More scenes from our trips to Provo....because we love them so.

I wasn't kidding about my kids LOVING hot dogs.

Hank just wants to be left alone during the game, so he can crawl up and down the bleacher stairs.

Nothing better than fall nights spent at BYU South Field. 

 Our trips to Provo.

I'm not going to lie. I love Provo. My favorite part about Hugh coaching BYU soccer, is packing the kids up and heading down to games. Nostalgia stirs like crazy when I'm in Provo, and I can't help but think about all the growth I went through as a college co-ed and then a married student at BYU. Provo has been good to me...and for that, it will always have a special place in my heart.

When we go to games we drop Hugh off early to attend to his coaching duties, then the kids and I find things to do to kill time. Our favorites: devouring a j-dawg (yes, both my kids can throw down a hot dog like no one's business...definitely my kids), feeding the ducks at the pond, and coloring in the car while Hank sleeps. These BYU games have become a family tradition....Ruby loves it! Her favorite part is running across the field to find Hugh at the end of the game (and for some reason going to the bathroom in the indoor practice facility, before heading home).

This particular day while we waited for the game to start, I remember how content Ruby was just sitting next to me in the car, coloring away. When I looked over at her, I realized how grown-up she is becoming. I had a distinct feeling of not wanting to forget this moment....Ruby with her big girl pigtails, the bows she had to pick out herself, and the outfit she also picked out, and working on her workbook reciting all her letters and numbers. In that moment I felt pure joy and happiness. 

Hanging with dad and some ducks.

Ruby yelling "Go fetch" to the ducks as she tosses them bread....too funny!

Love these faces. 

Relaxing and Beaching it in Costa Rica.

There's no question...Hank LOVES
the water!

More Costa Rica.

One morning the team spent some time at an elementary school. The kids were darling and LOVED Hank. He was almost as popular as Heather, a wife of one of the players. She is blonde and beautiful and when one of the boys jokingly asked some of the little girls which boy they wanted to meet on the team, all of the girls requested to meet Heather. Pretty cute and funny.

Hank with his lady friends. These girl kept fighting over whose turn 

it was to push Hank in his stroller. I did my best to make them

take turns in my less than coherent spanish. 

Hank done with all the attention.

Our group mingling with the students and staff.

Of course, some soccer was played :)

Hank back in the safety of his stroller.

Where'd you go Hank?

Costa Rica 2012...bit by bit. 

 Hank getting ready for his first airplane ride. 

Our first adventure in Costa Rica was a little hike to a volcano, Parque Nacional Volcan Poas. I must add that it costs $2.50 for the locals and $10 for tourists...go figure. The air was super thick and the fog prevented us from seeing the big volcano crater (at which point we wished we had only paid the 2.50). At least we were able to see the pretty lake behind us in our family pic.

Hank all ready for church our first 

Sunday there. And us in front of the LDS chapel. 

 

One of my favorite parts of the trip was mingling with the Costa Rican LDS members. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is the same everywhere regardless of differences in cultures and geography. So enriching for me to see first hand. We are all God's children. 

Goodbye BYU soccer...

{Ruby and Smee on the field after Drew's last home game}

BYU soccer is a BIG part of the Van Wagenen family. All four of the VW boys played on the team. Drew (Hugh's youngest brother) just finished his last season with the cougars. BYU soccer has been such a fun thing for our family....a time for all of us to be together, watch a little soccer, and cheer on our team. Hugh was even able to do commentating for some of the games broadcasted on BYU TV. I am going to miss going to Provo to watch these games...enjoying the beautiful summer evenings with the mountains as the perfect backdrop. Ruby will miss running underneath the bleachers with her cousins, collecting rocks.