Can I Get An Amen

Seriously..can I get an Amen to all the working mothers out there..and a double Amen to all those single working mothers out there...Phew..I don't know how you do it..

My husband..my sweet, sweet husband..bless his heart..(yes you do detect a hint of sarcasm) likes to play sports..what guys doesn't? And he is good at it..for an almost 35 year old guy. Problem is, in his mind, he still thinks he's 18. His body on the other hand disagrees. Three weeks ago, he was playing rec basketball and in the blink of an eye, he was out and down. End result....surgery. Torn ACL, torn meniscus and a fractured tibia. (Insert enormous sigh and shaking of head)

So I bucked up and headed back to work so we could salvage some of our hard-earned savings. And ya know..I'm not gonna lie... it was kind of nice to have a little break. Nate has been able to gimp around enough to watch the kiddos and play Mr. Mom..which I am giving him a total A. It would have been an A+ but the kids still had homework to do when I got home and the laundry was piling up..but the house was still intact and pretty clean. He even had lunch made for me one day..OK..OK..he gets an A+..sheesh. And I got to feel like I was a real person who could talk to real adults all day long. It was quite amazing.

But by the time I got home, I was exhausted..and there were still those little things that needed to be done..homework, dinner, dishes, baths, laundry. There was never enough time. And through these trials that remind me of a lot of things like how our course of life never works out like we want it..or how small we are in God's plan of life, is that all we can really live by is faith..cuz you never know whats waiting for you just around the corner.

And  in the end..it will all work out and we both have come to appreciate each other even that much more.Cuz what we both do is super hard work..but we would never trade places with each other. But to all you women who do it ALL...day in and day out. A serious HOLLA and an AMEN. You gals are my heroes!

Ice.. Ice ...Baby

First off..we rarely have a day when we are all together..you know when not one kid has anything going on and the hubby is off work? Well we I thought it would be such a good idea to take the whole fam and go ice fishing. You know create memories..love each other..all that good stuff. I know right? What was I thinking?

Connor moaned and whined the entire trip about "why did the girls have to come..why can't they walk home?" So awesome..he loves them so much.

 Chloe lasted about 45 minutes, before her boots fell off..her socks got wet..she had tuna fish sandwich all over her..and she was about 2 hours past nap time..you see where the day is going. I honestly thought we might make it an hour...and that would include walking half a mile across the ice, setting up, seriously why do I think things like this would be a good idea?

 And this brown haired beauty should really be blonde..I sigh and shake my head often with her. As we were setting up..she was outside trying to "Facetime" her friend. I told her there was no WiFi on the mountain. She poked her head inside the tent and asked if we had service in there. You see what I'm sayin" ..sigh and head shaking. Why yes Ellie..we just had it installed...hello...please tell me she will grow out of this.

 But in the end, Chloe found a brownie and then fell asleep. Nate started slaying the fish and let us all reel one or two in. The kids made snow angels and pulled each other in the sled. Connor went to Uncle Brandon's tent where there were no girls and 4 1/2 hours we were still alive and had made it through. And when I asked Nate what he was laughing about..he shook his head and just said "this" meaning the whole day. It was crazy to say the least but we will chalk it up to some more Belnap memories! The end.

First Tooth

My six year old ball of spunk..FINALLY lost her first tooth last month. It had been weeks in the making..loose forever. And when she let me pull it out, she didn't even squirm. I think it was her best day ever! And the tooth fairy was out and about and on the ball..now there's something for a change! Congrats Sophie!

So New York

Before my trip to New York with my mom, 2 sisters and 2 sis-in-laws, I promised myself a few things. One, I was gonna branch out and try new foods. Two, I was gonna find a celebrity and see if I could really act all chill like, "Oh hi Kim and Kourtney..how's Penelope and Mason?" And Three, I was NOT gonna act like a tourist.

Then we stepped out of our hotel, onto Times Square and I was all amazed by the lights and people and I was whipping that camera out faster than I don't know... something fast..my ability to think of a good metaphor is drawing a blank..but I was fast..and sadly it didn't stop there.

So we hit the ground running (or jumping in the case of Lauren and Lex..which if you know the Christensens, you will know we don't go anywhere with out a jumping photo or two.)

I had to pay homage to my home girlies back at home with this pic of the ultimate Barbie wonderland. Seriously, it was an amazefest of all things a girl could ever wish for.

And as long as I had blown my cover of not being a native New Yorker, why not take a pic of my first Subway ride there. I mean that's a classic right? And we didn't even get mugged or nothin!

We stopped by for a session in the New York Temple. So crazy to have this right in the middle of chaos and all the hustle of the New York life. It was beautiful inside and was such a great experience.

That night my sister Alexis' lifelong dream came true and we saw Newsies on Broadway. She was in serious perma-grin mode the entire night. Now listen, I am not  Broadway guru, seeing as how I have only seen a handful of them in my life, but this was one of my favs. The dancing was incredible and Lex got to meet the star Jack Kelley. Wish fulfilled!

Our next stop was the 9/11 memorial. And if I am being honest, this was not particularly on the top of my list of things to do during our short stay in the Big Apple, but lesson learned...it became one of the highlights. There are 2 big pools where the towers stood with the names of over 2,900 people who lost their lives that day surrounding them. There was such a reverence there..it was definitely worth the time to go see it.

This is one of 7 buildings going up right around the 9/11 memorial. It will be done this year and will be the tallest building in the western hemisphere.

We then headed to Macy's which takes up an entire block and a New York block is like 4 of ours put together. This was the wooden escalator inside the store..crazy right? An old classic.

And you can't go to New York without heading to FAO Schwartz..the biggest toy store ever. And yes we danced on the "BIG" piano. and FYI, you can purchase your very own for a mere $250,000. And they have sold 2..I asked. I thought about it..and then I was like..ya..no I think I will buy a house instead...

We then found this cute little shop..we were actually looking for cheesecake..but found this pizza instead. Honestly..best pizza ever..like fer real...And after that we ended up chatting with a guy from Northern Ireland..who was either super friendly or had had a little too much to drink..pretty sure he was looking to take us all clubbing..am I flattering myself? Maybe? If only he knew how many kids and husbands there were between us ;) But I totally dug his accent.

We ended our trip with an outing to Wicked! Another great show that we couldn't stop quoting. It was a fast 4 days and we crammed as much shopping, walking and food into it as we could. I couldn't have gone with a better group of girls. And in the end, I was a total tourist,who did try new foods, but never saw a celebrity in a crazy, busy city that I was glad to just be visiting. Good times!

Pre & Post Holiday Party Times..sortof

I know..I know...I am a blog slacker and you are all mad I haven't updated right? Since I have such a big following (you get that's sarcastic right?) So here is how the holidays went down here at the Belnap's

It started out with a Christmas program from the 4th graders which would be my cute Ellie. But this is the camera shot you get when you have one of the tallest girls in the whole grade... she's the candy stripe in the back..and apparently a new zoom lens for my camera is what I should have asked Santa for.

So I snuck up afterwards and snapped this gem...she did a great job and even had a part.

Then came Christmas Eve which was a total bummer since Nate didn't get home til 9:30, so Santa had very little help. But somehow he managed and the kids woke up to a fab Christmas day!

And yes Chloe has her first shiner..and no it was not from the wagon..she fell a few days ago at Grandmas house

I'm not sure why we bother to get our babies any gifts..give them some wrapping paper, a box and a bag of candy and they are good to go!

Then came New Years, which by the way was also a total bust..did I mention that my family had been sick the entire week before Christmas..every single one of them sans me..I have a deal with God..you know..i have so many kids so I can't get sick. Heard of that one? He seems so understand..So then Chloe got round two on New Years Eve..so exhausted and plum wore out, this mama kissed Nate at 11 pm and off to bed I went. Such a party pooper right? Sheesh I gotta get my momjo back.

But then we kind of made up for it with a quick tubing day..I say quick cuz you all know we are living in Antarctica right now with this negative degree weather and let's face it..you can only stand your nose hairs to be frozen for so long...

So there you have it...a pre & post holiday update. Aren't we fascinating? Hope y'all had a good one too!

Serious Dance Moves

There is something most magical about your little girl and her very first dance recital ever. Like grin-from-ear-to-ear, seriously cutest thing ever, most adorbs costume in the world. I mean don't get me wrong...I love watching all my girls and I am that super, overly proud, think my girls are the best.. type of parent..but when it is your little, chubby 3 year old's first time up on that big stage and she performs the heck out of that dance with no tears, shyness or ounce of humility. Gosh..there might not be anything better..I mean could you die!

 Ok and if you really want a treat..go HERE I swear you will not be disappointed..well that may be the inner, unashamedly proud parent in me. But you should still check it out. The stepping at the first is hu-sterical. Like fer real.

 The girls..and I will admit I may have gone a little cray cray in the eyeshadow department. Listen I never claimed I went to beauty school. Phew..but with 4 girls I might need a few lessons.

And you gotta love a wardrobe malfunction..I mean what's a girl gonna do when straps are "itchy and buggin ya"
And on a side note, I did take pics of my other girlies..well my dad did. I put him in charge while I manned the video camera..and really when do dance pics ever turn out?