THE MULLEN FAMILY CAMPOUT!

Last weekend we got together with the Mullen Fam for our annual campout. We went up and camped at Newton Dam. Who knew you could have so much fun at Newton Dam!!? :) Newton is where Todd grew up so it was fun for him to go back and visit all his childhood memories. Todd was telling the boys all the stories of him growing up...where he hunted, the ditch he had a bad bike crash in, the fields where he moved pipe, the trees he used to jump over, where he played baseball, etc. It was so fun to hear all the stories and see how happy Todd was thinking back!!





I am hesitant to post some pictures because of all the bald heads and super bad farmer tans. But I will anyway because they show how much fun we had together! ha ha :)

Well, were should I start? Ok, I guess I will start with this awesome picture of Todd's brother Jim..ha ha!! There were some rope swings at the reservoir that we decided to try out. Well, one of the rope swings didn't last long. Jim was taking a turn on it and as he swung out over the water it totally broke. I am sorry Jim, but it was really funny! I am glad I had my camera to catch this moment!!!! :) There was another rope swing so we all still got a chance to try it and it lasted through all of us!

Todd taking off to make his big splash.

Ouch!! The little splash in this picture is Pace and you can tell by everyone's reactions that it didn't go to well. Pace wanted to try it so bad but was kinda hesitant. When he finally did, he let go of the rope a little early and barely landed in the water. He got a good scratch on his belly but was ok. He came up smiling and said he liked it but he for sure didn't want to go again!

It felt like an eternity that I stood on the stump holding the rope before I finally dared to let go. There was nothing pretty or graceful about my swing, but it was a blast!!! Even though when you landed you could just stand up in the water, Todd still had a noodle ready to throw me to save my life. I am not that good in water!! :)

Briggs cooling off with a popsicle and adding some sticky to all the dirt on him! :)

Todd, Pace, and Jaygen

We had a couple fishing boats there that the guys took out fishing and the kids loved to just go for rides in them.

After all the exciting swimming, we went to the gun range and had a little family shoot-around...lots of fun!

Jaygen shooting his BB gun

Todd is a super good shot!

I got 3 out of 5 when it was my turn...not too bad!

It was such a hot day and we had kept really busy, so i finally got a chance to just float on the water in a tube. Well, it didn't last long. All these cute little kids started splashing me like crazy. It was me against them so I had no chance!! :)

The last day of our get-together was Newton's 24 of July celebration so we decided to join in on all the fun. The celebration started with some fun runs. Some of the grandkids ran the 1 mile and some others ran the 5K. Candace, Melissa, and I also ran the 5K...fun, fun, fun!! The rest of the fam was there to cheer us all on.

Pace did so good running the 1 mile run! Todd rode his bike and kinda followed along with Pace. While he was running, Pace told Todd that is was taking a really, really long time. He did awesome. It was a long way for such a little guy!!

Jaygen was amazing too. He ran the 1 mile in about 9 minutes which I think is so good for a 6 year old! Jaygen is really liking running in these little races...yea!!

I made a PR running the 5K. It was down hill but who cares, right?! I still did it and that is all it took. I have the running bug back so bad now I can't wait for my next race!!!

All the family members that ran a race...good job everyone!!!

We couldn't miss out on the Newton parade. If we would have been late we would have missed it, but that is just the perfect length. They threw good stuff too!!

The kids were having a great time!

After the parade, we headed to the park to get in on all the festivities there. It totally reminded me of Delta but much smaller. I was loving it!!!

No, this isn't a picture of me bossing someone around because I never do that (ha ha) but it is a picture of Briggs getting ready for his little kids race. It was so fun watching them. Briggs didn't really know what was going on, but oh well. None of the kids did!

Pace's turn...the older the kids got, the more serious it got. Pace totally took off!

Jaygen's group was even more serious. Jaygen was totally in it to win!!!

The boys got a little something painted on their faces. Pace wanted a baseball, Jaygen a snake, and Briggs wanted something pink. I whispered to the girl painting that he would just have a basketball...he was not going to have pink. So we just pretended and Briggs thought he got something pink! :)

They had a great big slip n' slide there that Briggs and Pace had a good time on. You can see them both there with their pants falling down..ha ha!

The park had lots of stuff for the kids to do. Jaygen took off and did some things on his own. I know he did a sack race because he came back with a ring pop and said he won it in a race. Who knows what else he did but he had a good time.

That morning we made a spontaneous decision to sign up for a volleyball tournament that day. Our team consisted of Todd's siblings and some of Todd's neighbors from growing up, Todd and Susie Maughan's kids. They were the nicest people ever and I loved getting to know them. I think we all thought we were going to just get beat out because our first game was kinda a disaster but then we won our second game and that changed everything. After that we kept winning! I wish I had more talent to contribute but instead I just kinda pretend I know what is going on. It was double elimination and we finally got beat out and took 3rd place I think. I felt bad our kids were stuck in the heat at the park all day watching us play but it was so fun!!!

