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!!!!!

~RAGNAR~ Team Soul Asylum

I don't even know where to start...this race was awesome! It was a couple of weeks ago, so I have kinda forgot all the little details, but I will never forget how much fun it was and how TIRED I was!!!! Candace invited me to run the Wasatch Back Ragnar Relay with her and some of her friends. I totally jumped at the opportunity and I am glad that it all worked out for me. The race started in Logan and ended in Park City...a total of 192 miles...wow!! Not only was the race fun, but it was so much fun getting to know all the other gals...and one guy...in my van! :) At the starting line...Kevin, Joey, Courtney, me, Candace, Katie

Our other 6 team members were childhood friends of Katie and Joey. We visited with them at one van exchange, but never met up with them to get a picture of all of us together.

My first leg was in the burning hot afternoon heat. It was my longest and hardest leg. If I remember right, I ran out through Hyrum. I was so glad when I had it over with...it was hot!!!!
This is a picture of all of us after we had finished our first legs. We just pulled up to the first van exchange which was in Snow Basin, and were going to change clothes and eat some real food. It was such a pretty area and so nice to relax here for a while.


My second leg was running through Mountain Green at around 1:30 a.m. or so. I loved this leg! It was an easy leg and I loved running in the dark. It reminded me of running in the winter months when it is still dark later in the mornings...so fun!





After we all finished our night runs, we headed to the Coalville high school and slept on the hard gym floor...so comfy!! I think we pulled in there about 5 a.m. and we got to sleep for about 2 1/2 hours and then we loaded up and head out for our next legs.

Me and Candace...still alive! :)

I got to run through Kamas for my third leg at about 11:00 a.m. I had never been to Kamas before. It was such a pretty place. Now I haven't only been there, but I have ran through there! :)

Ha ha...this picture is so funny but it is what we looked like. Everyone on our team was so supportive and encouraging. We would "leap-frog" our runners and every time we stopped we would get out and give them a drink and spray them with water. We had to carry bright orange flags anytime we were out of our vehicles. Kevin really, really, really liked the flags and was an excellent flag boy! :)

We did it!!!! We finished all our legs!! You can tell from the picture that we are all tired but had the BEST time. It wouldn't have been the same without Kevin!!! He was so much fun and kept all of us "ladies" (that's what he called us) going!

We went and showered at the Rec Center in Park City and then headed to the finish line to pick up our medals. We got one more group picture and Kevin got one more chance to wave his flags!

Thanks Candace for inviting me to run with you. I had the time of my life. Yes, I kinda did it just to get the sticker...ha ha...but also for the challenging experience. We had such a fun team! The only thing that really stunk about this relay race was my drive all the way home after we were done. I made it...with only one eye still open...and Todd and my boys were waiting for me at home. They were excited I ran the race and excited to have me home!