In our Handy Dandy NOTEBOOK!

{For 18 months – Jan ’17 to Jul ’18 – I'm posting our letter to Miranda while she's on her mission to Cochabamba, Bolivia.  Our letter titles are taken from a list of family sayings & catchphrases we recorded onto a pillowcase she has with her.  You can read her adventures on her mission blog: www.hermanamadsen.blogspot.com!}

So last Sunday we celebrated Natalie's birthday at Grandma's, and she invited a couple of her friends.  =)  It was so nice to see some of them, especially Whitney & Stephen with their new little George.  Everyone's "nice talk" turned into this hilarious fight about how many things you're allowed to say in a big group, and also roasting Natalie at some point.

On Tuesday, Dad took Morgan with him down to Escalante scouting out the High Adventure trip.  This may have happened along the way:

Right?  And it's a stick shift.  But the middle of the desert is the PERFECT place to learn.  

This is the week of Last Week of School performances, etc.  The kids had a world cultural dance festival, instead of just a singing performance.  See if you can spot Derek... just look for the smiliest kid, and you've got him.

Connor's performance had him facing away from me, so I only have pictures of the back of his head, so here are the twins.  Guess if they were so cute and excited about wearing their pioneer clothes for the third time this month.  They had so much fun:

Derek graduated from 6th grade, had a BBQ, and goes into 7th!!!

We had a visitor in our yard.  He was about 4-5 feet long, and nice & thick & healthy.  Guess if Zeus was excited or beyond himself:

Kids' last day:

And my favorite meme of the week:

Miranda, I've been thinking so much about you.  I've been thinking about you in Bolivia, but also been thinking back on when you did all these things the kids are doing.  Your 6th grade BBQ, your HS graduation, your news that you got into BYU, your mission call.  All the things the kids around us are doing in the neighborhood.  It's so exciting, and I can't believe I have a child who has done all of them.

We sat the kids down tonight and went over our goals and schedule for the summer; mostly our daily schedule.  We're going to do one of the summers where we get up every day and have family prayer and have a certain amount of exercise, yard work, reading, chores, and free time.  The kids handled it really well hearing that they weren't sleeping in every day, and that the first week of every month (starting tomorrow) is NO SCREENS.  They didn't really see it coming, so I'm really proud of them for handling it so well.

Love you and we're praying for you.  Our official first package goes out to you on Tuesday, so let me know if there's anything else you want us to throw in.  xoxoxoxoxoxox, Mom


And the stuff that didn't make it in the letter:

Derek looked so handsome graduating from 6th grade:



Jeff took the kids + Bobby to Chuck-a-Rama to celebrate:



And the kids said goodbye to some exceptional teachers.  We really scored at Westfield this year.  Mrs. Stark:



Mr. Pratt:



And Mrs. Bjornberg & Losee:



Here is a record of the most bittersweet days of the year for Zeus.  He tries so hard to entice every animal, no matter how big or small, to come play with him.  He's in heaven, barking his heart out.  He adds a little puppy tone in the end of his bark when he's trying to convince them that he's super nice and they would have SOOO MUCH FUN if they would just come over to his fence.  Poor poor boy.

iii POR FAVOR!!!!

{For 18 months – Jan ’17 to Jul ’18 – I'm posting our letter to Miranda while she's on her mission to Cochabamba, Bolivia.  Our letter titles are taken from a list of family sayings & catchphrases we recorded onto a pillowcase she has with her.  You can read her adventures on her mission blog: www.hermanamadsen.blogspot.com!}

Ok the kid's piano recital was so cool.  It was Connor's first; he played Mary Had a Little Lamb.

Derek was the only one who played 2 songs.  Look how handsome.  =)

And it closed with Carlie playing her famous Cristofori's Dream... of course Tina put her last; have to end on the highest note.  =)  She came straight from the shack during her shift, then got called back and started making ice again.  =)

I opened Mother's Day gifts;

There may have been some kissing.  Didn't want to embarrass the kids.  JK!!!!

Dad & I went to see a play:

It was as exciting as the book. So not. But acted very well, and the actors seemed to grasp what they were portraying. I think you would have liked it. :)

We woke up Wednesday to this. Remember it's mid May?  It snowed little sprinklings all day long.

Connor was ridiculously cute reading his birthday poster to his class and passing out twinkies. :)

Kierste & Halle had the County Fair:

Morgan had his choir concert. It was epic. My heart was overflowing hearing him and watching how much fun he was having with the songs. It was such a fun concert!  

If you can't see him very well, here's a closeup. :)

And Derek had the renaissance fair. Throw a basketball, win junk food. Every sixth grader's dream. :)

Hey, I emailed Sister Hansen, wondering about how long packages take, and she reminded me how awkward it is for everyone, especially the missionary receiving the packages, when none of the native missionaries receive any.  She didn't discourage packages, just reminded me to use judgement.  I would rather send you less than cause any sad feelings with those sweet, sweet, strong latino missionaries.  If you can think of any way that it would be less awkward; I can only send 4 lbs. or less, but I'd like to make them count.  Maybe some things packaged separately, that you open right then and give out to everyone?  Just think about it.  =)  I'll send this one tomorrow, after everyone's had a chance to write in their own handwriting on it.  You know, to make it more heartbreaking.  =)  

Please don't miss us.  We're just us, and 5 min after you saw us again, you'd wish you were back right where you are.  We ARE awesome, though...

Love you!!!!   xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox whole face, Mom

Jamaica, Grand Caymans

{For 18 months – Jan ’17 to Jul ’18 – I'm posting our letter to Miranda while she's on her mission to Cochabamba, Bolivia.  Our letter titles are taken from a list of family sayings & catchphrases we recorded onto a pillowcase she has with her.  You can read her adventures on her mission blog: www.hermanamadsen.blogspot.com!}

So it was amazing to talk to you. I think all of us loved how giggly and normal you are. Of course we can tell from your pics that you are; it's just so refreshing to see it "in real life."  

So our NY trip continued with walking a million miles to bakeries & eateries of all kinds, plus touristy destinations.

Kristen got this while we were on the subway:

It was corys bday and the boys tried on suits... and bought them. Dad looked hot. 

The 911 memorial was sobering and amazing

Memorial waterfall into giant hole. The names are enscribed in the metal of people who died; the heroes have their titles alongside their names. You're supposed to touch their names and it rubs the dark metal away in time, accentuating the names in bronze.

We went to Eleven Madison Park, the number one restaurant in the world. We ate tiny courses of out-of-world food.

The whole trip was something to dream of doing again. :)

Then we came back for normal family life. :) carlie choir concert,

Connor 1st grade program,

End of the year reports,

And Mother's Day apology flowers. :) Dad had to work on Mother's Day. But I totally survived. :)

Love you so much Miranda!!!  Please remember how much your family is thinking of & praying for you. You're so strong and amazing. Heavenly Father looks down on you every day with not just concern and wanting to help, but a smile. You are one of His bright shining stars, helping his other stars find the light. 

Xoxoxox, Mom


And a pic of us talking to Miranda on Skype.  =)  Made my month!!!!!