Halloween 2009

We couldn't have asked for better weather. It felt so nice to be outside, walking around while the kids ran from door to door getting candy. Our friends came trick or treating with us, and we had a fun time together. They brought the Ghostbuster costumes that Rich and our friend Dan dressed up in, with the blow up ectopack (?) or something strapped to their backs. Kade was Obi Wan Kenobi, Ty was Luigi and Zack the black spider. This was Zack's first year of trick or treating, he stayed home with me last year and passed out candy. It took him a few houses to realize that we put the candy in the bucket and don't just eat as we go. Once he figured out the process he was all over it. He'd run up and pick and treat and run back and throw it in the bucket I was holding for him and then turn and run back to get more treats to put in his bucket. That's when I'd have to grab him and turn him towards the next house. :) Our friends suggested going to a senior living center after we went through the neighborhood. It was so fun, and something we'll try to do every Halloween. The people living there loved seeing the kids and they all had their bucket of treats to pass out. I'm so glad we went.
Me and my friend Nicole

Halloween Rocket Launch

It was such a beautiful day here today, we spent as much time playing outside as we could. We got an old rocket from Rich's parents house a while ago that no one was using and today was the perfect day for the launch. The girl from across the street that is in Kade's school class came over and joined us for the exciting launch. We walked down through the orchard and up into and empty field behind our house so we were not close to any homes in case of rocket catastrophe. Rich and Zack prepare the rocket for liftoff The kids took a blanket to sit on while they watched the launch

And we have liftoff!! It actually worked :)

Fartsy Claus

This is the book Kade picked out at library today in school. I really do try to teach my boys about manners and I really don't like them to talk about farts and stuff - but I was laughing so much through the whole book that I'm sure anything I was trying to teach them is now destroyed! Here are a few excerpts from the book.

When he was full, he rushed to his sleigh, jumped into his seat, and went up and away. At each house, Santa's belly began to smart, so he rubbed it, only to let out a fart. The reindeer eyed each other, feeling queasy and funky, thinking, "He smells like a dirty old monkey."

Up in his room, Michael opened one eye. "What the heck? Is sounds like the fourth of July."

As the story goes on the reindeer have all passed out from the smell of the gas and so the children have to help Santa figure out a way to get all the toys delivered. They construct a pair of underpants that will use his farts to propel him from house to house so he can deliver the toys.

Needless to say - Kade LOVED the book and was so proud of himself for picking it out.

Madsen Boys

Here is a picture of the boys this morning before school. This is as close as I could get to everyone looking. Zack is eyeing his motorbike. As soon as the picture was taken he jumped off the bench and on his bike and was off.

Snowbird

Here is a recent picture of our crazy Zack! He has turned into pure trouble!! He is into everything and has learned to climb up everything - even walls it seems. He is just too cute though so it is hard to ever get too mad at him. He had just finished licking a brownie spoon in the picture - he got a hitler mustache somehow while licking the spoon. Last weekend we went up to Snowbird to ride the tram. It was a beautiful day and a beautiful drive up the canyon seeing all the colorful leaves.

The tram ride was fun - they smash you in like sardines, but it is a quick ride to the top.

It was so windy and cold at the top. We spent most of our time on the top in the warming hut by the bathroom. Ty hates wind, so he walked around with his hood over his face most of the time. :)

Adam's canyon

A couple weekends ago we went for a hike up Adams Canyon. We loved this hike when we lived down here before and were excited to do it again now we're back. This is the view down from the top. There is a 400 ft. waterfall - more of a trickle now - at the top of the hike. When hiking with kids it is always great to have something exciting and fun at the end of the hike :)
There were little pools of freezing cold water they played in.
Rich just got a bunch of walking sticks from work that we tried out on this hike. They were awesome! Very entertaining for the kids, but also very helpful for Rich and I. We loved them!

This is the very beginning of the hike before you get up into the mountains.

We don't hike for very long before we have to stop and feed these crazy boys!

We saw this gross creature while hiking. I saw it first when I almost stepped on it! I hate snakes!

