June 2014 Newsletter

Tom and Felicia

Nothing much is new here. We loved getting to see Joey down in Denver at the beginning of the month! He and Desi somehow convinced me to run the Spartan Race with them, which I did pitifully at, but it was still fun! We just returned from Denver again where Tom ran the BolderBoulder with Desi on Memorial Day and we look forward to going back in two weeks to see Abby's baptism! Tom and I are both trying to move to a healthier lifestyle with more active activities and healthier eating. We're definitely looking forward to Summer! Noah still isn't crawling or even scooting BUT, he has gotten quite effective at rolling from place to place. :) We're hoping the others follow soon.

Dan and Cherstin

Good news: Our house is under contract. We are waiting to hear back from the prospective buyers on what repairs they really want as their list was over the contracted $500.  We had the appraisal this week and the appraiser found no major repairs or issue with the agreed-upon sale price.  We pre-sign our closing papers on Tuesday. Prayers would still be appreciated that this sale goes through and the house is one less thing we have to worry about.  I'm hoping this is HF blessing us and trying to have faith that it will work to our best interest.

We have packers coming Monday/Tuesday (2-3 June) and they will load the truck Wednesday (4 June).  Things are really starting to happen and it's rather hectic getting it all done.

Abby had her interview with our bishop tonight and she is all set to be baptized on 7 June at 11:30.  She just had her birthday and was excited to celebrate with friends at an adventure place where they do a ropes course, belaying, kayaking, stand-up paddle boats, etc. She had a great time. She also recently earned her very own (plain) Kindle and is ecstatic that she will be able to take it on our road trip.

Emmett said goodbye to his swim team this last week. It was very bittersweet for him. He has had such good friends and amazing growth in the last year. We are sure he will find a good team in Alaska as well.

Ellie is continuing with her reading lessons when I can fit it in.  She is doing really well. She also had a gymnastics performance where she was given a medal and was very ecstatic to have her very own medal after watching her brother get some for the last year.

Hyrum turned three last week.  We took him to the science museum and a library party.  He still insists it's his birthday, though.  

Enzo is FINALLY walking.  Sometimes I think that helps his demeanor, but sometimes not.  Today, for example, he wanted up, then squirmed to get down, got down only to be Angry because he wasn't up.  He is the kid that is going to be a pain for the three weeks in the car, I'm sure.

Dan has work off basically this week to help with packers and movers which is awesome because I'm not sure I could manage ALL THE THINGS on my own.

There are other things going on, but nothing like the giant move staring us in the face.

Mike and Desi

I don't feel like there is much going on here...

Mike is still busy with work, that's a good thing, but things aren't as stressful since their customer meeting last month. He is excited that our temperatures have warmed up so he can go out and ride his road bike early Saturday mornings, though he's only gone a handful of times. He is also eager to use the pool for early morning swims before work.

Desi had fun running the Bolder Boulder with Tom and her good friend Marci this past Memorial day. She had a goal of running the 6.1 miles non-stop, which she is proud to say that she DID!!!. She didn't beat her previous 10k time of 70 minutes, but she is a firm believer it was because she didn't stop to walk which gives you a recovery time to run faster when you start again. By the way her Bolder Boulder time was 1:15:05. Life is also really busy for her because now she has all 4 kids nonstop because of summer.

Emily finished the play this past month and she did WONDERFUL...but of course we are biased. She is still plugging away at piano and this past Saturday auditioned and made a chorale group (Young Artistry) for this summer. The group is kids from 3rd-8th grade and she is so excited to learn some new songs and choreography for her performances. School officially ended on the 28th and she is sad that it is over. We have felt very blessed with the teachers she has had. She is also excited for the pool to be open.

Mordecai is also plugging away at piano. Mom has slowly been teaching him and this past week he had an assessment piano lesson with Cheryl, Emily's piano teacher. She said that he is doing well and is slated to start in the Fall. He seems to really have a talent for it, just like his sister and Dad. School also ended for him on the 28th, and he is now a 1st grader. He wasn't nearly as sad as Emily was. In fact when Emily said she was so sad school was out Mordecai piped up with, "WHY?!?! I'm not! School is boring".  We plan on working hard this summer so he betters is handwriting before school starts. He is also enrolled in swim lessons at the neighborhood pool. He grew leaps and bounds last year with it, so this year we just want to make sure he can do the deep end with confidence.

