Sunday Reflections 7/29/2012

We went on a road trip this last week through Utah and Idaho.  It was a last minute decision (like we decided Tuesday morning to go and left Tuesday afternoon) because Brad's schedule at work didn't fill up and there were a couple of dental practices we needed to get out and visit.  Luckily for us we have family in Utah and Idaho and got to spend time with them too!  We stopped over night in Pleasant Grove to visit briefly with the cousins there and then headed on to Idaho Falls where we and our other set of cousins were taken out by Grandma and Grandpa to enjoy two days at Ririe Resevoir water-skiing.  We had so much fun I forgot to take out my camera to snap a few pictures of the crew until we were on our way home.  So, you'll just have to take my word for it that we have some cute, fun relatives in Idaho and Utah that we got to visit with.

Brad has a way of creating fun out of nothing.  Traveling home, he pulled the suburban aside where there was a lull in the snake river so the kids could get out, stretch their legs and skip rocks on the river. 

Hoping to get a much needed nap in, I stayed in the suburban where I had just closed my eyes when all of the sudden I had MOST of my children reappear begging for their swimming suits.  Of course, for Ben, underwear worked just fine.

Having missed my sleeping window, I climbed out of the car and found a shady spot where I could avoid the sun (I'd already had too much sun boating in the  morning) and watch from above. 

At the time I was feeling slightly discouraged at our future options but found my spirits lifting as I watched my children and husband play below and as cliché as it sounds found myself reflecting that although we have tough times ahead, at least we're facing them together.  The family really is what pulls us through, isn't it?

 

 

We stopped to camp just outside of Rock Springs, Wyoming to break up the monotony of the long drive home.  While there, I was able to witness the most glorious sunset.  It's beauty filled me with wonder and lifted my spirits even more.  I felt like it was God's own gift to me that day.  I tried to catch a few pictures of it, but as beautiful as the pictures turned out they don't even touch the majestic nature of the moment I was trying to capture.

We had our first marshmallow roast (and campfire) of the year.  Jake, too impatient to wait for his Daddy to make his roasting stick, found his own suitable branch upon which he placed two marshmallows.

While humorous initially, as he brought the flaming branch out of the fire I found myself quickly running to his side to prevent him from setting fire to his hair, clothes or nearby siblings. 

During the road trip I was able to finish up my reading of Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand.  It is a book that I highly recommend but be aware that it is very lengthy (1200+) and by no means a light read.  I found myself unable to stop reflecting upon its fictional scenario of a world that puts equality before freedom and free enterprise.  Even scarier, I found myself drawing several parallells from the fictional society Rand created to our own actual society of today.

One of my favorite things about Colorado are the summer thunder storms that occur almost daily.  It's nice to know, when it's approaching 90 that most likely there will be a thunder storm that will drop the temperatures right back to the 60s.  It makes the evenings very enjoyable and keeps our home cool.  This Friday, while Jordan was mowing our trees/lawn/weeds/prairie grass, the thunder storm hit.  This wasn't your normal every day 15 minute thunderstorm, this was a downright deluge.

Doesn't that look fun?  He and the boys (who were picking up any sticks or rocks in Jordan's way) didn't seem to mind much .

In fact, they just couldn't get enough and went to the one place where the water was rushing down even more to play in the stream.  It took much coersion on my part to get them to come inside and change clothes.

After the storm ended, leaving the ground wet and muddy, their lawn mowing chores were abandoned to the pure unadulterated fun of playing in puddles and mud.

 :o!

Friday's Walk Down Memory Lane 7/27/2012

Today's walk down memory lane features:  McKenzie, age 4
Location:  Las Vegas, Nevada

I know something witty should be said about this photo, but I'm too tired to come up with anything.  So I'll share with you why I love it.  

• I love the confidence she exudes here.  She was so excited to get make-up for her birthday that as soon as her guests left, her four year old hands went straight to work.  I mean, overall, I think she did a pretty good job.  I especially like the hot pink Joker mouth.
• I love tiara perched upon the crooked pony tails.  I love little girls in pony tails.
• I love that I can see her brother, Jordan, in the background enjoying himself while playing with her Polly Pockets unabashedly. 

Sunday Reflections 7/15/2012

We'll start with the ugly of the week.

Kenzie's fat lip, with which she insisted she would not be going out in public.  Kind of looks harmless in the picture below....

but upon closer inspection, we can understand the reluctance, can't we girls? 

And as for me, no that's not a giant jaw breaker I'm sucking on.  It is what Brad has dubbed 

MEGA JAW, Jaw, jaw, jaw....(echo sound). 

He thinks it is all extra funny since he did it to me.

