What !!! My baby is 5???

We had a birthday party for Alexus at Young Chefs Academy. It is this darling place where they teach kids to cook. They had little aprons for all the kids to wear while they cooked their pizzas.

The "Chef" was so cute with the kids he kept them (and us) laughing. He taught them how to measure flour correctly and lots of other kitchen and cooking tips. All the kids had a ball!

I am so thankful for Alexus she has been such a blessing to us. She made my dream of being a mom come true. While in the beginning I was unsure as to how long I would get to be a mom, all the prayers and blessings pulled us through. When she finally turned the corner after being so sick she has forged full steam ahead! She is a smart, confident, thoughtful, PRINCESS. She loves everything girly. She reeeeaalllyyy wants to take mermaid lessons so she can be a mermaid one day. When we were at Disneyland she asked Ariel where she could take some lessons. Ariel said she would have to ask her father King Triton. Right now her favorite thing to do is go to swimming lessons (even though it is the dead of winter and we haven't seen a pool in months). She hates school because it is boooooring!!! Really?? she's in preschool we haven't even started yet! I guess it is my fault for letting her think that life is all about "leaving on a jet plane". We have taken our far share of last minute, extended trips to Las Vegas and California. By the time she was 3 She had earned enough points to have a free round trip ticket (mind you I only had to start buying her tickets when she turned 2). Since then she has earned 2 more. She is the best travel buddy in the world, I would say she is a professional! She has daddy wrapped around her little finger that is for sure!! There is NOTHING he won't do for her!

The other day I gave her a drink of water and this what she said after drinking it "That was a nice refreshing drink of icy cold water 'she said smiling'" Seriously I thought I would die when she said it too funny. She is such a joy and I love all that she teaches me EVERYDAY!

Then

Now

Bingham Reunion - Continued

The rain set in mid afternoon on Thursday. Forcing us to take cover, while the tough ones weathered to storm and finished working the cows.

Who doesn't love the Bingham Family Reunion? August 6th -8th

Everyone FAVORITE cousin Jason!

The anticipation for the BINGHAM Family Reunion is right up there with CHRISTMAS! The drive up is pretty fun too. We had 2 full vehicles - my TAHOE and Theresa & Calvin's truck & TOY hauler. Everything was full of PEOPLE or fun things for people!!! We head out or the 8 - 9 hr drive to North Powder with our HANDY DANDY walkie talkies (yes 8 of the 11 of us have CELL phones BUT). About 35 miles into our trip we HEAR Theresa yelling (on the walkie - talkie) BLOWOUT - BLOWOUT WE'VE HAD A BLOWOUT !!!!! (it's a good thing we had our "EARS" on) So she tells us THEIR "20" and we turn around to help them. Two new tires for the toy HAULER and we are back on the road. The only problem is now it is LUNCH time. So 15 MINUTES later we stop for lunch. All the while every time we see HORSES or cows Alexus and Cody ask "IS that Oregon?" Mind you we are ONLY in Tremonton! The next time we stopped for a COKE I mean GAS Cody said "let me guess we're NO where near Oregon" LOL do you THINK he had heard that a time or TWO?? Any whoooo the rest of the trip was uneventful and pleasant.

We PULLED in to Jason and Stacy's just at dusk. We QUICKLY set up our tents OH and my new FAB air mattress so we could get the PARTY started. We headed OVER to Uncle Dales to see everyone. The adults VISITED and the kids had a chance to get REACQUAINTED.

First thing on the AGENDA for Thursday morning was working COWS then breakfast. Alexus and I were going to CATCH up with everyone at breakfast. So she was in SHORTS and flip flops when we had breakfast PERFECT right. Well the next thing I know she is ON a horse headed out to the PASTURE to herd the cows. Uncle Dale LED the horse that she and Erika RODE. From what I here she TALKED his ear OFF - sorry about that! One of her CONCERNS was that she did not have her "COWGIRL" stuff on. LUCKILY Uncle Dale said it was ok THIS time. You can BEST believe she had her DUDS on for the next round-up. The COWS were given shots and branded. Everyone was there HELPING or watching.