Kade wore the camel back and apparently drank water the whole time because we had to stop about every 10 min. for him to use the bathroom.

It was the perfect day for a hike and thankfully Ty and Kade made it the whole way without us having to pack them.

Lagoon

We had a fun, long day at Lagoon on Saturday. We went with a lot of my family and had a great day. It was 85 degrees, still warm but not too hot, and the lines were not very long. Lagoon-A-Beach was closed so we spent all day riding rides, and taking turns staying with the little kids on the rides while the others went and rode the big rides. I think everyones favorite was Wicked. We LOVED it! By midafternoon everyone was getting sleepy - Zack saw my dad and brother laying on the grass and ran over and cuddled in between them. My nephew Hank and Ty had a great day together - riding rides and playing.

Zack LOVED the rides - Ty was more selective on what he loved, but if he loved it he rode it over and over and over. This was one of the rides Ty LOVED!

We had a great day and loved being with family.

Picking Huckleberries

I LOVE huckleberries - in milkshakes, pancakes, plain - however you use them they are delicious! While we were in Driggs last week at my parents, my aunt took us all up to her huckleberry spot. We had 14 of the 15 grandkids with us and had a great time up in the mountains. The kids did much better than we expected and when they got tired/bored of picking huckleberries they all just ran around and played.

The favorite thing for the kids to do was to eat the huckleberries! Then they would complain that they didn't have any in their buckets, and want me to put my precious berries in their buckets. :) I consider myself to be a pretty nice mom - but not that nice.

We've made huckleberry shakes almost every night since we picked.

West Yellowstone

Last weekend we went camping with Rich's family up at Hebgen Lake by West Yellowstone. On Sunday after we cleaned up camp we drove through the Park and had a picnic. The boys had never been through the park and they loved seeing the geysers. It was only 59 degrees but OK weather to walk around in. Here are the boys at the firehole river.

We stopped for a picnic farther up the firehole river. It was difficult trying to get all the boys standing and looking at the camera. It looks like only Zack is cooperating in this picture - but he is folding his arms - so that makes up for Kade and Ty's crazy faces. :)

The boys were SO tired after the weekend of camping. This picture is at Old Faithful - all the boys laid down on the bench while we were waiting for the geyser to erupt.

Looking at the geysers by Old Faithful.

Hebgen Lake

For years we've been going to Hebgen Lake with my mom's side of the family and it is something we look forward to every year. We stay at a cabin on the lake, but we've always set up a tent and camp if the weather cooperates. It's a weekend filled with family, food, waterskiing, swimming, playing and golfing for the guys. The kids played and swam in the lake all weekend with their cousins. We waterskiied on very smooth water which was SO much fun!!! My mom and dad were even able to come up for a few hours on Saturday which was a fun surprise for everyone to see them and visit with them. My dad was able to waterski which he hasn't done in years :) There are always the memorable moments of the sudden afternoon thunder/wind storms, leeches and mosquitos but the fun we have all together makes it all worth it. We had a great weekend and are doing it again at Henry's Lake with Rich's side of the family in 2 weeks.

Summer Fun

It is so hard for me to keep this updated during the summer.  So I guess monthly updates will have to work for now :)  As of right now things have fallen through with our house and we are hoping someone else finds it soon and wants to move in quickly so we can move down to Utah.  But in the meantime we have been having lots of summer fun.   Kade and Ty have been to 4 birthday parties in the last few weeks and have been busy playing everyday with friends.  I have been golfing 3 times this summer, which I've loved.  I went once with my brother, once with Rich and then I went last week with two of my sisters and my brother. 

