Tips from Kimmer

Kimmer put this on her blog and I loved it so I'm transferring it here. Some of you may have gotten it emailed, but it's worth re-reading. Ahh Kimmer, what a cutie!

10 tips for school.
always turn in your homework
don't be shy
only do what your going to do during the school year, gives the teacher a good view on you
don't be shy
try hard
follow rules
waire clothing that isn't wrinkly and dirty. Sets a bad impression
be friends with everyone. Gives you good contacts and keeps you updated
always raise your hand if possible
don't be unsure. Be independent!

Lindsey is 13!

Lindsey's 13th birthday was quite an event. We went to Las Cruces (just me and the girls) to stay with my brother Bob and his family. Christy (as is typical) got some fun activities for the girls to do (beaded jewelery and painting--and I have to admit that my pink ghost was pretty cute!) And she made a layered cake with whoppers and let Lindsey pick out the ice cream (homemade) toppings. Yum.

On her actual birthday we made pancakes for breakfast, I took her out of school to go to lunch (Chinese), and we had lasagna (her request) for dinner. (Man, everything revolves around food). After dinner we went on a bike ride up Sabino Canyon and Lindsey did so well. She is getting strong. Let me take a quick tangent here . . .she is in cross country and had her first meet yesterday and came in 8th of about 60 girls. Her time was around 14:20 for 1.75 miles. She wants to get under 15 for a 2 mile course. It'll happen soon. When I brag to people about this they say almost without fail that she gets that from her dad. Let me give you a pointer here: Don't say that to the mom. You can assume that I am not a good runner, and you might be right, but it just isn't polite. Let's just assume the best of people. It should be goodly parents, not just goodly parent. Let me at least think that I have some sort of good to offer in her athletic make up. ;O). Tangent over. Back to the birthday girl

Today she invited 3 friends to a party (perfect amount of people!). They played a jeopardy game that she made on power point, they went swimming, made fruit bouquets and had fruit pizza and tart homemade fro yo. It was all fresh and yum. Then they watched 13 going on 30, which is perfect for Lindsey. Happy times with an official teenager.

Cunundrum

We had a fabulous summer! Two trips to Denver, a trip to Utah, and side trips to Mesa Verde, Aspen, and Moab. On our second trip to Denver, Daniel went to a medical conference and coupled that with hiking a 14er (14000 feet elevation) with the Sabey family. It was a high adventure with some great stories. When Daniel called me to re-cap the hike he prefaced it with "Don't tell Lisa." Some of the adventurous things were climbing up loose rocks: 2 steps up, 1 step slide backwards. Daniel had to dodge a brief case size boulder that came straight at his head. Although that was probably made up for when they hot tubbed with "naturally" dressed women. (That news came from my nephews not Daniel). Towards the end at least one of the hikers were on all fours thinking death was at the next bend. And Mark took his life in his hands when he glasaded down a steep icy hill that ended into a bunch of big sharp rocks. Everyone was grateful he stopped in time--and the remainder chose to hike down on the side of the ice field. It was memorable, fun, exciting and maybe a little anti-climatic since they didn't quite make it to 14000 feet (Lindsey, Kimmer and Rachel have hiked done a 14er with the Sabey's so they are still one up on Daniel). Daniel and the Sabey's have learned that if they want to hike Cunundrum again they should take a different route, with less rocks. But overall it was a great trip that Daniel would happily do again.