Spring Break pictures: Sedona to Flagstaff and Back

We made a quick trip through Sedona to Flagstaff to the Formans' favorite Mexican restaurant. Mmm, good. And also, beautiful drive. I took my Dramamine so that I wouldn't get car sick, but let me tell you, I still did. Franz was gracious enough to tone down the fiesty switchbacks as we neared Flag, otherwise, I might have lost my delicious Toffee shake from Wendy's.

We were in a convertible, which made the Sedona mountains even BETTER than when I'd seen them before. It was insane! Kyle got some great shots because of it. Maddie and I froze in the back seat because of it. But I'd say it was worth it.

The driver.

The tween and me.

She had her iPod and was into her music most of the trip.

It was too loud and windy to converse.

But I was so glad to share the back seat with her!

Coming up on Sedona.

First glimpse.

Sedona.

The mountains of Flagstaff!

Spring Break pictures: The Wildlife Zoo

The infamous day of the 3 P's, Kyle, Maddie, and I had a terrific time at the Zoo. Here are a few of the shots we liked best.

Maddie and Kyle got on the sky lift.

I kept my motion-sick self on the ground.

We were all happy.

The view from the lift.

A very cool perspective.

They had many insane looking creatures.

Like the white alligator

(two of them actually, in separate habitats, in separate exhibits).

The hairy wart hog. Gross.

Somebody needs a hair cut.

The snoozing crocodile. Outside of the baby animal house.

Kind of weird to see cute baby porcupines and tiny wart hogs,

and exit to find a giant crocodile.

A pacing jaguar. He was hungry.

We did get to be around the snakes at feeding time.

And, Grandma, I know you hate snakes, even the thought of them,

but it was REALLY cool. Their reaction time is lightning fast!

Sweet little turtle family outside the baby animal house.

Hungry camel, eating his alfalfa.

This brilliant peacock was trying to find his female amidst all the people chaos.

What's crazy is that little girl in pink behind him,

she actually snuck up behind and touched him.

I promise you, I'd never do that to a fully displayed male peacock. SCARY!

The petting zoo was a favorite for Maddie, I think.

And my absolute favorite in the cage was this baby llama.

One little girl couldn't stop following it around to pet it,

because it was SO soft.

A happy, and very tired, group at the end of our day.

Kissed by the sun and entertained by the animals!

Spring Break pictures: The Hike

A couple of times on our break, we went for a splendid hike that begins about 2 blocks from the Formans' front door. It's got mountains, saguaros, lizards, strange and scary black beetles, a bee hive in a cliff side, all kinds of flowers, and even some water (see below).

The coolest cactus we could find.

The ridge line.

The water behind the dam.

Kyle, atop a mountain, the highest one, I think.

He said it was very windy.

I declined the offer to climb it with him, as I was really tired at that point.

On the side away from the city. This would be the North side.

Beautiful view of Lake Pleasant Parkway.

Here is the suburbia side. The first home you see across the street is the Forman home.

Looking straight down, this is how high we were at one point.

Gave me vertigo.

Me, in all my hiking glory. And suburbia behind.

I love this desert!

A parting shot. This land is gorgeous!

Photo essay of June 10th

I was instructed by highlighted map to a picnic spot at the top of this blocked-off road.

This was to my back, a setting sun and mountains of saguaro.

What I found at the top of the restricted access road—Nothing.

And this path, which opened up to this:

And this:


Where he was…waiting for me like he’d been there forever.

At this most beautiful place

in this most beautiful state,

I promised to love him forever, even though I already knew I would.

Yesterday, I went back to get these pictures with some of my favorite Arizonians