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. =)
So we've been watching a lot of anime this week... ok, let me clarify. In between all the school shopping dates, activities, cleaning, organizing, preparing for school, the kids have watched Pokemon a lot, and Miranda was reminding me how they said, "Were you surprised?" a lot in some of them... the dialogue is stunning in those! Now, every time you read it in the letter, you have to imagine it being said in a high-pitched, sugary-sweet anime voice.
So, let's get started. We missed this pic last Sunday of Miranda holding new little Lexianny. She's so tiny and cute!!! And so is the baby.
Then, I was sitting outside at night because it was so GORGEOUS, and Miranda was on her laptop typing to you. I thought you should see how happy she is while you're on. (Were you surprised?)
Monday morning, and every day this week, Connor arranged to play with his besties: James on the left (our left), and Nathan on the right. I'm pretty sure they really did spend every day together. (Were you surprised?) And my baby is getting huge.
Miranda went and helped Emily move into her apartment off campus in Provo, and no pic. Dang it.
Ok, I was looking during the day for cancer support t-shirts, and all kinds of paraphernalia that we could surround ourselves with, and I came across this t-shirt. Had to take a picture of the screen... It's not the t-shirt that caught me off guard. It was the model. Uh...
That night for FHE, Nathan was still over playing, so he joined us for our backpack stuffing. The Stake organized a drive for backpacks and school supplies for kids who won't have any, so we went around the house, got all our old backpacks together, selected ones that could pass for barely used, and with a couple new ones, came up with 13, my favorite number. We packed them all up for Tabitha's Way. The greatest selfish blessing happened to me, though. While I was checking out at the store, the woman behind me found out what it was for, and told me that she had used those backpacks before, and thank you for doing it. What a nice blessing to meet her!
Tuesday, we went to Primary's (were you surprised?) and Miranda got to skip again! We were (I was) so happy. BUT. We got out to the roof corner parking spot, the last space available before, and my car battery was dead. So even though Miranda was starving, we waited for help for a while. The spot we were in made it impossible for anyone to pull up and help us, so we waited for the professionals - hospital security ended up being our heroes. And a nurse who told me they could help and waited with us. =) . Then Miranda needed a burger RIGHT THEN, so we stopped at Red Robin. The painting right above our table was of people at a 3D movie. And it was all painted on VHS TAPES. I love it.
When we finally got home, I took Halle on her back-to-school shopping date to get some supplies, but mostly to get a treat together. We chose FroYo.
Wednesday, Miranda went out with Brooke again. I'm so glad she has her friends!!! Mmmm... the hummus plate at Blue Lemon.
Then Miranda had to fulfill her dream of straightening Morgans' hair before he gets a school haircut.
He looked amaze. (Were you surprised?)
Miranda, Carlie & I went to a friend's reception. They're such good wardies to everyone, but they're renting out their house while they live in Japan & CA right now, so it was a wonderful ward reunion, and even our old bishop came up from CA to see everyone. We stayed until almost 10, even though the reception was over at 8:30. Hey, family is family.
So Thursday, CARLIE TURNED EIGHTEEN!!!! Were you surprised?!?!?!
She had slept on Miranda's floor to keep her company, so her B in B looks a little funny. But here's a better one!
So they all loaded up and went to Cowabunga Bay, using the passes a wardie had given us for Jeff helping them with a prescription.
The Lazy River, for the lazies.
When Carlie's friend posted these for her bday, I had to save them. I love to have pictures I haven't seen before of my kids!
Remember how Carlie pulls off any haircut she gets? Even BALD? Are you at all surprised? No, you are not.
Then we gave Carlie her presents. She opened all kinds of cute, tiny things from all of us. We wrapped all of them in old iStuff boxes, so she wouldn't suspect anything.
And then she opened her new iPad. It's her college "laptop," but will be better for her because of the drawing programs she can use with the iPad. She was a little ecstatic. (Were you surprised?)
And with her new iPad, she whipped this little thing up (were you surprised?:
On Friday, we got Carlie off to a Chamber Choir retreat at a cabin, and on her whole trip, all I got was this generic picture. Not that it's a bad picture... but what a cool trip, and bam. I got this. Still beautiful:
I took the boys school shopping and they ended up at FroYo, too. (Were you surprised?) . Hard to see, but the boys had gotten cool hair cuts during the week, too.
That night, the kids had Back to School night, and since I'm in PTA, I got to remind people to donate to their classroom teachers. =) . Jeff got a pic of me at my post:
And then a super cool storm rolled in. It actually ended up striking a house on fire less than 2 miles from us, but we sat out and captured the lightning on our cameras because it was so awesome.
Saturday morning, Miranda took Connor for his haircut. My little tiny kid.
And that night, Morgan ordered pizza with his friends and went hammocking for the last time of the summer with no stupid picture. I hate him; he hates me. I have beat him severely. (Were you surprised?)
And this morning, we surprised Morgan with breaky in bed before church, because before early school is just mean.
He ate a couple bites, and then Miranda got him eating it for real after church.
Our neighbor texted after church and asked if she could please come do a mani-pedi for Miranda. At first, I didn't think of this as a Sunday activity. Then I thought of the incredible ministering this lady was offering to do; we are to visit the sick and minister to their needs. And even though I would have loved to have her come on another day, she was thinking of the best thing she could do for Miranda, and I'm so grateful she came.
We celebrated Carlie's bday at Grandma Madsen's house... grilled chicken and to-die-for corn on the cob, potato wedges, watermelon, carrot cake, and she got movie tickets!! She already knows who she could invite to go with her. His name starts with A and rhymes with Andrew. (Were you surprised?)
And then we ran home for one of our favorite activities of the year: Back to School blessings. I wish so bad that I had done this every single year, but for the past few years, I have made voice recordings to transcribe so they can keep them. It was awesome, as usual.
MEMES!! Since SCHOOL STARTS TOMORROW, these are pretty much all themed that way:
You've heard that the Flat Earthers have been making more of a presence now... I cannot believe there are actually people who sincerely believe the earth is flat.
And then I just really liked these last 2.
Honestly, I have no idea what came over me, but suddenly, when I saw this one, it reminded me of you and I knew you had to see it.
Were you surprised?!?!?!?!?!? Keep on being you!!! Love you, Us
