Memorial Weekend Memories

We had serious plans to go camping over Memorial Weekend but alas this Utah weather changed them due to some lame rain and cold temps..so we packed the crew up Saturday afternoon for some outdoor fun at a nearby mountain park...here are some pics of the great time we had...





The Gang..Lillie, Sophie, Ellie, Mags, Taylor, Grady, Brooklyn, Connor, Rhett & Isaac




The Dad and his girls..soon it will be four!




Sophie and Maggie and the flowers they picked for me




Mags soon figured out how to quickly behead all the flowers




A fun game of ring toss



Do you think she liked the s'mores!

So serious dude...don't interrupt the s'more eating

This One Goes Out....

A quick shout out to the man of my life...today we celebrate a solid 12 years of love, laughter, tears, and craziness. It's unimaginable to think where I would be without him by my side for all these years. He teaches me every day about the kind of mother, wife and person I want to be..he totally makes me better. I love him for his patience, good-heart, the amazing father he is and for so much more. Is this getting sappy enough for you? So Happy Anniversary babe. We spent it at baseball games, watching Connor with the whole fam...which equals a never dull moment...the car ride alone is pretty much suicide :) But we made it...screaming and all. Why is it that Maggie HATES the last 30 minutes of anywhere we go and Connor just has to give his sisters' massive wedgies?

So this one goes out to the one I love...thanks for the best 12 years of my life babe! Here's to a bajillion more!

Late Easter Pics

Better late than never right..I thought I better document our 2011 Easter...

Seriously..this is the best age ever..Maggie opened every egg with an utter gasp in disbelief that there would actually be something inside one of the eggs..so stinkin' hilarious.

Randomness

I'm not very consistent with blogging lately..sorry. I'm sure you all miss my wittiness:) So here are a few random thoughts...

Last week, I was going outside to take the trash to the curb...I was in my sweats. So was my neighbor..he was in those ugly flannel pj bottoms..ya know? Anywho..as we were both taking out our trash, we did the whole neighborly wave and hello...and as I was walking into my house I thought how weird it was..not to wave and say hello (although I'm not sure they are really fond of us for some reason..I mean they totally should be... I am way fun) but it was just one of those weird grown-up moments. Like I forget that I am one..a grown-up that is...and that I have trash to take out..and a house, and a house payment, and four kids, and one more coming, and a husband, and bills, and insurance crap and all that grown-up stuff. So weird! I don't feel like a grown-up. I mean it totally beats high school and the dating years...wouldn't go back to those days..just a moment...

And also on my mind...we are selling our car. We need a bigger one and let me be truthful. We actually considered a minivan (no offense to all you who drive one...I think they are fantastic..just not for us). Actually we really considered it...even took one for a test drive and my kids were enthralled with the automatic doors...but the bottom line is that us Belnaps go up to the mountains...a lot...and  a minivan just won't cut it. So we are in the market for a big, ol', gas-guzzling Suburban. We put our car on KSL on Sunday and have had 2 calls...One guy even came and test drove it and said he was "really interested"..But that could mean crap as far as I'm concerned so we'll see....Here's a pic if you want it or know someone who does...it's been a great car..just outta room

Other thoughts..I am consumed with trying to think of baby names. I'm pretty picky and opinionated about names. Sometimes I think there should be a baby name police..so crazy people can't name their kids things like Bronckston or Shalianna or Thor or other weird names that people can't pronounce..(Sorry if you are reading this and your kid is one of those names) I mean I know people aren't in love with the names I choose but at least they are semi-normal, spelled normal and you can pronounce them. I love names that are different than names that are everywhere like "Ashley" but not too weird that their teachers at school are wondering what parent in their right mind would name their kid "Hash Brown" (true story) So here's the scoop...I like old-fashioned names for girls but not so old like "Ethyl or Alta or Mildred." Truth be told, I look for names in the obituaries..so give me your ideas..think of your Grandmas and let me have it..unless you are too scared too because of this post...you guys get my drift right..ok then...let's hear some names..did I totally offend everyone..Sorry.

Who Knew???

I never thought I would have a family of 4 children. I'm not sure I even gave it a ton of thought in the beginning of our marriage but I definitely knew I would have kids...and ever since Maggie turned one-ish..the thought was almost constant..nagging even..in the back of my mind...that maybe there was one more baby who was meant to come to our home. I thought Maggie was a boy..even at the ultrasound, I didn't believe the tech lady. But we were so happy to get that little girl..she is an absolute joy and makes me smile constantly.

So the thought persisted for months..should we or shouldn't we? Isn't 4 enough? Yes..4 is definitely enough...or not? We could not make up our minds and the decision felt so urgent. So thinking we had one more little boy who was meant to come to our home, we didn't try, but didn't not try and in January I found out I was preggers. It was touch and go during the month of February and I was certain I would miscarry. But that baby hung on and my belly and thighs (insert big sigh) started expanding.

Today at 9:00 am we went in to have our ultrasound and discovered we are pregnant with a GIRL!!!

So the bottom line is that we are super excited for this little angel to come to live with us and she will complete our family! And also I am not as in tune with the spirit as  thought :) I actually started thinking it was a girl about a week ago. TBut it's all good...this way I have no new crib bedding to get..her room is set up..just gotta move little Maggers to a big girl bed and we have girl clothes galore..so now it's onto names which I think are a whole lot easier than boy names.

And yes you might think I am crazy..and I may just be. I mean 5 kids? Nobody has that many kids these days and I almost was hesitant or justifying when people would ask me..but you know what? I am not sorry or ashamed or embarrassed... because in the end..the real end, it's all family. All of it! And we will be a crazy, hormonal house of women...plus Connor who already threw a fit when he found out he was not getting a brother. But we will be happy and I feel complete and I have waited for that feeling (and I know Nate is finally glad I have that feeling:) 4 girls and a boy. Who would have ever guessed it. Certainly not me..but I feel enormously blessed. So here's to breaking out the fat clothes, the chubby cheeks, the pressure in the crotch, the crazy sense of smell, the pumped up boobies (well sort of..I'm not sure there is much hope for mine), the sleeplessness, the exhaustion, the sudden outbreaks of tears...I mean the list goes on.

If I can make it through this emotional, physically demanding time, we will welcome a baby girl this October and we are thrilled....although Nate is having some anxiety about all the girls' basketball he will have to endure (I mean lets face it..it is sort of rough and totally not as exciting to watch as the boys' is..can you say "jump ball" repeatedly)