(I look like I'm tossing my hair in that picture above.  If it wasn't for the ever present shine on my face I could almost be quoting the pantene commercial, "Don't hate me because I'm beautiful.....")

Let's get a better look at that lopsided face (Oh, and those pretty earrings that I got to borrow from Kenzie, it's the best thing about her getting her ears pierced I think).  

It was the last of three dental surgeries Brad had to perform on me to fix a series of mistakes by several previous doctors.  I'm glad they're over.  We'll see if he is as good as he tells me he is. . .

These kids, all 5 of them, got into major trouble with Dad and me this week.

As cute as they are, they don't like chores and sometimes start to think that it isn't their job to help keep the house clean along with EXPECTING an award when they actually do decide to do their chores.  I HATE when my kids ask me, "What do I get out of this" or, "How much will you pay me?"  when I ask for help.  There's nothing that infuriates me more.  Anyway, it all came to a head this week after they got sent outside for the rest of the evening while I cleaned the house.  Afterwards we had a big talk on responsibilities and the social disease of ENTITLEMENT.  Because of their neglectful behavior, all the motorcycles were "incapacitated" by Brad, movies were taken away for an undetermined period of time and I haven't had to cook dinner for the last three nights because they are on cereal rations, Brad's idea.  He likes to remind them that we, as parents, have a legal obligation to feed and house them but there is no specific stipulation on what kind of food they must be fed, as long as there is proper nourishment available.   If they don't want to do dishes, clean their rooms and whatever else then their poor mother will be much too busy cleaning up after them all day long to actually cook real meals.  Brad also asserts that all of one's daily vitamins and minerals can be aquired through milk and cereal alone, at least that is what the box says.  Maybe a little fruit here and there just to play the empathetic jailer, to start the process of winning them all back to our team.   Hopefully this will provide a memorable lesson since other standard methods have come up short in this particular family mutiny.

And finally, we ran into a big kink with the practice purchase.  This is a gross understatement of course, a significant bit of crucial information that was intentionally withheld until very late in the game.  We have to verify that it is true and then the deal will be officially off.  So we are back where we started minus 10k or so for consultant, accounting and attorney fees. 

The good of the week.

While it is certain that Jake is going to be needing some new socks in the future....

my kids are all shod for the year with my bargain of the week:  Converse shoes at Target for $7.  I thought they were such a good deal that everyone got a new pair, and yes my boys' have matching shoes.   Since they won't wear the matching dresses and suits I made them all for Easter (note intended sarcasm  http://motobees.blogspot.com/2011/12/friday.html) , matching shoes will have to do for now.

Though crazy and absolutely nutty at times:

my boys have decided to put their free time (grounding) to good use by reinventing the ancient art of sword making. 

A curious age for Mr. Jordan where he possesses the creativity and hand skills to fabricate his own wooden sword and yet is still young enough to submit to the boyish impulse of cruising around the yard on a BMX bike with it sheathed in his make believe scabbard/belt on the lookout for any trouble. 

Little Jakers on the other hand is much less interested in the technicalities of pommels and hand guards and is very content with a regular old stick jammed in the back of his shorts.  And, of course, he can do all this while riding circles around our driveway on his horse/bike.



Friday's Walk Down Memory Lane 7/13/2012

Today's walk down memory Lane features:  Jordan, age 6; Jessica, age 6, McKenzie, age 4 and Brad.

This was one of our few trips up to Panguitch to camp while we were in dental school.  Jessica was the daughter of a friend who was two years above us in school.  She and Jordan had just met for the first time this camping trip where it was determined, by the two of them, that one day they would marry.  The romance must have stemmed from this activity here:  diggin' for fresh worms to fish with. 

And, of course, I'm sure she swooned when she saw Jordan hold up that trophy fish he caught there.  I think it was his first ever catch.

Funny, Jessica and Jordan were reacquainted a few years ago and the romance just wasn't quite the same.  I think the wedding plans were called off.

Sunday Reflections 7/8/2012

This has to be quick.  I've already spent too much time on the computer today putting together my plan for sharing time tomorrow.

