Spring is coming

 

Our first view of desert flowers

 

What is Scorpion Gulch? That is.

 

Hiking and snacks go hand in hand. I think Dad's favorite part of hiking is snack time

 

 

 

An unusual view of rain in the valley

Our first visitors...

 

Trisha's parents decided to leave the cold weather and join the fun in the sun. Our present to them for coming was a strenuous hike to the top of a mountain! They were quite the troopers.

  

The last 200 feet was a steep, rocky climb, but the top was well worth the panoramic view

 

The sunset reflecting off of the mountain

McDowell Mountain Park

 

While Kurt was sleeping today (yes, he had to work, he was not just being lazy...) I went to McDowell Mountain park with a fellow traveling nurse from Michigan! Jessica and Kurt actually worked at Spectrum at the same time. It's amazing how many Michiganders are in Arizona.

 

Kurt and I are in the middle of working 8 shifts on opposite days. 

Every night we get to see this sunset on our way to work. 

Who wants to come and visit?

 

10 Day Forecast

Sunny 70's / 40's with 0% precipitation

 

Our first day off together meant a new hike, this time to cave creek.  As you can see from the top picture there was actually some green grass....amazing huh?  Otherwise, it was just a long loop.  We were lucky to get back to our vehicle before dark.....probably not our smartest move ever.

Fiesty Patients

 

It is questionable who is more confused... the nurses we work with or the old people we take care of.  Kurt had the privilege of meeting Albert Einstein's second cousin, Trisha had the privilege of getting peed at. Did we say we love nursing?

 

On Saturday we hiked up Squaw Peak in the morning.  It was a nice hike, made a lot better by a huge Packer's dominating victory at night.  Perfect end to a perfect day....did I mention it was like 75 degrees?

The old people drive way faster in their golf carts than in their car. Kurt is jealous... if he had a golf cart, he could park in a special space at the hospital. Yes, they have golf cart parking

 

Kurt and I have found a place of compromise... he can watch football with the hills and golf course view, I can sit by the pool in the sunshine. Marital bliss.

 

Today we had the opportunity to meet Trisha's Uncle Gary in Tucson for church and lunch. Being in Phoenix and talking with Uncle Gar, we are learning a lot about US/ Mexico border issues.

Hiking in the White Tank mountains near our house. See downtown Phoenix in the distance? Yeah, we couldn't really either.

There's a Chick-fil-A across the street....jackpot.

 

Today we hiked to view the "Weaver's Needle" in the Superstition Mountains, just southeast of Phoenix.

Phoenix traffic never ends.  Good thing we have Shontel's cookies and a hot tub to relax us.

 

This is Trish going through "fat man's pass."  She thought it should be renamed "the end of fat man's hike."

We went hiking through South Mountain Park today.  It is the largest city park in the world, little bit smoggy though.

We weren't supposed to be this cold in Arizona, especially at an INDOOR game!

Unlike Michigan State, we will be going to BCS bowl