So! Monday, Labor Day, we took a break from all our labor. I'm sure that's the reason it exists. Don't tell me otherwise.
Jeff loaded up the paddleboards, and took the girls to pick up our other girl. =)
They picked up Alyssa, and went to Deer Creek Reservoir and had the time of their lives. Or a lot of fun, in other words.
The great thing about this picture, besides the obvious guy in the middle, is that it shows the rest of the Madsen clan who were at the lake. =) I could have cropped him out and put 2 different offerings, but he is sucking in for the picture and everything!!
Then later, when Carlie was at Meiers, right next to the Shack at work, she saw her cousins' bakery bread for sample/sale. My brother Allen & his family own this bakery and are doing really well with their bread, selling in a lot of high-end shops.
Tuesday was the worst day; but we'll be okay!! Blood will follow. First, Miranda woke up super early and made it to the 7:20 session at the temple with Rachel & Emily. =)
Then, Jeff & I got a phone call that changed our lives forever. Our genetic testing came back for our family, and the results are: the people in this picture have DICER1. The people not in this picture don't; lucky ducks.
I am honestly so glad (grateful) that I have DICER1 with my kids. I don't have to worry about Jeff; I'm allowed to be happy and peaceful if I want to be. I can help these guys through if anything happens to them. But I know that Heavenly Father does not rain down trials on us without purpose. He loves us so much that He only gives us the trials He had in store for our life plan. And only the ones that we need to succeed and fulfill our missions. So here we go! We're going to go in and get screened and find out if we need any surgeries, etc. And we'll stay on our knees: the place we should have been anyway. =)
So when we found out, Jeff brought home some beautiful flowers for me, that included some orchids and a tree stem that needed to be trimmed... I had hacked for a while, so he got our Cutco bread knife - and by Cutco I mean super duper uber sharp and will slice your finger off - and he decided to take his finger off, so he could have some sympathy that day, too.
So it wasn't his whole finger, ha! but it was so deep and scary looking. He wrapped it up, drove himself to the ER, and had a partner put 12 stitches in it. I was so proud of the manliness of this man.
When he got back, I took the DICER1 club to meet Miranda, and told them about the results for the first time. I was so impressed with my children; they took it really well, and I know it helped to have Miranda there, who's been rocking DICER1 and cancer all summer. They know they can totally do this.
So Wednesday, after Miranda's long first day of classes, we got a FT catch-up call, and I loved it. Sorry, kiddo, but I had to screenshot. This is while Miranda's telling us some of the crazy antics of her roommates. Thank you thank you thank you JMERG (Jackie, Maddie, Emily, Rachel, Gizelle), for giving me this year of amazing entertainment. I am going to love it. =)
After school, Connor had his first official Den Meeting for cub scouts. They learned about hiking skills/ prep/ safety. I love Connor's expression.
That night, during Mutual (while CarMor was at a REALLY COOL Priest/Laurel activity up the canyon and they didn't even take one single picture; don't worry, they got flogged and hung by their toenails later for it), I was getting a lot of things done, searching through all our cupboards & closets to clear out things for Carlie to sell at her yard sale this weekend at the HS parking lot, and it was so quiet in the LR, where the younger kids were. I went in to check on them, and they were all reading a book quietly. It was a moment to document. I was so proud.
This came up that night:
Still Wednesday: that night I reached for a card on the table to use the envelope to make a note on. Earlier, I had been running around getting things done, on the phone, searching closets, and I saw a little jar of flowers on the doorstep with a card. I'm SO USED to getting things for Miranda on the doorstep, that I didn't even think about it. I had put the flowers on the table and planned on telling her about it later. I opened the card that night, and the flowers were from my only friend I had told about our genetics news. It was shocking to see that something was dropped off for me, and it meant a lot.
Thursday morning I took this picture. See how Jeff's flowers (that we both wish he hadn't bought now! but were gorgeous) are next to the inevitable little bouquet Miranda had gotten from someone else recently? We have never not had a little bouquet of flowers from someone in our neighborhood for Miranda THE ENTIRE SUMMER. Now my little jar can sit next to hers, too. =)
That afternoon, I met my mom, sister Kimmy, and brother Grant for lunch. An appt fell through to meet with a little old lady who has some genealogy pictures to share with us, but we still needed to get together, since we cleared our schedules and everything! Since I tested positive, all my siblings and my parents need to go in and get tested, also. Hopefully I'm the only one with it!
After school, Carlie & Morgan went emergency clothes shopping really fast. Sometimes it's just an emergency... don't put your clothes in the washer; just go get new ones. Hahaha!! jk- they really didn't get school clothes before it started.
