Jingle Bells, Batman Smells...

My lovely title is all thanks to my sweet nephew, Abram, who just so happened to be obsessed with the little Jingle Bells alternative.

It was the theme to the Bingham family Christmas this year! I have a new found appreciation for my parents allowing me to keep my vocal chords after having to listen to that song over and over and over and over...Tho
ugh Abram's voice is precious so that made it much easier to tolerate. With all the big kids around, Christmas was more about them than the "babies" (Judah, Gabe, and Bella) but the babies still had a lot of fun playing with the boxes, paper, ribbons, and the occasional toy. The Bingham Family Christmas spans 3 days as the family is so big and it takes that long to get everyone together. There was dinner, conversation, game playing, movie watching, hiking, reading by the fire, and, with 7 kids under the age of 6, little sleep. It was great though.

At the Mimi and Papaw's (Mike and Karen Thacker) Jim and Rita brought their Wii and the Mario World game. Now, most of you don't know this about me, but I used to be a pretty serious gamer. I have since traded in all my systems and games for sanity. Jim and Rita were playing at first and then Matthew jumped in. When Matthew was done sucking (I love you, sweetheart), he persuaded me to take a turn. I have to admit, I loved it. It almost made me want to get a Wii again, almost...After Wii and dinner we opened presents. Judah had a blast with all his toys and then the Papaw brought in the big gift, a painted and polished hot rod complete with flames down the sides. It's a metal pedal car and he's not exactly big enough but he is more than happy to "Flintstone" it.

Christmas this year was crazy and fun! Judah was so into it and loved, loved, loved opening presents, his or otherwise. It actually became a trial to keep him off the other kids gifts. He wanted to "help" everyone. He was showered with gifts from every single loved one and not a single gift has been a loss.

He got a wealth of Little People and Little People "stuff", some Weebles and the Weeble Village, a Leap Frog ABC Caterpillar, an animal puzzle, Mega Blocks and a Mega Block Truck and Firetruck, a chair with his name on it, and his very own hot rod. He also got some great clothes and some big boy Stride Rites.

Here are the pictures:


"Whoa, this is Mine?"


"Almost there"


"Geez, this is sooo nice"


"This is my throne. See it has my name on it"


Dadda and Judah in his brand new Spiderman Shirt, AWESOME!


"Can we go Nigh Nigh now?"


"This is my ride, oh yea!"


"What? I thought you said I could go?"


"Scout, you're my new BFF."


"Here, let me get that for you!"


"For me, Ah, you shouldn't have."


"Mario, you aren't doing me any favors buddy."


"Frick! Why do I suck so bad!"

I know, I know...Thanksgiving...

Ok, so I know Thanksgiving was like a month ago and I still haven't posted. I 'm sorry. I am literally 1 day from finishing my Masters and Student Teaching. I have just been covered up.

Thanksgiving this year was great! Judah is such a different child this year. He would have to be though because this time last year he was 1 month old. He's into everything and loving his new independence. It's both incredibly cute and frustrating. Can it be both????

So my siblings came into town the Wednesday before and we just hung out. We snacked and watched Christmas movies. Thanksgiving morning we had a simple and small breakfast and then headed over to Mamaw's and Papaw's for a quick visit. Papaw is still kinda low on energy so he can't handle too much at once.

After that, we headed to Iney's for hours of gluttonous behavior. We eat all the amazing food that Iney always makes and then laid around and watched the kids play. The bigger kids and Dads went outside and played a game of tackle football while the rest of us stayed indoors and tried to stay warm. It was uncharacteristically cold this year. Matthew braved the weather to get some pics and we opted for some family pics as well.

Once an hr or so passed, some of us went back for seconds. Judah had his first experience with Iney's famous Date Nut Cookies. I say famous because all the grand and great grand kids LOVE them. Judah kept true to the Bingham name and couldn't get enough of them. I actually had to take some with me for the rest of the weekend as treats!

After eating to the point of explosion, Matthew, Judah and I ran back to Mom and Dad's to get the food I made for Grandy's (Matthew's Grandfather) and then we headed there for our Second Thanksgiving dinner. The food there did not disappoint either and we ate more than we should have. Judah enjoyed turkey and dressing for a second time but wouldn't have much to do with anything else.

He cruised around on his knees showing off all his words, which now consist of:
Cat, Hat, Sock, Shoe, Pants, Dow (down), Pop (up), Peas (please), Moa (more), Cook (cookie), Mulk (milk), Eyes, Nose, Doa (dog), Oorse (horse), Tur-Tle (turtle), Baw (ball), Two, Toe, Tuck, (truck), Track (tractor), Nighnigh (night night), ugh-oh, Dudah (Judah), Papaw, Papa, Momma, Mimi, and Nana.

