Red, White and Blue

Nothing changes much from year to year as far as the 4th is concerned...every year is the same..
Start with the parade..gather lots of candy
Go to the park - try to mingle with old friends while the kids whine, complain and constantly tug on your arm to go wait in ridiculously long lines for dumb rides..all while sweating to death.
Go to in-laws- bask in the air conditioning, have a big BBQ while kids swim
Go to my house- have another BBQ, light fireworks..listen to Sophie scream (she is terrified of fireworks), look at Maggie passed out from exhaustion
Go home- watch big city fireworks with neighbors
Go to bed..exhausted

Basketball shorts and his grubby, old Braves shirt were as dressed up as Connor was going to get..eh..at least the colors are right.

Lake Powell June 2012

This year we are super spoiled and get to go to Powell twice. We went last week with some of Nate's family and next month we go with my family..4 days, 8 adults, 14 kids, 1 houseboat, 2 sea-doos, 10 bottles of sunscreen and an endless amount of snacks and towels equal a crazy, never dull, fun time. Picture overload ahead...

this girl's hair has a mind of its own

.....and pose!

these 3 five year olds are such good cousins...Lillie, Sophie & Mace Dog

Belnap brothers and cousins..Connor & Isaac..the only 2 boys to carry on the Belnap name

I know what you're thinking.."where does she get her hair done?"

Mermaid sand tails ...Kate, Brookie & Ellie

The whole sha-bang..sans me who is taking the photog..my fav is Branny sporting his underoos..gotta love it

Shampoo and a rinse off the back of the boat

until next time...

Golf Balls or Bust

 Now that we live next to the golf course, golf ball hunting has become a nightly ritual at our house. It's actually becoming a little obsessive if you ask me. This is now what Nate considers "date night." Such a thrill looking for that little white ball (read with sarcasm) I had to go buy a 5 gallon bucket to contain them all..they were taking over my garage...we will never have to buy another golf ball..ever. And they are pretty pricey little suckers..Connor looks them up online..I think the most expensive one we have was originally like 5 bucks...who spends 5 bucks on one golf ball? Anyways so if you are out our way in the evenings, you will most likely see a herd of kids on bikes or scooters, looking in the dirt and under bushes..oh and a man in brown with his own butt poking out from under the bushes..such a kid at heart.

Chloe and more

 Fact- Chloe is now 8 months old and weighs almost a whopping 20 lbs. She is still a terrible sleeper and is a little high maintenance. How did she get so big? Seriously, this time stuff has got to slow down..and from what I hear from the old fogies, is that it just starts to go faster and faster..phooey!

Fact- Her favorite expression is to make an "O" with her mouth..she does it all the time

Fact- Chloe now has 7 teeth. 4 on top and 3 on bottom. She started out with her 2 bottom teeth and just fangs on top and I'm not gonna lie...I was pretty excited when the the two front ones came in..so what..I'm a little vain

She is already at a full blown crawl..she started a couple of weeks ago..my earliest crawler..and yes, I am bragging..I am the mom..I have those rights

Fact- Apparently, I now need to watch her more closely since I came in from watering the plants and found that she was screaming from the bottom of the stairs this morning..sorry Chloe

Fact- She can stand for a few seconds..but it freaks her out because she will realize she has nothing to hold onto

Fact- She was totally over me taking her pictures

Fact- The other day this cheesehead came running in just in tears. While she cried she told me, Connor called me a crybaby and I'm not a crybaby..I'm Maggie Jane!"

Fact- these girls love their dad...and as I am typing this, Ellie is reading this and says,"hey I love dad too" Then she noticed the title and is mad it's all about Chloe. You have to be fair with her around!

As of Late...

Fact- 13 years ago today, I married this hot stuff! We are celebrating tonight with McDonald's and garden planting. So exciting I know..don't be jeal! That's how things work when you have a bazillion kids and one hooked at the boob. Next year we are outta here come hell or high water. Love you times a million babe!

Fact- You know you are getting old when you use phrases like, "come hell or high water" those are things I'm pretty sure that old people use. Also, the other day I caught myself talking to a neighbor about their shrubs and bushes. During the conversation, I realized how old I must be because we were having a full on conversation about perennials and annuals and all that jazz...and what's worse is that I was totally interested in it...geeeez.

Fact- Since this is the last week of school, we are being bombarded with programs..Connor's 5th grade program was actually pretty amazing...very patriotic and a good reminder of all we are blessed with in this country we call America. He even sang (and by sang, I mean...moved his mouth every now and again very slightly) and did the actions ( and by actions, I mean he did not a one..boys are too cool for dancy actions right?). Very proud of this kid and I can't believe he will be in middle school next year. Talk about crazy!

Fact- Maggie found her winter boots and wore them all day..despite the 80 degree weather..you all know how that goes.

Fact- Maggie does not want to be potty-trained..it's totally annoying. I hate buying diapers for two kids. I could buy lots of the above-mentioned shrubs and perennials with that money..anywho the other day she told me she was stinky so I told her to lay down and I would change her..she replied,"cuz I stink like a dead dog huh mom?"

Fact- Everyday, I stand at the door with the 3 girls and we wave good-bye to Nate..and everyday I ask him if he remembered his phone and wallet. Today as he was getting in the car, my adorable, two-year old, Maggie asked, " Dad, you forget yer wallet?" Such a smartie pants that one!

