Life with School

I live in the car.

Now, some will say "No complaining! You did this to yourself!!" Well, of course I am not complaining so much as stating a fact. I.Live.In.The.Car.

Five kids, three schools. Where else would I be?!

I also have a problem with raising my hand and saying pick me! I'll do it! Which means I also am at these three school helping a lot. Although I think that is part of my job. But I did sit on my hand pretty well this last week when some things came up I technically did have time to do but I had other things screaming my name at home.

Bailey has been having meets on most Saturdays. He now loves practice and they run them 4-5 miles a day, 5 days a week. You can imagine I am also living at the grocery store to keep up with his food intake:)

He has brought his times mile down from 9 minutes to 7:45 and is super excited to get it down further. 

Emma is my musician, learning piano and ukelele.  She is a natural at piano and I am excited to have someone musical in the house. 

 I come in to Nathan's class once a week to do handwriting with the 1st graders. I also went on Nathan's first field trip with him. He loves when I am field trips so he can hold my hand and sit in my lap. At almost 7 that's pretty good and I'll take it while I can.

 At the Rocklin Police station

 The whole class in jail

Hopefully not future inmates

 Kate and Addison also had their first field trip to the Loomis Flower Farm.

 They got to do something so other Oram child has-Ride the Bus

 You would have thought they were going to Disneyland or something the way they talked about this bus ride for weeks. The other kids were jealous that the twins were able to ride a bus when they never have.

 Part of the field trip was harvesting the carrots on the farm

 The guide was Farmer John. He is now a celebrity in our house

 She wasn't too excited to pick the carrots.

Until they picked a large batch of them and then it was somehow fun.

 Looking at the baby chicks

 She found this orange on the ground that wasn't quite ripe.

 The TK class posing on the lawn

Playing tag while waiting for the bus to take them back to school. Half the kids were on meltdown status before the bus even came back to get them. It's hard being a TKer!!

 Happy to have Mom on the trip

It wouldn't be complete without a picture all together with Lauren and Maddie

Flashback a few weeks to our temple trip with the youth. Bailey got to go in for the first time. It was a great experience to share with him.

 The entire group

 Smart thought of the day: Buy $6 in Walmart costume supplies to get 4 dozen doughnuts on Pirate Day from Krispy Kreme

Dumb result: They wouldn't give them out per kid, but per family (even though it advertised per kid!)

Oh well...

Yes, we see them a lot:)

Emma was upset on day trying to write her talk for primary. Big brother Bailey to the rescue. It was too cute.

We have to put Alyssa on the blog! Their favorite babysitter (who isn't a grandparent:) )

And now I am finally caught up!

Tooth Fairy 3

This tooth held on for a LONG time. I tried the daddy washcloth trick and it didn't go as planned. Usually, Ben will tell them he is going to "wash" the loose tooth. When he puts the wet rag on the tooth it very easily falls out with a small tug. I thought how simple that must be, right? WRONG.

Instead, I got greedy and tried to pull both bottom teeth out since they were equally loose (or so I thought). There was a yank, a loud popping noise and lots of blood. No tooth was out. Nathan was crying, I was apologizing....and one of the teeth was just hanging. I don't know why he let me do it again to clean up the blood but I got one of the teeth out. He was so excited he forgave me for almost killing him previously.

Phase 2

I am not sure how many phases on child rearing there are. But I have most definitely moved into a new one. All of my children are in school. Not even half days, but full day, minimum 9-2 I have no little ones to chase after. Still not sure how I feel about this. It's been a whirlwind for sure. It is probably obvious that I am blogging about the first day of school weeks after it actually happened.

 These two were the first to go, a full week before the others. They have been waiting for this day all summer and we were very fortunate that they got in. 

Maddie, Addison, Lauren, Kate

 

Since birth, Melanie and I have been "forcing" these girls to all be friends. What's cuter than two sets of twins only 2 months apart being friends?

Pictured here is their very first photo op and their photo together on the first day of school. 

The girls LOVE school and are doing really well. It will make Kindergarten next year so much easier for them, because they can call this Transitional Kinder all they want but it's Kindergarten:)

This guy was next.  A new school, yikes! Bailey started at Western Sierra Collegiate Academy for 7th grade. This means changing classes, lockers, and all that good stuff. The first week was tough for him. I don't even think I can really write how I was feeling that week. It's so hard when you can't do anything to help them adjust and figure things out. Tears were shed (although maybe more from me at night while trying to sleep). But he is working through it and has really progressed so much faster than he ever used to. He joined cross country and is excited for the season. 

