1/15.  Nathan made honor roll again!  Never has he missed making honor roll.  I am so proud of him.  He got a 96 in History/Geography, 86 in Reading, 99 in Recitation, 95 in Science, 95 in Math, 95 in English/Language, a M (meeting the standard) in Art, M in Music, E (exceeding the standard) in PE and an E in Latin.  They have a new Latin teacher this year and Nathan is doing a lot better in that class.  Nathan's teacher said that she could tell a difference in Nathan the 2nd quarter.  That he seemed happier and was doing better in class.  In fact, she told me that he was Chick-Fil-A's student of the month this month for displaying the habit of honor.  He gets a free kids at Chick-Fil-A and he got a certificate.  Paul told me that he is doing really well at Master Club (Awana) at church, too.  They say he is well behaved and like a sponge when it comes to learning the Bible.  After Nathan's honors assembly, I went to Christopher Columbus Park and Sweetwater Wetlands.  I was looking for the bufflehead duck that was recently seen there, but no luck.

I went to Sabino Canyon on 1/18.  This time I walked up the tram route to about stop 6 or 7 (I think there are 9 total) and then walked back down.  I got 18k steps that day!