Fact- Squirt guns that are bought at the dollar store are pieces of crap..I knew that in buying them but real squirt guns are so expensive  and I guess I was holding on to a smidge of hope..well smidge blown to smithereens...so I am off to buck up and buy nice ones..because really in the end, i know it will be worth it. Sometimes I hate that dollar store.

Fact- Our chicks are no longer chicks but big ol' chickens...it's true that things are so much cuter when they are small..like babies, and little shoes, and those little soft drinks you get on airplanes...but give us a few more months and we should be rolling in eggs.

Fact- Sophie graduated from Preschool...she was convinced that as soon as she learned the letter "Z" that she could go to Kindergarten. She is super excited. Next year I will have 3 kids in 3 different schools...that should be interesting...

Fact- The other day I went to lunch to our favorite Chinese place with with Alexis and my mom to celebrate Alexis' birthday. On the way there, my girls were discussing it in the car, and Sophie told Maggie, "you know they speak Spanish there."

More of our factual Life

Fact- Connor graduated from the "D.A.R.E." program at school..you know the program that teaches you about just saying no...so proud right? well then afterwards he told that like 20% of D.A.R.E graduates still end up doing drugs..great



Fact- This is an actual picture of the right hand that belongs to yours truly. That's right folks. Let me rewind to last Saturday. Nate had taken Connor to St. George for his baseball games and for the last month, we have had a huge pile of dirt sitting in our front yard just waiting to be shoveled into our flower beds...well I honorably told Nate I would work on that pile while he was gone...you see where this is going right? Well I shoveled, and shoveled and shoveled some more until that huge pile was gone and I was darn proud of myself. So the next couple of days go by and my forearm starts hurting worse and worse..I am trying to convince Nate that it really does hurt..it's bruised and a huge bump is protruding on the top..I think it is broken..well by yesterday, i was basically in tears trying to change diapers, etc..so off to the Dr's I went. Diagnosis..Tendinitis! What! Are you serious? Are you sure it's not broken or something that sounds slightly more legit. I mean isn't Tendinitis for people who like to wear braces or splints and need attention..you know those hypochondriacs that always have some sort of problem that sounds fake? And I have to wear this for a week? You know I have 5 kids right? The Dr. laughs and says...well I guess your sort of screwed..not funny. So immobilization for a week is the cure...hahahahaha..who is going to put hair in ponytails and wipe stinky butts and do dishes and feed kids...oh that's right..I am! So I am trying to be on my best behavior and keep it still..I even vacuumed left-handed! And let's get this straight..next time you hear of someone who has this Tendinitis, please feel sorry for them and sorry that you misjudged their illness because this hurts like a mother! I am so embarrassed..well I guess not embarrassed enough.. after all, I am blogging about it...

Fact- I love Nate..I love Nate more than a bajillion times...keep reading and you will understand the preface..so we have stated that I love Nate and I know he loves me..but Nate also loves sleep...
Chloe was sleeping through the night..for just over a week, it was pure heaven around here..everyone was getting their zzzz's and we were all happy campers..insert Chloe gets two top teeth and then a cold..this equals no more sleep and she is no longer sleeping through the night. And of course I am the chosen one who gets up with the little gem. This morning, after another sleepless night, I begrudgingly get up with the little bugger and start getting the kids ready for school..I secretly keep hoping the love of my life will realize that i have been up all night for like the 3rd night in a row and remember I also have a lame-o splint on my arm and come rescue me with something like "oh honey let me take Chloe and get the kids off to school..I know you have been up all night..why don't you go back to bed" I seriously must live in a warped dream world...because no one is coming to save the day..so I get more and more ornery as the morning goes on..get the kids off to the bus and sit down for some TV...a few minutes later, mr. sleepy walks around the corner and mumbles something that resembles he can watch Chloe.. but by this time I am just plain mad and I tell him that it's fine and he can just go back to bed.....Aghhhhhh! I am such a saboteur...because he does..he turns around and walks right back into his cozy, warm bed. What? No banter back and forth? We have been married for a million years and he still doesn't get girls. Doesn't he know that I told him to go back to bed, hoping he would rise to the occasion and tell me no and that I was the one who needed the sleep? Seriously..boys just don't get it do they? I mean I get that I could have and should have just said OK and marched straight back to bed but I'm a girl..this is what we do!

Fact- My girls had their dance recital last week. While getting ready, Maggie insisted on having her hair and make-up done as well and she wanted her own costume. She too wanted to dance on the stage. I tried to tell her that the dance recital was for Ellie and Sophie and that if she would go potty on the toilet that she could start taking dancing too...So we get to the recital, find our seats, get the girls backstage, sit down to enjoy the show and suddenly I can't find Mags. Nate and I are looking around us and in the aisles..finally I look up and there she is...up on the stage..front and center doing her twirls. Putting on a one man show. Holy Cow..I booked it down there..shocked that I actually have a child who isn't shy and is brave enough to do something like this. I did have to snag a few pics before bribing her to get down before the actual show started...silly maggie jane..

Fact- The other day I was leaving IFA (i know you are wondering what in the world I was doing at IFA right?) Well remember how I'm a chicken owner? So I had made my purchases and was getting into the car when I looked down  and I see what I think is a $5 dollar bill...of course I bent down to pick it up and it turns out to be a whopping $50 bucks. I did try to find the owner and left my name and number in case they came back but it never happened...so I wound up richer that day or at least with some more chicken feed money:)