Our Summer Fun

This summer has been so wonderfully busy and relaxing at the same time. We got a family pass at the local city pool in the hopes that I would be able to teach the kids to swim. It is relaxing to be in the sun and pool environment.... and really busy trying to help the three that don't swim, not to drown.

So almost every day we end up at the pool. My kids are turning into little fish and my honey actually said my legs look tan. (All that means is that I have now progressed from glow in the dark legs to a nice shade of white). I don't dare take my camera to the pool and since that is what we are doing... no pictures. Sorry. But I do have to share this fantastic site for modest swimwear. www.limericki.com I have two of their suits and I LOVE them!!! They are really comfortable and I don't have to keep tugging to keep things in place and plus, they are just dang cute.

Teaching my children

I am trying so hard to teach my little monkeys the meaning of hard work... or just work... or just clean one's own bedroom. Arg! One morning, when they were asked to clean the usual (starting with their bedrooms)... Brooke announced she was going to marry a rich guy. When I asked this six-year-old why, she said, "So I can have a maid."

I think my tactics are working, don't you?

Second annual Bingham Children Circus

For the second year in a row, my children have invited the neighborhood to their circus. They spent the last two weeks in preparation. Tickets were made and taken door to door. Posters were hung and costume boxes ransacked.

The girls colored this picture of a lion in a cage and hung it on Toby's kennel.

And here is our ferocious lion jumping though his flaming hoop. (I loved the kids creativity with the "flames"). The girls taught Toby this trick by themselves... It only took a few days.

The critics went wild.

The acrobats were great.

We all held our breath during the high wire act! And to think they did it with out a net!

The clowns juggles water balloons. They were getting pretty good... and then they got wet.

The girls were up at 6:00 am setting up the chairs. We love our supportive neighbors!

Brooke ran the concession stand with a flare.

I am always in awe of the way children's minds work. They created this all themselves and put on a great show! All I had to do was pop the popcorn. If you're in town next summer... it's a show you wont want to miss!

Skeeter bites

Connor got a skeeter bite on his cheek. It wasn't too bad yesterday. But this morning he woke up looking a little different.

When he smiles this is what it looks like. Poor little man... but I have to admit, it looks really funny. He's a tough kid and is not unhappy at all. He just loves to tell people about it.

Intense Training

Potty training should be up there with training for a marathon, triathlon, or Iron-man. It takes a tremendous amount of commitment and discipline... from mommy. You also need a cheerleader in the background while you are going through the most grueling part to the training. Scraping poo off ten tiny pairs of underwear seems like the equivalent of the forty degree grade at the end of the ten mile run. Both make me gag.

My first two children were out of diapers and all done by the time they were two. Then I had boys. I discovered with Ben that it it totally worth the few extra dollars to buy the colored undies instead of whitey-tighties. Today I decided those darling mini size boy's underwear in Connor's drawer were too cute to not to put on his little bum. You know... even mini-size "darling" underwear can make you gag with the right ingredients.

Actually, our "training" has been moving along quite nicely. I was squealing and clapping when he figured out what I was talking about when I said, "try to squirt." He got excited too. So much, that he lifted his hands to clap for himself too... forgetting that he was holding on for a reason. He was a little surprised when his bum fell in, but there was still so much cheering from the crowd, that he recovered quickly and smiled despite the wet, cold bum.

I am not above using bribery for training. Sometimes it has been "potty-mallows"... the mini marshmallows, sticker charts and ice cream... today it was jelly beans. Madi called them "potty-beans." That was a little too much for me... gag, gag, gag... too visual! You know, when my friends are convincing me to do a race with them, they try to appeal to my competitive side. Really all they have to do is give me a sticker chart or an ice cream cone.

Well nap time is over and round two is about to begin. I could use all the cheer leading I could get, thanks for asking. And no, I have never run any of the insane races mentioned above. For now I just run for sanity and am scrubbing out undies in my spare time. Have a happy day!