Raging Parties in Advisory

On the way home from a Standards Night fireside for Church, Bailey and I discussed some of the things he will see or be exposed to as he gets older that will go against what we believe. He told me that there isn't a need to worry about it because of the school he attends. I quickly told him that means something, but doesn't exclude him from everything. His school is smaller and has a different crowds than the average public school, but it is still a school filled with teenagers who make their own choices. We then proceeded to have this conversation:

B: Well, there was that one time people were drinking alcohol in class.
Me: (jolted just a bit) People were drinking alcohol in class?!
B: It was a drink that only had 1% alcohol in it, but yes.
Me: Was this at lunch or after school?
B: Nope, in advisory.
Me: Just out in the open? Didn't the teachers say something?
B: No, the kids just did it.
Me: What exactly were they drinking that had 1% alcohol in it?
B: Vanilla extract.

Oh.My.Goodness. I kept from laughing harder than I wanted to. If halfway into 8th grade and this is the worst he has seen so far, I'll take it! We then went on to have a conversation about how kids do things to look cool but they are just being stupid. Because...vanilla extract?....They could have at least drank Nyquil or something....

This month's post

Our summer has gone by way too quickly, and here I am again trying to catch up and document everything as well as I used to.

4th of July Hike

We spent the 4th checking out a new area on the Yuba River. There was a nice, easy hike down to a swimming hole we thought we would check out. Well, the hike wasn't so bad until we go to where you had to break off to get to the swimming area. The kids took a few tumbles down the hill to get there, but the spot was amazing.

I think Nathan jumped and skipped the entire way. This kid is crazy!

My mom looks way excited to hike, right?! :)

For Bailey, of course, this was nothing compared to Yosemite. So a nice leisurely stroll for him as the rest of us are grunting.

I cannot tell you how amazing the water was up there. It was super clear and there were all sorts of places to explore.

We had to convince Gid the water was OK to swim in. He was not so sure about it. Emma was the first one to get him in the water with a stick.

Bailey and Ben jumping from the rock.

 The water was beautiful and the kids loved exploring. Ben ended up hiking back up and then we started walking up the road (which we didn't know existed before...oh well) until we met up with him. 

Later that night, we walked to the school down the street to watch the fireworks show from McBean park. We all were exhausted from the hiking and swimming and probably could have just stayed home and been happy:)

 He kept asking when we could go home and sleep.

In July every year, Chick Fil-a gives out free meals if you dress like a cow. This is our second year, and I wish we had jumped on the bandwagon sooner! The kids actually enjoy it (even Bailey if it means getting to order anything off the menu you want)

 We met up with two other families and also took advantage of the fact that is was July 11...Free Slurpee Day on 7/11!!!

 July brings the celebration of the birth of Bailey

 He turned 13 this year...13!!! It's still crazy to think about. We went to Leatherby's to celebrate with family. He heads into 8th grade this year. Now we officially have a teenager in the home (the three girls don't count, even though they like to act like them!)

In Nathan news, he lost more teeth and is now helping with the dishes one week a month. He LOVES doing dishes and keeps asking to let him be the only one who does it. He actually isn't bad at it, so it's tempting. But then Bailey and Emma wouldn't get the chance, and they would be oh so sad, of course:)

Emma has a new piano teacher now and is still progressing really well. She can play simplified versions of primary songs and hymns. It's nice to see her do so well and music in the house is wonderful!

Our family friend, Alyssa, left to serve a mission at Temple Square. The girls miss her a lot and write letters all the time. I try to gather them and send them to her as much as I can.

Kate and Addison are also now official swimmers! A friend of mine in our ward volunteered to teach them. It was so fast and they were jumping, swimming and having the best time. This makes it easier when we go places to swim so I don't have to worry (as much) about them in the pool.

They spent the summer doing so many fun things, we liked to have rest time too:)

I felt like a lot of the summer was taken up by girl's camp prep, but we tried to have fun as much as we could with swimming, lake trips, going to the library, etc...

Of course, I have to include some of the pictures of my time at camp.

The whole gang (minus the 4th level hikers)

 I always love being able to spend time with friends who live in the Stake. It's a great bonding time for leaders who don't see each other as much outside of camp each year.

 The girls and I always have fun together.

 I like to dress up as much as they do. Nothing says girl's camp like a fake beard and an E.T. shirt. It says "It's all Good In The Hood"

 I don't participate in the Challenge course because it's all heights and that freaks me out. But I will don the safety hat and take pictures.

At tomahawks.

 Our three ward leaders: Me, Tiphanie and Lena

I didn't get a front pic of my NKOTB shirt, but it was a hit with all of us (older) ladies

 So, this hike. Let me tell you... Oh my. It was beautiful, yes. Dangerous, yes. Well, for me it was terrifying. At one point the so called "trail" was only able to be crossed if you held on to the bushes on the side of the mountain. If you didn't, you might slip and fall sown the steep side, crashing into rocks and then eventually the lake. We eventually found out the lake wasn't accessible that way and had to turn right back around. It took a lot for me to get to that side, and then I had to go right back! But I am alive to tell the story....

More yurt pictures

The girls practiced and practiced the Haka for one of our morning jingles. It was amazing! We got so many compliments and even won the jingle award for that day.

