The Belka Bunch

Happy Birthday Brynn

2009-11-14T10:53:00.001-08:00

Brynn age 7

Since Brynn's birthday is so close to Halloween,
we had a party for her on Halloween. It was
a lot of fun. We played all sorts of different games
and decorated cupcakes. Brynn felt special to have
her cousins here with her as well as her friends.

Brynn and Grandma Belka

All the kids!

Happy Birthday Brynn! We love you so much!!

Halloween

2009-11-14T10:47:00.001-08:00

At our trunk-or-treat

Cleopatra

A witch

Woody

Halloween parade and parties

2009-11-14T10:42:00.000-08:00

Brynn's school parade

Bryten's preschool

Bryten and Mrs. Hansen

Bryten

Briggs

Fall Soccer

2009-11-14T10:33:00.001-08:00

Brynn

Bryten and her cousin Ellie

The girls loved soccer this year! They already
look forward to next season.

1st day of school

2009-11-14T10:27:00.000-08:00

Brynn 1st grade

Bryten preschool

Bryten and Kyson her preschool buddy, friend,
and cousin!

Condie Family Reunion

2009-11-14T09:44:00.000-08:00

This year we went to Seven Peaks. The kids
had an absolute blast!!! Great job Brock and
Carly putting it together.

Breakfast before we hit the slides!

Summer Fun

2009-11-14T09:38:00.000-08:00

Annual 4th of July parade with Grandma
and Grandpa Belka. The kids decorated bikes
and scooters and ride in the parade which takes
us to a park for treats and games. They loved it.

Briggs on Colton's horse!

Lagoon

2009-11-14T09:33:00.000-08:00

Briggs and Nate at the bumper cars

Brynn, Macie, Byron, and Briggs on the log ride.

Bryten on Dumbo

Uncle Clay, Bryten, Brynn, and Macie

Dance Concert

2009-11-14T09:28:00.000-08:00

Sariah, Aubrey, and Bryten

Bryten and Aunt Natty

Brynn and Bryten

Preschool graduation and performance

2009-11-14T09:23:00.000-08:00

The preschool does a fun graduation and
performance every year. Even the kids that
still have one more year get to participate. She
loved it and felt very special.

Bryten with Mrs. Hansen

Bryten and Mrs. Barney

Kindergarten Graduation

2009-11-14T09:17:00.000-08:00

Brynn and Ms. Parkins

Brynn loved Kindergarten and had such a
great experience. Her teacher was incredible!
She absolutely loves school.

Preschool field trip

2009-11-14T09:12:00.000-08:00

Brynn

Bryten

Briggs

Kyson

The kids all got a pony ride and then got to take
turns feeding it, and learned how to change their
shoes. It was a lot of fun.

Kanab

2009-11-14T09:04:00.001-08:00

We went to Kanab to watch Shellie's Dance
Studios' dance concert perform....and Macie too!

The kids love to get together and chance they
can get!

It was a quick trip but definitely a lot of fun
for us all!

Spring Break

2009-11-14T08:55:00.001-08:00

We took the Kids to Hoogle Zoo for the day

Brynn with a Gorilla hand print

Bryten at the playground

Briggs with the Zebras

Afterwards, we went at stayed in Park City.
This was the kids' favorite part.. we went
swimming and projected a movie in the hotel
room.

Easter party with the Belkas

2009-11-14T08:46:00.001-08:00

Brynn and Sariah

Bryten and Grandpa Belka

Briggs

Gates, Petersons, and Belka kids at the church
for our Easter party.

Easter

2009-11-14T08:39:00.001-08:00

Brynn

Bryten

Briggs

Belka kids

Easter at Grandma and Grandpa Condie's house!
Our annual Easter egg hunt!

A quiet moment....

2009-04-05T21:51:00.001-07:00

Suspect 1 Briggs

Suspect 2 Brockston

Over the weekend of Bryten's birthday, we had two of my sister's kids Brockston and Annastin stay with us. We loved having them with us and Bryten loved being able to have her cousins here on her birthday. So Sunday morning came and I was determined to be on time to church. We started early and had all the 5 kids bathed and ready, so Byron and I went to get ready. Briggs and Brockston loved being together but sometimes didn't love having to share the same wanted toys!! They had been having a rought morning but all of a sudden there was a long quiet moment.....too long. I came out to check because it WAS so quiet and this is what I found. The boys had gotten into markers and decided to paint each other like they were going to war. I didn't know what to do but hurry and take a picture and then start scrubbing. Needless to say, after another bath and new change of clothes for Briggs because he was so covered, we came in during the opening song.

