Charleston & Happy Birthday Dad

The kids have not been anywhere this summer and so we made a weekend trip to Charleston for Chris's birthday. We started packing on Thursday night and the kids were soooo... excited! We were packed and already to go by lunchtime on Friday, but unfortunately Chris got held up at school. When Chris finally came home at 4:00pm the kids were out the door like rockets, ready to get in the minivan and hit the road. We hadn't even left the drive way before they wanted their movies on etc. I played hostess for the 3 hour drive there, feeding the troops and trying to keep everyone happy.

We had a great weekend. Saturday morning we spent on the Isle of Palms beach. We got there at 9:00am, which was a good thing. By the time we left at noon it was packed! The kids got to swim in the pool at the hotel, go to the aquarium and generally just enjoy being somewhere different. Sam cried when we told him Saturday night that we had to go home the next day. He really didn't think we had been away long enough.

The trip was also a good test run for our trip to Australia in November. We were quite pleased to see how the kids were able to settle down and all go to sleep in the one room together. Sam is still by far our best traveler. Owen is a tornado at the moment and even more so when he's out of his own environment- I guess that comes with being 2!











Ella took a 1 hour nap at the beach!






All ready for church on Sunday morning...
At the aquarium

Things to do when you're stuck at home!

Chris's 1991 Honda Civic broke down 2 weeks ago (for about the 5th time in 2 months!) and so the kids and I have been without a car while we're waiting to find a new one for him. This hasn't been all bad. Last week we were still able to go to the pool every morning, but this week, school started back and the pool has been closed during the day and so we've had to get a bit more creative with our activities. It's still very hot here in Georgia and if you don't get out before 9am, you'd better be doing something that involves water to cool you off or else you'll just be miserable and over heat!

So here are some pics of some of the things we've been up to this week to fill in our days..

A friend called from Target to say there were lots of toys for 75% off. She picked up a few things for me, most of which I was able to hide away in the attic before the kids could see them. I did not, however, get the picnic table below hidden away very well. Sam found it and so I decided to let them put it together. It took them 2 hours to screw together and then they played with it for 15 minutes!!

Here are the 3 monkeys making Anzac biscuits (oat cookies)

Ella has been doing some great art work lately. This one is a caterpillar...

Owen has been ready for potty training for a while. This week seemed like a great chance to let him get the hang of things while we are stuck at home anyway. He has been doing really well - only one accident today, and that one landed on the grass! It's great having older siblings to help - I haven't had to do much at all. Here he is getting clean - he LOVES climbing up on this sink and today I caught him just in time. He had the tap running with the plug in and the first drops of water spilling over...

Elliott hasn't been very happy this week and Sam has been a great help trying to cheer him up. Here is Sam "showing" Elliott his baby toys..

Laurel Lee and Robert's wedding

It's taken me almost 2 weeks, but here at last are a few pictures from Laurel Lee and Robert's wedding. Laurel Lee is one of Chris's 4 sisters and the one to come with us to Australia a few years ago.

Chris and I were able to fly out to Portland, OR with just Elliott for the wedding. It was so nice to have a few days away and it was so quiet with just a baby!! Elliott was a very good traveler and enjoyed the wedding too!

While we were gone, our friend Ashley looked after Sam, Ella and Owen. They had a great time - the highlight being a trip to Monkey Joe's (indoor inflatable slides) followed by dinner and more playtime at Chik-Fil-A. Apparently they were so tuckered out after that they all went happily to bed. Ashley did a great job looking after them all - even taking them swimming and to church on Sunday! Thanks again Ashley! There are some pictures of their escapades on Ashley's facebook page.

The Bridal Shower the night before the wedding...

Chris and Elliott at the Family brunch just before the wedding on Saturday morning.
The Portland Temple
The Bride and groom..

Aunty Laurel Lee with ElliottThe newest Bingham... little Malia
Chris's youngest brother, Bryant, is currently on a mission and so Laurel Lee had a life size cut out of him made so he could still be present in the photos. I found it a little freaky!!

Elliott smiling for the crowd.
Laurel Lee and Makena. Ella has decided she wants to grow up and be a princess in a white dress, just like Laurel lee!
Grandma and Grandpa