Hunter is so DANG cute!

TO BE CONTINUED...

Swim Lessons July 20th to July 30th

Alexus and Jace took swim lessons this summer and they both did so good!

Listening to the teacher
Face in the water blowing bubbles, kicking and learning arm moves
The last day was play day. It took Alexus a long time to get the nerve to jump - watch!

So close - Keep trying!

Woot Woot - She did it - even if it wasn't a back flip!

Spanish Fork Rodoe on the 24th

The Spanish Fork Rodeo on the 24th is always a family affair. Some years more so than others. This year was no exception! Papaw has never missed - I however cannot say the same is true for me. This year my mom was even in attendance - really!

Uncle Allen and most of his family and grand kids came

Alexus and Cody YEE HAW!

Alexus is a little bit Country and a little bit Hip Hop with her Cowgirl shirt and boots and her Apple Bottom skirt!

At the end of the Rodeo the kids went down to watch the cowboys ride their horses. One came over to let them pet the horse and asked if they wanted to ride. Cody and Alexus jumped at the opportunity!

Random summer pics

Zack and Cody Flew out to Salt Lake a couple weeks before the rest of their family to spend some time with Mamaw and Papaw. While they were here we tried to keep them busy and have as much fun as possible.
We took TRAX down to the Gallivan Center for Disney Days. Radio Disney puts on a FREE party once a month throughout the summer. They have fun games, Disney dancers, water slides, bounce houses and lots of fun stuff to do.

After much hesitation Alexus finally comes down the water slide. She loved it!

They were giving out Creamies and milk mustaches - too cute!

One day we went to the Museum of Natural History (used my Utah kids Club card and received a sweet discount). We saw dinosaur bones, bugs, frogs and B E A utiful jewels from all over the world.

Our stake had a float in the kids parade on the 24th. The theme was "Building Eternal Families". They put a picture of every primary child's family on the float and the kids all had on tool belts and construction hats (we had to modify Alexus' hat of course). James pushed Alexus in a wheel barrow down the parade route. She loved it!

About a week before the 24th the Days of 47 committee have a Family Fun Day at This Is The Place Park for FREE! They have games, free horse rides, petting zoo, train rides and tons of crafts and art projects. Alexus remembered painting last year and could not wait to do it again. She is definitely an artist in the making - just look at that amazing picture !

Alexus had not been feeling very well for a couple days so Jace told his mom that he wanted to give her some flowers. They picked this cute little bouquet from their yard for her. What a thoughtful young man!

I HART SAWYER BROWN! June 20th

Our city is celebrating 150 yrs this year so they brought in Sawyer Brown for a FREE concert! Can you believe it? When me and Debbie went to school in Cedar City Sawyer Brown came every year. That is where my love affair began. I think I even cried I was so happy to be there. Please forgive the mini concert to follow!

Ya gotta love his hand jive!

Yeah baby the signature spin! Woot Woot!

Annual Fathers Day Pics

YES we had our annual Father's Day photo shoot! And YES we took a gazillion pictures! And YES we even had a few turn out!

These pictures are so fun to give to Papaw for Fathers Day -he (I mean they) loves to get them every year. It is fun to look back at years past and see how the kids change.

Jace Has a Duck! May 11th 2009

Jace has a little duck chick that he got when it was still in it's egg. He kept it warm and watched it hatch - PRETTY COOL HUH!

Oooooohhhhh the poor little thing! The kids smother it relentlessly! They chase it, pick it up, put it the water take it out etc. etc. After a few minutes we have to just put the little duck away to protect it.

Ella & Preston had a Birthday Party May 9th 2009

Preston and Ella are cousins in Alexus' class at school. They have birthdays within a few days of each other. So their parents had a joined birthday party. Alexus always has to clarify which Ella - she describes them as Ella that goes to my school and Ella who doesn't goes to my school. So this is the Ella that goes to her school.

Alexus and Ella aren't they both darling!

Alexus is learning how to "give" a present. She always thinks that she gets to keep it "after" she lets them open it. It is sad because she really gets heart broken when she realizes it isn't "hers".