Girls Late Night

Anna and Elli were given an opportunity for a "late night" (no sleep-overs at our house!) this past weekend.  It made me feel horrible that Anna kept asking, "are you sure its okay mom?" and, "Are you sure it's not too much mom?"  I guess that means I'm not getting the mother of the year award this year!  I obviously have not hidden the fact that life has been a bit overwhelming lately.  Anna and Elli rode their bikes to Wal-Mart and bought (with Anna's own money from babysitting) this cute cooler and the fun glasses (plastic).  They set the basement up (sheets covering my couches due to buttery popcorn hands) for an exciting evening.  I was amazed at their creativity and they had so much fun with their adorable friends.  Although, I think my girls may have been too silly for Anna S (see picture)!  

A Friend's Party

Tait finally had a friends party.  In our family, the kids have to take turns each year having a friends party.  It helps to only have 3 a year instead of 6!  Last year was actually the year he was supposed to have a "friends party" but when we asked who he wanted to invite he kept giving us a list of older boys names.  We tried to explain to him that he needed to invite the friends that were his age but he struggled to understand why he couldn't invite all the older boys.  So we put off the party until this year.  It was a huge success.  Tait took some friends to Jump On It! 7 boys jumping on tramps and inflatable toys for an hour.  What could be better?  They came back to our house (tired!) and had cake and ice cream and opened presents.  He had so much fun, I enjoyed those cute boys and I didn't feel like I needed a huge break after.  Perfect!

Getting ready to jump all at the same time

Brothers doing what brothers do!!! Wrestling!

My Happy 6 Year Old

Tait turned 6 and I couldn't be more proud!!!  What a special boy he is!  We call him our dynamo.  He is always happy, wants to do what's right, is an incredibly hard worker and is very athletic.  He really makes me happy, especially when I see his charming smile.  We got lucky on his birthday-No Rain or Wind!  It has been a wet, windy and cold spring so far! (It snowed yesterday.  Not a light, pretty, quick spring flurry.)  We had a BBQ with Grandma and Grandpa Howard.  Tait just wanted hamburgers and hotdogs.  He got exactly what he wanted-Mariokart, a slip and slide and money to put in his saving envelope in mom's file cabinet.

Boys will be boys!


Hans does EVERYTHING in excess!

My 20 Year Reunion

I'm so disappointed that this is the only picture I have of my reunion (thanks to Jax).  We attended the family BBQ at my school during the day.  It was fun to see my friends and their families.  It's one thing to see a picture of people's kids or hear all about them but I enjoyed not only seeing their kids but watching friends interact with them.  It's not something you see in high school.  They took a great picture of our family at the BBQ that is on my school's alumni website.  I need to figure out how to get it.  The kids ate, played on the playground, decorated visors and frisbees and played soccer on the softball field that holds all kids of memories for me!!!

Later that night Bret and I went to the dinner at our school.  It really is indescribable how beautiful my school is (another thing I wish I took pictures of).  We visited and ate where I use to go to math.  They have made many changes since we've been there!  These are my friends Jackie (JAX) and Brandi.  Bret and I sat at a table with people I didn't really hang out with in high school and we had a ball.  We had great conversations about our family and all the funny things that go on as parents.  I was grateful to have those experiences with Ken and his wife Grace, Michelle, Shabnum and Yen Yen.  I also wish I had taken pictures of Bret and I.  You can say Bret cleans up nice!!!  How proud I was to be there with not only the most handsome man at the reunion but certainly the nicest and most thoughtful.  I'm always amazed at how comfortable he is in those situations and how comfortable he makes others despite his desire to be a homebody!!  I LOVE him!  Wish you could have seen him!!  By the way, the question I got quite a bit-"so you have help, right?"  I replied "No" each time but upon further thought, I should have said "Yes, my amazing husband and my older kids!"  It was such a fun opportunity to show off my love for my family.  I think it was more an eye opener for me than for anyone.  It's easy to get down on myself for not doing enough or feeling guilty for things I wish I was doing but when it comes down to it, I don't think I'm doing too bad!

DISNEYLAND!!!

My 20 year reunion (OUCH!) was this year and our family went to California for a quick trip. We took the kids out of school and drove on thursday, caravanning with my mom.  The kids loved the extra elbow room (1-2 would drive with my mom at a time).    Thursday night after checking into our very cramped room (that supposedly slept 8), we went to dinner.  This is always an interesting thing to do in California.  We watch people count us as we walk by them.  We can see people's eyes getting bigger and bigger as they realize our party of 6 kids is approaching a table right next to theirs.  This is one of the things that gives me great anxiety.  I don't want to ruin anyone's night out.  I love to feel the success of a night out with my family when the people near our table leave with a smile on their face, hopefully out of relief.  Of course we gave the kids a huge lecture before we left and they were PERFECT!!!!  Anna overheard someone trying to determine if she was ours or our "help".  It was a great start to our weekend.  I was so proud to be out with my beautiful family.  Friday we went to Disneyland.  My mom came with us to help with watching younger kids while older ones went on bigger rides.  It worked out fantastic.  I was able to go on more rides than usual.  OUr weekend turned out great EXCEPT when in the hotel rooms.  That was a new low for family togetherness.  Once we walked out of the hotels, all was good!

Chillin with a couple girls in the jacuzzi

On the tram getting excited

Anxious to get started!!!!

Little Boys on Buzz Light Year while big kids hit Space Mountain

Typical Finn!

Dad trying to talk Hans into going on the teacups.  "You'll LOVE it!!"

HUMILITY!!  There were a couple rides that humbled Hans immensely!!!  Jungle Cruise and Pirates to name a few!  He would bow his head and look down and try to ignore everything going on around him.  Not a typical sight with Hans.

Think Hans is excited to be near Lightening?

Finn quickly realized this was the shortest ride at Disneyland

Incredibly Unusual!!!!  2 hours of peace of mind!

Very, very handsome boys!

Finn giving Hans a ride after a long day 

Although Bret and I vow not to go to a hotel room with our kids for at least the next 5 years, It was a memorable, quick trip.  Being with family and making memories is PRICELESS!

Spring Soccer

Spring soccer is fun and cold!!  Tait has been so fun to watch this year.  He is not very teachable but instead STUDIES sports.  When we try to explain something to him he says. "I know, I know mom!"  He watches everything so intently and then is able to apply it.  He is so fast and is almost better with his left foot than his right. Wish I had more video of his soccer season.  I spend most of my time keeping my eye on mr. crazy (aka Hans).  Look at that smile.  If that doesn't spell TROUBLE I don't know what does!

Tait's Soccer from Meghan Vargason on Vimeo.

The Most Lovely Woman!!!

My mother-in-law sent me this and I found it on Bret's cousin's blog as well.  I can't imagine a more beautiful woman.  I admire her completely.  I strive to live as she did.  I hope I'm going in the right direction. 

"I don't want to drive up to the pearly gates in a shiny sports car, wearing beautifully, tailored clothes, my hair expertly coiffed, and with perfectly manicured fingernails.


I want to drive up in a station wagon that has mud on the wheels from taking kids to scout camp.

I want to be there with grass stains on my shoes from mowing my neighbor's lawn.

I want to be there with a smudge of peanut butter on my shirt from making sandwiches for a sick neighbor's children.

I want to be there with a little dirt under my fingernails from helping to weed someone's garden.

I want to be there with the children's sticky kisses on my cheeks and the tears of a friend on my shoulder.

I want the Lord to know I was really here and that I really lived."

Marjorie Pay Hinckley

I've got a long way to go but I'm so glad there are women like this to guide me as I strive to become what I wish to be!