Were you surprised?

{For 18 months 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!}

First of all, I'm not sure if I shared what happened while I was in Havasu.  How could I possibly have forgotten this?  On my second day there, I got these.  Apparently, Dad was trying to entice me to come home.  I had 5 more days there!!!

Ok, so this week:  Connor was super sick on Sunday; could not get him to stop, you know... and when we went up the canyon to take family pictures the next night, he still looked kind of green.  =) But he was such a good sport.  The post I made said, "Preview of Fall family 'portraits.'  Hahaha!  My kids know what to do!  (What I forgot to say is that the camera was just on a tripod, so everything is spontaneous):

I'll put the nice one on the Christmas card.  Then Connor lost his front tooth.  It was snaggle tooth for SO LONG, including Picture Day.  Grrrr...

Then I got totally sick, from when I took care of Connor.  =(  So nothing happened that I know of for days.  Ugh.

Thursday, Halle & Kierste had their once-a-month sewing class, and on the way, we drove past this amazing lawn.  I wonder if I can get Morgan to do this to ours.  It's actually perfectly proportioned in real life.  I just stayed in the short car to take the surreptitious picture:

Grandma posted these on the GroupMe.  WOW:

And then BAM.  Friday night happened.  First, we went to Tsunami (sorry) and I think Morgan almost fainted because of how good his first real sushi was.  

Then I think Carlie's dreams came true all at once.  In line:

Getting to our seats:

Oh wait.  Our seats:

After the opening (terrrible) bands:

And epicness started.

The 30 giant tv screens on the ceiling had images flashing... the concert really was made for the people in the pit.  So cool.

Then it was Carlie's turn to faint.  The band ran by half way through to play on a secondary stage... I'm pretty sure she's never going to wash the hand that high-fived them again.

It was complete awesome sauce.  They put on a GREAT show.

Then Saturday, your littlest brother was a goalie:

What can I even say about Morgan's game?  Here.  How about this:

Oh, and funny thing.  See the orange they versed?  That's the twins' color.  Then the twins versed CONNOR'S color:

And when they were walking off the field, Morgan's color (different age) came on for the next game.  Just a hilarious mashup of all the family colors that same day.

As promised, a picture of H&K's friends.  Specifically Seth, on the left.  Kierste thinks he's pretty spectacular.  =)

Now, because of the Primary Program today, and conference recently, these memes are especially special.  This first one was memed: How prepared are you for Conference.  So many great subtleties in this one!!!  Even the scenery.

And a funny one, then serious one:

LOVE YOU!!!  I don’t have anything profound to write this time. We love you & think about you all the time!!!  Love, Mom