THE MADSEN FAMILY: Saying Goodbye to Our 4th Year Friends

While we are away from family, here in Nova Scotia, our friends are our family. We do everything together. Our husbands all go to school together. The wives serve, bake, play, laugh and raise children together. We are all in the same ward. We call eachother everyday, and get together often. Our kids are each other`s playmates, and we are always there for eachother in any time of need. With that said, the end of the year is a bittersweet time as we prepare to bid farwell to our dear friends who are graduating Dental School and moving on.

This year it is the Sorensen`s and the Taylor`s time to move on from Dalhousie, Halifax, and the Nova Scotia life. Both couples have been some of best friends for over the past 2 years. Curtis, and his wife Jo (on the left) are one of the major reasons we are in Canada going to school at Dal. If it weren`t for Curt, we might not be here. Jo is the reason I survived the first year of Dental school in a new country with a new baby. She was my best friend, and biggest support. It will definitely be sad to see them go, but we are so happy for the many wonderful things in store for their families.

Every year the 2nd year`s plan a farewell bash for the 4th year graduates. So, Carolyn and I got to work planning a fun get together for our friends. Carolyn is about ready to pop any minute, and she was such a good sport when I suggested a farm for our party. We planned a night of wagon rides, BBQ dinner, boxing, bouncing, Mechanical Bulls and much, much more! And we had an absolute blast! We had every reason to celebrate; Amazing Friends, and Huge Accomplishments!

The 4th Year Bash started with a wagon ride. The horses pulled us out to Fort Clayton where we ate in the lodge, and had other activites waiting for us.

I guess I should have been more specific when I said `wagon ride.` I just thought everyone assumed that meant OUTSIDE. It was a bit on the cold side!

Dave and Karli trying to stay warm on the wagon.

Sorensen`s, Farland`s, Murray`s.

Gearing up for big time fun!

When we arrived at the lodge we had a hamburger - hotdog - fries BBQ waiting for us. We ate by the fire, visited, and laughed at hilarious stories.

The rest of our time in the lodge was spent goofing off, playing pool and darts, and taking about a million farewell pics. It was the weirdest feeling to not be chasing after our kids. But, a wonderful break also. We were just acting like a whole bunch of kids ourselves, and it was just nice to be able to spend that quality time together.

Phase 2 of the part welcomed us into the Rubber Rodeo Room. We grabbed a quick photo with all the girls before the main events.

Our girls: Karli, Melese, Tricia, Jess, Helene, Sarah, Jolynne, and Carolyn.

It wasn`t long until we were all a big sweaty mess from jumping around everywhere and boxing each other out! This kind of fun should be bottled up and sold in a jar...! With friends like ours, it can not be contained!

Look at these game faces....!

Taylor, Curtis, Cory, and Justin ready for a serious jousting match...

Melese and Tricia Crouching Tiger Style...

Dave and his new friend Patchy...

JOLYNNE!... and her horse. Ha!

Taylor vs. The Bull...

He was Victorious.

Phase 2 was a complete success!

After the farm the fun relocated to our home for phase 3 were we ended the night with an ice cream bar and a program! Taylor, Helene, and Tricia put together a hilarious tribute to the 4th years. We were all rolling in laughter over the interpretive song and dance to Whitney Housten`s `I will always love you.` ( I didn`t take any pictures of it, because I was filming the whole thing. I`ll have to download the video later. )

Justin and I had put together a slide show to recap the Taylor`s and Sorensen`s 4 years in Nova Scotia.

No farewell to Nova Scotia would be compete without the traditional slideshow.

We laughed... We cried... ;)

The group had all pitched in to get the graduates a departing gift from all of us. We gave Jo and Melese engraved necklaces that said `Dalhousie Dental Wives Halifax Nova Scotia 2007-2011.` We gave Curt and Jake engraved pens with their names and DDS. After Justin and I gave a few remarks we presented the gifts and then took a million more pictures...! :)

An accomplishment like this only comes to those who dream big, work hard, and fill their bucket one drop at a time. We are so proud of these families and so grateful for the frienship and example they have given us.

Paparazzi!!....

These guys have had so much fun together, and I know Justin is going to miss them. Especially Curtis. He has been an amazing friend and confidante. Jake and Curt both could (and did!) talk to us for hours and hours. They are good friends that are certainly hard to come by.