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{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 on Monday, we had our Volunteer Appreciation brunch for all the parents who came in during the year and volunteered at the school. The kids sang them this amazingly adorable Thank you song, and then the teachers (& I) held up noodles to make a rainbow tunnel for them to run through, to go to the brunch. It was really touching. =)
That night we played Apples to Apples with our FHE, and then played a rummy game where dad decided he needed a hairband to cut off the circulation to the top of his head, and Morgan needed to wear my sunglasses...
We had a giant storm that night and woke up to THIS!!!!!:
This week, Barbara Bush, wife of the first Pres. George Bush, died. She was a really, really good woman. Here are some of my favorite quotes that came across my feed:
This awesomeness came about:
And during Mutual, since Dad's back was hurting so bad, he stayed home and sat in the hot tub with the little ones while I ran errands (so no pic), then sat in the hot tub with the Mutual kids later that night. My girly troubles & I stayed out this time:
Thursday another awesomeness appeared for the week:
And later, I took these to sillies to the store with me. When I came to drive them, this is what I got:
Friday, Derek went to his tennis match. I love it that he can't stop smiling. It's one of the best things ever.
Friday, we went out for Daddy & Cory's bdays:
And Saturday, ON DAD's BIRTHDAY, I ran to Aspen's bridal shower. There's Adrianne & Paris next to her. It was so great to get to know her more through their little games, and I WISH we had gotten together with them more over the years... just like Barbara Bush was saying. =) Aspen is getting married in the Manti temple. She said she's always loved it, even though she's never been inside. =)
I ran back home to take Connor to his soccer game,
Swung him by the house for his tennis racket, dropped him, Walker, and James Galloway off at their tennis lesson, went straight to Morgan's soccer game,
Dad took Derek to get his phone switched over to Carlie's 6, because she bought herself an EIGHT. It's so awesome. On the way, Dad flagged down Lightning McQueen (this is right on the corner by the VanKomen's house!!!) to get a picture. This guy must get this all the time. But we had to send this to Alex & Natalie to show Jack. !!!!
Then I picked up Connor from his tennis lesson, where he was playing in between games, pretending to have a machine gun.
As soon as we all got home, we opened presents with Dad. He got a new bath robe - it's as opulent as he was hoping a new bath robe would be:
He got a BYU hammock, some electronic stuff for the house, and Grandpa Levie is going to order a cool handgun that he's wanted. =)
What I love, is that Dad's co-workers sent him this video of them singing Happy Birthday to him, even though he had the weekend off. I love that he's the kind of Dr. that they trust & love. Some are dictators, and don't care if the people who work with them like them or not. Your daddy is such a good man.
After Daddy's presents, we ran to H&K's soccer game. K:
And it's hard to see H here. She always made good plays on the other side of the field where I couldn't see her very well, but she had just made this really great kick into the fray:
IT WAS ZEUS' BIRTHDAY TOO!!! He's FIVE. Poor dude - for his birthday, he got a bath. Thank you, Morgan. But Zeus did not think we loved him... the constant bacon treats helped a little, though.
That night, we went to Alex & Natalie's for adult game night. At first the boys watched the Jazz game while we talked,
Then we went to see Whitney & Steven's house... 7 out of the 10 are going to be living within a block of each other in these new houses, and be in the same ward. They are going to have a very funny ward!!! I am so funny. I took pics of Whit & Steven's house in the dark, but I'm afraid they don't do it the justice it deserves. IT'S SO WEIRD. And totally them, and they are going to LOVE it.
Here's Grandma's drawing of "crying your eyes out" .... oh my gosh the eyes are out.
Yesterday, we celebrated Dad's bday at Grandma's. His nice talk was so great, and everyone gave him really thoughtful gifts that he loved. G & G got him this propane fire pit... YES!!!! It's so cool. =)
What a great 45 year old man. I love him so much you can't even imagine. My nice talk was about his willingness to do what it takes to be worthy to be in Heaven. This man is constantly trying to become better & better, as we all should be doing. He's a great example of hearing some course correction, and applying it as fast as possible to his life. That's what it takes, and that's all that matters here on earth. And I'm so lucky to have him as my eternal companion.
Let's get some memes on here!!! It was Earth day yesterday:
This is for G&G Levie. They've been eating a vegetable-based diet, which is AMAZING. We should all get as healthy as that!
And because Solo comes out in a month:
Ok, a little more serious:
You're the best!!! We are praying for you, and we know that you're going to come through this new trial like refined silver. That doesn't mean it won't be hard... Sometimes it's still just really hard to go through it. We just have every confidence in you. Not that you'll never break down and have weakness - that's part of being human. That you're made to handle hard things. You're a rock. And a rockstar. Love you so much I can't stand it!!!!! Mom
