Madson Memories

While we were in Salt Lake at the ball games, Greg sent us a text he got from a neighbor.  Greg was in Preston working.  The Thompson's horse had gotten loose and I guess came to our back yard to find some dinner!

The Aggies team that Tyson gets to play on took part in the Christmas AAU tournament in Salt Lake.  They started with two games on the day after Christmas.  The four of us drove down in a horrible storm.  The roads were atrocious!  We came home that night to awful roads again, Kaden stayed the night at Jayson and Kassi's house.  The next day Greg had to work, so Tyson and I drove back down.  Jay, Kassi, and Kaden met up with us at the game.  Jay had to work after the game, so we hung out with Kassi for the evening.  We stayed the night.  Both Jayson and Kassi worked on Friday. Greg ended up having to make a run to Salt Lake for some office furniture, so he was able to come and watch the championship game.  The Aggies went undefeated.  This is the fifth year in a row they have won this tournament (this is Tyson's third year with them).  It was a fun tournament to watch.

While Greg was at the Potato Bowl, Kaden hosted a Christmas party for some of his friends.  He loves planning parties and being in charge.  We cleaned the house and ran a bunch of errands that morning.  Tyson asked me why Kaden gets to have parties and he doesn't.  I told him the first reason was that Tyson has never asked to have a party before.  The second reason is that Kaden generally doesn't get in any trouble that would cause him to not have a party.  Tyson's response was that maybe Kaden had nicer birth parents than he did.  That led to a discussion about it not mattering who your birth parents are, you have the knowledge of right and wrong and the free agency to choose your actions.  Nerd!  Anyway, we bought lots of pop and fixings for home-made pizza.  Kaden had close to 20 kids over and they played lots of games and ate lots of food.  I think they had fun.  I made him have an earlier party since 8:30 a.m. church on Sunday kicks my butt.  I am looking forward to later church in the new year, but I know I am going to miss having so much time to accomplish things on Sunday afternoons!

Kaden had a band concert on Wednesday, December 19th.  He had been telling us that it was on the 21st, so we were hoping maybe his sister or brothers could make it before our family party.  Well, on the 18th, he informed me the concert was the next night.  Who knows if he had his dates mixed up or what.  Our ward was having its adult Christmas party the same night, and Greg and I were supposed to be in a skit.  We missed the party, but boy was it worth it.  I can't believe each year how much better the band sounds.  It is quite enjoyable to go and listen to them play.  I didn't think to take any pictures.  We had the video camera there that Greg took some video with.  We probably wouldn't have been able to get a good picture anyway, with Kaden playing percussion, he is always in the back.  Great job Kaden and the Bear River Middle School Band!

Friday night (the 28th) the neighbors called and asked if I would tend their little boy, Ruger.  They had never left him before, and had been invited to a family party that didn't invite kids.  I was so excited!  I was in Salt Lake at Tyson's basketball games, but knew if I hurried home I could tend for them.  I wish my own grandkids lived closer so I could tend them sometimes for their parents!  Ruger was so much fun!  He played and laughed, and then snuggled with me until his parents came about midnight. 

Greg wanted to know if Kaden, Tyson, and I wanted to go the Potato Bowl in Boise to watch Utah State play.  I did not want to travel that far and watch a game in the freezing cold, especially since I had lots of last minute Christmas things to do.  A couple of days later he told me he was going and taking the boys.  Imagine my surprise a few days before the game when I found out Kaden and Tyson did not get to go.  Greg was talking about the other two boys!  Well, they did have fun.  They took off Friday the 14th of December and drove to Boise.  They spent the night, got up the next day and went to the game and then drove home.  Jayson and Ryan were on the field taking pictures (freezing) while Greg was up in the press box updating facebook on the computer.  (By the way...USU won!)

First of all, my family are a bunch of sleepy-heads!  I woke up around 5:30 and couldn't go back to sleep!  The boys didn't get up until about 8:30 and then woke Greg up.  Where is the Christmas Spirit?  Greg and I were kind of boring.  We bought each other new bar stools before Christmas because ours were trashed (thanks to our big boy Tyson).  The boys did buy each of us a gift though.  Kaden's favorite present was his soda maker.  Tyson's was either his Michael Jordan jacket and sweats or his air soft gun....not sure which.

 
We woke up on Saturday morning and Jayson helped me make pancakes for breakfast (with ice cream in honor of Kristen).  I was going to make all the pancakes red and green, but Carter and Tyson both thought that was a gross idea.  Jayson did dye some of the batter and made his dad a Grinch pancake though.  Jayson and Tyson went out to the Garland armory and played some basketball with some of his old high school friends.  We had decided we were going to have a "Who Feast" like in "How the Grinch Stole Christmas".  Not long after Jayson left, Kassi came upstairs in her Who attire and wanted to know who wanted to party!  She is funny! Loved her hair!

 Jayson and Kassi brought the Roast Beast (turkey) and Grinch punch.  Kristen Michelle brought rolls and a relish tray.  Kristen Marie made green eggs and ham.  I made Who pudding (raspberry pretzel salad with green sprinkles on top) and the Who Hash (cheesy potatoes).





 We were excited my mom got to come to the party, but sad my dad had to work.



 It was so fun to watch Kamdyn and MaKenzie playing together.  They are such a cute age!









 Presents are always a hit!
 The boys had Kristen and Dave for Christmas this year.  One of the gifts they gave them were "Handerpants"!  Loved that Dave was so fun with them!




 I saw this t-shirt on pinterest, so I had to have it made for Jayson!  It totally cracked me up! 
 Here are my two little princesses dressed alike in their princess gowns!

Loved getting to hold Taylee!  She is growing so fast!