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.
