The Best of the Bailey's: November 2020

Homeschool can be a bit much. I'm the mom and the teacher. I run the show and I make the rules. I am with the kids nearly 100 percent of the days. Because of this, I was feeling like they needed some quality time, a good time, with me. The governor was planning to shut everything down again and before he did so, I made weekend date days with each big kid.

For John's Date Day we went out to Red Lobster! We also went to a comic shop and a used game shop where I let him search around and explore before buying an old Nintendo 64 game.

He was such a delight, such a great date!

We ate the warm biscuits, enjoying each bite. We made sure we were nice and hungry when we got there.

John got a root beer and I got a beer. We sat there chatting and I was just gushing over my sweet date! He is such a joy to chat and be around.

We both got lobster tails and fries with our biscuits and side salads. It was so good, we love seafood so much!

This was John's first time having lobster. He's had fresh King crab in Alaska, clams, muscles, and lots of fish lots of times. He loves seafood and he loved the lobster. We need to cruise!

We ordered a dessert to share for our special occasion.

John is so calm and sweet. He loves to chat and make you laugh. He is such a joy to be around and I absolutely loved my date with him.

After the video game stores, we made a trip out to Target to return a Beyblade he got for his birthday. He then was able to pick out a new toy instead (after way too much time in the toy department!). We also picked out a Christmas present for Eliana while there. Because it was close to Christmas, at least Christmas shopping, and the governor shutting everything down, it was a madhouse! It started to rain and was dark by the time we left. We got cozy in the car and made our way home with full hearts. The next date was Eliana!

The very next day I took Eliana out on her date. It was important for me to take them out this weekend because everything was shutting down after that, all the restaurants. After months of everything shut down, who knows how long it will be before opening up again.

Our first stop was nails! Eliana loves to go to the place with the bear seats. We have a great place in Marysville with these special kid seats.

Taking the kids out on these dates was such a treat for me, seriously felt so blessed to do all this with them.

I adore this child!

They were super sweet with Eliana and I. She went around the whole place acting like she worked there while I got shelac done on my nails. They were super sweet and didn't mind her maskless self.

Eliana's request was Red Robin. I decided to drive out to the Red Robin in Everett. Big mistake, should have just stayed in my home town! It was closed and I was so bummed for her, she loves Red Robin! Next to Red Robin is Bobs Burgers. They are a local company I believe, so at least there's that!

Eliana ordered an orange juice and we took pics of our nails.

In the restaurant was a family with a baby that was making eye contact with Eliana the whole time. Eliana was having fun but because her heart loves her family so much, she was missing Bryan while watching the baby and was wishing the whole family was together at lunch. I love her heart.

We followed up with a target run where she got to explore and shop like her brother the day before, just a different target. We shopped for Christmas presents for John too and she loved shopping. It was a great date with my sweet girl!

These dates were to get one on ones with my big kids. After having a baby, 2020 pandemic, and homeschooling, I really wanted to have some quality time to enjoy one another. And to remind them that mom isn't all business and no play. That was what my heart wanted but I got so much more. It was so good for my soul to get out and do something fun. It was so good to get my kids one on one and have fun. Super thankful to be able to do this and for Kyle for being so supportive of me doing this, he is such a sweet husband and cares about his family so much.

Kyle and I also had a date night before he left for Vegas with Ryon. It was such a beautiful evening. We went to Scuttle Butt. The food isn't the best, but the location is! I love that this is only 15 minutes from our house.

November 6th, 2020

The next morning Kyle left for Vegas and the kids and I met Lauren and Grace at Fanny's for breakfast. It was a beautiful morning! We were in such a great mood and Fanny's is our favorite. They always treat us so well and the kids just love that I used to work there.

We then made our way over to the local Christian Book Store. John had mentioned that he really wanted to support the place after seeing it while driving. He felt like they weren't getting enough business and wanted to go. So we went to go shop for a birthday present for Rynnah. Eliana somehow talked the owner into having her get a "job" there and she got an old-fashinioned feather duster and dusted the place. We spent a good time there with Lauren and Grace. We all purchased some things and the kids picked out a gift for Kyle for Christmas (a leather bracelet with scripture on a metal pendant). It was such a great morning! It felt really good to support local businesses.

We later had Rynnah's birthday party. We went home and Bryan took a nap while we rested. Heading out to the party right after nap!

The birthday girl (celebrating early because of Christmas)

Everything was decorated beautifully.