I've just completed my running goals for the summer and am back to an integrated workout with weights, the bike and running combined.  What was my goal?  It was to build up to a 10 mile run again.  You see, ever since we moved to the altitude of 7000 ft, I haven't run anything more than a six miler.  Let me tell you, at this altitude running anything always seems hard so I didn't want to attempt more than six for a good year and a half.  Well, the time had come to up and increase my running and to get to the point where you can run that much you have to be running everyday.  My total distances for the week started at 16 miles when I began my program and ended at 32 miles.  When you start running those high mileage weeks, you start getting chafed if you don't have special lubricating gels, the likes of which I am too cheap to buy.  One of the worst places I get chafed is in my upper armpits and trust me people, it isn't pretty.  I don't think much of it though (aside from the pain it sometimes causes) because well, I don't wear sleeveless things and I rarely lift up my arms to reveal my armpits.  So why tell you all these details?  Well because the other day I was lying in bed having my 6 year old read a story to me when all of the sudden he noticed my armpits (because I had placed my arms behind my head) and of course, as only a small child can do, commented (due to my chafing mind you) how old people, like me, have ugly armpits.  Why do I include this in my weekly blog?  Well, it is the first time any of my children have called me old, ouch! I'm not sure I like being thought of as old...and yet I know the day had to come and sadly it has arrived.  I'm officially thought of as "old" to at least one of my children.

Our 4th of July was kind of a downer.  At least the kids thought so.  Our fireworks, for obvious reasons were cancelled but the real bummer was that our parade was cancelled too : (.  I don't believe that last year I wrote about the parade that they have here in Monument annually, but it is pretty cool.  Every year they have elephants, men that walk on stilts and people that do lots of tricks.  I was totally taken aback last year when I expected to see your average small town parade and saw the best parade I've ever been to.  So, for all you who ever decide to visit Colorado Springs over the 4th of July, be sure to attend the parade in Monument.  It's awesome, really.

So what did we do to replace it?  We shot Beanie Baby again....no, just kidding.  Did you read that post?  I chose the pictures and Brad wrote it.  If you haven't read it, you should.  It's funny.  What did we do?  We went swimming in a nearby lake, we had hamburgers and milkshakes for dinner and watched Sherlock Holmes, a game of shadows.  No fireworks, no potato gun shooting, no parade....I'd say next year, but we shouldn't be living here next year if things go well for us.

As for the rest of the week, well it was all kind of a blur...lost in the whirlwind of normal everyday life.  We went ice skating, school clothes shopping (Can you believe I'm having to think about the start of the school year already?  We start early here in Colorado.) and cleaned house a lot.  My boys, after seeing Journey 2, have been trying to figure out how to pop their pecks.  What is "peck popping"?  Here is a little youtube clip for your own educational purposes to spare you from having to watch the whole movie . 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=apQPaduDRVw

Brad has always been a big peck popper.  Can your husband do it?  We didn't know until now that it had a name.  Usually the kids just stare and wonder why he wanders around the house with his shirt off stopping periodically to pop his pecks.   Now we know it is one of the three great secrets of love and that I, myself, fell prey to it.  Really, who can blame me?  I feel so much better knowing that my boys will be going out into the world with this ancient yet practical skill.

Oh, and how could I forget?  The Rilinator made us (well just Brad actually) proud this past week when he shot his first buck with his Red Ryder BB gun.  While he has been working on his archery skills lately, this is his weapon of choice.

The deer is peacefully feeding and totally oblivious to the stealthy approach of the great hunter (and his spotting companion).  Instinctively Riley finds a solid rest, spread his feet and settles in to make his shot, Ben advises him on distance and wind velocity. 

POW!!

The shot was right on but unfortunately underpowered and this huge buck lives to see another day.  We're so proud of our little red neck!



Friday's Walk Down Memory Lane 7/6/2012

 We interrupt this week's edition of Friday's Walk Down Memory Lane to bring to you The Astronautical Adventures of Beanie Baby.

Meet Beanie Baby:

Beanie Baby was unhappy with the drudgery of life as a "child's play thing".   Secretly he hoped to one day travel to far places and let his spirit fly free and unrestrained.  Beanie Baby (like many of the Belt family) was a wanna-be adrenaline junkie.  Sometimes Jakey would throw him from the trampoline or down the stairs but this only served to wet his appetite for real bone crushing adventure.  One day Beanie Baby was sitting idly by in the overgrown prairie grass in the back yard when a moment of opportunity presented itself.  The entire 20 lb. bag of potatoes had been shot one by one into the air or exploded against nearby trees and no more vegetarian projectiles could be found.  Beanie Baby was selected as our next champion. . .

Safetey equipment was custom fabricated by an exceedingly skilled craftsman from the most high tech materials available to ensure safe travels for our little ginger bread man.  Note the safety helmet, high tensile strength rip cord and  ultra light polymer based parachute material.

Beanie Baby was understandably nervous but brave as he was loaded into the cannon head first in preparation for his first lauch sequence. 




I hope Beanie Baby doesn't have claustrophobia like the launch technician doing the loading.  It is a tight fit in there, especially once the ramrod is inserted to assure ideal positioning in the breech of the cannon chamber.






