So this week has a lot of pictures. I don't know what to say about this one, except: Carlie in drawing class.
Also on Monday, the twins painted their monsters at school. 6th graders get to do paper mache/ cloth mache monsters they create & frame with metal hangers. Miranda, Carlie, Morgan & Derek did them. Now it's H&K's turn. Poor Halle had her wrist wrapped for it:
For FHE we did our genetic testing spit kits. We're participating in a genetic study through Huntsman that we can't remember what for; but hey! Anything to further the cause! I CANNOT believe we didn't get a picture of everyone filling their spit tubes with saliva... AAAgggghhhhh!!! It kills me that I missed that! But here's Carlie's all packaged up and ready to send off:
Miranda stayed with us again - I love it when she does that - And Tuesday after school certain music, including but not limited to Cotton-eyed Joe, was put on the HomePod and Thank Heavens we had our Miranda there, to lead the kids in some aMAZing kitchen dancing.
This is the day we had new cameras installed that are going to be 100 times better for us. No security system; we don't need the police on call... just cameras that record everything, and a doorbell cam that we can speak through even when we're not home. One perk of adding another camera overlooking the parking lot, I mean driveway, is that we will have automatic sunset pics.
That night, Carlie & I went for our Ministering Interview. Our RS set up in the parking lot like a Swig; come drive up for a soda and cookie, then wait for one of the 3 spots to open up, and pull in. Then a RS presidency member hops in and interviews you. It was such a great idea.
So Wednesday Carlie got 2nd place for this cool before-class drawing:
AND THIS IS BY DEREK. Check out the portal. I love it:
Every Picture Tells a Story, right? And this one is good. Once upon a time, a photographer remembered to turn on all his lights, and didn't make a girl look weird. THE END!!!
I am loving that my doorbell sends me a picture of who's at the door. I love seeing the kids coming home and making faces at me.
And modeling:
And then. I was in Mutual with Carlie at a special presentation, and missed a text I could have acted on right afterward and MADE SOMEONE'S YEAR, and I missed it!!! My cousin Emily in CA said that her sister Rachel in Highland was having a bad week, and on top of it all, had run out of TP completely. Could I run over and bring her some.... Can you even imagine the VOODOO she would have thought happened if she texted her family in AZ & CA and some arrived within the hour?!?!? I was so sad I missed it. So in the morning, I ran some over - not because it was about TP and they couldn't go get some, but because Haha - and found a way to play washer/dryer musical chairs with her to help solve another problem. I'm so excited to be used by her sisters!!!
After school Thursday, Carlie found this on her car. Sweet:
When I was driving home, right when elementary & middle school had gotten out, I saw a white window-less van with a sketchy dude just sitting in it, looking around. He had parked in the shade, where there were no houses he could have been visiting, etc, right in an area we've had attacks before. As I drove past, I said out loud, "No... not on my watch. Sorry dude." I turned around, and drove past him again, taking a picture of his license plate, making sure he saw me do it. Then turned around ahead of him and headed home again. He pulled out and left as I went past him, and I posted on my neighborhood FB page just to be on watch. If he's innocent, he won't care that I did it. If he's not, he knows someone in this neighborhood is aware of him and his schemes. I hope it's nothing.
Carlie went catering for Hokulia again at a Qualtrics meeting. This is the super fascinating picture that came home with her... I'm still glad she took one!
Connor came home with some art from his after-school art class, and Carlie said she's doing exactly the same picture in her class this week, too.
And Thursday night, since Miranda was a little lonely, she FaceTimed us while we folded some laundry and finished some chores. We put her up on the TV and entertained her. =)
Friday morning was the Wolf Walk. The kids run/walk 1.6 miles and get timed at the finish line, all in their new free t-shirts. I've been in charge of said t-shirts these last couple years, but my friends left me completely out of it this year in mercy. The shirts turned out perfectly, and the WW was a complete, fun success. I volunteered to take pictures at the finish line & make them (1000+ pics) available to the parents. And my kids were the cutest.
Like our new Westfield Wolf? We bought a new costume this year, and a few 6th graders take turns being the mascot at events. =)
And Carlie got to play an accordion at school - I sincerely hope there's a video of that, or that she gets one in the near future!! Accordions are the bomb!!
Right after school, Jeff loaded up the boys and Zeus and went to Father's & Sons' up Provo canyon. They were the first ones there,
Had traditional - well, not traditional, but as per tradition - s'mores with Reese's PB cups,
And Zeus got to sleep in the tent with them. He was such a good boy at night.
Miranda was busy getting together with the Four. Emily, Anna, McKenna and Gorgeous:
We tried for a girls' night. Carlie & I tried to find something fun to watch while the twins had their friend Gracie over:
But the night devolved into watching something together on my bed while I gutted my closet and sorted through it all. This is my side.
A little ironic to do it right after Carlie's giant yard sales, but it had to be done. And "Another Cinderella Story" with Selena Gomez had to be watched.
Saturday morning, Carlie went up to Aspen Grove to plan Youth Conference that's in a couple weeks (on the night of her choir Disney Concert...) so she doesn't get to go, but she's a good Laurel president and is leading out anyway. She got this on the way up. Provo Canyon is gorge.
The kids had games. They are so fun to watch; in case you haven't gotten that from my other letters. Vipers:
Strikers:
And Knights:
Jeff came home with these. They're so beautiful.
That night, we hosted a ward "Who's Coming to Dinner?" We get divided into eating groups & get to know each other better, then meet at the church for dessert all together. It was awesome to set up our dinner outside,
And Jeff's smoked meats turned out perfect. Everyone's added food was delicious, and it was so fun to get to know our neighbors better.
Carlie took the boys costume shopping... perfectly successful trip, as you can clearly see:
Then they picked up Connor from James' and got some food for us.
Today, Miranda color-coordinated with her roommates. On purpose, of course. Gisele, Jaquie, Gorgeous.
And she didn't come home! It was a weird Sunday for us. =) We had Lexianny Rose Madsen's baby blessing. Mark gave her a really cool blessing, and everyone was so well-behaved in church. So proud.
At Grandma's afterward, Connor & Jack played this tic-tac-toe for so long. It was so cute.
Rachel's bday happened in Heritage Halls, and good on the roommates for celebrating with her!!!
Kierste & Connor made this little city, and played for hours, acting out stories with it.
Then the kids & I made some potatoes & vegetables, warmed up leftover smoked ribs & brisket, and ate outside with the most gorgeous sunset in a long time. The air was so clear, after being smoky for so long, as well as dusty and windy all day. It was amazing. See Carlie on the hill taking pictures...
Like this?
Magical night.
Apparently Miranda was having a fun night, too. I'm so glad she has friends on campus to hang out with. It meant a lot to her this weekend.
And memes!! Found by Miranda:
Because it's football, and this is the climate:
And the Nike ad controversy. As soon as the original ad dropped,
So many funny and serious parodies followed. It's really dying down, but here's the end of it:
And from the files:
Because we watched Evan Almighty this week:
And I really liked this this week.
Love, us!!