I chased Bryan outside the whole time...

Fun-filled day:)

We probably had the best Halloween we've ever had! We started our day off bright and early to get to the pumpkin patch right as it opened. We hadn't been to the pumpkin patch and it was now or never. We got there so early we were only the second car, we thought they were closed! This meant a pumpkin patch all to ourselves and no line, starting with the tractor ride! Bryan's first ride!

Of course, Eliana held onto her baby nice and tight, keeping him totally safe on the ride.

Such a good big sister

Little Bryan's hand holding on, so adorable

After they rode off, Kyle and I kind of looked at each other, and we couldn't believe that we let a complete stranger just ride off on a four-wheeler with our kids and our baby! We agreed that we probably should have sent Kyle off on the ride as well...

After what seemed like forever!... They finally came back. I decided to get our family pic right away after that. And other than the porta potties in the back, I absolutely love this picture of us!

The winner!

Seeing all five of us in a photo together never gets old to me, I'm so thankful!

Eliana was a cat, Bryan a Police Officer, I was a Wolf (wolf ears from our Great Wolf Lodge trip), Kyle the "Yee-Yee Guy" (as Eliana put it), and John was a Ninja. The day was just absolutely beautiful! The air was fresh and the sun shining bright, clearing the remaining fog as we were there. Our next stop was the play area.

Kyle spent the majority of his time chasing after Bryan and I just watched taking pictures and giggling to myself that it wasn't me chasing him around this time.

The kids love these little zip lines! They usually have a big one, that John got to go on last year, but this year it was not open. These little ones were a lot of fun though and getting there early, the kids got to ride them over and over without having to share.

John's so handsome

I just love these kids

Bryan loved watching them

I was obsessed with Eliana's hair this day as well, so I got a lot of pictures with it looking amazing. She doesn't often wear her hair all down, she tells me she is a low ponytail girl, she needs to be able to have her hair out of her way.

Eliana's little face smiling

His little face is the most precious little face!

Bryan has a good time

We made our way over to the games area. The family waited here while I went and bought more tickets. John convinced us to go to the corn maze and we needed more tickets for us all to do it.

What a neat place

more hair pics

I cut so many inches off just a few months ago, like at least 6 inches.

Growing up so beautifully

Well, I got the tickets and we made our way into the maze. So far so good.

Lots of creepy photo opportunities

The kids sure look cute though, John in that little knight outfit got many compliments, he's just adorable

so many corn mazes and haunted houses together over a span of almost 20 years

Bryan was in the stroller in front of us!

After I got some of our cute pics I was wondering how much longer I was going to be pushing this stroller through the mud.

Leading the way and running ahead to check for dead ends so I don't have to back track.

How beautiful

I love you so much Kyle

We had had enough! We started getting fussy, Bryan was fussy, I was blaming John for insisting we do the corn maze. It was not looking good and we were all getting super muddy. Kyle was looking up the corn maze from google maps, and I already had read on their website that it was 5 acres, we knew we were not getting out of there any time soon. It was hot and we still had so many plans for the day. So we made an escape through the corn, carrying the stroller through the stocks, and getting out of there! What a relief!

It was so sunny, I kept telling them to open their eyes for the pic. Kyle was telling me they can't open their eyes from the sun, lol! Sorry babes!

Last thing, paintball, and then we had to head out of there. We still had a busy day planned!!

Looking at these pictures of my babies shooting at these creepy, life-like, zombie things is...

Sweet kids though!

Last pic at the patch!

I took Bryan and Kyle home for a nap and the kids and I headed out to the Lake Stevens Farmers Market to meet up with my friend Angela and her family. Angela and I had heard at our MOPS group that the market was passing out candy at their stands. So we wanted to take our kids for a little trick or treating. Isla is still really young so Angela was happy to do the trick or treating this way and stay home in the evening with her baby and family. Such a great idea!

These kids are such troopers

We did some local shopping

She picked this and I love it.

We bought some gifts for Mrs. Catherine, their riding lesson instructor.

Picking out the pie for Mrs. Catherine

A bunch of inflatable characters were flocking to the field.

This lady made all these earpieces

I love this pic

This fireplace was so neat

They went to check out all the inflatable costumes out in the field. I didn't know what was going on, but it was fun!

I just want to soak up their smallness!

We saw another bare-faced family in the distance, it was my friend Angela! They brought a special treat, their new puppy Grand.

