Thanksgiving & Mike's Birthday

Thanksgiving was pretty low key for us this year. We invited two elderly people from our ward to join us, but they either cancelled on us or declined the offer. The gentleman that declined, Brother Boe, serves in our library and the kids all love him because he hands out mints. Anyway, we took him dinner after we cleaned up and the kids were super excited. However, on the way home Ivy threw up on herself and all over her car seat...so I guess it was a good thing people didn't come. Mike likes to tease me that it's a Bainbridge family tradition to have someone sick or throwing up on major holidays. Lol.

Mike's birthday was also celebrated this weekend. He spent most of the day preparing for his talk, but stopped mid-day to open his presents. I had promised him that I wouldn't buy him anything because we bought him a new 60" TV for a birthday/Christmas present, but I couldn't have him not open anything. How lame would that be? Anyway, while he was writing his talk Emily and I went out and bought him a puzzle, and a drone that was on sale for an awesome price. For dinner he felt like a hamburger so we went to Red Robin, then home for brownies and candles. 

Overall it was a great weekend.

 

 

 

 

 

 

October 2015

October seemed to fly by. We continued to have soccer games on the weekends. Ruby and Mordecai are both really good at soccer, when they want to be, and had awesome coaches this year.

On the 17th, before soccer games, we hit up a pumpkin patch as a family. We picked out 4 pumpkins, then hit up the kid activities. The kids enjoyed the bounces house, corn maze, and farm animals (Ruby didn't enjoy the animals...she has her moms nose). From their we hit up McDonald's for lunch and then off to soccer.

We of course celebrated Ivy's 3rd birthday on the 23rd. In the morning she had a friend birthday party with 7 friends that came over for breakfast and cake and ice cream. The girls just played while the moms chatted and it was tons of fun. Then later that night for dinner we took the kids out to Red Robin to celebrate as a family. After dinner we came home and had Ivy open her presents. She loved her musical card, money and outfit from the grandparents. From us her favorite toy must have been her "puter" computer. We sure love her and glad she was feisty enough to hold on so we could have her.

The 28th we carved pumpkins as a family. It's tradition to listen to Halloween music, have treats, and have fun. This year we tried making pumpkin seeds...the kids liked a few and then we're done, so I don't think I'll go through the trouble of making them again. 

We also had our ward trunk-or-treat on the 30th, which the young men and young women were in charge of, which meant me being in charge of and just sending out assignments. The kids loved it! We had chili, hot dogs, salad, cornbread, and pumpkin desserts. The youth headed up carnival games and then we went out of trunk-or-treating. Emily & I were a babies, Mordecai was Darth Vader, Ruby was a fairy and Ivy was a mermaid princess.

The next night was of course Halloween. For dinner we had our traditional jack-o-lantern shaped pizza from papa murphy's. The weather was nice enough to all go out. We were out for an hour before Ruby and Ivy were done, and then Mike took Emily and Mordecai for about another 45 minutes. Halloween Ruby and Ivy swapped costumes. 

October was fun, busy, and really fast! Between all the activities I still had school and my first anatomy and physiology exam in there too, plus mutual, piano lessons, and kids homework. Life with a family is hard, busy, full of ups and downs but great and so worth it!!!

 

 

Mordecai is 7

Mordecai turned 7 today and to celebrate Ruby and Ivy and I met him at school for lunch. We picked up Subway and cookies and surprised him. We then stayed a bit and surprised Emily. It was so fun. After school we headed over to Dr. Millers for Mordecai's well child and then out to IHOP, his request. After dinner we tried to buy him a new bike but that didn't work because the Target we went to was out, even though their website said they had one. As a family we went to Jump City where we always have fun. Then the regular ritual of ice cream, cake and presents.

Mordecai is pure boy! Sometimes a little too much for me. He loves sports, especially kicking balls, and pestering his sisters. He is also very tender hearted which he hates, but I love. Even though his pregnancy was rough I would do it all over in heart beat to have him because he is my "little man".

Weight: 51 lbs. - 51%
Height: 49 3/4 inches - 79%

Emily is 9!!!

Emily was so lucky to have so many appointments on her birthday that I kept her and Mordecai home from school. First she and Mordecai had dentist appointments at 10:00 am. Then Emily had an orthodontist appointment at 11:00 am. If I had decided to have them go to school today and were to have taken them back to school directly after Mordecai would have missed lunch. As we were leaving to dentist I decided to take them out to lunch. Emily got to choose and she chose Taco Bell. As we were walking into to Taco Bell I noticed a frozen yogurt bar and decided to take them there after. After all that we headed home for Ivy to have a nap and for me to do some homework. After that we all piled in the car for Ruby and Emily's well child check starting at 3:30pm. The girls are growing well. After the doctors office is was nearly time for dinner so we met Mike at Sweet Tomatoes for dinner since Emily loves that place...really everyone does except for Mike. Poor guy. After dinner Emily and I headed off to activity days where they painted their own CTR rings. Then it was back home for presents, cake and ice cream and now bedtime.

Emily has struggled a bit this year. Right before Christmas she was struggling with common core Math, that Mike and I think are a little bit advanced for this age, and she started pulling out her eyebrows and eyelashes. Mike and I didn't notice because her glasses cover her brow line, but quickly talked to her when we did notice. She is the typical type A child. Wants to please, and be the best and when she was noticing that she wasn't getting it she felt dumb. My heart ached for her because that is how I felt growing up and that is when I decided to do things that weren't the best for me. She is still struggling with how to manage her stress and the picking because now it has become a habit. She is so intense and feels emotions so intensely that it is proving quiet difficult.

Emily is pure joy in our home and she Mordecai are still best buds. She loves music in every facet and continues to amaze me with her piano skills. We can't imagine having a better first child.

Ruby Turns 4

Ruby turned 4 today. I remember how long it took us to get her...or at least felt like, and now she is so grown already. For her birthday she requested to go mini golfing, good thing it was a nice day and Boondocks was open. After mini golfing we headed over to Chili's for dinner. Once we got home she had birthday cake, ice cream and presents. She is so excited to start soccer this Spring and is learning to write the letters in her name. She can't wait for me to start teaching her to read (in August) and is the best of friends with Ivy. Ivy just adores and looks up to Ruby and most of the time it is like having twins with these two. Ruby is very tidy. When she wakes up she is the first to get dressed and make her bed. We just love her so much.