We had so much fun golfing.  I got 2 birdies!  They were both of a par 3 hole and I hit my tee shot within a foot of the hole both times and putted it in for birdie.  I took pictures of where my ball landed on the green but they were with my sisters camera and I haven't got them.  But I did have 3 witnesses to document it really happened :)

This last weekend we drove down to Utah to our friends house warming party/birthday party for their son.  After the party and playing we put the kids to bed and me and my girl friends went to The Proposal while the guys stayed home and played board games.  The movie was so funny!!  We were all laughing so hard the whole movie long.  It is definitely adult/crude humor so be warned.    On Saturday morning the guys went golfing in the morning and then we went over to the Roy Aquatic center with our friends.  We love that aquatic center - it is so much fun. Zack was having so much fun.  I put him in a little floaty jet ski thing and he could touch the bottom of the pool and he would walk all around and stop and watch people  or try to run kids over with his floaty.  Rich took the boys on the slides and they both loved that.  We spent a couple hours there and then drove back home.  We were exhausted yesterday - but after a good night sleep we are back at it again today and headed to Rigby Lake!  

Softball Tournament

Our stake had a softball tournament yesterday that was so much fun.  Each ward could put together their best co-ed team and they had unlimited hot dogs, chips, treats, popcorn, drinks, snow cones and an inflatable for the kids to play on.  Rich and I didn't plan on playing since we missed all the practices through the week, but we were quickly recruited to a team and had a great time playing.  Rich had brought his shoes and glove just in case.  I was not as prepared - I was in flip flops and ended up playing bare foot and borrowing a mitt.   Rich hit a home run with the bases loaded his first time up to bat.  A few innings later he hit it over the fence for another home run.  Our boys were very impressed and excited to see both of us play.  Kade, Ty and Zack ran around for 3 hours watching us play and eating an endless amount of hot dogs, chips, popcorn and snow cones.  Later that night Kade told us he ate 6 snow cones!!!  Good thing they were mostly just ice :)  

A round of Golf

When I was younger my dad used to take me and my siblings golfing all the time on this little par 3 course by Ashton.   I have so many fun memories of golfing with my family and today I got to add to those memories.  Thanks to my amazingly wonderful neighbor who watches my kids more than I do - I got to go golfing with my brother this morning at Pinecrest here in Idaho Falls.  It was a perfect morning, a little humid - but a little sweat is good right! :)    It was a pretty slow, relaxed day on the golf course while we were there and we had such a good time.  I don't golf very often, more like hardly ever now, but I do have to say I out drove a man who we let play through.  I was driving the ball really well - my brother was very impressed, and so was I!  I didn't play my irons as well and my putting was so-so, but it is the tee shots that really count - right :)  

Utah State Hey Aggies All the Way!!

Thanks to Rich's Uncle and his cousin, we had a family/USU alumni reunion Saturday at Utah State University.   Rich's Grandma and Grandpa on his mom's side both graduated from Utah State and many of his aunts, uncles, cousins and siblings including Rich and I all went there as well.  So far in their family there have been 29 USU graduates.  The USU alumni association gave all USU alumni "game day" t-shirts to wear and everyone got FREE Aggie ice cream! :)  We had family pictures and USU alumni pictures taken on the steps of Old Main.  If you went to USU and get the alumni magazine look for our picture to be featured in there in the next little while.  :)  It was so fun to go back to USU and walk around campus and show the boys where Rich and I went to school and where we lived.  After being up on campus and having the pictures taken we all gathered for a luncheon in the Agricultural building where Rich's cousin works.  She did such a great job organizing everything and decorating in the USU theme.   All the kids got goodie bags with candy,  USU chapsticks and temporary USU tatoos.  After the luncheon Rich's little sister was at a basketball camp/tournament at USU and we all went to watch her play a game in the Spectrum.  It brought back so many fun memories going back there.  The kids loved running up and down the steps in the stadium.  We had a great day in Logan and had a fun trip down memory lane!  We loved Utah State!

One of our future Aggies - Ty sitting on the A.

Rich's two aunts on the left, his Grandma in the middle and his uncle on the right all went to USU - he also has another aunt and uncle that went to USU that were not in this picture.  Rich's mom went to BYU.
Here is a picture Rich took while everyone was trying to get organized and all in the picture.  This is probably most of the people that came to the reunion.  Look at all those Aggie Blue       t- shirts :)
The boys by the waterfalls on campus.  It was so fun walking through campus again with the kids.

