Do you powder your nose to clean the powder room?

How do you dress to clean the bathroom? I know it sounds like a weird question... Like how should I dress for such and such an occasion...but I am serious here. I used to just stay in my grubbies, hair in the matted knot I woke up with, smelly and un-showered, and on a mission to make my bathrooms gorgeous. But inevitably, a friend or seven would drop by for a visit, my husband would NEED something dropped off at work, or an emergency errand would pop up and require me, in all my splendor, to appear in public.

So now a days I shower and get ready for the day... even on those days (like today) that I know all I am going to do is clean and scrub and get dirty by cleaning some more. But obviously this is a no win situation (or I wouldn't be blogging about it). For you see... cleaning in anything but my grubbbies is just down right dumb for me... I always seem to ruin anything I am cleaning in. Last week for example... I ended up bleaching spots in my jeans. Sigh! Or the time I sat on the edge of the newly cleaned tub and laid waste to my favorite capris. Sob! And this morning I accidentally soaked my up-do and makeup when cleaning the shower. It was really kind of funny!

I do have a friend who cleans her shower while she is taking a shower... but I just can't do that. First of all, my shower is MY time... even if I only get two minutes, with kids pounding on the door... it is two minutes of ME time. And secondly, with my luck the comet cleaner and my shampoo would probably combine, causing some chemical reaction resulting in a large explosion or a green goopy monster or something.

Maybe I'm just a clumsy cleaner. I do have to wear an apron almost constantly. Hmm, maybe I should go for the painter's frock, like the kindergartners. Oh well, at least my powder rooms are clean and smelling nice even if I'm not anymore.

International Day

Madi sporting her African outfit.

Madi's school had an international day. They could dress up, bring a food and share words they knew from the country they chose. We rigged up an African outfit for her and her dad taught her some words in Swahili. He then surprised her by showing up for her classroom party in his African outfit and let her show the kids his singing drum. (He got a lot of funny looks from the adults, especially since he did wear it back to work that day). Isn't he the coolest dad!

Its too nice outside to blog!

Spring is here today...

So I am out to play.

Much to my sorrow,

It will snow tomorrow.

Have a happy day...

Go out side and play!

@#$%#!!! Errands

I am trying to keep this as light at possible but I have to say: AAAAHHHHHHHH and I think I need another one for emphasis. AAAHHHHHH! I just spent the last few hours at the DMV with three children. Oh that was fun. (Can you feel the heavy sarcasm I am using?)

Brett asked me to go to the DMV and register our new van. He could have done it himself, but would have had to take off work. (This morning I am really wishing he had). He was a dear and tried to get all the paper work together that I might need. I asked him if he was sure that I had EVERYTHING so I wouldn't have to go back a second time. He said, "I think so but, there is no guarantee on that." (I gave him a less than loving look for that comment).

I have learned through much trial and error that when children are in the mix it is much nicer to have everything ready and make the errand as simple as a mom can make it. Take the post office for example. If the package is labeled, stamped and all you have to do is set it on the counter, the post office is a fun adventure for the kids and the mom. However if mom has to fill out the forms, purchase stamps, talk to the postman, chase the three-year-old, juggle the baby, stop the five-year-old from tipping over the display.... well you get the picture. NOT FUN!

So thinking that I knew what I was getting into,I got my heavy artillery ready for the DMV. I packed backpacks full of crayons and color books and snacks. Checked my paperwork for the tenth time. Dolled up the kids, so even if they weren't on their best behavior... people might at least think they looked like nice kids. Put a soothing CD in the car and headed out for battle.

And yes, it was a battle. I was a very nice and cool as a cucumber mom for the first hour. Chasing the one-year-old wasn't bad. Dealing with the whining was normal. Apologising to the people my kids ran into was OK. Catching the three-year-old before he escaped out the door was a bit trying. But, it was after the hour wait and then being sent elsewhere that got me a wee bit frustrated. By then the one-year-old was screaming, the three-year-old was trying out more escape plans, and the five-year-old was wandering and I was late for an appointment.

We hustled back to the car and zoomed down for the VIN inspection and zoomed back, only to wait in line again. I was so grateful that my three-year-old had his backpack on. (Did you know that those little straps on the top, commonly used to hang the pack up, are also good for child restrains when the kid is wearing the pack?) Pretty much I was holding the baby and all the paperwork in one hand, while Ben was hanging by his back pack strap in the other. All this while listening to people around me chuckle or talk about how to make kids behave.

Finally one of the DMV clerks took pity on me and we were helped and out of there within ten minutes. I am seriously thinking of donating one of those small plastic play set jungle gym things to the local DMV. If I find one at a yard sale this summer that is exactly what I am going to do!

And so... after all that venting... I wish all of you a wonderful day errand free or at least FUN errands with very cheerful children by your side.

Spring Break

It sounds like our spring break was a lot later than all of your... we just got back. Our week was full of fun with TONS of family, kid's dentist appointments, shopping, a temple trip, Easter fun and general conference.

The whole Bingham clan was gathered this Easter. Twelve grand kids all under the age of 9 made for a crazy egg hunt. We didn't make it easy for the older kids. Madi had to have help to reach this egg.

Check this out... Grandpa Bingham fit ALL twelve of the grand kids on the 4-wheeler for rides around his property. (Actually I just threw Connor on for the picture... but the rest of them really did ride that way). It kind of looks like a clown car. We got to watch one session of conference with my sister's family and my parents. It was so fun to watch the little cousins play.

For family home evening we went rollerskating at a rink in Twin Falls. My kids had a ball. They have been skating in our unfinished basement since they got skates for Christmas, but this was a whole new ball game. Madi was really pretty good. Skating slow with the kids made me look like I knew what I was doing. But the minute I tried to get fancy and fast I wiped out right in front of Madi. She thought it was pretty funny to see mom mess up too.

This is my father-in-law skating with Ben.

My mother-in-law taught me how to quilt. We made one in two days for the Humanitarian Center where my mom serves her mission. (OK... so we only got the quilt top done... but hey it was a lot harder than I thought it would be!) I thought we'd just slap a couple of squares together and call it good. NOPE. (My mom-in-law is an amazing quilter). I'm not quite sure its my thing yet... but it was a good lesson.

One of the coolest things was that we got to be there for my grandfather's 90th birthday celebration. It was really fun to see so many cousins that I haven't seen for a long time. I have an amazing family! And to think... it all started with this man and his darling wife.

Sending you all a little sunshine!

Aren't you so glad that spring is here? This morning we couldn't decide if it was Easter or Christmas. Oh well... at least we have a bright, beautiful Sunshine filled day ahead... even if there is a couple of inches of snow on the ground.

You know... this might be a time saver for me. I won't even have to dye the Easter eggs.

Gotta run...