"They're the world my world revolves around, my sacred piece of solid ground. The flesh and bone that gives me streangth to stand. They're the fire in my driving on, the drive behind my coming home. The living, breathing reason that I am."

Thursday, September 11, 2014

A Photo-shoot!

I used to take pictures--for some reason moving, starting a business, fixing up a house, and life in general just got in the way of that hobby!  I decided that it was time to dust off the old camera and who better to practice on, then my own cute kiddos??  My skills are a little lacking--but the subjects are cute, so it covers up my need for more practice! 




 
Aiden Wesley Belnap
6 years old





Adylin Grace Belnap
2 years old

Back to School as a FIRST grader!!

I really say this so much--but I truly cannot tell you how fast time flies!  This handsome boy here started FIRST GRADE this year!  He is growing up fast and is not as sad about it as his mom! ;)

Mr. Dude was more than excited to start school this year, and I was a lot less teary sending him to first grade than kindergarten!  There is a certain comfort in a small town/school--he and I already knew all of the kids in his class, where his classroom was and all the ins and outs of the school!  It makes for a less stressed mom!
 
 
First Grade Stats--
3'11 inches
53lbs
Favorite Color-Blue
Favorite Food-Nachos
Favorite Show-Transformers Prime
Favorite activity- Building Legos
 
Plaza Elementary School
Mrs. Preble
 
First grade must be tough--because Aiden came home after the first day and crashed!! He woke up long enough to eat dinner and then went back to bed! 
This year, Tristin and Tadyn moved to Makoti, so Aiden has some bus stop walking buddies!  
 
 
Another great thing about a very small town! :)

Tuesday, August 12, 2014

A Truck Style Rodeo

Our company does work for Purity Oilfield Services, and they hosted a Truck Rodeo and fun day!  We all got dressed up in our Real gear and went to cheer on Uncle David as our "cowboy!"
Just over 2 years ago we began REAL Enterprises on a wing and a prayer! We began as a leasing company with 1 truck and trailer and when that fell through,  we dug in our heels and decided we had to make it on our own! 
The guys sat Rindee and I down and told us that we needed to get our own work, but that it wouldn't "add any work to our already full plates." 
And then--there were many late nights/early mornings in my living room correcting driver tickets and doing invoices, and countless sleepless nights--needless to say, our plates were over flowing!!
Here we are 17 trucks and 70+ leasers later and we have office help! Our plates are still full, but this group here makes it all worth it!
When people find out that we are business partners AND family,  they look at us like we are nuts--and we probably are! (We come from a long line of nuts) so be it!
I think that if anyone can make a family/partner business work its us! We have our rocky times for sure,  and once in a while there is a little brother/sister yelling!  ;)
But, we work it out and I couldn't think of a better partnership! 

David( Pickles) drove the rodeo truck!  He did an amazing job! The drivers had to do tasks like back in a straight line, back into a dock, and parallel park--a semi--with a trailer!  All while trying to get closest to the cones without hitting them!! Not an easy task--but David made it look easy!
He represented our team well!! We didn't win,   but we had the best cheering section for sure!
We did take 1st place in the team tug of war! Luckily, we have some tough people that like us! Looses had to go in the dunk tank--so no one wanted to loose! 
We even had a "mini" team! They did awsome against bigger kids!
They pulled their little hearts out and looked really cute doing it!

I kept thinking the whole day just how lucky we are! We are surrounded by great people!

A little play time, Salamanders, and a Sassy minute!

After the fair was over, we managed to steal the men from work for a few days and snuck away camping and pontooning!
 
 
The weather couldn't have been better for a day on the lake!! The kids swam and ate lots of pringles!! :)
Adylin braves the water at the lake and at the pool as long as Cambree is with her. She trusts her and she will swim with only her! 
We camped at Fort Stevenson again and Sassy star gazed through her "minoculars"
AND--she talked to Princess Anna!!
Uncle David has a way of making Adylin LOVE him!! He has Anna on speed dial!!
David called Anna (Rindee) and Sassy chatted for a good 5 minutes!  
Uncle David is way up on her list of "cool people!"

Sadly, even when camping was over--we ran into critters! 
The icky truth of North Dakota is that there are salamanders!  IN MY BASEMENT! It's a creepy dirt floor 1920's house basement and I rarely go down there--and this is why! 
Aiden my little salamander hunter caught a total of 17 in 2 days! If your thinking ewe--your correct! 
Aiden is now my official protector and he goes first when we have to go into the basement! 

While Aiden is a pro at catching slithery things--Adylin is a pro at "needing a minute"
We were on a scooter ride the other day and this happened--
Completely happy one second and BAM--not so has the next!!
Seems that's my baby! I love her, even when she needs a minute! 

North Dakota State Fair

You may think that there isn't much to North Dakota--but you are apparently wrong!! The North Dakota state fair gets some of the best concerts!! This year they kicked off festivities with Lady Antebellum! It was a great concert! 
But, of course my favorite part of any fair is the FOOD!! I managed to try a little of everything!  Steak quesadilla, corn dog, corn on the cob, baked potato, philly cheese, pretzel, and mini donuts! (Not all in one day--I did pace myself! )
Adylin preferred the corn and ate 2 ears all by herself! 
The kids LOVED the face painting!  
Adylin chose a very beautiful princess and Aiden chose a fiery dragon--it took me 2 days to convince them to wash their faces!

The men had to work the night of the Florida Georgia Line concert, so since our dates were unavailable,  we made a girl's night of it! 
It wasn't the best show I have ever been to, but the company was fun! 
And then their was more food! :)
Chocolate covered cookie dough and strawberries!  I couldn't decide, so I chose both! 
The final night of the fair was Brad Paisley and it was a GREAT concert!  Not that I didn't LOVE the girls night--but this date was better! ;)
We sat with my very favorite North Dakota people!! 
There aren't words to describe how much I love these guys!! Sara and her husband Paul took us in as friends with we were "the new people!" And I will FOREVER be grateful for that!
Brad Paisley put on a heck of a show!  The best one I have seen! And David even got a snuggle from Sara's mom during a love song! :)