Showering Wrenches

As is tradition in the Cox family, Roman was treated to a tool shower before the big wedding day.

Shaley and Roman's friends were invited, as well as family from both sides. It was a hit!

Candice, Roman and Shaley

The guessing games that Steve put together, I've always been terrible at this sort of stuff!

Guests of the party
Clockwise L-R: London Barnes held by her grandma, Kyra and Ellie watching the outdoor games, some of the grandkids, Crew and Chris, Lindey and Corbin, Bree and Kris, Grandma and Griffin, Rick and Lacey

Bree was really into the tool games!

Roman with some of the neices. All the kids just adore him! Awww, I miss the days of being the fancy new in-law when all the kids couldn't get enough of me!
Now I'm just the boring ol' aunt!

The games that Tadd and his dad put together. You know, for the men to show off their muscles!

Shaley even got in on the action! Look at that teamwork!

Gift time!
Here is Shaley's gift to Roman. Clever inscription! Don't worry, it was a Magic Bullet!

All the older girls!
I sure love all the excuses to hang with all the family when it's wedding time!

Arizona Events

Well...a trip was made to Mesa, AZ as part of the wedding festivities! The reasons were threefold:

1. Roman and Shaley's open house at the Madsen residence.
2. Shaley took out her endowment in the Mesa temple.
3. Family fun and lots of laughs!

First night we arrived we headed over to Roman's parents house for dinner and Shaley's birthday celebration. We needed to make up for it somehow since we drove for 10 hours on her actual birthday!

We were welcomed with some excellent Mexican food and introductions with the rest of the family!

Shaley, Camme, Tysen, Natalie Madsen Hall, Lacey, Candice Madsen

Chris and Tadd really enjoyed freaking out Natalie's twins with their fireworks. I think Tadd was sad to leave those boys, and even more sad to find out they won't be coming to the wedding! Chris was planning on welcoming them to Utah with a giant lot of fireworks!

I looove this guy!

All the couples on the night of the open house!

Roman's family put on a little program for the happy couple about their story. Here are Roman's sisters, Hayley and Rissa, reading the script.

Roman's mom and her friends who are quite the professionals!

Have you seen a happier bride? :)

The two brothers with the sisters-in-law.

Clockwise L-R: Shaley with her new in-laws, Lindey and Steve, Lacey and her good friend Lisa (who showed us some great shopping places! Bless you, Last Chance!), Ourselves, Shay and Roman

We tried to hit up the local Dairy Queen after the open house for a shake and fries, but unfortunately the "lobby" was closed. This lobby could've been confused with a hallway!

The next morning we attended a session at the Mesa Temple for Shaley's endowment. I absolutely loved that temple, it was so incredible! It's really old, and the outside looks like an ancient ruin. The inside is even cooler!

In just four days this couple will be married for time and all eternity!

I look like a blazing fire in the middle. By the way, it was actually blazing hot. Coincidence?

Some great present opening was done after the temple and some delicious lunch. I'd say this couple really lucked out with their gifts! I think I'll get married again...to Tadd of course! Don't get any ideas...

All in all, the trip was a success and such a fun change of pace!

Stay tuned for pictures of the Diamondbacks game in the stifling heat...

Quick Trip to Arizona

Let me make this clear...this is a teaser post. Nothing more.

Sorry Camme and Kecia, this was the only family picture I had!

To be continued...

This is a hint to the Cox girls and Madsen girls to email over some pictures, so I can properly document our fun-fulled weekend at the Madsen Casa! :)

South Pole

I mean...South Fork!

Oh that's right...it was South Fork up in Provo Canyon, but with the temperature drop it may as well have been the South Pole!

Whitney arranged family home evening up the canyon, and it was a refreshing change of pace for a Monday night.

Just keeping Tadd warm!

The Mama and the Papa sharing a blanket since neither of them thought to bring a sweater. Tisk, tisk.

