Winner, Winner, Weekend Winner

I don't even care that this title post is super duper lame...you can totally make fun of it and I won't care. Wanna know why? Ok, so  you know how you love being a mom and you love your kids and they mean the world to you and you would do anything for them and blah, blah, blah? You know..all that good stuff right? Ok..well me too..but I also know that I need time for me..time that is few and fewer and far between. Like it doesn't stop with the kid stuff from early morning til late at night..and lets be honest, everyone needs a break..i don't care who you are. So..my bestie from high school and I have tried to plan a small getaway for months..but with 8 kids between us and 6 of them under 5..it can prove to be pretty much impossible..I said pretty much...are you getting excited for the good part of this story? I totally am...

So Friday at 1 pm after two failed planned trips, 6 or so babysitters, we jumped in the car and headed south. and let me tell you...these two mouths of ours did not stop moving for then next 24 hours..minus about 7 for sleep. We did the unthinkable...drove 2 1/2 hours with no potty breaks, no sippy cup refills and no cracker crumbs in the car...talked with no interruptions except our own, tangent impulsed, wandering thoughts (do you get that?) ...went to a total of 15 stores with no children to buckle, unbuckle, reprimand for touching, or take potty...ate dinner with no other mouths to feed first...went to bed by ourselves..no baths to give, diapers to change, teeth to help brush or toothpaste to clean up....slept through the night and started the next day with just us.. which i can't say for the hubby's..(apparently both of our babes were missing their mamas...(this is sounding just slightly depressing but you all get my point right?)...then we shopped our pretty little heads off the next day where we managed to squeeze in a couple garage sales, lunch at Kneaders and a long overdue pedicure. You're impressed right?

It was a little slice of heaven...fur real! Our husbands were champs as they entertained our large amount of chilluns...and the house was still intact and most of the kids were mostly dressed when I got home ( I mean how is Nate supposed to know a tunic still requires leggings..he thought it was just a "short dress").

And while it was a pretty much necessary trip, it was good to be home again..to feel needed..to know that what we do is pretty much next to super amaze balls! And to feel a bit of rejuvenation. Cuz let's face it girls..we know we are irreplaceable..we can conquer the day, raise our kiddos and look put together..but only if we get a trip with our girlfriends once in a blue moon. So I am putting it on the yearly to do list..

Thanks Amb..for a hysterical, pant-peeing, diet-coke spilling, diaper/whining free, utterly lovely, focused Christmas shopping, micro-mini vacay!

Some More Facts of Life

Fact- A lot has been happening here at the Belnap household..so much in fact, that I had to write all of my "facts" down on a pink sticky note so I could remember. I love sticky notes...

Fact- Remember how I had chickens? That's right.."had" as in past tense. It's a long story..but not really. I do and did love those chickens. I mean, I was the one who fed them, watered them and talked to them every day as I collected those cute, little, brown eggs. But lets get real for a sec...those chickens got super huge...and the coop my bros made..well... not so super huge. So I always felt bad that they were all cooped up..so I usually let them out..which led to poop and I don't mean a few poops here and there. No sir..these chickens pooped gallons..and all over my lawn and patio and it was disgust you know? (I didn't mean to say disgusting..you know how shortening words is so cool these days..anyways...) Plus, this cold weather meant their water freezing which was just another annoying thing to deal with ok? So, I did what any sane, loving chicken owner should do. I called up my friend who has a real farm and off they went. I like to think they are happy there with lots of other friends and the carefree spirit of being able to poop all over the place. Although, deep down I kind of secretly miss them..just them and their eggs tho..not their poop.

Fact- You know how you sing along to the radio..and sometimes you throw in a head and shoulder dance too while you drive? you know..especially when it's a good song and you know the words? (you're doing the little shoulder shrugs right now aren't you?) Don't act like you don't do it..so anywho..apparently, I am now old enough to be an embarrassment to my children..namely Ellie..who rolls her eyes and tells me how lame I am..and to make matters worse, she has brainwashed the younger 2 girls into thinking the same thing. Sheesh..can't a mom bust a move and still be cool? 

Fact- This little girl loves ranch..no explanation needed..and PS who doesn't love ranch?

Fact- Sophie went on her first Kindergarten field trip to the pumpkin patch. She thought it was so the bomb! (remember when that was such a cool thing to say "the bomb") Whatever...maybe since I am so cool, I will bring back it's coolness...sigh..i feel this post going down hill...