Friday, Jeff went on a birthday hike with his dad. He hadn't gotten to go last week for his bday, so they took Zeus and headed up. Instead of a selfie, they each took a picture with the star of the hike. This pal is so fun to hike with, remember? He's so excited - ecstatic about everything.
My cousin Rachel was hiking at the same time, and took this. It's worth recording how beautiful it is getting up here... I can almost except that it's Fall.
After school, Derek went to the school Neon Dance. I was SO PROUD that he got a picture. I don't care that I can't see anyone. Look at the picture prowess of my middle child. I love him.
Connor did his normal; house-hopping with his buddies James & Nathan. On their way up to Nathan's, I made them "stand together." This is their version of that command.
I had to get our dogs together; watching their neighborhood, making sure everyone knows who lives here and how close they're going to get to this property. All is well in their territory.
Friday night, Miranda went bowling with her roommate Emily. In order to differentiate between her bestie Emily and her roommie Emily, we are going to sometimes refer to her as Roomily. Miranda went bowling with Roomily. We love her.
Then Miranda decided to come home!!! I love it when she decides that. Enough of this independent campus girl stuff. Come home and sleep in your bed like my little girl, any time. Chloe took up her usual post.
Okay, we had been gathering, clearing, and begging the neighbors for their junk, too, and it was time Saturday morning at SIX to get up and go at it. Miranda did this too. Lear out a few spaces at the HS parking lot, and they have advertised to have people come to a giant yard sale to help the kids raise the money they need to pay for Choir Tour, which is going to be in NYC this year. Jeff & I are going to go with them if everyone here is healthy. =) But Carlie has to pay for half of the trip, which is almost $1000. This week's sale yielded $213. There's one more in 2 weeks, and I have many more nooks & crannies to search in our house!!
During the end of the sale, Jeff took Morgan to his first soccer game of the season. Sadly, he is one of the only people on his team who know how to play, so he ran some defense AND some offense, and carried the team... but didn't win. His team is made up of some homeschoolers who signed up for their P.E. Which is awesome, except they're not there because they've been playing soccer and really want to get out to play; they're there because their moms put them out there for exercise whether they're interested or not, so most just watched Morgan play. It's going to be a long 6 more games. But think of all the amazing exercise he's going to get! Silver linings everywhere.
In between games, I saw Morgan texting Mariah and I wanted to capture how happy he is when he talks to her. I wasn't very stealthy, but I got a shot.
Halle & Kierste had a super successful game. They really go after it this year. K:
And Halle scored 2 of their 4 goals! She was determined that second half that she was going to score, and she worked so hard to get the ball down the field. What I was most proud of, though, was how she still passed it to other team mates and worked with them for the goal. She didn't just hog it, like we've seen a lot of other teammates do over the years. Good, good job, both twins!!!
Here's a shot of her actual goal kick:
Then we went straight to Connor's game; again, I was so proud of how my child went after the ball the whole game. He didn't wait for anyone else to do the work. This year, every one of my soccer players totally gets it. =)
Then, after Carlie had worked a whole shift at the shack after her yard sale, she & Morgan went straight to a regional Priest & Laurel devotional at a stake center in Highland with ELDER HOLLAND. You heard me right. Lucky ducks. They're teaching our FHE lesson right after we read this letter, and telling us every word he said.
Straight from the devotional, they met us on the side of the road to pick up Miranda, game clothes, deodorant, toothbrush, gum, and go pick up Mariah. Then they navigated the parking situation at the stadium to go to the game. =) It was these 2:
With these 2:
During the game, the twins went off to their friend's house, and the boys, including James, watched each other play Fortnite.
Today, Carlie taught Laurels with great success. Spiritual high, she said. Miranda brought Roomily to dinner at G&G Madsens, and we all watched the Face 2 Face with Elder Cook, all of which we did NOT GET A PICTURE. Because we're lame.
Time for memes.
And we will end with these '80's memes. I dare say you could stretch them into your childhood, some of them.
Ok, it looks like it's telling me this email is full; I'd have to start another one to catch the '80's memes.
Worth it.
Ok, maybe you've heard that Nike hired Colin Kaepernick (kneeling during anthem) for their ad campaigns, and people are trying to boycott Nike in protest to their decision. Lots of controversy. Now, if a "boycott" against Nike would even dent their sales or yearly revenue, this meme would be even more relevant. But it's still clever:
And some serious. I may have posted this before, but it means a lot right now:
And from Miranda:
Good night and Good luck this week! Love you!!! us