Tana, Jim, Ben, Kevin, Todd, Me, Brody, and Tracy...the volleyball rockstars!!!!

I was sad that our reunion was over. We all had a great time! It was really fun getting out and doing all these fun things with Todd's family. Thanks to Kevin and Candace for putting together so much fun!!!

Proud Pet Owners!!!

I really don't know how this happened...well yes I do...but it doesn't mean I like it!!! I am totally not a cat person but we got ourselves a kitten. Our neighbors have always had enough cats to take care of the mice for the whole neighborhood, but they don't have them anymore. We have never had a problem with mice, but with having a farm field next to my house, I don't want to chance it!! Our neighbors down the road had kittens and everyday when my boys came home from playing, they would bug me about getting one of their kittens. At first I wouldn't even listen because I HATE cats but then I got thinking it might be good to have one outside. So, before I knew it I had agreed and now look what I have gotten myself into!!! The funniest part is that my boys are kinda scared of the little thing so they don't even dare to touch it...ha ha! We have had the cat for a couple weeks and they are starting to warm up a bit. This picture is the first night we brought the kitten home. She was scared so she just hid under our deck. My boys weren't wanting to get to close to her either so they just layed and stared at each other. I was laughing so hard at them! :) We actually even gave this little kitten a name. That was the funnest part for my boys. They wanted her to have a full name so what we came up with is Sassy Socks Mullen. She looks like she has white socks on all four paws so the name is perfect. Even though I think the name is cute I WILL NOT LIKE THIS CAT!!!

And then there is our other new pet...Jaygen's fish. This one doesn't bother me because it is just a fish and Jaygen has had fun feeding it and taking care of it. We had to give the fish a name too and Jaygen was having the hardest time deciding. But we finally came up with Long-hair Wally Mullen. Oh, I think Jayen is so funny!!!

After all this has happened and we now have two of my least favorite pets, I think we should have just given in and gotten the boys a puppy like they have wanted forever!! :)

MIGHTY T-BALL PLAYERS!!!

This t-ball season was super fun because Jaygen and Pace got to be on the same team. They had their last game this week and they were soooo sad. It was a blast watching them play. The main goal for all the little boys was to slide at every base as they ran around...so funny! The dirt was really hard and hurt, so it took Jaygen and Pace until the last couple games to dare to slide...they were pretty cool!! And one of their favorite things about t-ball was the treat they got after every game. Oh well, I know they liked to play too because they would wear their t-ball clothes all day on game days. They would also pack their backpacks with their gloves and balls to take to the games! I am glad they had a good time. They had a fun little team!!! Jaygen is in the middle at the back and Pace is on the right in the front:)

Pace kills me...he always wanted his shirt tucked in because he said it was kinda too long so it made him not as good!!! He is a pretty good little hitter and he has quite the strut when he runs:)

Jaygen is such a funny kid...he wore his soccer shin guards to every game, exept the last couple, because he said he needed them to protect his legs when he would slide. Everyone would always laugh at him. He decided to just start wearing his pants instead! Jaygen is pretty quick. He can really move around the bases:)

Madsen Family Reunion

This last weekend My mom's family had the big Madsen Family Reunion. It was at Cherry Hill this year. Unfortunately, Todd couldn't go, so I loaded up our tent and the boys and headed out. Of course it would have been lots more fun if Todd would have been there, but we still managed!! :) I didn't get many pictures because trying to manage three little boys in water and take pictures at the same time doesn't work that well. I did get a few though that shows the good time we had! Pace, Briggs, Ty, Jaygen
Aunt Mel and Pace going down the Canyon Ride-Pace LOVED the water slides!

It was a blast going down all the slides and just floating in the Lazy River. We had a fun day. The boys were totally bummed when we had to go back to camp for dinner! I think I did pretty good alone with all three boys too...I only lost Jaygen twice! :)


I had to take this picture of Jaygen. He was playing around in Treyson's swim floaty and it looked like he wasn't wearing anything but the car...ha ha!!




Well, I guess the real reason for good ole' reunions is to catch up with all the fam!! I think my mom said that our Madsen family is now up to 79 people. Everyone made it to this reunion except just a few. Too bad that my grandpa Madsen isn't up to traveling so he could have been there, but it is neat to think that it is him and my grandma that started this family. My cousins Greg and Jeff interviewed my grandpa and made a video of it to show us at the reunion. The last question they asked my grandpa was if he could be there with us what would he like to tell us; what is the most important thing. My grandpa's answers didn't surprise me at all. One thing he said is FAMILY! Family is the most important and to stick together and love each other. My grandpa is such a great example of this. His whole life he has put his family first and we have all been blessed because of it!!!

The 16 cousins...we are all a bunch of hotties...ha ha!!!

The cousins and Aunt Bev, Aunt Jani, my mom, and Aunt Val. We can thank my mom and her sisters for all of our good looks!!! :)

4th of July Celebration!!!

