Wicked with Jorja

Stockton's district was assigned to help the new missionaries arriving at the MTC. Andrew arrived at the MTC today. He is my cousin Justin's boy. How cool would it have been if Stockton were the one to help Andrew out of the car? It would have been awesome! Too bad it didn't happen. Look how cute Stockton looks though.

Stockton

Mike gave me a super cool present for Christmas and my birthday. He's letting me go on a tour to Israel with my dad in November and I'm super excited about it. I also got Wicked tickets to go with Jorja. I have been looking forward to this for a long time. Too bad mono hit again. I tried to get her out the door earlier, but she kept falling asleep. I was hoping to go to a cool restaurant, like The Cheesecake Factory. By the time I could get her up we just ended up going to Arbys. Oh well. I hate mono.

Right as I was parking I got a phone call from Alex's mom. We are planning a trip to the cabin this weekend with Mike's family. We just barely found out that both Miah and Weston won't be able to be there. I told Jorja she could invite a friend. Today I found out Maysen and Michael were planning on coming. Whoops. I'm not sure if I would have had Jorja invite a friend if I realized that. Anyway, Jorja chose to invite Alex. She is the freshman class Vice President. Jorja told me that last year when she was struggling and having a hard time feeling like she fit in, if a sophomore officer would have invited her on a trip with their family she would have been so happy. She wanted to do this for Alex, besides the fact that she really likes her too. I have never met Alex's parents. I talked to her mom right as we parked. She said that Abram, Alex's older brother, told them that Jorja is the best and he highly supports this trip. Haha. Abram is funny. He is very dramatic and always tells Jorja he would die for her. It makes me happy that people think so highly of Jorja. Abram was convincing enough that Alex's parents agreed she could come without even meeting us. That was pretty cool.

I loved Wicked. A funny thing happened there. Jorja and I were going towards our seats. We passed a family and the mom reached up and grabbed my hand. I looked down and she said, "Are you a Millburn?" She looked familiar, but I couldn't place her. When I said I was she told me she was JERI MILLER! What the heck? I was sitting right next to Jeri Miller! I have known Jeri her entire life. She was in my ward, but I think she was about five years younger than me. She was there with her husband Blake and her four kids. It was awesome. About the same time Jeri asked me if I was a Millburn, we heard someone yell Jorja's name. It was Dessa! She was a few rows behind us. Funny thing is both Jeri and Dessa said they recognized my voice first. Ha! Who knew I had that distinctive of a voice?

The sad thing about today is I only got two pictures. Jorja took a Snapchat of us, but when I tried to take a screenshot of it I accidentally closed my phone instead. Whoops. Look at this first lovely picture. So glad I'll always have this memory.

 Dessa & Jorja

One more super cool thing that happened today. Jorja was contacted by the Taiwan people. They want to have a Skype interview with her in March! That is so exciting! I hope this works out. We hadn't heard from these people since she had her application in several weeks ago. Most of the application was in Chinese, so we were kind of worried she had done something wrong. So glad to see her move to the next step. Should be exciting!

Wicked Swimming

My dad, Brett, Rachel, Mike, Maysen and I went to see Wicked this afternoon.  Rachel's babysitter fell through.  Stockton agreed to watch Marie and Mina.  He was pretty excited.  Cathy ended up coming up here.  She was planning on watching Grace at her house, but then Max was able to come over.  She came and watched Grace here.  I was glad she was willing to do that.  It's hard because there is not a good place to sit right now.  Mike cleaned out the guest room in anticipation of Brett and Rachel coming.  It took him all day!  We had stashed many things in there during the remodel.  It worked out great today though.  That room was used many times!  Marie wasn't feeling well.  Rachel was able to get her to take a nap on the guest bed.  She slept for awhile.  We arrived at the show right before it began.  I snapped a picture of Brett and Rachel waiting in the audience.  I got in trouble for that!  They said I couldn't take a picture because everything was copyrighted.  I guess Brett & Rachel's faces are copyrighted too.  Oh well.

Once we were back we had a swim party!  Just the regular old thing, but the kids loved it.  I wish all my family lived closer!  It would be fun to have them over all the time!

Mina

 Abbs

 Marie

 Brett & Marie

 Millie & Ange

 Bubs & Millie

Bubs & Millie, (Marie, Brett & Mina)

 Emerson, Meghan & Bryan Leatherwood

 Maysen

 Anne

 Mina & Brett ~ sorry about the sun

 Mina

 Marie

 Ange

 Bubs

 Rachel & Grace

 Maysen

 Rachel

 Rachel & Grace

 Mike

It was so sad to see Brett and Rachel go.  Jorja came out to the car and hugged Marie for about five minutes.  Tears were falling down Marie's cheeks.  Rachel texted me later and said, "You sure have some special girls.  Marie says she misses Maysen so much and before bed she wanted to list the things she loves about Jorja.  She is missing them unlike she's missed anyone in her life!"  We sure love that Marie at our house.  I wish they lived next door.  At least Virginia is closer than Japan!

Marie & Jorja

Wicked

My family came over today.  Dad brought KFC.  We had a pretty low-key event.  Bubs, his kids, Sam, my dad, Cathy, Max, Grandma and Gayle were all here.  It was relaxing and fun.  After dinner I opened the pool. Stockton jumped in first and shouted, "It's so warm!  I've never been in it so warm!"  I hadn't even turned the heater on.  I wanted to swim with them, but I didn't.  Maysen and I were leaving soon.

Maysen and I got Wicked tickets for Christmas.  I have never seen Wicked before, but have heard it was great.  We downloaded the music about a week ago, but that was it.  We had a GREAT time!  I had no idea what to expect, as far as the story goes.  It was opposite than I thought it would be.  We had great seats and both loved it.  Both main characters were super funny.  We laughed the entire way home. Maysen put the Wicked soundtrack on while we were driving.  It was nice to understand what was actually going on while the song was being sung. As we were driving home, listening to the songs, we were able to watch fireworks from all random places.  It was quite cool.

Maysen & Stephanie

 Jorja took these pictures of us before we left.

 Stephanie & Maysen

 Maysen thought this dragon was cool . . . but then who wouldn't?

 It's not the FOX, but it was a great night!

My dad slept over last night.  I didn't want the kids to be alone for this long on the 24th.  He made them milkshakes.  They love it when he makes them milkshakes.  Stockton went to bed when he was asked, but the other three had a hard time.  They ended up coming upstairs and watching fireworks from the front lawn.  Before my dad knew what was happening Jorja brought out a ton of blankets and sleeping bags.  Silly Porge!  She is such a little instigator.  She reminds me so much of Mike. In a good way.  My dad keeps telling me I need to watch Cheaper By the Dozen.  He says I'll know which character reminds him of Jorja.  I should do that.  I bet we would all get a great laugh.  I love that little Porge!