Fact- Back to Chloe..remember how she loves ranch? Well she also loves to feed herself...like bound and determined..will not eat unless she feeds herself..so this is what most meal times end up as...it might be the end of my patience and demise...and this was just lemon yogurt...but she might be on to some sort of amazing facial..

 

 Fact- Remember also how we have had 2 houses this past year? Well on Halloween, we finally closed on our old home..a little bittersweet, but such a relief to have done. 

Another Belnap Shin-Dig

We have birthday's coming out our ears 'round these parts. Maggie officially turned the big 3 on Sunday. I thought I would be all mom-of-the-year and hang streamers and balloons in her door frame so when she woke up on her birthday she would be surprised..such a good idea right? Yep..it was until she woke up at 3 am with the pukes which turned into the runs...and I tell you, by about the 8th time I had to go into her room, I was cussing those stupid balloons..I was fake karate chopping them out of the way..trying to save her sheets and bedspread from the puke..sigh...it was a long, stupid night. So we postponed celebrating her birthday until Monday...which turned out pretty fab

trying to run off with some of the birthday loot

Chloe was slyly checking out the new toys

A thank-you hug for "gramma kitchen" i mean you have to admit "Christensen" is a mouthful

And what 3 year old doesn't need a little princess make-up

And apparently, eye shadow is the new lipstick

Happy Birthday Maggie Jane...we love and adore you so much..your big blue eyes, big cheeks and big personality! And as a side note, everything right now to Maggie is "so annoying." "Turn that song off, it's so annoying" "This show is so annoying" Sighhhhh.....glad I am teaching them all things wonderful :)

The Birthday Bash!

We officially celebrated Chloe's birthday yesterday with the whole fam-damly...it was a packed day of conference, lunch, cake, presents and lots of catching up...here's how the big bash went down...

We started off with presents...

 She got 2 tubs of those smartie suckers..and that was pretty much the end of opening the rest of the gifts...this was seriously all she needed...

 A sucker for each hand...

 A sucker for cousin Kate...

A sucker for Sophie...

A sucker for Maggers and Aunt McCall...

And then came time for the cake...I know... don't be jealous of my cake decorating skills...actually, I think it turned out pretty good..I saw a cake decorated so cute on Pinterest and thought to myself how easy it would be and well...it doesn't look exactly like the cake I saw but I was semi-impressed with myself :)

Then onto the performance..and dissapoint she did not...although she was a little hesitant until she got a spoon..then it was all or nothing...

Then it was time to lay back and chillax with at least her 7th sucker and her two little cuz's..sportin their new tye dye tees..so stylish right?

PS..picture this picture re-created in about 18 years..could you die? So funny and we are gonna make it  happen...
Happy Birthday Chloe!

A Pumpkin Hunting We Will Go...

The thing about Halloween, is that it’s sort of an annual thing..so here we are again…at the beloved pumpkin farm. We hit it early this year and got a huge selection. Everyone picked their pumpkins fairly quickly…everyone except Ellie. She is our poky puppy when it comes to just about anything. But in the end, she found her perfect pick. 

This little demanding child of mine never seems to think I can do anything fast enough...I can't imagine why seeing as how I have 4 other kids...my lightening like pumpkin reflexes were obviously not up to par for her in this pic

The Big ONE!

Can you stand it! My baby turns the big O.N.E. today. As always, it blows me away that time can fly so fast..and is it me or does it just seem to go faster, the older we get? I may get slightly nostalgic, seeing as this is my last and these milestones will not happen again. I have tried to enjoy every minute of this little chica of mine..but with 4 other busy kiddos, it has proved to be super hard. Chloe is the epitome of the youngest of five..learning to brave the pulls, pushes, "loves", kisses and all that other stuff that comes along with all those adoring older sibs...they tote her, lift her, carry slash choke her and she still comes up grinning..well most of the time. She has learned to crawl, walk and keep up all at an early age..she has no choice..keep up or be left in the dust.

She has a mouthful of pearly whites, no hair (with the quickest reflexes you have ever seen to take a bow off of her head), the cutest grin you ever did see..you get it..the list goes on and on.she is basically perfect..minus the clingy mom effect that allows me to get nothing done. But I guess I'll take it.

She did not get one-year old pictures taken by a professional because A..she is the 5th child.. B..because I am too cheap...and C because we are going to get family pics hopefully soon so I really couldn't justify 2 photo sessions..so here are a few by yours truly..mostly I had to hurry and take a pic to make the deadline of our local paper..phew!

Happy Birthday baby girl!