Every time I hear him say something, I'm like, "Whoa, was he saying that the other day?" He's such a sponge, learning everything he wants too. And of course, if you have spent anytime with him you know, is the key. He's gonna do it when HE wants to do it and not a second sooner. He's beginning to take an interest in walking but will only think about doing it when there is something or someone he really wants to get.

Anyway-back to Thanksgiving. After stuffing ourselves, we went in the living room and talked until it was time for Judah to go to bed. He had refused his nap that afternoon, what with all the excitement that he had partaken in that day. But before we went, I got to see him do "Itsy, Bitsy Spider" with his Mimi (which is what he has named Matthew's mom, I love it!!!) He sat on her lap and watched her intently as she sang and did the hand movements. I watched closely and realized that he was trying to do it the hand motions too. Absolutely Adorable!!!! I love that he has that kind of relationship with her. Matthew documented this too!

We got home, put Judah to bed, which he was asking for before we got him in the car, "nighnigh, nighnigh, nighnigh..." "yes Judah we are going night night soon." So sweet. Matthew and I collapsed from exhaustion. My siblings were watching movies and we joined in for a bit but I quickly realized that I was in no state to be around anyone. I was too tired and loosing my sense of humor quickly. One needs their sense of humor when staying in a house full of 10 adults and 7 children, where 5 of the 7 children are still awake at 10 pm...I retreated to my bedroom for some peace and quite and was relieved to find my husband had followed me. We snuggled into bed and he read while I worked a crossword and our son slept. Is there anything better???
So without further ado, here are the Thanksgiving memories you all logged in to look at:

The entire Terry Bingham Clan!
(from left to right, beginning on the top row: Billy, Eli, Cara, Papa Doc, Abram, Ellen, Obed, Jarad, Marshall, Josh, Brandi, Gabe, Judah, Wendi, Matthew)

The Kellett Family

The Jarad Bingham Family

The McMillins

The Thacker Family

Cara and Dudah (this is one of my favorite pics of all time)

Playing in the mud by the lake 1
(Eli, Marshall, Uncle Jarad, and Abram)

Play in the mud by the lake 2
(Marshall, Eli, Uncle Jarad)

The big boys after the mud incident and an outdoor shower...Can we say exhausted?

Judah and his Papaw

Mimi doing "Itsy, Bitsy, Spider". SO sweet!!!!

Yay for Matthew!!!

I wanted to take a quick second and brag on my husband who has taken the plunge into computer certifications.

If you know him, you know he is uber-smart. He has the skills and the talents but none of the "paperwork" to prove it. He has been working for The White Stone Group doing computer "stuff" for about 2 years and has excelled tremendously. I couldn't even begin to tell you what he does everyday but I think it has something to do with VOIP and Servers. And just so you know, I only know what VOIP is because of the show Numb3rs (which is amazing if you haven't watched it).

So he's really good at what he does. I decided about a month ago that he should take some certification tests just so he has the titles and paperwork to show that he "can" do it, for those who haven't seen him at work. He wasn't amazingly cooperative. I know, big shock. Matthew is an amazing man but has difficulty when he feels "pushed". And if you know me, I'm a "pusher". So when I got the idea in my head that he needed some certifications, he was gonna get them whether he liked it or not. And believe you me, he didn't like it...At first.

Then, I got a text after the first test. This is what it said, "I am the smartest man alive!" The man didn't just pass it but he ACED it. He was thrilled with it and so was I. I was sure this was what he needed to get him excited about more certification tests. I was wrong. He was just as stressed about this second test as he was about the first one. He studied a lot, more than I thought necessary and about an hr after the test time I got another text, "Again, I am the smartest man alive!" He aced this one even better than the last one.

So, in short, though it is way to late for that, my husband, "the smartest man alive", has his very first computer certification! Now if I can just get him to stop the whining long enough for me get him signed up for some more, hehe!

I love you sweetheart and I am amazingly proud of you! Congrats on your new A+ certification!

Let is snow, Let it snow, Let it snow!

Last Saturday it snowed! What a wonderful treat.
Judah woke early and as I sleepily trudged to his room, I caught a glimpse of the front porch! What's this, SNOW??? My mood was immediately altered.
I love snow.

When I was a child, it snowed all the time. I have wonderful memories of time in the snow. My little sister and I used to go sledding down treacherous roads, well they seemed treacherous at the time, until we were bruised and bleeding. We would ease back into the kitchen for hot chili and cocoa. Mom never scolded us for destroying our clothes. It was all in the name of fun in the snow. I remember my parents' pool freezing and my little sister and I skating around the edges, though our father had specifically told us not to. I remember roasting peanuts and drinking hot chocolate with my siblings after spending hours freezing to death to build the perfect snowman to show our parents. What times. What memories.