Bryten's 4th Birthday

2009-04-05T21:29:00.001-07:00

The day started with Breakfast in bed, then we got ready to go to a baby shower that just Bryten could go to with the big girls. She felt pretty special and I loved having alone time with just my Bryten.

Then when we came home, Byron got to take the girls to Build a Bear and she could pick out her bear that she named Rosie. Afterward they went bowling.

After they came home we had Grandma and Grandpa Belka, Aunt Natalie, and Grandma and Grandpa Condie over for dinner.

Happy Birthday Bryten!!! We love you so much!

Bryten is such a sweetheart! It has been so fun seeing her personality come out. Byron calls her his little spicy jalepeno. She definetly has a little spunk to her but we love it. She is a great sister to Brynn and Briggs and is very protective of them. She wants to be big just like her sister and wants to do everything she does. She is going to be starting the violin here shortly and she is so excited. WE LOVE YOU!!!!

Happy 8th Anniversary

2009-04-05T21:24:00.001-07:00

Happy 8th Anniversary! I can't believe it has been 8 years! I am so thankful to have married such an amazing man!!! I love you Byron!!! We have made a lot of great memories in these last 9 1/2 years and look forward to many more!!!

That night we got to go out and ate at a restaurant that we used to go to when we were dating. We also went to the movie theaters we used to live by when we were first married. It was fun going down memory lane!!!

February fun

2009-04-05T20:50:00.000-07:00

My family and I put together a baby shower for my sister-in-law Carly. We wanted to give here some helpful items that she could use. Here are a couple of things that we had given her. I had such a fun time putting them together especially because I had never done either of these things before. The top one is a basket filled with helpful hints that we all have discovered with our own babies. We had some paper that others at the shower could leave helpful hints as well and then tie onto the wishing wand. The bottom picture is a diaper cake. The shower was a great success and had a great turn out.

30 here we go!

2009-04-05T20:40:00.000-07:00

I had such a great birthday! I actually kept waking up the night before because I was so excited. I know crazy, but it was like I was a kid anticipating Christmas morning. Byron and the kids took great care of me and made me feel very special. It started with breakfast in bed, then shopping with my mom, a hair appointment which I dreadfully needed, then a night out with Byron. I partied all day! Thank you so much Byron!!! I love you!

Cancun

2009-04-05T20:18:00.001-07:00

Byron had won a trip to Cancun and so we went January 2-5. We had a great time relaxing in the sun. Since we didn't have a lot of time to do a lot of sight seeing we wanted to something close by. Right across the street where we were staying was a place we could go on a jungle cruise and go snorkeling. It was a lot of fun to spend time together. Of course we came home to a snow storm.

Look Who's 2

2009-01-20T07:23:00.000-08:00

Here are a few pictures of Briggs the last two years!

Briggs just a day old. He was born on December 29th 2006.

Brigg's blessing day on Easter Sunday 2007

Briggs's 1st Birthday December 29th 2007

Summer 2008

Me and my sweet boy having fun with the camera.

I am so thankful for my Briggsy boy. We love him so much!!! I can't believe he is two now. He brings so much joy and adventure into our lives. He keeps me busy that is for sure. He gets into anything and everything! Briggs has a sensitive side as well. Whenever he gets a bump he just needs me to give a kiss and he is off playing again. He is speaking really good now and has such a cute personality. Briggs loves to wrestle and play rough with his Dad. He just adores Byron! He also loves his sisters. They are such a comfort to him as well. Bryten and Briggs have been in nursery together. The last few weeks of December we took the older nursery kids into primary to help with the adjustment come January. That first sunday, Briggs cried the whole time his sister was gone and as soon as she walked in the room he came to her with open arms saying sister, sister. It was pretty tender!

We love you buddy!!! Happy 2nd Birthday!!!

Brigg's Birthday Fun

2009-01-20T07:15:00.000-08:00

Celebrating the December birthdays with Annastin and Uncle Mckay

Birthday party with the Belkas and celebrating Sariah and Brigg's Birthday

Sariah and Briggs

On his actual Birthday we took him to Jumping Jacks. It was a perfect place to take him. He could run and jump all he wanted!

Byron and Briggs going down one of the slides. He LOVED it!

