Having too much fun to blog!

Oh boy! This is too much fun!

All I want to do is sit and look at this little guy.

I think he's done posing for pictures.

Quinton Michael Bingham

We had a surprise visitor arrive yesterday! Quinton Michael Bingham was not due on the scene for another two weeks, but we are so glad he decided to drop in early. He was born around noon and was 7lbs, 5oz and 21 inches long.

It was a really long night at the hospital but I was still smiling through most of the contractions. (Most nurses don't really believe I'm in labor because this is what I look like for most of the time). What can I say... I'm excited to meet my baby! I know this is a totally goofy picture, but it makes me laugh.

Brett was so tired! I loved that he had the scruffy look going on. It really added to the 'exhausted new dad look.'

We are so excited to have this new little angel in our home!

The kids had a party in my hospital room. Cartoons on the TV, snacks from the nurses, a new baby to hold, and medical gloves blown up to make balloons... what more do you need for a party?

Dressing my littlest man to head home.

He's got dimples just like all my other kiddos.

He's a super sweet baby and is getting lots of loving!

Who loves the dentist?

I made an appointment for my three-year-old to see our "big kid" dentist instead of a pediatric dentist... hoping he would be OK. This was his first visit for himself, although he'd been to watch bigger siblings. (We really try to get our kids prepared for what they'll see at the dentist... the "magic chair" that takes you for rides, the "silly straw" that sucks your cheeks, and the "tickly tooth brush." That kind of stuff). Even still I was praying that my little guy would hold still and have a good experience. OH. MY. WORD.

My son did better than most adults! He was so ready and cheerful to follow any and all directions given by the dental hygienist. He didn't even gag on the x-ray stuff and held perfectly still. She was so amazed at how well he did. Check out how happy he is to be there! He's just chillin' and loving the sun glasses they let him wear.


He had a good chat with the dentist, asked what everything was for and just had a jolly old time flirting with the hygienist. (Because he was three, they had scheduled more time for his cleaning. He was done so quickly that while waiting for the dentist, she held him on her lap and let him play on the computer, play with toys and squirt water at the dentist). That kid had a good time!

Oh what do you do in the Spring time when snow is coming down?

It's officially Spring and we are watching huge, wet snow flakes drift down. So what do you do in the Spring time when snow is falling down? Well, I'm sewing a baby sling and a nursing cover and staying comfy and warm inside.

Have a happy Monday!

"Fly upon the wings of anticipation... and then thud."

(If you know where that quote came from we are totally kindred spirits. hee hee). I bought some boots for my girlies on-line last week. It was really fun for the three of us to shop together and they loved picking out just what they wanted. (Hooray for clearance). Ever since I hit the final click on the mouse, they have been anxiously waiting for their order to arrive. As in, asking every day and every evening if "this was the day."

I tracked the boots and told the girls they would (probably) arrive today. Waiting for any sign of the the mail man was torture for them. We were playing outside when the shining white and blue striped chariot of promised packages rolled around the corner. I felt like busting into a verse of "Oh the Wells Fargo Wagon is a-Comin' Down." My seven-year-old followed every movement of that mailman with her eyes. I'm not sure her feet were touching the ground. My crowd began to gravitate toward the neighborhood mail box and the little white truck. The mailman finished his work and waved at the little crew as he accelerated PAST my house. "Oh the horror!" I felt so bad for them, but the look on Brooke's face was so dramatically tragic that I busted up laughing. I'm not sure they will ever forgive that mailman... at least until tomorrow when he comes bearing gifts.

On the (potty training) Trail Again

I thought I was done. I thought I was ready for only newborn diapers and that was it. Sigh. Not so. My three-year-old keeps going back and forth on his commitment to underwear and it is killing me... well, at least making me say "ARG" over and over.

Yesterday, right at bed time as we were putting on pjs, brushing teeth and having him use the potty he announce that he was done with diapers. Had it not been bed time I would have done an Irish jig, but as it was, I simply said OK and hoped for dry sheets in the morning. (I ended up getting up every three hours to take him potty and didn't have to wash sheets). But lets get to the real story here.

In the morning I kept reminding him of his current wardrobe change and asking if he needed to use the facilities. He assured me that he remembered that he was indeed wearing underwear and he didn't need to "go." So I kept cleaning. In a few more minutes he asked, "Mom, are you still cleaning?" and I said I was. He continued, "Good. You go clean my room and the girls room and the upstairs too OK?" Which in his language meant, "Don't come down here Mom." Hmmmm... I'll just leave the rest to your imagination. I was really hoping to have him DONE by the time the baby came. I am rapidly running out of time!

Just a Little Vacation

We had a chance to take a little family vacation... nothing fancy but oh so fun! (Pictures are a little out of order). We took the kids out of school Friday and headed to Utah. Our list of things to do: Hogle Zoo, Hotel swimming, do nothing but hang out as a family. Most of our family trips are hurried and really not a lot of together time fun. This one was perfect!
Connor taking a Sunday nap with cousin Brad.

No visit to the Conovers is complete without a little war fare

Spa day with cousins... I loved judging the foot rubbing contest!

Crashed out on the HUGE hotel bed...

Swimming and more swimming was on the list.

All my kids are little fish!

Our brother's fam came to swim with us at the hotel. SO FUN! Thanks guys.

Connor, all suited up and ready for action

TV and popcorn and staying up late at the hotel was also part of the fun.


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Connor was more than satisfied with his accommodations.

The mullet is back! At least at the zoo.

We stayed at the giraffe house for about a half hour. We were there at feeding time. It was stinky but fun.

Connor loved the porcupine's hair do. He tried to show it his similarly spiked up hair do.

In anticipation of our zoo trip, i took the kids to the library to check out books on an animal for them to report on. They all got excited, but Madi went all out. She pulled out her written report as soon as she spotted her animal. I was so proud of her!



Ben and this monkey had the same hair do!