Catch Up

I have a week to relax, then three weeks of go (isn't that funny, I thought (hoped) summer and the end of school meant lots of relaxing). I have a desire to feel caught up, even if for just a moment. So here's a catch up of the last two weeks. Memorial Day weekend was glorious. The Friday before I got my hair cut and colored, and I am a true brunette now. It's suppose to bring out my blue eyes, which was consolation for the first several days of "getting use" to it. The whole weekend was beautiful. The weather was perfect; very unusually perfect. The highs were in the low 70s, something I knew we wouldn't see again until, like November. I loved it! So much that I suggested going on a family hike. So, on Saturday my whole family hiked to 7 falls (up Sabino Canyon which we love and go to a lot since it's walking distance from our home). It's called 7 falls for a few reasons: it's over 7 miles round trip, on average you fall 7 times before getting there, there's lots of 7 feet rocks you have to scale to get to the top, you pass at least 7 snakes, and there are 7ish trickles of water coming down into a small stagnant pond that the girls still swam in, for about 7 minutes. But we all made it and for the most part liked it, (although Rachel may wait 7 years before she's willing to try that one again--she and I hiked more than the others since twice we took a wrong path and had to back track to catch up). Even so, this is a beautiful area of Tucson and I loved it.

Last Tuesday we went roller skating. I've learned roller skating is not like riding a bike. I truly thought that because Lindsey and Kimmer were older and had skated before they wouldn't struggle. But Rachel, who got roller skates for Christmas, was far better. Lindsey and Kimmer could hardly catch up to her. I guess practice really does matter. Even more than age or maturity. (Crap.) Gracie also tried skating and really surprised me. She borrowed a pair from a friend (I didn't rent any for her because I'm cheap and I knew she would get frustrated and I would get impatient) and she was determined and even succeeded in her own little way. Even after I gave up on her she took off on her own. Very slowly, but surely. Confidence like that will do her good, especially being the little runt that she is. I have no doubt that she will soon catch up to her sisters.

Yesterday Jane and Dan come to visit which was a lot of fun. Daniel and Lindsey took them to Sabino Canyon to go running. At one point Daniel went on ahead and Jane and Dan went to the restrooms while Lindsey waited on the bench, for a bit. Then she decided to go catch up with Daniel not thinking that it would be concerning to Grandma and Grandpa that she wasn't waiting for them. About and hour later Daniel came home with a red face (from running fast, but also with worry) because they couldn't find Lindsey and hoped she had come home. It took me about 2 minutes to break down, so convinced that someone had kidnapped her. I couldn't think of any other explanation: she is a very responsible girl and knows Sabino Canyon well, what other reason was there that she would be missing. It turned out that she took a wrong trail and after a long run she finally made it back. Crazy kid, sometimes I think she is an adult and I don't really need to parent her much. And sometimes I'm tearfully wrong. She is afterall, only 11.

The other fun thing was that Saturday night Jane and Dan took us all out to dinner. We were planning on going to a restaurant called North, but right next to it was Firebird, which was owned by the Glendennings who are Jane and Dan's neighbors. They asked the manager if that was so, and yes indeedy it was. Upon mentioning this connection, we were treated very well. The managers checked on us at least 4 times, our cups were never waiting for a refill. We must have had workers come every 4 minutes to catch up on any of our needs. At first I thought that's just how this restaurant works but then I realized that no other table in our vicinity were being checked on. Ahh, I love connections. Now Jane and Dan will have to catch up with the Glendennings and rave about the service at Firebird.

Also while Dan and Jane were here we introduced them to wii fit, which was really fun(ny) to watch. The greatest thing is this: Jane's wii fit age is 78. Daniel's is 47. Dan's is 37. Mine is 35. Now that's sweet. I think I have a testimony of wii fit age because I feel something really good inside when I hear this. How nice to know that my gravity (high as it is) is pretty centered. Hoorah for Israel! And for being centered. And that they now have to catch up to me.