So when I saw the snow, though scarce, I couldn't wait to take Judah out in it. I raced back to bed and woke Matthew with the news of a White Saturday. He roused slowly and then joined us for pictures and giggles. Here's the evidence:

Behind on Pics...Here you go

I know that I used to post so much more often and that the posts used to be more, well...more. Hang in there, I am only 4 weeks shy of finishing my student teaching and having my Masters in Education. Things will get back to normal shortly after that, promise.

Here are some pics that Matthew has been snapping over the last 4 weeks. Enjoy!


This is my hammer and I will bang it all day long!


"On. Off. On. Off. On. Off." Never gets old.


He has know idea that the tickle monster is on the move.


"What?"


"Caaaa-T". Judah's first word! I love it.


Isn't Marshmallow the sweetest? Judah is literally ripping her hair out and she is totally putting up with it. Can't wait to get her home and in the house where she longs to be!


"Ok, that's about enough. Does this kid not know the meaning of personal space?"


Time for the fit we were all waiting for when marshmallow wised up and hid in the garage.


(Lady Thacker, Reporter, Sweetest Skeleton Ever)
Halloween with the Thackers.

Fall 2009

Fall is my favorite time of the year. I wait on it with a great anticipation, much like the way I feel after I pour my morning coffee but before I take the first sip. It's something to do with the combination ever changing leaves, perfect weather, and early darkness.

My parents driveway is lined with 20 something trees that were planted almost 30 years ago. During the Summer months, they form an excellent canopy of multi-green hues. Then, as if the trees converged one late afternoon and decided that they must be more versatile, the leaves begin to slowly fade. Just when you think there is nothing too these fall leaves, the faded tan turns to a warm yellow, the dull orange to a vibrant shade of pumpkin, the plain red to a awe inspiring russet tinged red. Every hue seems to work together to make a beautiful collage of color. The leaves fall and cover the road with a bright and delightful mess. I long to be a child again and spend my afternoons romping in the piles of leaves and throwing them up so they rain color on my head. Driving down that path in the midst of this change makes it impossible to ignore the existence of God. He must truly love us with an unchanging and undying love to give us such a rapture of beauty.

The other afternoon, Matthew, Judah, and I ventured out into the yard for a bit of Fall fun. We fed the horses apples, walked through the leaves, and finally, climbed up into our very simple tree house. Matthew climbed first. The deck was covered in a layer of leaves but the tree the house is built into still had a lovely display of leaves hanging from it's branches. I passed Judah up through the hole in the floor and they sat on the edge looking out at "their territories". Judah loves being "bop", which we figured out means up, so he really enjoyed it.

I stayed on solid ground to capture the moment. The picture below has become one of my favorites. How happy do my boys look.

Cancun 2009!

Pictures as promised:


Momma and Judah splashing in the water


Me and my good buddy, Gabe - just splashing around


With a little help, Judah was able to enjoy the "big boy" slides


Going down the slide with Momma


And then Dadda
There was an incredible amount of giggling


Water Cannon at the Pirate Ship play area - Judah kept trying to catch the water - So cute


The water park was exhausting - the little one needed a nap - Dadda's shirt was a poor substitute for Bunny and Blanket but it did the trick


Dinner by the beach after a long, long day at the pirate ship


Up is good, I really don't need to feel the sand again, thanks


I love you, Momma


Momma and baby's foot prints


Dadda, Momma, and baby Judah at dusk


Why are we outside so early?


Oh, so it's normal to get out of bed this early to look at "pretty sky"?


Ok, I can see why people might want to come out in the cold


Judah's first ocean experience


He didn't like it too much!


And he hated the sand


Ummm, what am I supposed to do with that thing? Cause I'm not putting it in my mouth
Judah gets to "hold" a sea turtle shortly after it hatched - amazing!


Once in a lifetime event - We got to help release about 500 baby sea turtle on the shore and watch them make their way into the ocean - still in awe

Though you probably can't tell, there are around 5 baby sea turtles in this picture wrestling with sand and seaweed to get to the ocean - the marine biologist told us that only 1% will survive to adulthood and that these little things will grow to be 3 feet long - being a part of this sacred event really reminded me that our God is amazingly creative and thoughtful - he has his eye on all things great and small - my husband just wrote a wonderful post all about about perspective - check it out here: http://www.accordingtomatthew.com/2009/11/disease.html

All in all it was a wonderful vacation and we are incredibly blessed to have family who love us and who we love. Thanks Mom and Dad for such a fantastic vacation!