Monday, June 12, 2006

Tucson, Arizona

***Pictures to be added once Blogger gets over its bugs***

What a great extended weekend we had visiting family in Tucson. I love it down there. I love the food, the town, and even the weather. It was about 103 degrees while we were down there, but it wasnt so bad. When we went to the Sonoran Dewsert Museum it was a bit much, but not unbareable.

So we headed out super early on Thursday morning and drove the six hour drive down to Tucson. The kids were happy with their snacks and movies and I was happy with my iPod Road Trip thingie that my husband put in the car for me. We did make a stop in Texas Canyon where the rocks are really cool and remind me of the old Roadrunner cartoon. We stretched out our legs and walked around a bit. Its a fun place to stop if you ever get the chance, although you can see more on Dragoon Road than you can at the rest stop.

My Mother and Step-Father's home is very nice and comfortable. They recently (a couple years ago) put in a pool, and it really is a nice thing when your there in June!! The kid basically tried to grow gills while there. GM especially loved it. I was watching him swim and thinking about the Sensory Integration benefits of swimming. I'll have to do a bit of research on that, but wow did he love it!!!

Friday morning we wnt to the Sonran Desert Museum, a great place to visit when your in town, the drive there is beautiful and the little hike is a lot of fun. We did overheat a bit and it showed in the kids behavior, but overall it was great. After that we went to El Charro in the Presidio, I love it there, I lived in three different houses in that small community and absolutely loved it there!!! It is such a terrific part of Tucson and close to everything. Friday evening my husband flew in so we got to spend some time with him too. The kids were thrilled!!!

Saturday we went to Vivace Restaurant, where we worked during the early years of our relationship. It was great!!! We were able to see old friends and get caught up on everyone and what they are doing. It was so cool to see pictures of their kids and hear what they are up too! We really miss our Tucson friends, they were really our family for many, many years.

It is so nice to get away, spend some time hanging out with family and enjoying the relaxation of just sitting around having wine and getting caught up on everything, and everyone. We laugh and call my Mom's house the resort, but honestly it is a lot like a resort, but better!!!

4 comments:

Sunshine Alternative Mama said...

We went to the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum 12/04 and just loved it! We have The Living Desert here, which is also lovely and we go several times a year, but we are so in love with saguaro catci and the Tucson desert. Did they still have the program where you buy a booklet and the kids stamp various animal tracks? My guys loved that!

I hope we go back soon, but I don't know when it will happen. My boys also loved that Saguaro National Park (gosh, remember when it was a monument?). Have you ever been out at the Desert House of Prayer? Mike's godfather says the masses out there.

It's good to have you back!

Sunshine Alternative Mama said...

I almost forgot! When we were at ASDM we ate at the Ocotillo Café, which was fancy but the food was so good! There were a lot of bees so we ended up having to eat inside, but it was still great. The food was very creative, and had vegetarian options (but we didn't try to eat vegan). My guys were 4.5 and almost 6 at the time, so you may have to wait until ME is a little older, unless she enjoys fine dining places.

We went to Sierra Vista, Bisbee and Tombstone on that trip too, and ended up at Rancho Vistoso. I think we had 9 days total.

Blissfulbee said...

It is a really fun place to go and visit. Such a good example of how prolific the desert really is in that area. So many cool plants, and animals and of course the Saguaros. I love them! They are so regal. We try to go there about once a year, and YES they do still have the little $1.00 books to collect your stamps in. GM took his from last time to collect a few more.

I havent been to the Desert House of Prayer before. Where is it??

Sunshine Alternative Mama said...

The Desert House of Prayer is at 7350 W Picture Rocks Rd, Tucson, AZ, off the 10 at Cortaro or a little past the end of Ina Rd.

http://www.deserthouseofprayer.org/

I don't really know if it is a place to go with the children, unless they are having a special mass or presentation (this is because most people are spending time in solitude and silence). It is a retreat house, really. I've been to a few masses out there, hiking on the grounds, with DH's grandmother to say hello to a few people who work(ed) there, and for her memorial mass. Father Ricardo doesn't say all the daily masses, but is involved in the peace and justice work.

DH remembers spending time out there as a child, working the grounds and reading. That may have been because his grandmother had such a special relationship with the place and people.