all kinds of updates

I actually have the time and brain power to update the good ol blog... Tomorrow we head to Seattle for a weekend trip, we are all so excited, all 5 of my siblings will be there, and we'll get to see brand new baby Peter, Annika, Analiese, Aniva, and Gavin. how nice of all my brothers to pick practically the same name. But how fun to have kids the same age! Not mine of coarse, my girls will be the ones babysitting, and doing all the dishes for the entire extended family! Poor girls,It's just not fair! They are just kids too.... Sorry, I just had a flashback of my cousin Amy and I. :)
Now onto my cooking adventure, things are going really well with my cooking goals. I haven't found an apron yet, because I'd rather make one out of a towel. I think that would be cute. Anyway, I have planned out the entire month, and so far, so good. I did cook most of the meat after shopping, so that it would be easier to throw the recipe together. That helps immensly! I saved some chicken and steaks to cook fresh. But, we've tried alot of new dishes, and it's been fun. I think I'll definitely keep going.
Speaking of towel things, I made the girls each a pair of pajama pants out of towels, why you say? Because they are all on swim team and over the winter they'll have their toasty warm pants to wear to the car.. I am quite impressed with myself, I even put an iron on patch of their initial on the bum. The more I sew, the more I see that I'm going to have to buy a serger. No question about it.
My parents and Jim's brother Mike's family all survived hurricaine Ike. My dad said it sounded like a train going by right outside the window, all night long. He said it was awful, but he didnjoy using his chainsaw right away. Mike's family did well also which was a huge relief! Strangely enough, just last month my dad connected the generator to a light switch in the house so all he'd have to do is flip the switch and the entire house had electicity. Great timing!
The girls are enjoying school, swim team, and piano lessons. I am certainly at my limit for activities. And believe it or not, this is a breeze compared to the summer. Now we just need to figure out how to get them to pick up after themselves.
We have 3 foster babies right now, and the girls love it! We have David who is 2, Makayla 1, and Dradin 6 mo. It sounds insane, but we enjoy it, and this is how I imagined I'd feel doing foster care. They are all adorable, and some days it's hard but I enjoy it.
So for now, that's the update, I'll post plenty of pictures from Seattle.

Trip to Utah

This past weekend we went to Utah for Courtney's big weekend. It was so much fun! Courtney Jane Binns is now by the judges stamp, a Binns. But she already was anyway, although it sure is nice to have all that paperwork out of the way. Courtney was sealed to her parents in a beautiful ceremony and then it was party time. We did all kinds of fun things including going to the state capitol. We enjoyed seeing Binns cousins and even playing hide and go seek. It is quite fun when all the adults play too. And the party would not be complete without a cartwheel from David. I had to do a cartwheel too, uh... that was painful. I also got to see my dear friend Kacie who I've known since I was 14. We talked and giggled the whole time just like we'd seen each other yesterday when actually it had been 9 years! It definitely won't be 9 years again. She is family & it is really beautiful to have an "old" bff. You know what I mean! All in all, it was a great weekend.

New nephew!

We have a new nephew! Peter Erikssen Bjorn, son of Erik and Nekell Bjorn. Weighing in at 8lbs 13 oz. So happy!!

this is rich

The Italian edition of Vanity Fair seems to be very interested in Presidential hopeful Barack Obama.

The mag went so far as to travel to Africa just to find one of Obama's brothers, George Hussein Onyango Obama.

The mag found him living in poverty just on the outskirts of Nairobi, in a small town called Humura.

He claims, "No-one knows who I am. I live here on less than a dollar a month."

George Hussein lives in a tiny shack, decorated with football posters of two major Italian players.

The mag goes on to describe the almost seven by ten foot little shack in more detail, adding that he also has a calendar showing some of the world's most exotic beaches. What, no Italian model calendar?

He also is said to have a front page newspaper photo of Obama.

George Hussein told the mag, "I live like a recluse, no-one knows I exist."

Being embarrassed by his current situation, he says, "If anyone says something about my surname, I say we are not related. I am ashamed."

George Hussein, at 26 years-old, is the youngest of Barack's half brothers. He shares the same father as Barack, Barack Hussein Obama.

He's only met his famous brother twice. Once when he was five years-old and the second time back in 2006 when Barack visited Nairobi on a tour of East Africa.

George Hussein adds, "It was very brief, we spoke for just a few minutes. It was like meeting a complete stranger."

Obviously.

As for Barack, he makes mention of his half-brother once in a small paragraph of his autobiography, describing him as a "beautiful boy with a rounded head".

Vanity Fair Italia says that for almost ten years George Hussein has had a rough life, though he is now trying to better himself by enrolling at a local technical college.

Living in his country is still rough, as George Hussein explains, "Huruma is a tough place, last January during the elections there was rioting and six people were hacked to death. The police don't even arrest you they just shoot you. I have seen two of my friends killed. I have scars from defending myself with my fists. I am good with my fists."

Apparently we are all supposed to divide up our wealth and share so noone is poor, except for Obama himself! Geez, he couldn't spare even $10?!!!

I'll try not to be political again, sorry!! But YOU MUST BE KIDDING ME!

chef Bingy

I take after my father. I am always either obsessed with finding the perfect item, or accomplishing whatever project it is that I'm obsessed with. My dad is obsessed with finding the perfect sunglasses,pen, or watch. When he isn't pursuing that, he is modifying something at home with whatever gadget he has in the garage to modify it. For instance, I once caught him drilling holes in his crew bag to make it more aerodynamic while walking through the airport. I'm not saying it's a bad idea... So my obsessions are, purses, earrings, home decorating, etc. My latest project obsession is has been maniacally organizing the house. I am pretty leveled off on that one, because most closets and cabinets are now organized with military precision. Now onto my next obsession. Cooking. I have planned a menu on the calendar, went shopping with a listand now I have to add to the cooking mayhem. My goal is to use my Binns family cookbook from my sis in law Jeanett, and my Price family cookbook, and use every single recipe in them.
I am a chicken when it comes to food. I never order anything new at restraunts for fear of wasting money or the eating out experience. I never try new recipes for the same reasons. Luckily my kids are good eaters, so they should be game. Now it isn't like I'm using some fancy recipe's. These should all be extremely edible and safe. But the benefit being us eating something different than the standard 7. So, that's my first goal, to use every single recipe before repeating. My next goal is of coarse finding a cute apron. I've heard that cute aprons are all the rage, so if someone could direct me to one, I'd appreciate it. Because just as everything else, this is extremely important.
Jim loves to laugh at (not with) our antics, but I just say it must be the adult ADD keeping the creativity flowing. So, I will be posting my adventures with food, hopefully all goes well. The rest of the month is all planned out, so I'll be starting in September.
So, this is my latest obsession, hopefully it ends well.

First Day

Just a quick picture of the girls on their first day of school. Kimrie is in 5th grade, Mallory in 2nd. Abbey is in kindergarten but doesn't start till next week. She isn't so happy about that. We were teasing Mallory and calling her sporty spice because of her choice of clothes for the first day. She just wanted to be ready for P.E.

I love the Olympics

The best Olypmic moment ever! This was so exciting!