Nice to meet you - Bogo Bogo

{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 first of all, I saw these in the store. Why didn't they have Robin when we were getting stuff for The Four?!? If you feel like I should get them they might still be there. Lmk

Second of all, Valentine's Day. Daddy took the boys right after school and bought us girls flowers. He really got into bday this year - it was so sweet. You saw what he did for you. :) Now the twins really got into their box making:

But Halle... this is the MOST ROMANTIC valentine box she could possibly think of:

Let me zoom in for you:

The bouquet she caught at the reception, and a box dedicated to their wedding. :) So like her. 

Third, Derek's Valentine's Dance.  Oh my gosh that kid cannot stop smiling.  He was so comfortable asking the girls to dance and smiling and talking with them.  Most of the time, the girls were smiling the whole time, too... which is NOT the norm for the 6th grade dance, right?!?

Fourth, we had our Valentine's dinner with the kids:

Fifth, Morgan's team ended the season with 5 wins & 3 losses, and we're on to the tournament.  It is so fun to watch Morgan play basketball with all his buddies from his quorum. They are such good friends now, and with Dad & Cory coaching them, it's even more awesome.  =)  Morgan has a consistently happy, most of the time beaming, face while he plays.

Sixth, the Blue & Gold banquet/Luau went off perfectly.  It was so amazing.  The decor was awesome, the food was DELICIOUS, Bishop & Brother Tanaka played the ukulele, and Brother Tanaka taught the boys a haka, complete with the boys' black face paint.  I have got to get pics from someone... I was running the background stuff/ cake contest/ winning prizes & certificates.  I can't believe it's over.  On to Pinewood derby!

Seventh, Jen Ellis got married on Friday.  The temple sealing was so beautiful.  She's going to be SO HAPPY.  I'm overjoyed for her.  Connor was home sick with a fever, poor baby boy, so Dad stayed home with him, then took him to work to finish his charts, and I picked up Connor from the hospital on my way home from Jen's luncheon.  What a day.

Eighth, Morgan & Derek went skiing with Dad on Saturday.  It snowed really hard all day, and they had a BLAST.

Aren't they so handsome and cute.

Ninth, Derek finally got his temple rec interview today... it's so embarrassing that he's been 12 for 2.5 months and we haven't taken him!  Hopefully super soon.

And tenth, we're going to do Carlie's seminary GPS with her as a family: 2 weeks of a Prayer goal, 2 weeks of a Scripture goal, followed by 2 weeks of a Genealogy goal.  So exciting to see how it effects us all.

Please don't let any of this make you homesick. As soon as you get back, we pick up with doing all this stuff with you and more. 

Hey, I haven't cried since you left (about you - let's be real; I've cried about everything else), unless I was overjoyed or feeling for you when reading your letters about hardships (because I'm happy you're going through it but wish I could comfort you more). Until today in ward conference when they had us sustain all the leaders of the church, even the deacon, teacher & priest quorum presidencies, and then he announced for our information that the ward had 11 full time missionaries serving. And I kind of lost it. I'm so proud that you're one of them. I'm so proud of you, just the way you really are, serving the Lord the best you can. I don't care if you're perfect, which you seem to be. I don't expect everything to turn out seamless for you. You're a human girl, completely prepared to give the Lord all you have, and I know you're trying to do that. You make me want to be a better person and I love you even more for that. 

Love you so much!!!  Mom :)

Didn't make the letter:

We met on Vday for some Tsunami... that's what true love is all about.



Carlie went to a masquerade Vday party.  She looked amazing.