Sedona, AZ.

We spent two days visiting Sedona, AZ this week. Sedona is famous for its red rocks -- and rightly so. It is gorgeous. The area is a dream for hikers and photographers and is rich in Native American history. It is also very new-agey with palm readers, psychics, and crystal shops galore. Apparently, there are several vortexes (or hot spots) of spiritual energy in Sedona where people experience a unique and peaceful flow of energy. 

I have to say that I was traveling with two kids and I was all about feeling that peaceful energy but it just didn't happen for me (two kids in tow does not equal peaceful anything). Perhaps hiking to a vortex on my own or with another adult would be a worthwhile experience in the future! 

We did two scenic trolley tours, which provided lots of interesting information about the history, geology, climate, and wildlife in the area. 

We saw tons of pink Jeeps, which do a variety of off-road tours right on the red rocks.
If we make it back to Sedona, we will most definitely be taking in a Pink Jeep Tour. 

Big bro and little sis at one of the trolley stops. 

This is a rock formation known as the Madonna and Child.

This was my favorite rock formation -- Snoopy Rock!
You can see Snoopy lying on his dog house with his head on the left and his feet on the right.
Apparently there is another formation near Snoopy that looks like Lucy, but I didn't see it. 

To go along with Snoopy and Lucy rocks, we have Cassidy posing as Snoopy and Lincoln posing as Lucy. 

 

Cutie Cassie posing on the red rocks.

Lincoln, Yia Yia, Papou, and Cassidy.

The kiddos and I.

 

We stayed in a condo for one night. This is a view of the grounds, which backed up to Oak Creek.
Such a pretty environment, surrounded by sycamore trees.

View of Oak Creek. 

 

The kids enjoying the swing overlooking the creek.

 

Cassie at Airport Overlook.

Lincoln taking in the view at Airport Overlook. 

 

The kids and I walking a short trail. 

Sometimes they really do like each other!
That's a prickly pear cactus to the right of the kids. These cacti actually bear fruit, which is made into a number of products including jelly, wine, fudge, margaritas, and pie. One of the tour guides even mentioned cactus fries. 

Chapel of the Holy Cross.

This chapel was built into the buttes of Sedona in 1956. Prayer services are actually offered here Monday evenings. 

This place was swarming with people. I'd love to visit it when fewer people were around. It was really pretty and I can see it being incredibly peaceful. 

Coins tossed for luck next to the chapel.  

One of the views from the chapel. 

My cuties and me.
Matt did not join us for this two-day trip as he was busy with work.
He had the opportunity to see Sedona briefly when he went there for a work trip last summer.

The drive into Sedona after exiting I-17 is simply stunning. We were surprised by how busy it was with tourists everywhere...from everywhere.

Cactus League Spring Training.

Cactus League Spring Training is in full swing here in AZ. It's really too bad that the Tigers train in Florida. It'd be pretty cool to have access to our "home" team here. Instead, we took in a Texas Rangers game today. Why a Rangers game you ask? It sounds a bit more far removed than it is, but my brother's nephew is on the roster for the Rangers. He was the ring bearer in my brother's wedding in 1999 and now he's an adult and is making a go at a career in Major League Baseball. Pretty neat. 

Surprise Stadium
Surprise, AZ
The Texas Rangers and Kansas City Royals train here.

A view of the field from the lawn seats.
With temps in the upper 80s (at least 10 degrees higher than average for this time of year), we opted for actual seats in the shade. The AZ sun is a killer.

Matt and the kids getting an up close look at the field.

Lincoln, Matt, Julie, Cassidy.

Cassidy, Papou, Yia Yia, Lincoln.

Lincoln, Cassidy, and Matt.

Matt & Lincoln waiting down by the field before the game with the hope of getting some autographs. 

Lincoln and my brother's nephew, Ryan Rua.  Linc was thrilled to get a ball signed by him.

Ryan and Lincoln.

The Rangers beat the Brewers with a score of 12-5. 

Goldfield Ghost Town.

My parents are here visiting while the kids are on their two-week spring break. A few days ago, we drove about 30 minutes east of Chandler to Apache Junction to visit one of my mom's childhood friends, who comes to AZ for the winter. We went to Goldfield Ghost Town (an old mining town) for lunch and to tour the town.

Impressive Saguaro cactus.

The kids with a backdrop of the Superstition Mountains.

A look at part of the town.

The kids found their rightful place! 

The kids holding bullet casings. This is as close as I'll ever let them get to anything gun-related.

After touring the town, we made a second stop at the Superstition Mountain Museum. The kids enjoyed checking out the old horse and carriage.

The Elvis Memorial Chapel.
This is a movie memorabilia museum that celebrates western movies and tv shows that were filmed there. Of note is "Charro" starring Elvis Presley. The chapel is still used today for weddings. 

The kids with The King. 

"A" Mountain with Grandma.

Matt's mom was here visiting in Jan/Feb and she hadn't climbed "A" mountain in Tempe yet so the kids and I took her there for this fun experience. While we were climbing the mountain, Matt was able to look out his office window and watch us.

Lincoln, Cassidy, and Grandma.

Cassidy and I stopped at about the halfway point as Cass doesn't really appreciate climbing up high and I don't have the strength or desire to carry a 6-year-old kid to the top.  Grandma and Lincoln made it all the way to the top. Here is a pic of Grandma on the way up.

Grandma and Lincoln on the way back down. 

Flag football. Winter 2015.

It felt a bit odd when I registered Lincoln to play flag football outside in the Winter rather than in the Fall, but it turned out to be a wonderful time to sit outside and take in the games here in AZ.

Hut, hut, hike!

On the move.

Ready for action.

The boys huddled up with Coach.

His team, the Sun Devils, ended up in 4th place. Good season overall. Next up: Spring baseball. 

braces!

How is it possible that I have a kid with braces? 

Genetics and a thumb habit have ensured that a nice chunk of our family funds will go toward providing Lincoln with a gleaming, straight-toothed smile. Unlike when I was a "brace-face" in middle school (late-80s), they seem to do orthodontia in phases these days so Lincoln is in Phase 1. He only has braces on his front 4 (top) teeth, which are adult teeth. These will be on for about a year and then he'll wear a retainer 'til he's about 12. At that time, he'll get a full set of braces if (when) he needs them. 

He not yet 9, but he looks so much older to me with the braces on. 

I’ve never seen a smiling face that was not beautiful. ~Author Unknown