So Miranda came home from her mission a couple weeks early to have some surgery, but I have this great excuse to still write our family history down, since her novio is still on his mission in Paris, France for the next year. So until May 9, 2019, I'll still write a missionary letter for our blog posts. =)
Monday came in with a bang. Miranda had an appointment on campus to talk to a counselor about how to navigate cancer during the semester. All good news. Then she & Carlie met Carol for lunch, and had a wonderful time. The minivan, however, had given up and wanted a recharge. After getting "help" from this guy below, they called Daddy at work and he guided them through it.
This day was also momentous because:
And:
So that night, FHE was about baptism, and Daddy helped Connor practice for the big day. Not the prayer, just the dunking, so there are no surprises:
I guess they plan on going all the way to the bottom!
After FHE, we let him open his early birthday presents. Legos,
More Legos,
And a bike!
Afterward, we took the bleach to Miranda's hair. The idea was to strip it of its color so we could color it silver. That was the idea. You know when black-haired people pour bleach on their hair and it turns orange/blonde, but mostly orange? That's a tiny bit what happened to our girl.
He got to choose whatever he wanted that day. We offered to have his best friends over that missed his party; pool, water balloons, hose fight, pizza... He wanted to put together his Lego sets alone. Ok, buddy. Whatever you want. This is how he spent the day, pj's and all.
Meanwhile, we reported for a chemical cure session. =) Our blondie.
In the hallway, tears sprung to my eyes when I saw this member of the Justice League. Ugh. Fighters & warriors.
Afterward, Miranda was in her normal spot (the floor no matter what part of the house), watching a show with the kids. The dogs, as usual, gathered around her to comfort & protect.
We got the best surprise news (that hasn't been our luck so far... surprise news has always been some kind of bomb that's hard to swallow!), that the chemo visits in between hospital stays will not include the meds that cause nausea. Still not kidding around drug, but Yay, on not starting over every week with nausea!!!
We took our blondie to put silver in her hair... you have to admit, it doesn't look nearly as bad as you pictured in your head. Before silver:
While I was on a roll, I fulfilled the twins' dreams of going blonde (Halle) & red (Kierste) for Clear Creek (week long camp put on by the school district that you can only attend after you've finished 5th grade) next week. K:
Then Miranda & I went to a RS activity of visiting & eating salads & desserts. I was so happy & surprised that Miranda could come. So was everyone else.
And Carlie dropped this quick little sketch on the world:
Then, when Miranda was tired, we went home to rest. However, since it was little Connor's birthday, Miranda parked herself on the office floor and played Legos with him. He was laughing his little head off and having so much fun.
I thought for a second that maybe Miranda was feeling good. When he left the room for a minute, she said, "Even though I feel like crap, he's more important right now." What the... Apparently, Miranda, on top of everything else, also had some girly issues that were hurting. The reason I add that in here, is that over an hour later, they were STILL laughing and playing with the Legos together. This was a birthday moment that I don't think Connor will forget.
That day, Jeff also found some entertainment for us. Let's just take a moment and appreciate his find. Please read every word, all the way, and especially to the end:
Wednesday, Carlie went to Mutual in the afternoon at Tibblefork, paddleboarding, etc.
With wooshy hair:
That evening, we losers who didn't see it yet, went to Incredibles 2.
Totally incredible. Worth putting on your list for next May!!
And another drop on the world:
Thursday, Halle & Kierste went to Activity Day Camp in Alpine and had fun learning gospel themes while playing games and doing crafts & activities. I don't really see them in this pic, but it's the only one the leaders took, and gives me a picture of where they were and what they did.
Meanwhile, a nurse came, like they will now, to draw some labs. Gotta make sure our girl is strong. And she is this time. =)
A card game ensued:
Natalie used her clout & contacts to score us 4 tickets for the oldest kids to go to the Stadium of Fire concert on the 4th. When I was texting back & forth with her, I had said Good luck with rehearsals this week and she replied with this:
Then Carlie... Wow.
So that evening, we decided to pack up our gear and head into the woods. Jeff had gone up early that morning and gotten us the ONLY CAMP SITE IN THE CANYON. #13, my favorite number, at Timpooneke. =)
Here are the only evidences that I was at this campout, because after these 2, I'm behind the camera or AWOL.
Jeff had picked up the bacon-wrapped filet mignon at Costco, and we skewered those on our hotdog roasters, along with some hotdogs, too... And another win: fire-toasted Twinkies. Crispy on the outside, gooey on the inside. Yes, please.
My first favorite part of camping: games and talking around the campfire. We played Telephone,
Mafia,
And in the tent while we fell asleep, revealed Family Secrets. Just us, asking each other things we usually don't think to ask. It's so much easier to reveal things about yourself while you're in the dark and you think maybe people won't remember what you said in the morning. =) jk. We know they totally remember.
In the morning, Miranda & I went down the canyon to check messages about her labs at home and get things we forgot, etc. for a little bit, while everyone took a beautiful hike.
When we got back, the big kids had some hammock time playing riddle games,
While the littler awesomeness did crafts. What a great excuse to get out all the crafty stuff we have in our house, and let everyone paint, glue & create, when it's all outside and won't cover the house in stickiness or stains!
That night, Zeus was especially adorable watching anxiously while everyone threaded their steak, chicken, bacon, bell peppers, & onions on their skewers to roast over the fire. I wish you could properly see the drool hanging from both sides of his jowls. By this picture, most of it had fallen down. It is epic every year.
Roasting away:
And then it was braid time. I hope you're catching the braid phenomenon happening in the two that are doing the braiding.
Now. Here's a chance for us to show you that unbeknownst to us, we had dyed Miranda's hair to perfectly match HER DOG'S.
And that night was much colder than the one before, so the other dog got blankets piled on him when we saw him shivering beside us. Sweet, sweet, cold protector doggy.
In the morning, while we were breaking camp, a deer came and ate it's bark breakfast right by us.
The kids played frisbee while they waited to leave, and Jeff & I just stood back and marveled that they were all with us, all ours, and how lucky we are.
This popped up. This is my home town, and on this day, 24 years ago, 2 summers after I had graduated, I was working at a preschool where I took the kids outside to play two different times for a half hour. I was so proud of myself when I found out how hot it had been that day. I made myself a t-shirt... I wish I was kidding.
When we got home, Miranda went to her temple assignment, Jeff & I went on a date with some friends to Cheesecake Factory, and the kids hung out with pizza & relaxed. We had unpacked & cleaned all day. Then they rented Men in Black, because apparently, Jeff & I failed at pop culture parenting, and Miranda had never seen it.
Today, the girls took a picture to show all their new hair color. I love it!!!
Then we went to Carol's and celebrated Connor's bday with them. We did Nice Talk,
He opened presents, one of which Jack had done extra jobs to earn the money to buy for him (!!!!),
And blew out his candles before everyone was done singing to him. Everyone has their own style!!
Phew! The End!! Memes.
Real bracelet seen on real guy in the subway by our friend this week:
And last week, while I was reading Pres & Sister Nelson's broadcast again, a couple passages stuck out because of what Miranda is going through. Of course, they apply to all of us, and our trials are not over. But because of her, I screenshot them.
Love you!!! ~us