Christmas Eve

2008-12-28T21:49:00.001-08:00

Santa came to Grandma and Grandpa Belka's house and the kids got to tell him what they wanted him to bring that night.

Family pic with Santa

Then the kids acted out the nativity while Grandpa read from the scriptures.

Briggs was Joseph, Brynn was Mary, and Bryten was one of the sheep.

After we left the Belka's we then went to my parents for the Condie Christmas party. My dad shared a Christmas message, we ate AGAIN, and then the kids opened up pajamas from Grandma and Grandpa. We put on music for them to have a fashion show. The kids loved it.

We absolutely loved being with our families. We sang, played games, ate great food, but most importantly got to spend time together.

Merry Christmas 2008

All I want for Christmas is my two front teeth

2008-12-28T21:43:00.001-08:00

Brynn lost both teeth within a couple weeks of each other. Just three days before Christmas she had lost the other. She loved saying Merry Christmas and hearing how it sounded without her teeth.

Christmas parties

2008-12-28T21:25:00.001-08:00

Briggs at the Mills Christmas party.

All the kids on stage waiting for Santa. This party is a big tradition that our family does every year!

Brynn at our Condie Christmas party. She is on a launching parachute. The kids all took turns and loved it. Even some adults did it!

My aunts then had a pinata for all the kids. They went to so much effort to make this party a hit and it WAS!

Here are all the kids singing songs at our program. Then later that night we headed up to Tiff and Rich's house and hung out with them and had a great time.

Christmas lights

2008-12-28T21:13:00.000-08:00

Bryten at Temple Square

Byron and Briggs riding on the Trax. Briggs is fascinated with trains right now and so of course was loving being on one.

We headed to Salt Lake to check on Grandma Belka after her knee surgery and decided to make it a trip to see the lights as well. We first stopped over at Winder Dairy and got our hot chocolate and scones and then headed down town to see the lights. Then we got to meet up with Brock and see where he works their at temple square. We had a great time and decided to make this a tradition!

Christmas Fun

2008-12-28T21:03:00.000-08:00

Get together at the Belka's when Jake and Natalie came home for Christmas Break!

Brynn playing Christmas music at a nursing home.

Bryten and Kyson at their Christmas program for preschool.

Brynn's first recital

2008-12-07T22:05:00.000-08:00

This is Brynn at her first solo recital. She was excited and nervous. The week before she had a trail run at our ward's talent show. It is scary to get up infront of people and have all eyes on YOU! I was so proud of her and she did a great job at both. Right now she is learning some Christmas songs and we are learning a duet together which will be fun.

Tree skirt for Christmas

2008-12-07T21:36:00.001-08:00

Two years ago for Christmas Byron got me a sewing machine and until a month ago there it sat in its box and had never been opened. I wanted a project to get me started on sewing so I signed up for a class that was told was for beginners. Well the only beginner in the room was ME! I thought perfect, I'll sign up for the tree skirt class so it will be a project I will be motivated to finish. Well the class was overwhelming to me. The sweet instructor sat down the last hour and helped me step by step. I left the class with two out of eight stars sewn. So I was happy to go home with something. But how was I ever going to finish this? Then my mom suggested that my Aunt Carolyn help me. So we took it over to my aunt's house and she fixed my mistakes and pretty much took over and taught me how the correct way was. We had a system down and she flew through the stars and had it ready for me to sew together. She found someone to quilt it for me and Aunt Carolyn did the binding. When she found out I was sick, she stayed up late and hurried and finished it to suprise me. Now I get to enjoy this all month long. Everytime I look at it I think of her and all that she did for me. I am so thankful for her and all her hard work and the time I got to spend with her. My kids love her and love being with her in her home just as much as I do.

Thanksgiving 2008

2008-12-07T20:57:00.000-08:00

Thanksgiving with the Belkas! The kids couldn't wait to see their cousins that were all going to be here for Thanksgiving. They were ecstatic to find out that they were going to Grandma and Grandpa Belka's house two days earlier than we were planning. After almost a month of being sick and not getting better on one antibiotic, the doctor took an x-ray and found pneumonia and so put me on another one. So I was so thankful that Natalie stopped and picked up the kids and took them home to Mom and Dad's house to help me get some rest. Everyone took such great care of them and they had a blast watching movies, painting their nails, going on the four wheeler with Grandpa, coloring, and getting out every toy that was in the house! I was so glad that they were having such a wonderful time too because it helped me relax and knew that they were in good hands. So on Thanksgiving I was ready to get up to Salt Lake and be with my family. I was missing them so badly. The house was way too quiet. We had a great time and had a wonderful dinner. I just wish I could have tasted it though. The Belka women wouldn't let me do anything. In fact, they even gave me a massage! What did I ever do to deserve such great sisters. The kids played and played! Byron and the men folk went and played their annual turkey bowl and we enjoyed just being together.