5 . . . 4 . . . 3 . . . 2 . . . 1 . . . BLAST OFF!

OHHH YAAA, LOOK AT THOSE GUNS!!!!

The first launch brought screams of anguish, grief and worry for Beanie Baby's welfare from his legal and emotional guardians (Jake and Kenzie) but was nonetheless a great success with a soft touch down.

Beanie Baby's duct tape helmet proved ineffective as it was nowhere to be found after take off.  Our hero did suffer some minor head injury and burns but his enthusiasm for upcoming launches was greatly amplified by the over-all success of his initial launch.

The most vocal of detractors (Kenzie) began to show interest in being included in the next launch sequence since little or no harm had or presumably would come to our little astronaut given all the saftey equipment and precautions taken by the launch technician. 

Beanie Baby did say later that the loading protocol did tickle a bit.

Much to the dismay of the launch team, equipment failures plagued subsequent launch sequences such as the parachute failure captured in the graphic images below.  We watched in horror as Beanie Baby, a willing volunteer for our simple amusement, plummeted toward the earth at breakneck speeds with nothing but a shredded walmart baggie waving like the tail of a comet behind him.

In restrospect we note that innadequate consideration was given by the safety equipment/parachute designer/specialist to the physical relationship between frictional heating of objects reentering the earth's asmosphere and the melting point of  ultra light polymer based parachute material.

Even in the presence of our onsite paramedic/oral heath specialist we had little hope of Beanie Baby surviving the impact of such a horrific, unrestrained freefall.  Our greatest fears were upon us with images of beans and synthetic stuffing exploding in clouds of dust and flying cow patties in the landing field when nature unexpectedly intervened and a miracle occurred.

Disaster was averted (this time) and Beanie Baby was rescued from the tree intact and ready for another go.  At this point his early defenders became willing participants in multiple launches (each taking turn after turn firing the bean cannon) that would forever cement the little ginger bread man in our memories as a brave and willing airman. 

Unfortunately, as is the case with many an adrenaline junkie, some permanent brain damage and facial melting was sustained during the course of these arial excercises.  

***Please note that an actual Beanie Baby was actually harmed during the actual documentation of this aerial excercise.  Do not attempt this with actual living persons,children or animals at home.

Sunday Reflections 7/1/2012

Just some of the pictures from last week on my camera when it was MIA.

The first set is of Riley and Ben on Brad's homemade slip n' slide.  Brad caught some great action shots of them in the air.

  

I know, the homemade slip n' slide of visqueen makes us seem like we are white trash, but trust me we are not...at least I think we're not.  But then again....

Some pictures from our hike up to a lake near our home.  Kenzie caught a butterfly and it stayed with her for about 30 minutes.

The potato gun launcher and our potato gun shooters:

A random picture I took of Kenzie that I like:

My little dirt bikers:

And my youngest preparing for and executing his 2nd ride on the little 50:

Jake got a soda for riding so well and Dad got a soda for having to sprint several times around our driveway behind that little monster to ensure his safety:

I know most of you have heard about the Waldo Canyon Fire here in Colorado Springs where 346 homes were lost recently.  We are 10 miles north of that fire.  Here are some pictures taken from our backyard this last Tuesday.

Tuesday was the day the wind fueled the fire and it jumped the ridge and began to burn up the neighborhoods.  I took the kids into town that day to tour the Olympic training center and on my way home I stopped at Bath and Body works to buy some wallflower plug-ins.  The store for Bath and Body works was right across the highway from the fire.  When I went into the store it wasn't too bad but when I came back the sky was so heavy with smoke that it looked like it was dusk and ash was raining down from the sky.   I've never seen anything like it.  I barely made it home to avoid the traffic from the frenzied evacuations from the neighborhoods that were in danger and was relieved to see some blue skies when I arrived home.  To kind of give you an idea of how dark it was this picutre was taken of the scene across the freeway from me.

While we have been put on a pre-evacuation notice and are extremely saddened for the others who didn't come out so well from this tragedy, we currently remain healthy and optimistic.  Here's a picture of me just so you can see:

As for breaking news in our household Brad gave his six weeks notice at Powers Dental.  I've told you that we are currenlty in the process of purchasing a practice and the process, while not done yet, is going well.  We have been approved for financing and the contracts are drawn up and are currently being reviewed by the seller.  We have chosen a lawyer and will review the contracts next.  In the meantime, with all that we have gone through in the past with 1 attempt to purchase a practice and several failed associateships, we are as nervous as can be at this point that the deal won't close and we'll be back to the drawing board.  We cerainly would appreciate all the prayers we could get for a timely closing of this deal.  Oh, and also some prayers for rain in the great state of Colorado.