Ruby is thrilled to have Emily and Mordecai home all day to pester, which she does a lot of. She is finally old enough to start swim lessons this year which is a good thing because she loves going to the swimming pool and playing in the big pool.  The last few weeks in nursery they take the older children in to participate with the primary kids for closing exercise.  Ruby feels like a big kid when she gets to join in with them.  Ruby is excited that she is big enough to get onto a swing by her self.  She also loves to hang on the monkey bar and loves to show off for people.

Ivy is finally using a few more words that we can understand but we are eagerly awaiting more so we can get over the crying for things.  She does well going to nursery.  I think having Ruby in there helps.  Ivy loves to play with the big kids no matter what they are doing.  She loves playing outside and pointing out dogs by barking.

Everyone is excited for Summer, and all the visitors we are expecting.

Phil and Hannah

May was a pretty busy month for some of us!

Phil got a promotion at work!! WOOHOO!! AND, we finally got a scout master called in our branch, so Phil doesn't have to fill that role on top of his Young Men’s duties. He is super excited about that! He also was a trooper and took the three oldest boys to the Father and Son camp out. It was rather cold that night, and I don't think Philip took enough blankets, so he froze all night. But the boys had a good time.

Orion had a field trip at school. That morning, he was in tears because he didn't want to go on the field trip. It took a little bit to get out of him that he was just nervous because he had never been to the Children’s Science Museum and he really wanted me to go with him the first time so that he wasn't scared. I was a super mean mom and made him go anyway. I talked to his teacher and told her to call me if she felt like Orion wouldn't be able to handle it. He went. He loved it. Hopefully next time he won't be so scared. I don't know why he had a sudden fear. He goes places without me all the time . . .

William has been really busy this month! He finished up his Let’s Play Music class, and had a recital on the 10th. I was a huge slacker and forgot the camera. William did . . . ok. He can't hold still to save his life and was super fidgety while the other kids were playing. He also didn't know all the words to the songs as well as he could have. (Again, it is because I am a super slacker and didn't work on them enough with him.) A few weeks later he had his Spring Sing concert at school. He was so much fun to watch there! (And again, I forgot the camera!!! Poor boy is going to think he isn't cute enough to have his picture taken!) He also got to dress up as a cowboy one day for school, which I did get a picture of, and was super excited that the eggs they have in their classroom started to hatch. He got to watch a baby chick come out of its egg.  He was really sad when they had to send all the chicks to a nearby farm.

Oliver has just been hanging out with me. He asks everyday if someone is going to come over. If I say no, then he asks where we are going. He doesn't really like the days when no one  and no where are the answers.

Winston is doing well. He has gotten super speedy at crawling, and is cruising a lot more. He loves to play peek a boo and patty cake. And really, he just loves playing with his brothers. Where ever they are, he wants to be. He has recently discovered playing outside and LOVES to be outside! Really loves it! He just had another weight check today. He is putting on an average of 18.8 grams a day!!! This is HUGE! We still need to keep him on the high calorie formula, and make sure he is getting 3 meals and 2 snacks a day sitting at the table. We will go back in two months and weigh him again. If he is doing really well, we will switch him to whole milk and start weening him off of his medicine. If he isn't doing really well, we will switch him to whole milk fortified with half and half, and keep him on the meds.

I have just been busy being a mom. Wanda and I decided to put our piano playing talents to good use. We are going to go to a nursing home and play. I have been spending lots of extra time at the piano practicing, which I am loving! It has been so nice to play something besides just the Childrens Hymns. Mothers Day was good. Philip wasn't feeling well, so I got up with the kids. Orion was so excited to give me the mothers day present he made for me in school. Philip made me some chocolate covered strawberries, and bought me a rose bush. And I bought myself a puzzle. It was a great day, and I am so glad that I get to be a mommy. How blessed I am to be entrusted with these little spirits who bring so much joy to my life.