I love the 4th or July, especially in Delta! Delta has the funnest celebration ever...the only problem is we never have time to do everything.:) This year the celebrating got spread out over the whole weekend so that made it even more fun. One of my very most favorite parts is the Kid Parade. Kinda crazy I know, but I love it more and more every year! I love helping the boys decorate their bikes and seeing how excited they get. It is kinda funny that they call it the Kids Parade because it is actually the Kids Race...seriously. When they say go, all the kids take of as fast as they can to see who makes it to the park first to get a popsicle. Jaygen was talking about it all day thinking he was going to be the first one. He wasn't but pretty close! :) Jaygen


Pace

Then here comes Briggs...and yes Todd too! Todd has always been such a good sport pushing or pulling all the boys until they could ride themselves. This year Todd was hoping he would get out of it. Just a couple of hours before the parade, Todd and I were outside trying to get Briggs to understand how to pedal himself. We have been trying to teach him all summer, but he doesn't really seem to care much about it. Well, all of our efforts failed, so Todd got to be in the Kid Parade for one more year!!! They looked super cute:)

Pace, Jagen, Briggs...they all made it!

After the Kid Parade, we came home and had a little BBQ and then did some fireworks. We had a great time together. While we were watching the fireworks, Pace turns to me and says "Mom, this is the best night ever!"

Watching fireworks with chocolate all over their faces.

Todd can put a pretty good firework show on with the cheapest fireworks I could find at the grocery store...ha ha!!

Now to the big parade...it was a little different for us this year. Todd decided he better get something from the golf course in the parade. So we bought some candy and golf tees and he cleaned-up a couple carts and that was that!! The morning of the parade I think Todd was totally having a change of heart and would have loved to just dissappear..ha ha! We told the boys that they could ride in the golf carts and throw the stuff if they wanted to. Of course they did but then when they realized they wouldn't get to catch candy of their own they were kinda thinking twice about it. But when it came right down to it, they were all about being in the parade. Briggs wanted to stay with me but Jaygen and Pace rode in the carts...and they looked so cute! Pace rode with Todd and Jaygen rode with Ryan.

Pace and Todd
Todd said Pace was pretty funny. He was throwing with his right arm for first part of the parade and then switched and started throwing with his left hand...his arm must have been tired!!! Then when they were done and driving the carts back home, Todd was asking Pace if he had a good time and he said "Yes, I couldn't even wipe the smile off my face!"

Jaygen and Ryan
I know Jaygen had a good time too because when I saw him, he had a great big smile!

This picture makes me laugh! I don't know exactly what Briggs was thinking, but he just sat his bag of candy down on the road and was just staring at it!

My family has come to celebrate with us every year but this year they couldn't all make it. Mel and Josh are trying to get all the remodeling done on the house they bought and my mom and dad are up helping them. So, my mom just brought Mel's kids down for the parade. I am glad she did. They had a good time and Briggs got to hang out with them at the parade!

Braylee, Ty, Briggs

Ty, Braylee, Briggs, Grandma, Treyson

At the park after the parade...Todd's very most favorite part...ha ha!!!

We of course have to ride the horse...it is the most anticipated thing for my boys! They talk about it all year long. Last year Pace had me pack his cowboy clothes so he could change before he rode the horse. He mentioned it again this year but I just kinda brushed it off. When we got to the horses, he wanted to know where his clothes were. I told him that I forgot them and he was pretty bummed. I felt like a horrible mom...I won't accidentally forget next year...sorry cowboy Pace!!!

Jaygen

Briggs
Pace

Goin' for a bouncy ride!

Well, we can totally thank Todd for this next thing! We were just getting ready to leave and Todd decides to hurry and let the kids try to win a fish. Who would have thought they would actually win one, right?! Well when we were done we had three of our very own fish to bring home!!! The kids had to bounce a ping pong ball in to a cup of water to win, and they did!!!! I am sure Mel was even more excited than me when her kids showed up at home with a fish to take care of...ha ha!

Pace didn't get one, but that is ok. The booby prize was a water gun and he was ok with that!
Nice shot kiddos...I think!!!

After all that fun we came home and had a little picnic and let the kids swim before my mom took Mel's kids back home. I think they all had a great day!

We ended our day by going to some friends house for a yummy BBQ and to rest a bit. Then we headed to the derby. We decided we would try it again this year. We haven't gone to the derby for a few years because it is too hard with a baby. I am glad we did...it was awesome! It totally brings the redneck out in me. I could hardly stay in my seat because I was loving it so much and my voice was hoarse from screaming so much! I really don't know how Todd can just sit and watch it with no expression at all on his face!!! And I am pretty sure our friends we sat by will not be sitting by us next year!! What can I say...I loved it!!! We watched the fireworks after the derby and then it was all over...another 4th of July in Delta. I had a great weekend. These are some of the best memories ever to make with my little family!!!!!