Lola and her boyfriend, Andrew, whom we tried to sufficiently embarrass with relationship questions.

The grandkids

Van is a pro badminton player...no biggie.

Four of the six. Where was Lauren? Just around the riverbend...I bet.

And where were the men? In the truck with the heater on full blast.
Weak.

Fun, fun, fun. Let's do this again!
Next year in July, that is.

Support Boobies

I don't do words.

Megan does words.

From Sparks.

Please read her words [here] about my sweet grandma, and sweet Aunt Robin.

I post pictures. Gaze upon these. It's my way of helping.

Grammy Betty Lou prior to her breast cancer diagnosis. Check out those killer legs. Smokin'!

Supporting my handsome husband at a golf tournament three years ago.

4 1/2 years ago at Jack's blessing.

I love you, Grammy.

Is Summer Over?

The last Sunday at East Bay of hot dog and marshmallow roasting, and watching the little dudes enjoy the putting green...

A pretty sure sign that summer is deserting us.

Enjoying Grandma's chili dip

Tadd even cut down a putter to "just their size"! (not pictured)

The Leishman's and future Madsen's also joined us numerous times!

In the Name of the Job...

Clear band-aids allow for estimation of blood lost.

Roamin' Around My Noodle...

...thoughts, that is.
I have some thoughts to document...

*Should I be as excited for New Moon as everyone else is? I can't decide .

*All I want to do these days is watch sappy movies. The kind that make your heart jump when the two main characters finally kiss. Any recommendations? Tonight's feature film? Ella Enchanted (for the 3rd night in the row).

*I'm so happy Megan is finally liking her pixie 'do.

*Am I too old to wear leggings? Because guess what...I don't care. They are so blasted comfortable, and I'll wear them until...well, until I don't.

*I think Kaley is hilarious and I look forward to her riotous blog entries everyday. I beg of you KK, don't let me down. Fairly sure she doesn't read my blog, however. Pathetic of me.

*I'm dreading Autumn. Truthfully, I would enjoy if this next season actually lasted a good three months, but I fear that once the leaves start turning Winter will be a weekend away.

*I secretly despise every one of my clients that have thick, long, beautiful hair. I want to chop it all off and magically make a wig for myself. Jealousy is a biotch.

*I've discovered that if I'm ever feeling my way through the dark (you know, 3:00 A.M. bathroom runs, etc) I actually keep my eyes shut. Is that normal?

*I have a new job. Part time baby-sitter for Nickell and Aaron. Every Tuesday for a whopping 2 hours. And get this, Kade sleeps the whooole time. What can I say? I'm like a freaking baby-whisperer (or rather, his parents put him down before I arrive, and he's down for four hours).

*My husbands has fantastic legs. Ahhh, he's so freaking attractive.

*The ending song of Ella Enchanted always gives me the chills, even though it's so obvious Anne Hathaway is lip syncing.

Darise, I dedicate the title of this post to you.

Baby Doll

Lil' Addie-Baby
4 weeks old
And just as sweet as ever

{post edit: 5 weeks old this last Sunday}

Who Do I Thank?

Could be my mother for inheriting her curly, course hair...

Oh, I know...the inventor of my beloved flat iron!

Dream Come True

One huge bonus of living with the in-laws?

A room JUST for my clothes.
And I suppose some of Tadd's golf stuff.

Rrrreally?

Oh hell.

Shower the Bride

The family/friends shower for Shaley was a success, and lots of fun!

We had the pleasure of meeting almost all of Roman's sisters (we'll meet the rest in Arizona in September), and his mother at the shower. Lots of girls in the Cox and Madsen clans!

Shaley with a few nieces

Opening Lindey's present, bet you could guess what a sister would buy the bride!

My gift wasn't suitable to post. Would've been inappropriate! If ya know what I mean...

A darling apron one of Roman's cousins made!

Cox girls.

Madsen girls (sisters, aunts, and mother)

And what would a shower be without yummy treats? We girls sure know treats!