Schools (almost) out for the summer!

I am so excited to claim my children back from the public school system! I think that I am more excited for school to get out than they are. I have been counting down the days and getting simply giddy planning all the fun things we're going to do together. Last summer we made a "bucket list" of all the fun things we wanted to do. We did almost everything on the list and I can't wait to do it again.

Hope you all are having happy summer thoughts!

Swim suit season

Was there ever a phrase more dreaded by women everywhere? "Swim suit season"... it sounds like a cruel tongue  twister. It's this time of year that ladies the world over are assessing their figures with dismay. When ever I walk by the newly displayed summer section in stores I can't help eyeing those tiny little suits and wonder if any real human being (not surgically engineered) can fit in one of those.

This "S.S.S." holds an even better challenge for me this time... I've just had baby number five. (Things are looking a little more like "S.O.S." around here). Each of my other children have been born in the dead of winter when everyone is bundled up in lots of layers and we all look like we have marshmallowy figures. I'm not sure that a swim suit is as forgiving as that closet full of sweaters or a nice bulky coat. Sigh!

Oh well. I LOVE the pool and our whole family LOVES to swim... so sweaters or swim suit (and swearing...oops. No swearing)... I'll be going for the sun and the fun. I hope you all have pleasant thoughts when it comes to S.S.S. and as little distress as possible. (A happy thought is all those "modest swim suit" lines that have come out! Hooray for cute and stylish AND modest!)

Saturday fun

We love Saturdays! There is always family fun to be had during the weekend. Unfortunately, this ended up being part of the skating fun the kids decided to have. Ben got a nice goose egg when he took a spill on his skates. Where's Grandpa and his mean butterfly bandage skills when you need him?

I'm back!

The first month after baby is always crazy and I knew that I wouldn't be posting for a while... that's why I quickly posted baby pictures while the adrenaline from having a baby was still in my system. We are all doing amazingly well and adjusting to having five kiddos. 

Quinton is the BEST BABY EVER!!! He is so good. That pretty much sums it up. He's just plain darling and GOOD! I am late everywhere, as I have forgotten to add 'getting baby ready' into the mix. With soccer times three, choir and swim team for our kids, things are busy! As soon as I get a few more minutes to myself (ba ha ha) I'll post pictures. 

Tootles til then!

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!