Joey and Carlie

Reah still lives the life of a four year old.  She is not in school or pre-school, though we are trying to get her into transitional kindergarten this year, she wants to go to school so bad.  

Levi, May is his month.  He has been so excited for his birthday, 31 May.  On his birthday he got a donut breakfast and then a fun evening at Chuck-e-Cheese with a few friends. He had a blast.  He is looking forward to getting baptized, though kind of disappointed he has to wait until July.

Scarlett had her first band concert and boy was it terrible!  Scarlett is learning to play the flute and she did great, the terrible part is from the format the school district did it in, California is terrible.  

Glory had her tonsils taken out at the beginning of the month, so she was quiet for the first half of the month :)  Glory has been prepping for girls' camp coming up.  

Gideon has finally gotten his act together, a little and planned and gotten his Eagle project approved.  Joey told him he doesn't get a driver's permit until the project is done and no license until the Eagle is complete.  He also had his third and final orchestra performance for the year.  He will still have some private lessons over the summer and will audition for honors' orchestra in August.

Carlie has been very busy the last few weeks.  She has taken on the role of key spouse mentor in Joey's squadron.  It has included some training and attending several briefs and fun get togethers with some of the other spouses.  She worked one Saturday at a Military Appreciation Day activity at the mall and scored us 7 tickets to a San Francisco Giants baseball game.  The kids made it through the entire game.  We were pretty high up and they didn't know what was going on, but they still had fun.

Joey is always busy... between work and church it doesn't seem like he ever has any free time.  When he does get a few minutes he's running a Spartan race or taking some stupid motorcycle safety class, will it ever end.  He went to Colorado at the beginning of the month and ran a Spartan race with Desi and Felicia, he loved every minute of it and was so happy to spend time with his sister, in case you couldn't tell from the pictures.  He just wishes Ivy would warm up to him like Noah did (Noah didn't really warm up, but he was content to sit with the strange guy that wanted to hold him.)

As a family we've been busy too.  As mentioned earlier we went to the Giants game, but we also took time to visit with Nena and see her new little baby, Vanora.  We spent about 3 hours hiking in Pinnacles National Park on Memorial Day, Reah hiked the entire 2.7 miles like a trooper.  We were also able to visit a the San Juan Bautista mission settlement on our way back from hiking.  The family hiking is fun and serves as great prep for Carlie as she's prepping to hike Half Dome in October.  Gideon will be doing Half Dome in July with his Scout Troop.  Joey is hoping to summit Mt. Whitney in October with Gideon and Glory.  Mt. Whitney is the highest peak in the lower 48, 14,505 ft.

Robert and Wanda

Robert and I have been busy with more of the same.  Robert’s trying to get his feet under him in his new calling and I’m plugging away as mom.  I, like Hannah, am excited to play at the nursing home in Dodgeville.  It’s nice to have something to aim for.  

We enjoyed our branch campout this month.  Robert went home with Joshua and Hyrum and I stayed in the tent with Mary, Ben, Sam, Ruth, Moroni, and Adam (Joseph and Rebekah had work and Rachel stayed home to study).  I think I got the better sleep. hahaha.  Jamboree, our end of school year campout (in a lodge) in Waupaca is this weekend.  The kids that are going are sooo excited.  

Joseph graduated from seminary on Sunday.  He really didn’t want to go, but we kinda forced him.  Now it’s just finals this week and we’ll have a high school grad!!!  Of course, we’re the typical parents and are never satisfied.  Time to get him cracking on those mission papers!

Rebekah is almost done with her finals.  Since Mt Horeb graduated their seniors on Sunday, any classes that had seniors in them had their finals early.  Fortunately she’ll be able to take Friday off and babysit Joshua and Hyrum while I take the bulk of the kids up to Jamboree.  

Soccer is done for Rachel.  I think she had a good time this year.  It was definitely different than rec soccer and the team was barely starting to mesh by the time the season ended.  She also didn’t like her coach as much as her rec coach.  The nice part was the bus that took them to all of their away games.  The sad part was not being there to see the away games.  I think I got to see two of her games this season (the first and the last).

