U4ia: Sunday, September 02

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. =)

First of all, we forgot a pic. Here's Morgan & Adrianny blowing out their candles at G&G's house celebrating 16 on THE SAME DAY. I'm so happy they have the same birthday. Now to get this boy licensed.

Monday after school, Connor's friend's grandma called and asked if Rocco could play over, since they exchanged phone numbers at school. And of course, James came, too. Everyone loves Connor.

Piano lessons started for the twins! Britney is the best; comes to the house every Monday afternoon.

I started tearing apart the pantry. Threw at least 1/3 of the junk away... Before:

And I thought the transformation would be huger, but I still had to take an AFTER pic. It felt so clean!!! Even if no one else can tell:

Monday was also my little brother Scott's birthday, so I shared this pic on our family group chat. He turned 30 today, so this picture is amazingly awesome.

Tuesday, unfortunately, I had to post this on the neighborhood FB page. We haven't seen her in 3 days, and started worrying that she might be gone for good. =(

This sweet cat looks and sounds terrible. He's been meowing around the house with the most sad voice, and coming up to cuddle and needs to be with his people. So not his style. Here he is just "crying" by Miranda. He loved Xena so much.

Wednesday, Connor started soccer! Here's his team trying to line up by height to get everyone the closest fit for their uniforms possible.

I picked him up early from soccer, and took him straight to his first pack meeting... this kid is in cub scouts!!!

The twins had gone to Activity Days, and when they got home, they asked if they could do their homework on the trampoline. I had zero confidence that homework would happen. TONS of somersaults happened.

Meanwhile, the boys went to the Court of Honor, and Derek received a truckload of merit badges from camp.

Miranda went up the canyon with Emily and her friend Brad, and DIDN'T TAKE A PICTURE until they were in the lame apartment. But still, cute pic.

Morgan had had it with his hair and its antics. It was still so long on the top, so we decided to just take some off. SO MUCH better.

This is Club Rush at Lone Peak, where everyone signs up for all the clubs. Carlie has a booth where she recruits for Voltron Club, being the president and all. Here's her illustrious sign:

Thursdays at Westfield are Kindness days, and everyone wears purple to remind them to Choose Kindness. Super good idea. Even Connor wore an old soccer jersey because it's his only purple.

We met the new team at Utah Valley, and Miranda had her labs done by their experts... SO MUCH BETTER than her home health nurse that MISSED the port 3 times, opening all the lab kits at home and ending up drawing IV... These people are pros. But I have to say, the whole side of the room is floor to ceiling windows, and they look out at a PARKING STRUCTURE that is 6 feet away from their building. It's supposed to come down soon, so instead of seeing the view as depressing (!!!) we're going to choose to see it as comical. =)

Post of Carlie:

That night, we went to our RS activity, "100 dresses," centered around the award-winning book by the same name. We all donated dresses for refugee women, and it was a darling activity.

Carlie sung with some of the YW "I Am a Child of God" in English, French, German & Spanish.

Then this picture was on Miranda's phone of Carlie doing her Spanish homework. Guess if Carlie, Morgan & Derek enjoy having Miranda around to help with Spanish homework!!!!!!

Then I came across this scene Friday morning, and the words "Dang it," went through my mind so many times. I don't want to.

Before we left for Provo, I found this plate that Kierste never got to finish because they were running out the door for school. So sweet of Halle to make it for her while she was still getting ready.

So when I signed Miranda up for Heritage Halls in March, I didn't even know for sure if she wanted to live there, but they are super hard to get into, so when the opportunity came, I said a little prayer, and chose a building, trying to think and feel what was right, but hurrying with a sense that I could lose the spot if I didn't choose quickly. I felt to get her the closest building inward, toward campus. I thought to get her the top floor so she wouldn't have upstairs neighbors that would keep her up stomping on her ceiling. Now, it's turning out to be the perfect spot for so many reasons. The only parking is close to her building, and who knew that it would be important to be as close as possible to everything? Closest to Creamery, parking, class, central building, etc. I know Who knew.

The trapeze ballerina all the way to the right is Miranda Madsen. The others, Rachel, Maddie, Emily, Gizelle, and Jackie, are all turning out to be characters. This is NOT going to be a boring year! Haha!! There's some mental health issues, immature issues, and some OCD issues, including and not limited to WRITING UP "Apartment Mate Contracts" that they would have a formal meeting to discuss. We are going to pause for a moment to appreciate what I just said.

It's really going to be awesome. Miranda is probably going to LOVE IT. Talk about being needed! She and Emily are going to use all the peacemaking skills they possess every day. =) . Also, I'm sure you heard the other tender mercy/ awesomeness of your cousin being besties with Jackie and requesting a room swap with Miranda, which she soundly denied!! I'm so glad. I need the entertainment that is going to be Apartment 4202.

We ran for some apartment necessities. I made Miranda use this beautiful device. I never thought I would be so glad they have these! Backing up takes all your courage, because you get to beep just as loud as a construction vehicle, announcing that you - drum roll - are about to crawl backward at such a pace that you may run someone over without them even knowing you're coming. Miranda was such a good sport. I am constantly amazed at what she can handle.

Of course, we won Miranda's heart, and she came back home that night. After all, there were very, very important movies that needed watching with her sisters: namely, Barbie Princess & the Pauper, and the piece of resistance, Polly Pocket. It was epic to hear them quoting the movie... but even more impressive, when Morgan & Derek did.

This arrived:

Saturday morning, Jeff called a tow truck for the Angel Car. She just has some health issues she needs to deal with, and she'll be back. But he missed getting a picture of her leaving, so when I saw her coming my way, I stopped Morgan's truck in the middle of the road to take a picture. Can you see the guy's face?!?!? Why, why, why is that lady in the Tacoma that says, "Honk, I'm 16/ Turn up the music/ #ImaBigBoyNow" stopping in the road to take a picture of me?!?!??!!??!

Then we threw a surprise birthday party for Jeff's dad. Total success on the surprise!! The decor was me, the food and gift was the sisters, and the movie/slideshow was Mark. He's officially 70!!

Teenager table. Shaun brought his girlfriend... brave boy. We're a lot to handle.

Then, after watching a quarter or 2 of the night cap game, Miranda & I went back to her apartment with a load of things we had forgotten before, and finished off her dorm. We'll fill the walls sometime soon. I spy 2 Eiffel Towers.