I am so THANKFUL for family and that we are all so close to both of our families. I am thankful for the many wonderful examples they are to me and are not only family members but are our closest friends too. I am thankful to be married to such a wonderful husband and be the mother to Brynn, Bryten, and Briggs. They are my life and I love them so much!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Today.... the actual Birthday

2008-11-02T22:13:00.000-08:00

Brynn had been counting down for days until her birthday. A couple of nights she would come out while I thought she was sleeping and would ask me questions like..are you going to decorate the kitchen?, do I get breakfast in bed?, and can I have the candle with the number 6 on it? She had been so excited it was obvious it was something on her mind a lot. So last night we decorated with balloons and streamers so when she came out of her room she would see them. We made her the breakfast of her choice which was pancakes and eggs which she ate in bed. We then watched her video and opened presents. We went to church and then headed over to Grandma and Grandpa Condies house for more fun.

The first Sunday of every month, my family all tries to get together and have dinner/family night together. This time it happened to fall right on her birthday so she was especially excited to see her cousins and Grandparents on her birthday. We had a great time together.

Happy Birthday BRYNN

2008-11-02T22:09:00.000-08:00

Grandma and Grandpa Belka were watching Bryten and Briggs while we took Brynn out. When we got back they were gone and within just a minute they came up the street on the four wheeler with Grandma with big grins on their face. They had been at the park having a great time.

Happy Birthday Brynn!

2008-11-02T21:53:00.001-08:00

We saw these statues outside the restraunt and decided to pose like them.

We wanted to give Brynn a little one on one time. So first I took Brynn to get her nails painted which she thought was the neatest thing ever. She was just beaming the whole time, then Byron and I took her out to lunch. She wanted to eat Lasagna so I helped make the decision to take her to the Olive Garden. Afterwards we took the trax to go to temple square. We had a great time together and loved it just as much as she did.

2008-11-02T21:49:00.000-08:00

Halloween night we went trick or treating to Aunt Carolyn's house and Uncle Vernon and Aunt Arlene's house and then went to our ward's trunk or treat. The kids had a great time and got tons of candy that I have now hidden :)

2008-11-02T21:23:00.000-08:00

This is Brynn in her class room before her parade and carnival. I got to go help in her class that day and take a group of girls around to all of the different games they had around the school. Brynn loved it and had so much fun. I loved being there with Brynn and also being able to see her in the classroom. She has such a wonderful teacher...Ms. Parkins and I was so impressed at how she runs the classroom and how she is with the children. No wonder why Brynn loves it so much.

Brynn and Mrs. George who is another Kindergarten teacher at the school. Her husband plays on the team so I thought it would be fun to get a picture of Brynn with her.

2008-11-02T21:18:00.000-08:00

This is Bryten and Kyson's preschool class. They had a parade in front of the school and then had a party. Bryten is posing and stayed like that for all the pictures. She got pretty hot in her costume and had taken it off by the time I picked her up.

Halloween

2008-11-02T20:48:00.000-08:00

This Halloween was a lot of fun for the kids. It started on Thursday for us with Bryten's party and parade. Brynn had a violin lesson and Sadie was watching the kids and when I came back she had Bryten dressed up in her pink poodle dog costume and lipstick on. She loved it so much she wouldn't move her lips because she didn't want it to come off. Sadie had Briggs in a cute Halloween sweatshirt and his hair all done so we took some fun pictures on their porch. Not only are Kyson and Bryten cousins they are great friends and get to be in the same preschool class together.

I finally did it!

2008-10-26T21:58:00.000-07:00

I have been debating whether or not to start a blog for some time now.
Since I am not the best at writing in my journal or scrapbooking, I thought this would be a great way to help me in two very important areas that I have been lacking for some time now! This year has been full of fun and new exciting events and I don't want another moment to pass by without keeping record of it! So I am excited to start this very new adventure ...thanks to my sweet husband Byron for setting it up for me :)