Angela and her family

I was hungry and none of the food at the farmers market looked that appealing. We had eaten a few donuts that I had hoped to get at the pumpkin patch, but was happy to find them at the market. After we did most of the booths for trick or treating, I was feeling too guilty when I maxed out what I was willing to spend there and not able to buy from all the vendors. I was ready to head out for some lunch to take home to Kyle before our next stop.

The kids and I made our way back to the car. They are so easy to take places, they are well behaved and are a pleasure to be around. Really these ages have been so cool. We stopped at the local chicken stop for some lunch and took it home to enjoy. Kyle was happy too and Bryan got a good nap. We then made our way out to the kids' last horse riding lesson with Mrs. Catherine. I took a ton of photos for Eliana. She wanted a ton of pictures. This was really hard for her to say goodbye. And after that emotional thought, here are some creepy pics of John's ninja costume.. that he wore to his riding lesson.

He got lots of compliments though!

Winking at me

Posting so well, and looking great for his audience!

It was so nice that Kyle had this day off. He had been working every Saturday, and 68 hour work weeks. This was his last weekend home before he left for Las Vegas, so he wanted to make sure he got lots of family time in.

My parents also came to see the kids in their lesson for the last time at this barn. My mom is a huge help with a very busy boy Bryan.

Eliana got to ride bareback one last time, her absolute favorite

The kids' lesson was a 3 o'clock, which meant we left our house at 2:15, our day had already been so busy and it was only 3 pm!

John also was looking amazing out there!

John and Eine (eye-nah, it's german)

Eliana and Lad (short for Alladin)

Last lesson with Mrs. Catherine as she was retiring.

Mrs. Catherine

Eliana got a full year at this barn and learned so much

Her little friend Nora, they both loved Lad so much. Nora is 9 like John and a very good rider.

Like I said, it had already been a long day. By the time their lesson was over and Bryan had made several laps around the barn, we were ready to go. But to be respectful to Eliana's emotions and recognizing this was a really big deal to her, I told her to take her time. She washed off Lad. Cleaned stalls, sweep the barn, gave treats to her favorites, and said goodbye many times. It was very emotional to leave. Eliana loves those animals like they were her family. She spent cold wet days as the rain hammered the metal roof, and bright beautiful summer afternoons at that barn. It was a place of refuge for her as the rest of her world shut down, it was the one thing that remained constant. She was so comfortable at that barn, with the people, the equipment, and the amazing horses. She cried on the way home. I shed a tear with her.

We had plans to go to the church and do their trunk or treat. But instead, we relaxed. Eliana was emotionally exhausted and still really hurting at the loss of her time at the barn. We stayed home and had dinner and the kids watched more of our Harry Potter Marathon for Halloween. It had been a really busy day for Bryan and he was ready for an early bedtime as well. It was the right choice to stay home. After we put Bryan to bed Kyle volunteered to take the kids out into the neighborhoods for some good ole fashioned trick or treating. Eliana was already in comfy clothes but changed into a rainbow princess outfit really quick (she go many compliments on that costume while they were out). John had never even taken his off and was ready to go!

They were gone for quite some time. Kyle was full of energy, getting outside on a beautiful evening. He also had the rest with Bryan earlier in the day while I was out, so it was perfect for him to take the kids. He took them everywhere! We have a whole network of neighborhoods surrounding us and Kyle took them through it all until they were begging to go home from exhaustion!

They came home and shared their loot with their mom!

We weighed their candy the next day and it was over 7 pounds! They were telling Kyle, "no wonder we were so tired dad, we had to carry all of our candy and it was heavy!" We spent the next day finishing up our Halloween Harry Potter weekend movie marathon, definitely a new tradition!

It was such a beautiful and cozy weekend

I totally let the kids go crazy with all their Halloween candy.

John was back in his costume, he did not sleep in it.

The kids did end up going outside and enjoying the day

The very next day, the Monday after their last Saturday lesson, they started their lessons with Mrs. Emily at a new barn. They had already had their riding evaluation a week prior with this barn and now they were officially started. This was a barn that was recommended by Mrs. Catherine. My mom came to help me with Bryan.

Very thankful to be able to jump right back into lessons, giving Eliana and John that stability of something outside of the home. Something to work at and be apart of as everything else remains closed.

It was a beautiful day at the barn compared to our evaluation day, which was like the biggest storm of the season! It was so nice to see it light and bright. It felt welcoming after having to leave our homey other barn.