Update

I haven't posted in a while so here is a catch up post on what we've been up to.   We got to watch my cute little nephew Hank overnight while his parents went out of town.  He is so cute and it felt completely normal to have another boy around :)  On top of being so cute he calls me funny Buffy - who wouldn't love that?  On the day we had him we actually had a break from the rain and so we packed a picnic and loaded everyone up and rode our bikes to the park for lunch and to play on the toys.  It was so nice to be outside again!

We definitely took advantage of the sunny days with many picnics.  It is so fun that all you have to do is eat your lunch outside and the kids think you are the greatest mom ever and that the food is the best food they have ever tasted :)

We have started swimming lessons.  This is Kade's third year and Ty's second.  Kade is a little fish in the water - he loves it and always has.  Ty loves the water but has been more hesitant to put his ears and face under.  He is doing much better this year and really loving his class.

After the lessons we go outside to play in the outdoor pool.  It has been so rainy and cold that we really haven't got to enjoy that too much - but it still doesn't stop the kids from getting in and playing for a little while.  This is Zack and his little friend Brooklyn lounging by the pool.

Kade and Ty are both on tball teams as well.  Kade's team is The Pirates and Ty's is The Blaze.  Thanks to all of the rain, most of the games have been cancelled.  Hopefully they can start playing soon.  They each have 2 games a week - so that will keep us busy most of the summer.  In the swimming video - Ty is on his back swimming with his teacher and then Kade is swimming across the pool.

Graduation Day

Today was Kade's big Graduation Day from Kindergarden. He was so excited for his graduation and that Rich was able to be here for it. Kade has loved kindergarden and I have loved having him in kindergarden :) It has been fun helping out in the class and seeing him learn new things and make new friends. The class all lined up on risers and sang about 6 songs they had been practicing for a few weeks. They all looked so cute in their handmade graduation caps. After all the songs the teacher called them one by one up to get their graduation certificate and shake their hand. They were all so proud and did a really good job.
Congratulations Kade only 16 more years to go!

It's Ladies Night

After a week of sick kids and cleaning up throw up I was so ready for my girls weekend away. We started the weekend off with some shopping in Park City Friday night, which is always fun! Saturday we spent the day shopping and have a spa day. We got a deal through city deals or something for a chocolate facial, a pedicure and an eyebrow wax for only $45. at a beauty college. This was a lot of firsts for me. I had never had a facial or my eyebrows waxed. The chocolate facial was amazing - I loved it! I was happy to get my eyebrows waxed and while the girl was waxing I told her I wanted to have my lip waxed sometime too. By the time I was done she had done my eyebrows, my lip and my chin! I was thrilled! Then we all got pedicures, which always feels so good. The girl who did mine was very strong and worked my feet over - which was great! We were there getting pampered for almost 3 hours and left feeling so good. This is a picture of us after we were done! The beauty college we went to was very nice and they did a great job.We ate at Paradise Bakery on Saturday afternoon. I love this place! This piece of carrot cake was the first thing I saw when I walked in and I couldn't pass it up. There was seriously 1 1/2" of frosting on the top, with huge chunks of nuts and carrot. It was DELICIOUS!!! I got a small salad to go with it for lunch. :) That night we ate at The Macaroni Grill - and had some yummy pasta! We stayed up late talking and laughing and soaking in the hot tub. It was a perfect weekend. I have such great girl friends and a wonderful husband who stays home and watching 3 crazy boys while I get away!

Kindergarden field trip

We had another field trip to Tautphaus Park Zoo last week. Thankfully the weather was really nice and sunny that day. It was cold and rainy when we went with Ty's preschool. The alligator was a big hit with the kids and the monkeys are always entertaining. Making a big doggy pile on Kade is always a good time.
Kade and some Kindergarden buddies on the Tiger

Typical Ty face as he's playing at the park waiting for Kade's class to show up at the zoo.

Zack loved all the animals - he'd get so excited to see them move and make noise. Here he is watching the ducks swimming.