Mary has taken up running.  She wanted to know how far she’s been running each day so we google mapped it… 4.2 miles round trip, and she just started!  I told her to start timing herself so she can start dropping her time.  Unfortunately she mistook the intention and ran hard the whole time.  She was sore for a couple of days after.  Oops.

Samuel is excited for the end of school.  He was sad that his field day is on the same day of Jamboree.  He’s elected to stay home for field day and just go to Jamboree next year.  He’s had a lot of fun at school, especially with Wordmaster, Chess Club, Math 64, etc., but he wants to return to WIVA next year.

Ruth is also excited about the end of school.  Her class has piled up all kinds of field trips for the last couple of weeks of school.  She had two last week and two this week.  She will be skipping school on Friday and go to Jamboree with us.  She cannot wait!!! Her favorite part is the beach with all the inflatables.  The last day of school is June 10th.

Moroni is learning leaps and bounds.  It’s always fun to see the explosion of knowledge when it hits.  He’s still a great big brother to Joshua and is learning how to teach Hyrum.  The therapists have been working with the four younger boys and teaching Hyrum how to play with them and teaching them how to play with Hyrum.  It’s been interesting to watch Moroni use some of the phrases that the therapists use to teach Hyrum.

Adam took quite a beating at the campout this last weekend.  His back was eaten by the mosquitos and then he’s a bit red from swimming at the lake.  He looks like he has some kind of weird disease.  Adam is connecting a  little more with Hyrum too.  There used to be a clear attitude of ‘pesty brother’ that is now turning into an attitude of mentoring.  

Things will be changing for Hyrum, our new three year old.  Emily, one of his therapists has been promoted to a senior therapist.  This means that her hours will be dropping. Also Thom, another therapist, will be taking on another job.  They’re still trying to retain him for a couple of shifts a week, but we’ll see him half as much now.  ACT (the therapy company) is in the process of training two new line therapists.  We’re really happy with all of the babbling that Hyrum is doing now.  He even babbles a lot in letters.

Joshua is finally a full walker now that he can stand up in the middle of the floor.  He also got his first haircut, two molars on top, two more coming through on the bottom and finally the last of his front bottom teeth, all at once.  Everyone, except Hyrum ;), completely dotes on him.  

Dad and Mom

Hmmm....this month has gone by quickly...in fact the whole year has.  So, what's new on our front?  I guess the best thing is the knowledge that your Dad's heart is in good shape and that there's no real damage from the heart attacks 4 1/2 years ago.  I can certainly say that is a relief but the news of the pulmonary hypertension sure knocked the wind out of me for a little bit.  However, we're getting our bearings and doing everything we know to do, to exert as much control as we can.  The real test will be over the next two months while we're on the road.  We're trying to tightly control diet and exercise, as those are the factors that we can do the most to improve, and will result in improving his condition hopefully.  I suspect that our visits to each of you will be somewhat inconvenienced by this, but I suppose it is the price we pay :)

My time has been spent in the gardens, sewing, dr and PT appointments, and working to improve my organ skills and Primary.  It's nothing new, I know!

I'm still requesting copies of birth and marriage certificates PLEASE!!!  

Got news a couple of weeks ago that your ggrandfather, Emmett Bainbridge's remains are at a mental facility in Salem, Oregon.  They are seeking family to claim them.  Who knew?  I don't know any of the back story but I'm trying to find out what I can and perhaps have the remains sent to us.  I'll keep you posted on that! Lol

CJ is being married on the 6th of August in the Logan Temple.  Maria said that they will be having an Open House the week before.  Does that seem weird to just me?  Sarah has applied to graduate school in Logan and CJ has another year to complete his BS.  It is my understanding that he is still planning on medical school after that.  

We are excited to see you all on our trip.  We only have two firm dates - Abby's baptism on June 7th and Levi's baptism on July 5th.  I guess we're "fluid".  We wish we could make it to Joseph's graduation on the 12th?  It's hard to believe he's that old already!  Perhaps we'll be able to make it to the temple when he takes out his endowments.  

We love you all!  Hope things are going well for you all!  See you soon!!!