Dynamite

--> {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, little kiddo.  I'm sorry - This will be the worst post of the whole year because of all the traditions and Christmas stuff... but we get to talk to you, so it will make it a little better.  Sorry!!!

Ok, at Gma & Gpa's, it was their 46th anniversary, and Grandpa gave Grandma a trip to San Diego to see Hamilton & visit some theme parks, etc.  She was a little happy.

During the week, we delivered some more of our neighbor gifts, and Carlie drove the kids around to take their friend gifts and SS teachers, etc.

Monday, we went to the Westfield Sing... excellent, as always.  Our little 2nd grader:

And we got to see the 5 graders sing "Socks" again.  I LOVE that song.  =)

That night, before bed, Morgan was begging for a haircut, but secretly hoping we said no and he could keep this amazingness:

Tuesday, Connor went on his shopping date with me.  He chose Subway to eat dinner at.  I told him you would recognize the background because you ate here a couple million times.

Wednesday, the kids were OUT OF SCHOOL for the break!  So Dad took the kids to Star Wars - 1st time for the littles, and FORGOT to take a picture... But remembered at JCW's afterward.  You're probably going to need to stop there on your way back home!

I ran a lot of errands while they were gone, and when I got home, I found this in Chloe's crate... oh that dog.  She promptly threw it all up in the living room.  You can tell she feels bad:

Thursday, the H,K, and Connor had dental appointments with me:

Then we picked up our gingerbread house kits and went straight to Grandma's house to decorate them:

The MINUTE they were done, Dad took all the kids to a BYU basketball game, while I did more shopping and started the illustrious laundry for the week.

Friday, Dad woke up dark & early and drove the Edwards to the airport to go to Guatemala.  The Spencers are also going; doing some Christmas service and vacationing instead of opening piles of presents.  #squadgoals. 

That evening we had our Levie Christmas party, but we're getting so huge, we keep having to schedule a church building.  This time we were at ScoJo's in PG.  We had tables set up for snowflake cutting, picture coloring, and cookie decorating, and made sure we had an adult, teen, girl, and boy table.  And the kids & dads played bball in the background.  =)

And Sammy got sick, so Kiri stayed in the other room with him, so we could all avoid it for Christmas.  So so so sad.  =(

Saturday, was a totally relaxed, sleep-in day for the kids, and I was kind of gone all day, working out and standing in lines getting last minute gifts!  Then home to laundry.  =)  BUT, FB told me that this was my most liked/loved picture of the year:

Today, Sunday, Dad & Morgan sang in the Christmas program with the Teachers' Quorum.  They sounded off the mahizzle.

Then, before Dad left for work, we took the obligatory arch pic.  But this is how it ended up going:

And Dad got the gifts down for us.  Carlie was feeling like a rockstar:

Derek probably was too:

Then we prepared our home and some meatloaf, and had my parents, Grant, ScoJo, and Tomily over.  I can't believe I forgot the pic after we all sat down with our food.  Dang it.  But here's the table.  It looked so cool!

My mom & dad gave us their gifts; some super cool games.  I'm really excited to try them.  =)

And ScoJo had us for Christmas, so they gave us their gift.  First a capture of this super cool writing on the gifts.  =)

The Death Star popcorn popper with flavors... yum and super cool!

We did the candy cane tradition with everyone, of taking a candy cane & saying things we're grateful for, and putting it on the tree.  It was really cool to hear inside everyone's hearts.  Carlie wanted hers higher than Morgan's so she threw it... made it.

We included everyone in the White Stocking tradition:

We put everyone's gingerbread houses out for display & consumption toward the end, and Derek & Connor decided to demolish theirs... it was quite the explosions of sugar.  =)

And finally:

"Meh. Maybe your Christmas will be alright."

I wonder how many Christmas memes I can put on here before it's full.  =)

I can't believe I forgot to send you this on Saturday as an extra email:

Love you, Darling!  It's 2:30am, so I'm going to just get to bed instead of waxing wise, because WE GET TO TALK TO YOU TOMORROW!!!!!!  So I'll say anything wise then.  =)

CANNOT WAIT!!!!!!!

Love, Mom