At our family history station, I spent some time with William and Kate...no biggie

We get really delirious at camp which usually leads to weird conversations and faces

Prior to going up, I had the girls all make rock frogs to take up for decorations. They turned out so cute.

 Every year at camp, I have had some sort of encounter with this girl. It was her last year at camp, so we had to take a real picture. Usually I would just find random pictures of her on my phone when left unattended. Before I knew her, I spent a good chunk of the =day walking around holding the picture up to girls trying to figure out who kept messing with me:)

Our theme this year was Tiana from Princess and the Frog, and our woman from the scriptures was Eve. So, our Bayou Garden of Eden needed an Adam... get it?

 When I got back from camp, we headed up to Tahoe with my family for the weekend. Bailey loved learning to play pool.

 The twins were pretty worn out from the activities. This was the only picture I got at the lake. It's too bad because it was all of our favorite day up there.

 Emma played darts in the cabin, and was able to be the officiant for the enchilada contest.

Which, of course I won!!!! My brother needs to learn to not challenge me on this kind of stuff:)

And so our summer rapidly came to a close. School has already started and I really need to upload those pictures before they are all in college.

There are things besides Girl's Camp?!

Apparently I have a family and responsibilities and other stuff like that... Here is proof that all my time doesn't go into prepping for one week in July:

OK, not the greatest example. These are the Adam heads I made for our Bayou of Eden at camp. Every Eve needs an Adam, right?

Speaking of cute boys, how adorable is this? For a combined activity, the youth did a service scavenger hunt. One thing on the list was to read to a child. Bailey said this was his favorite part. 

I ran with Emma for her Girls on the Run 5K again this year. She did great and beat her time by a few minutes. She didn't stop and walk at all. Those long legs can be crazy fast when they want to.

 The twins end of the year field trip was to the Hamburger Farm (really just Bishop's Pumpkin Patch finding out a way to make year round money!) Kate and Oliver here are showing how to be super cute.

 Their teacher, Mrs. Gallo. Such a wonderful lady! Poor Lauren had almost fallen out of the train on the way out to the gardens so they put us all in this cage on the way back.

 Kate eating her first hamburger. She loved it! Then we both had upset stomachs that night after eating these burgers. Awesome it was not.

 Kate, Maddie and Lauren doing their model pose. We met everyone there since Wheatland is closer to us then driving out to Auburn and back. This meant K and A got to skip out on wearing the horrible field trip shirt sported above.

 On the train with a sad Addy....

 Kate and Lily modeling the potatoes they picked

 Twin cuteness

 More crazy faces

 We've done some exciting things to the house! Here is is all freshly painted.

 I have also been re doing all the cabinets.

 I've been using chalk paint and it is amazing! I love the distressed look from sanding it.

Our backyard is also progressing and we are about 3/4 of the way done with it. So much better than the dirt piles before. 

 Life size drawings they did at school. Addy's looks so much like her it's creepy.

The girls have wound up sleeping together quite a few m

 The adventures of Gid...Gd gets chicken toy, Gid cuddles with Addy, Gid beheads chicken. He has a pretty good life.

Melanie and I on our last adventure day with all the kids gone. Next year, her girls will have 1/2 day Kinder so our time will be limited. We have had the best year, most of all because we could go to the temple every week! We spent many days grocery shopping together as well. Costco is more fun with a friend! It's so nice to have a BFF at almost 35 :)

 The twins and Bailey got out of school a week before the other two. TK was a great experience for them. They are more than ready for Kindergarten. We will miss being with Lauren and Maddie as they head off to a different charter school than the girls go to.

 Bailey had a great school year, and even lettered in both cross country and track. He also got a 4.0 both semesters!

National Doughnut Day happened to fall on a day Nathan and Emma still had school. So the rest of us enjoyed free doughnuts.

 Crazy hair day during their last week of school

And of course a selfie on the last day. No two kids have ever been so excited to get out of school.

 

Lincoln Ride to Walk had a family even that was a free day of fishing, food and displays. Pops and Grandma Mo came along for the day.

Pops tried to convince Nathan to let him yank his tooth...the tooth is STILL there as of today so it didn't work so well.

 When you are a dad of little girls, you can't help but use references to Frozen when replying to text messages.

My husband's schedule has been proven to be more beneficial to me. Up early for workout and then early to bed. Although I might sneak a nap in sometimes. I have no idea how he doesn't pass out at his desk most days. I do enjoy working out with him every morning. Although by 9 pm I'm toast.

 To celebrate the end of everyone finally being out of school, we went with the Cadle's to Sunsplash.

 We had lunch at In N Out and then spent the rest of the day at the waterpark.

 A few weeks ago, we had an all girls day out to celebrate birthdays for everyone. We had quite the crew of Grandma, Aunt Laurie and Aunt Niki, Leena, Johanna and the Oram girls.

I haven't had a pedicure in a really long time. I have terrible toenails, and thanks to Tough Mudder some were growing in from being ripped off. I am happy to say I didn't get thrown out of the chair, and it was super relaxing!

These three love taking pictures of themselves!

Bailey got to go with his Scout troupe on a 5 day hike backpacking through Yosemite. He came home tired and crusty but had a great time. He still loves Scouts and working on his merit badges and rank advancement. I know we are all excited for our future Eagle Scout:)