The Narrows

{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!}

Our subject heading is appropriate because Dad & Morgan are hiking Escalante this week.  =)

So last Sunday dinner:

And Frank & Tracy are here for a couple weeks:

Grandma & Grandpa writing on letters for your package.  =)

The dogs still love each other:

On Memorial Day we had all your Levie cousins over because Grandma Levie was in town.  This is everyone saying "Hi to Miranda!"

And welcome to our week of No Screens.  =)



The kids are tanner, getting along better, and willing to go with some of the plans I have for them.  For instance, here's our summer schedule so far:

8 - family prayer.  Then everyone has a half hour to get dressed & eat breaky

8:30 - workout for an hour.  The kids do Insanity, swimming lessons, or running in the park playing soccer together like today.  =)

9:30 - yard work for 1/2 hour.  We planted the garden and knocked the weeds down in just a 1/2 hour a day.

10 - everyone has 15 min to freshen up or lightning shower to be ready for:

10:15 - reading for an hour.  Start with scriptures, then read something else if they want.  It's been awesome.

11:15 - jobs.  Everyone has an hour to do their jobs. After that hour, they get an extra deep cleaning job if they're not done with them.  Then lunch when they're done, and go play!  Some days I talked them into helping me with a deep-cleaning project, so the mudroom closet (!!!) is all cleaned out, organized & de-wintered, and the front room baseboards are clean & de-marked.  =)

So we had the carpets cleaned this week (right?)



& got a new cat tree.

Here are some of my favorite memes of the week... during No Screens week.  =)

Love you so much!  I've been praying that you're adjusting to your new comp, no matter how great she is.  It's always an adjustment, and everyone says that you CAN'T not get along with Miranda, but I think someone could try.  You're amazing, forgiving, loving, and sensitive of others, so you're going to rock it.  Kisses & kisses & kisses & kisses, Mom


And I love these but they didn't make it into the letter: