The Bomb Chapter 2

by Evan Bingaman
Grade 5, age 10



Chapter 2 - Domination
Jeff sat up in his bed. "Just a dream. Better get ready for school."
After school..."I'm telling you, Edd. It was the strangest dream. I mean, it felt so real."
"Like the man dressed in pink?" Edd asked. Jeff suddenly fell to the floor. "Jeff are you okay?"
"Yeah, I'm fine. Just tripped over a box...A BOX! Edd, this is the box in my dream!"
"Sure, Jeff," Edd said. "Let's open it."
"NO!" Jeff quickly responded. Jeff got up off of the floor. "It may be dangerous, Edd."
"Well, Jeff. That's too bad." Edd picked up he box and opened it. "See just a box of clothes. Boy, did that scare you!"
"Clothes?" Jeff said.
"Yeah, see for yourself" Edd gives the box to Jeff.
"You're right, Edd" Jeff said. "But look at this. One of the shirts says 3 hours to domination."

The Bomb Chapter 1

by Evan Bingaman
Grade 5, age 10

A long time ago, there was a man. This was an evil man. I would tell you why but the FBI wouldn't permit it. What's that, you won't tell...well, okay then.

Chapter 1 - The Box
Ding-dong. "Jeff, can you get the door?" Jeff's mother asked.
"No, I don't feel like it!" Jeff responded.
"Jeff?"
"Fine Mom, I will." Jeff ran downstairs and opened the door. "Sup?" Jeff said. Standing there was a tall man dressed in pink. "Why are you in pink?" Jeff asked.
"My family was in a terrible fire," the man paused. "The only clothes I had left were my sister's.
"Okay?" Jeff said in a weird voice.
"I have a box for you, Jeff" the man said.
"How do you know my name? Jeff said frantically.
"Here is the box, Jeff." Then the man ran away. Jeff opens the box inside is a bomb that says "3 hours to domination."

Making Homemade Fabric Softener

We do a lot of laundry at our house. I used to go through fabric softener like it was going out of style. It gets really expensive so I found this recipe to make my own. This costs about $.02 per load (not counting the added water cost). From one batch, I am able to get 32 loads. The only fabric I have ever had a problem with while using this softener is my flannel pajamas. But to be honest, I don't mind a little static on my jammies.

How to make your own Fabric Softener:

Ingredients: 3 C water, 1 C conditioner, 1 1/2 C vinegar

Start with 3 C water

Add 1 C conditioner (I use coupons to buy conditioner. I can get a bottle (2 C) for $.50)

Use a whisk and mix together.

Add 1 1/2 Vinegar

Whisk again.

Pour into bottle of your choice.

Homemade Fabric Softener

3 C water

1 1/2 C vinegar

1 C hair conditioner (I use Suave)

Measure water into a bowl. Add conditioner. Whisk together. Add vinegar. Whisk again. Pour into a container or bottle of your choice. To use, add to your washer in according to the washers instructions.

First Day of School

Our decision to send the kids to Bricks and mortar school was a year long process. I have homeschooled since Evan was 3 years old. At the time of him needing to go to preschool, things were very tight for us financially. I figured there had to be another way so I decided to school him at home. Every year we would pray and ask the Lord what He wanted us to do for that year. We have felt that we were supposed to keep the kids home.

Last year was a really hard year for me as the teacher. I felt overwhelmed and burned out. Evan was in 4th grade. Lydia was in 2nd grade. Joshua was in Kindergarten. I felt throughout the year that I was in a constant battle. Attitudes, fighting, disrespect. I realized partway through the year that I didn't like to homeschool any more. I had no joy in doing it. I started praying and asking the Lord what He wanted for this year.

I told the Lord that I would homeschool again because I want to do what He wants me to do. I also told Him that I would school with a happy heart if that's what He wants for our family. I never got the desire back. I still had no desire to do it after praying for a while. I took that as confirmation about the decision to send them to school.

Thus the decision was made to send Evan and Lydia to the local public school. Since that has happened, we have seen such great changes in the kids. Evan has risen to the occasion. He uses manners. He is respectful. Lydia loves being with other kids. She is such a social butterfly.

We decided to keep Joshua home this year. Originally, we wanted to keep the kids home until they had a good foundation, in faith and in education. Joshua has been doing great since our decision.

I have been doing even better. The atmosphere in the house is totally different. I love not being stressed. I love not having to be the referee anymore.

Walking to the bus stop.

The Lydia's. We had to wake up Lydia Anne to walk with us. She still looks sleepy.

Some of the neighborhood kids.

Getting on the bus.

Still getting on the bus. There are 13 kids who get on the bus at our stop.

Still, getting on the bus.

Lydia and Chloe (a neighbor girl).

School is done. Joshua couldn't wait for them to get home.

Welcome home Lydia!

I Got Some Good News and Bad News

Date: Sept 30th 2009
Event: Joshua lost his first tooth at 6 1/2 years old.
How it happened: We don't really know. Here's the story...Joshua was brushing his teeth after eating lunch when he called out, "Mom! Come here quick!" I went to him and he told me his tooth was missing. I asked him where it was and he said he didn't know. We scoured the house for his missing tooth but to no avail. We never did find it. (Yes, we did check his waste products too.)

He called his pappy and told him, "Pap, I got some good news and bad news. The good news is I lost my tooth. The bad news is I lost my tooth."

He then requested spaghetti for supper that night so he could suck a noodle through his hole.

Hersheypark Happy

This summer we practically spent the whole summer at Hersheypark. We decided in September of last year that we wanted to do something special for the kids. We don't really go on vacation. We might do a day trip every now and then but have never gone on a real vacation. We decided that we wanted to do something that we could do all summer. $600 later we were the proud owners of 5 Hersheypark season passes. We had so much fun. We would go once a week with the whole family and then just the kids and I would go an additional time during the week and spend the day there.

Evan's highlight was being able to ride the Stormrunner.
Lydia's highlight was swimming.
Joshua's highlight was ZooAmerica.

I have notice through this summer that I am getting old. There were rides that I can no longer go on because of feeling sick. I can't even watch the Carousel anymore!



Lydia & Joshua on the Howler. I couldn't even watch this ride without being sick.


Evan & Alan on the Storm Runner. Evan loved it!


Joshua is a Reese's


Lydia is a Hersheybar


Evan is a Twizzlers.


Lydia on the Scrambler.


The most boring ride - The Frog Hopper. (I like this one!)


Joshua's last year to ride kiddie rides. He liked the dino ride,


Joshua loved watching the animal demonstrations.



Of all the times we have been to Zoo America, the bears were always sleeping. We were amazed the one time we were there and the bear was awake! There was one bear who was sitting in the water. There was a bee who kept flying around his nose. He was really funny when he would bat the bee away. Joshua got a huge kick out of it.

Funny Kid Pics

This is what happens when young people take your phone without you knowing about it.

This is the world from their point of view.

Happy 10th Birthday Evan!

Evan celebrated his tenth Birthday on August 2nd, 2009. The Bingaman family rules include only have birthday parties on big year birthdays (5yrs, 10yrs, 13yrs, 16yrs, etc.). Since this was a big year, he chose to have a big party which included several of his friends, a sleepover (in a tent outside), and a play date for the next day. The boys had a great time.

The Party Guests included:

Asher

Joshua

Cade

Judah

Matt

Josiah

Cake Time:

Evan drew the picture that is on his cake.

Present Time:

Game Time:

Marshmallow Towers

Charades: Click Here for awesome for charade ideas.

Outdoor Relay Races: