The Belnap Family

Hello Blogging World!

It's been a long time! I'm kicking myself in gear and posting a blog before Christmas if it's the last thing I do! I may not get Christmas cards sent, or neighbor gifts delivered, but I will finish this blog!! I've hit panic mode in my preparing for the holidays. I need to get one of those "Easy" buttons from Staples. I have just one week before the kids and I fly home for Christmas and have so much to do. Yes, you read that right. I am flying alone with my three kids. Call me crazy, but I'm anxious to spend time with my family AND my youngest brother, Michael, is coming home from his mission on the 19th (Yipee, Yahoo, Yipee), so I am willing to go to extreme lengths to be there. I'll let you know if I'll be doing it again anytime in the future. (Luckily, Brian will be joining us later and we'll all fly back together. I'm not that crazy!)

So, because this bloggin' stuff is suppost to fill the large hole of guilt I feel for not scrapbooking (okay,maybe not so large, but hey, I gave it an effort. I got to Brooklyn's blessing day) I feel the need to go back and document October and November. So hang in there as I indulge myself in catching up with our lives.

OCTOBER......

I love Autumn! The cool, crisp air, the breathtaking colors of the changing leaves, bringing out the sweaters and long sleeves, and Halloween. It's a pretty quick change of seasons for us though, and the playing-in-the-piles-of-leaves weather doesn't last long. It's more like playing-in-the-soggy-piles-of-leaves weather. But we enjoyed it while we could!

Our attempt at getting some great fall pictures. Isaac would not hold still for anything. Who could blame him though with all those crunchy leaves to kick around! I was chasing him with the camera trying to get a shot, and that's the best I could do. I love the picture of Brooklyn holding Lillie Kate. Her face says it all!

The 1st Annual Mill Creek Ward "Hot Dog & Rod"

This ward activity was so much fun. Even the men enjoyed it! (maybe a little too much). Brian had his dad send his old pinewood derby cars from when he was a kid, and he settled on this yellow racer (lane 3). We ended up taking 4th in our division! Brooklyn loved the CareBear car and my personal favorite was "The Wilson Mobile" (the green one up front with the faces. We love the Wilson Family). The kids had a blast and it was a big hit with everyone.

Playgroup Halloween Carnival

The kids enjoyed a fun Halloween Carnival with all their friends in playgroup. I hadn't gotten any costumes for Halloween yet, so we had to be creative (the morning of) and dress in whatever we could that would pass as a costume. Thank heavens for the dress-up drawer! Brooklyn had an old witch costume that she was willing to wear and we put a ball in Isaac's hands with a little outfit of his and waalaaa, a basketball player! We have quite a big group of mom's with little babies. We look like the makings of a mixed up fairytale. (Lillie Kate is the little pink mouse in the middle.

Craven Farms

It wouldn't be fall without a trip to a Pumpkin Patch. I sure adore my little punkin' heads! We happened to go on a beautiful, unusually warm, 70 degree weather day. This farm is a favorite and has a lot of great things for the kids to do, and they have fun picking out their own pumpkins. Notice the yellow gourd in Isaac's hand. He wouldn't put it down, and for the next few days he insisted on having his "punkin" with him at all times. Even to sleep. Speaking of sleep. Lillie was sleeping in the stroller the whole time, and I did the #1 momma no-no and woke her up to get a picture. You see the results of my efforts. Not pleasant.

The next American Idols?

Who would have thought that a laundry basket and sweeper could be such entertainment! Brooklyn created this perfect stage/mic combination, which turned our kiddos into quite the performers. It was such a spontaneous and fun night of singing, laughing, and standing ovations. If only you could hear Isaac's rendition of the ABC's and "Down by the Station", and Brooklyn's "Jesus went to Jordan's waters". You'd all have a good laugh.

HALLOWEEN

We had such a fun Halloween and were thrilled that Brian got home in time to join us for the ward Trunk or Treat. Brooklyn decided that the witch costume was cute enough for her to wear again, (that made life so much easier for me) and we found the cutest doggie costume for Isaac. He would crawl around on all fours making the cutest, high pitched, barking noise. Lillie was our chunky little pink mouse. Don't you just want to squeeze those cheeks? The kids had fun at the Trunk or Treat and were munching on the candy as soon as it hit the bag. I had to include the picture of my friend, Galicia, dressed as Moses. I got such a kick out of that. And our sweet Lillie slept through all the action, as usual.

We only carved one pumpkin this year, and it looks like all the footage for that is on the video camera. We did get this one shot though. Brooklyn drew the design herself and mom carved away. The kids were good to help with about one scoop of pumpkin guts and then they were done. Isaac would say, "It kucka mom". (i've never spelled that word before. It looks kinda funky.) The pumpkin turned out pretty cute. Good job Brookie!

NOVEMBER........

We celebrated Isaac's 2nd birthday and my (I'm not telling) birthday. We tried to get in a few last days at the park and enjoy the last of the changing leaves. Thanksgiving was also wonderful. (too busy enjoying the food and forgot to take pictures). We had an amazing dinner with a couple of family's in our ward. We realized this was our 7th Thanksgiving we've spent without family. We are so thankful for the gospel and the ward family's we've been blessed with over the years.

ISAAC's 2nd BIRTHDAY

Isaac had such a fun birthday. We had a little party with some of our friends. Isaac loved running around being rowdy with his little friends and did a great job blowing out his candle. Check out that party girl! She looks like she's had a little too much cake!

A DAY AT THE PARK

Enjoying some of the final days of fall! The kids had fun exploring the park and couldn't believe they found such a big tree. Brooklyn thought that it must be a magical tree to be so big and tall. They tried so hard to reach around it. We loved the color of this red tree. It looked like it was on fire. The picture doesn't do it justice!

DR. BOBBY

Just another day on the job. Can you believe all of those pagers. The kids were right. Their dad is a super hero, and with such a fancy utility belt! Kaaa Pow! (that was supposed to be a super hero attack sound of some sorts)

MY BIRTHDAY

I had such a wonderful birthday. My friend watched my kids for me while I went to spend my birthday money. I forget how enjoyable it is shopping by myself. That was a party in itself! Later, Brian and I went out to dinner at Salty's, on Alki Beach, which has unbelievable views of downtown Seattle. (I snatched this picture from their website.) The food was amazing and it was so great just to be with Brian and enjoy some much needed time together. Aren't these flowers beautiful.

HELLO HOLIDAY SEASON!

Brooklyn welcomed in the holidays with a very festive picture. The kids were pretty excited to get the Christmas tree and decorations up (okay, truth is my husband was probably the most excited. He would have liked to have decorated after Halloween. He loves, loves, loves, Christmas!)

This is an event I absolutely have to blog about. Even though it happened back in September when we were in Utah, it must be shared with all.

So, my incredibly talented and creative sister-in-law, Ashley, put together this amazing tea party at Papa's Cabin for all our little "princesses". It all began with a darling invitation we received in the mail from Ellie, inviting the girls to a Tea Party. Brooklyn was thrilled to get this fun piece of mail that was for her, and fell to the floor with excitement shouting, "Mom, I am going and I cannot wait!" (accompanied with shrills of laughter, is shrills a word?)

When the time for the party arrived, Ashley starts pulling out all her decorations and food to prepare for the party and I could not hold in my excitement. I couldn't believe all the adorable little details. The personalized placemats, the ribbons tied to the chairs, the mini pastries and desserts, the costumes, and to top it all off, she had made flower garland "crowns" for each of the girls. I could not stop smiling as we all helped her get things ready. And, I couldn't help feeling a little jealous. I would have loved to have been one of them, all dressed up having a little tea party with mini treats and flower crowns. Okay, so maybe I was a little too excited about the whole event, but it was wonderful.

The girls paraded into the cabin and found their places at the table. We all watched in amazement as they were all somehow transformed into little ladies, using their best manners as they passed their "tea" and desserts, giggling with excitement at this special party just for them. Needless to say, it was a major hit and the girls had a wonderful time. We hope that it becomes a family tradition! Thank you so much Ashley for all you did to make it so special and for creating a memory we will cherish forever! (and Grandma Connie and everyone else that helped!)

Our Darling Princesses (one from each family!)

Zulema, Taylor

Brooklyn

Ellie, Katelyn

Oh! and we couldn't let the boys go without any fun. So after the tea party, the boys were sent on a treasure hunt, complete with rhyming clues (ashley again!) and a real treasure at the end. Oreo Cookies and Milk! It was a lot of fun watching them run all over, taking turns reading the clues, and rushing off to find the next clue. We'll never forget the fun times at Papa's Cabin.