The Facts of Life

Fact- you should always check pant pockets before doing laundry..this way you will not be surprised to see an Ipod touch when you are putting clothes from the washer to the dryer.

Fact- Ipod touches will be very clean but will not work if you wash them

Fact- $200 bucks down the toilet is not my idea of fun

Fact- My birthday was a few weeks ago...I got this gem of a chair for my bedroom

Fact- What is it about men and watching things in HD? I swear it looks the same as regular TV..but Nate begs to differ..and we all know I am totally right..

Fact- Also for my birthday, my brothers surprised me with something they made..it involves animals...they got me 4 chicks..and wait for it.......a chicken coop!

So from left to right we have, "Bird" "Feathers" "Ricky" & "Bugsy" I know what you are all thinking.."wow I must have clever kids to come up with those original names" When we asked Maggie what she wanted to name her chick..she simply said, "Ummm...Bird" and that was that. And don't worry, the boys made sure each one of my kids got one...so in 6 short months, I will be gathering eggs in a basket like they do on a regular ol' farm. This was definitely not in the life plan... but oh how these kiddos of mine love them...

Sophie and Feathers

Connor and Ricky

Here is the fruit of their labors..the coop..and behind it is the doll house they built several years back..you know the one that Rob almost lost his fingers to..but this year with the chicken coop project, you will be happy to know that no body parts were harmed.

Fact- You know that movie "We bought a Zoo?" Well I have actually never seen it but it sounds like what is going on at my house since Connor recently purchased a lizard or iguana (not sure which) and my kids are dead set that we are getting baby bunnies from the neighbors who have a bunny who is expecting. All this happening at a house where we were never having animals! Such a sucker I am becoming...but I swear if anyone gives us a cat or dog, it WILL be returned :)

Fact- We got our fence and tramp in...next on  the list..curbing, trees and shrubs..well as soon as I find a money tree..

Fact- Maggie loves sleep..she also loves Doritos..put em together and life is pretty perfect

Fact- I am totally a sucker for matching girlies..and curse the fact that I am becoming my mother

Easter Times Three

It seems like my photo-taking ability gets put on pause from Christmas until Easter every year..I am a total slacker these days in capturing the moments in my kids' lives.But here we are again at Easter and man did we party Easter/Belnap style. Here are an overload of pics from three different hunts.

First we dyed Easter eggs...only about 3 dozen but we had a million colors to choose from..

 Next we partied at G &G Belnaps for their annual hunt...here is Chloers chillen in her first swing ride

 Every year, my sis-in-law makes these Cascarones..or eggs filled with confetti..this year she went over the top and made a billion..she must have been saving eggs since before Christmas..she lives out of state and sent them for us to enjoy..Thanks a million Pete!

So the pictures somehow got out of order and here we are back to dying Easter eggs

This is Sophie on Easter morning at 9am..obviously she wasn't too excited to see if the Bunny came..I had to wake her up

You betcha I made these..thanks to Pinterest and my neighbor..and although they look super cute, they tasted nast-o...way to much salt.Not sure what happened but they went in the garbage.

These next pics are at Nate's Aunt's house. They used to have a huge hunt here every year when he was younger..and the last one was about 11 years ago. They made a reunion/Easter party of it and the pink clad jumpsuit slash white puffy hair who you might mistake for the Easter bunny is none other than Nate's Aunt Molly..she pulled off the whole sha-bang for over 200 people at the young ol' age of 80-ish...

This is a pic of what Maggie found on a different kind of hunt...at least she doesn't eat her boogers...she politely shows me and wants a tissue

Mags caught totally stealing the tulips

cousins..Katelyn, Brooklyn & Ellie...Brooklyn & Ellie are only 6 months apart..but you would never guess that with how much taller Ellie is.

Fact

Fact- Chloe is seriously the worst sleeper..last night she slept from 12:15 am to 6:30 am and I was in heaven (seriously she is 5 months old and weighs a jillion pounds..she should totally be sleeping through the night)

Fact- It's because of me..I am a terrible sleep teacher. after 5 kids you'd think I could learn..well apparently I can not.

Fact- You do not need birth control when you have 5 kids. Plain and simple..there is simply no time for any hanky panky..and if there is a few minutes...I am too tired. So lame. I might have to resort to sending them to a sitters to get any action around here..double lame!

Fact- We are getting a fence at the end of the month which is exciting but also not because it costs way to much money..I could totally decorate my house and furnish it with all the dough being spent on the kid catcher.

Fact- Last night as Nate and I were wrangling the kids into bed..ie..brushing/flossing teeth..getting pj's on..reading scriptures(why we do this I have no idea..I practically have to yell as I read about Alma because the kids could care less and then trying to discuss what we read is an even bigger joke)..getting kids drinks..having prayer..tucking kids in bed (Sophie at least 3 times)..etc..etc...you can imagine as I am chasing maggie down to put her jammies on and all the other kids are up and down and whatever..I say to Nate in passing.."do you really think that when these kids are all grown and gone that we are gonna miss this?" I mean you hear all those sweet, old ladies tell you that these are the best years of your life..but serioulsy..nothing sounded more heavenly than the thought of just watching a show and then heading off to bed in sheer silence and on my own terms..and maybe in time for some kissing. Phew..I am exhausted just recalling last night. And Nate's response was.."I'm sure we will..I think" Which I know deep down is true but..geez it's a tough one.

Fact- I got a new calling. I am the YW personal progress leader. I have never been in YW..not since I left my own self. I am totally scared but excited.

Fact- I love Maggie's age..she can be quite the bully but she can also be so nice. Yesterday at chuch, she came and sat on my lap. She put my ears/earrings in her hands and said, "Mom, I lub ya earrings" I replied," Well thank you Maggie."  She said,"Ya wecum (welcome)" So cute coming from a 2 year old..and such manners..(where she learned to be so polite I have yet to determine).

Chloers

Our little Chloers (as Maggie calls her) is 5 months old now and is all grown up..she is doing so much and getting so big...

She grins and grins and is very ticklish on her feet, hands and under her neck

She sits up all by her lonesome...but has just learned this..not yet mastered

She drools like nobody's business..all the time and has two bottom pearly-white toofers to show for it..but no pic of them yet

She loves her bath..and more so when she is by herself..and who could blame the little one..she only gets mauled to death by the sister giants every time they come near (Hello..just look at Maggie's face..and the way she is gripping that poor barbie...I'd run too)

And finally she loves her cereal and baby food..although she isn't too sure about the new poop consistency (can it really be that much harder to squeeze out?) and I am so not sure about the new poop smell..lovlies!

How We Roll...

Every year we try and make it up to the cabin during the winter..which is always a much more difficult task..instead of the breezy 45 min drive in a car, it takes us just over 2 hours in the snow cat...but the kids have a great time sledding up and down the hill..and tubing behind the four-wheeler. This year we went with Brian, Lisa and their family..along with Gma & Gpa Belnap. Here are a slew of pictures of the grand trip (huh..there's a word I don't use much.."slew"..kind of a fun one.) Enjoy!

Sophie & Lillie

Lillie, Sophie, & Mags all patiently waiting for someone to take them sledding

Ellie and Brooklyn

Besty brothers Brian and Nate

As luxurious as this looks don't be jeal..this big ol' Cat is quite slow and jerky which makes quite a ride..but it does get us up and down the mountain..this is how we roll

Poor Maggers..she loved riding on the snow "mouse" (as we call it) so much that she sleep finally won...and in about 30 degree weather nontheless

Here is where little Chloers hung out..sittin up like a big girl

Her new found sucking device...