Okay, I think I will be done for this evening... by the way- blogging is a nice way to preserve pictures- when I thought we had lost our computer with all our pictures... I was relieved to know that at least I could go to our blog and save some of them! Not that I put the best of our pictures on the blog~~ infact, you usually get the interesting ones... but, some pictures is better than no pictures!!!!! Sigh..... 

I hope you guys have dsl... cuz I'm having fun looking at pictures!!!! 

Yep- still having fun going down picture memory lane.... I lOVE this!!! 

Here are some more fun pictures I came across from a couple of summers ago... I'm having fun! 

I found this picture from a couple of summers ago- I sure love my honey! I got to listen to him give a wonderful talk today at a ward conference. Everything is good when he is around. I am so glad he married a nut like me. I love talking with him- especially on car rides... we have a had a lot of car rides this week... let's see... 20+ hours this past week! I could have gone another 40 hours with talking, reading together (not him- I do the reading, he does the driving- yeah- too dangerous the other way), laughing, singing- laughing because of the singing! I am so very blessed. If only everyone could have someone like My Sweetheart.... 

We have our Shawn back!!! He attended Cedar Badge for a week- we REALLY missed him. He survived and we survived- and we are all together again. I wish this program could play movies- we have movies of him singing the goofiest songs!!! hee, hee, hee..... Cedar Badge is done in scout camp style- but it is actually a leadership training camp. He learned some pretty neat things. We love our Shawn. 

Here was our "circle of wagons" at the reuinon- we stopped on the way out and got a picture of it.... 

After reuinion effects.... the children slept all the way home! 

Lots of reunion fun! 

"Grandpa Kent"/ Dad got a lot of cuddling in... even with the pooch, Belle... I kindof think he likes the Grandkid cuddles better though!!!! 

Bingham reunion! We ran down there and had to run back- but at least we got in a little fun family time! It was great to see family~ 

Okay- not had a fun time around here in some parts of our lives... the reason I got behind in blogging- our computer crashed- then the cell phone broke- then the washing machine died- then the free washing machine someone brought to us died- we have been so busy we couldn't think... UGH. We are still blessed- we are all healthy and happy- yes, we are still laughing.... just that sometimes it is close to crying!!! We have had 2 weeks of everything that could go wrong- did. Took the 17 loads of laundry to the laundromat and spilled the laundry soap on the driver side seat (got the bottle there just fine- don't know how it came off on the way over?!!). But, the children were wonderful sports about helping and being good during the laundromat hours! I thought they all deserved snowies for that!! The Suburban had some major repairs- still not all done- but it took all the money we were going to use to go to Philmont- we'll try again next year!! We actually aren't too very upset about not going- so maybe the timing wasn't all bad afterall. Just as long as the Suburban keeps going we should be great!! The drains in our bathroom clogged- the kid's bathroom sink broke and leaked water all over- the outside faucet burst.... yeah. This is just the obvious things- lots of other happenings have been happening!! Sigh. But, I am learning a lot. Hmmmmm......by the by- the computer man did save the hard drive off our computer- whew- I wanted to cry- happy cry! MY PICTURES- so, today I spent a couple of hours saving all pictures to two external hard drives :-) (I forgot to mention that the computer crashed seconds before I was going to push the print button to print a 48 page booklet I had worked a couple of weeks on for a YM/YW stake activity- I left 10 minutes later for the activity with almost empty hands- then everything that could go "wrong" or "off" did during that activity too- but I don't think the youth figured that out- whew) Anyway, my family has already heard my woes- now all of you have too- so, time to move on and hope for better moments- By the way-Rebecca, you cursed us with the "no appliance can break on it's own blog" that I responded to.... I hold you partially responsible- my computer "read" that and the little men inside decided to go on strike. Yeah- I hear you laughing :-) I am just so grateful that our little family is still doing so well- I love our family.

A tradition has been set. There is one day a year where you can fish for free in Idaho... and Grandpa and Grandma Bingham are here visiting us each year on that day.... fishing or not- we LOVE it!! Poor Grandpa has his work cut out for him- constantly fixing lines/poles... he actually buys a license and then fishes to and from our home also- probably accomplishes much more on the fishing end of things- but, we love our free fish day- we have always had enough for a few yummy meals.... and we get precious time with Grandparents...  

Katie was really telling Grandma some fish stories... actually, they were about dragons?! That is what you get with brothers I guess!!! 

Oh, yeah- we really did catch fish too (not just cute pictures!)... infact, we caught 27 this day and Grandpa went back the next day with Caleb and Josh and caught 5 more... from what I have been hearing- that was a VERY good fishing day for that weekend- yummy for us!!! 

I don't know why- but I love this picture of Caleb and Katie on our fishing day... 

Josh got a little frustrated- he has been so successful the previous times... this one was harder on him! 

Poor Grandma has two injured ankles... but we still got her out fishing!!! 

Shawn found his own little nitch to fish on 

Grandpa Bingham helping Katie fish :-) 

Of course Belle had to come for the Free Fishing Day too! 

All the official things are done- time to reflect. Mariah is such a dynamic part of our family. We are truly blessed to have her... and each of our beautiful children. I am especially grateful for the thoughtful things- grateful for the handmade jewelry, the blue- jay card that truly meant so much, the gorgeous peony flowers that brightened up our home today, the phone calls to listen to her excited 12 year old-ness (!), the jewelry box that hangs on the wall to keep Katie out of the new pretties(!!!!), and..... for the chance to give her Belle. I am grateful for all our family ties. No presents are ever needed to feel blessed and loved.
I really like the blog- a chance to share our wonderful children with all of you. Fun pictures, crazy moments, family moments, and all..... We have lost touch with some of our family- this has been hard- and been 'reunited' with others. We miss you all.
Speaking about missing- we are not going to be coming to the Rez after all. We have decided to not go to Philmont. We have truly changed our summer all around!! It was crazy before and it will still be crazy. We will just have to wait one more year to see you all on the Rez!
I have a new calling in the church- Stake Young Women's 2nd counselor (young girls in our stake between the ages of 12-18). It is currently taking up a lot of time, reading, and thoughts.
Family is waiting on dinner- Mariah's ham with mashed potatoes and gravy :-) (~~Yeah- totally random thoughts here- I'm tired! Sorry- hope it all makes some sense- cause I'm posting it anyway!!~~) Have a great day- to all our loved ones~ everywhere. Back to the homefront.....

Katie even lucked out with a beautiful necklace of her own- she is all smiles! 

More of Mariah's day! A new snuggly blanket and cool pillow- a SOFT volleyball to practise with... we refused to play volleyball anymore with the hard ones- a cheer instruction video for her cheerleading- and Belle....(her great friend, Rachel, is in the last picture with her) While she wears beautiful jewelry and Chinese wear... sigh.... she is already hard to keep up with... hee, hee, hee.... 

Isn't she soooo grown up- akkkkkkkk! Okay, what I was supposed to say.... isn't she beautiful here?!! She LOVES her gifts- everything is perfect for Mariah today :-) She is already planning on what she is wearing to what over the next week- yep, she is certainly 12!!! I love it! 

Mariah got a beautiful package today with lots of beautiful things inside :-) 

Mariah's dream comes true.... with Belle !! The last picture is to show perspective of just how small this little critter is... Mariah is doing a great job of taking care of her (after a few lessons!)