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!

Well Here's the video of this crazy kid! Turn off the music at the bottom of this page, his voice is hysterical.

Muddy Smile from Meghan Vargason on Vimeo.

Turkey Hunting

Anders was the only one in the family (including extended family) that drew out a turkey tag.  Anders was so excited and he and his dad had so much fun together.  They count it as one of their best weekends together, ever!!!  After Anders got his turkey, they spent the rest of the day 4-wheeling at the sand dunes.  After arriving home that night, Bret and Anders had turkey kabobs.  They were a little too "fresh" for mom!!  Its so fun to see them so happy together.  What a great kid!!!!

STUCK!!!

Turkey Camp

Wyoming Easter

Easter in Utah is usually cold enough.  Not like the California Easters I remember, but Easter in Wyoming is another story entirely!  It's always cold, snow on the ground and most times wet and muddy as well.  The Bonus? FAMILY!!  The kids always have a ball-no matter! (so do we!)

Easter in Wyoming

Eggs From Grandma's Chickens

Feeding Grandma's Chickens (look at that follow through!)

Those poor Chickens were huddled in the corner, scared of Hans "feeding" them

Hans knows where Grandma's gummy bear stash is

organization from a mom of 6!!

Holy Cow!  Dying eggs with 5 boys, 5 and under.  Talk about stressful!

Pre-EASTER at G&G Howard's

Look at those beautiful skirts (well not too close!  I made them)

Finn had the most eggs.  He went for the obvious, easy to get eggs.

Tait, however, went for the challenging, hard to get eggs.  He ended up with very few.

We had dinner at grandma and grandpa Howard's the week before Easter.  We celebrated Grandpa's birthday as well as had an Easter Egg Hunt.  Typical of Utah Easters, it was still brown but the kids had fun.  I think uncle Brett and uncle Mike had fun hiding eggs for the kids as well!!!

MUD!!

Are you kidding me?  Look at that face.  It says, "I'm adorable, I'm entertaining, I keep mom hoppin' and LOOK OUT- here I come."  He is truly a menace but with that smile how can you be mad?  Hans had been outside in the typical Utah spring playing on the mounds of snow.  YES SNOW!  The snow was melting however and the edges of each pile was surrounded by mud.  I love this picture and the video is even better!!!  I'll try and post the video later!

My Beautiful 9 Year Old

Elli is 9!

ice cream sandwich cookies in case you were wondering

A new necklace with the most adorable fish charm from grandma

Awesome pouch and journal from Uncle Brett

SCHOOL SUPPLIES for the future TEACHER OF THE YEAR

Ice Fishing With Dad

How Cute Are These Boys?

Hans was scared of the fish in the tent

BEFORE Hans' leg went in the hole and he got soaked.  Fortunately with the heater inside the tent it's a balmy 60+ degrees.  It was a LONG day for Bret but worth the excitement in the anticipation and certainly worth those smiles!!