First and Fourth Grade

This was the easiest send off! Nathan has the same teachers and Emma has Bailey's previous ones. Nathan still loves going to school and hates weekends when he can't be there. Emma is social as ever and is really doing well with the new pile of work that comes with 4th grade.

This was taken the day everyone was all in school for the first time. Now, it was sort of a teaser as Emma and Nathan had half days all week. It took a few weeks to really have everything start to be normal. We have a nice little routine every day. I am getting better about packing lunches the night before. Getting all of them ready to walk out the door in the morning is quite interesting sometimes. Especially since I have to look normal too. Kate and Addison's school isn't a drop off, but a walk up to the class room. I can't be in my pjs for that...although some days I might be close. 

People keep asking me how it is with everyone in school, but I don't know if I can answer that yet. My head is still reeling from trying to get every calendar item programmed in my phone!

Summertime Recap- Severely Out of Order

 We have spent A LOT of time swimming this summer. I never took pictures so these will have to do.

 Kate has been really trying to learn to swim. She's gotten pretty good and I think by next summer will have it down.

Her "swim lessons"

This week she spent the entire play group pool time with Isaac Morgan. He was great with her and she would attempt swimming a lot more than she would with me. Problem is she thought she was better than she really was and jumped off one time and got scared when no one was there.

Grandma made the girls new dresses. They want to wear them every Sunday.

The kids have enjoyed one of Bailey's birthday presents-Foosball.

 We spent a Saturday at Gilroy Garden's with Laugers, Wells and Wares

 Told you he was goofier lately

This one never fails with goofiness.

 This was Nathan last Sunday before Church.

He likes to look at his muscles in the mirror.

A few weeks ago, I found out last minute that it was Cow Appreciation Day at Chick-Fil-A. If you were dressed from head to toe in cow gear, you would get a free meal. It was close to lunch time, and I didn't feel like cooking. So this is what we came up with in about 20 minutes. 

While prepping for Girl's Camp I needed to know how to put up this tent by myself. Bailey was a sport and very careful gave me instructions. I'm a pro now:)

Nathan and his friend Jared trying to set things on fire. I told them as long as they are doing it right next to me, it's fine. Apparently Jared kept trying this at home without parent supervision. I don't think I'm in too much trouble with his parents...

Right after school got out, we spent the day at Sunsplash. The kids had a great time. Addison took a while to warm up to the idea, and I thought for a period of time I was going to have to take her home. She worked through it and ended up loving it. Uncle Curtis took the day off work and came to help me wrangle everyone. 

Eating at In and Out before Sunsplash fun.

So we attempted (and it was a good attempt) running a few night a week to help Bailey prep for Cross Country. Although then it got SUPER hot, then girls camp, then...well...now school is almost in session. But we had a good run while it lasted. 

 And to make this post complete-Nathan got glasses! I am really hoping this will help his school work. He is very excited to be just like Bailey. Their eye problems are totally different but the glasses are the same style. Nathan wouldn't have it any other way. Here's to first grade and being able to see!!

Now for the pictures I forgot!!

 At a discount movie showing of the Croods. The kids loved it, especially when it was 5000 degrees outside.

 7-11-13. Free Slurpees at 7-11. Anything free is excellent

 The twins helping me prepare for girls camp.

 Nathan being silly for the camera

 Emma being dramatic for the camera...check out that wingspan!

 B and E cooking their own dinner (Emma made Chinese, Bailey had lasagne) The three little ones were at Grandma's and they loved being the only two at home for a night

Kate's ice cream face.

12 is the Magic Number

Turning 12 is a super big deal in our family. Probably in a lot of LDS families it is a big deal as well.

 I was sure to document everything I could. This is Bailey on the way to meet with the Bishop for his 12 year old interview. We are super proud of him for completing his Faith in God requirements. He took it very seriously, as Bailey always does:)

One of my favorite pictures of him recently. I don't know what exactly happens to them at 12, but I have always noticed it with the boys and girls in our wards through the years. It's like graduating from Primary they all of a sudden has this mini transformation. Bailey has been a lot more outgoing and his serious I have to be an adultness all the time (although still there!) gets replaced here and there with pre pubescent goofiness.

 We had Bailey's family party after I got back from Girl's Camp. Nana put cash in a tissue box and it was a big hit.

 The weekend before Bailey turned 12 he had his friend party. Ben took Bailey and his friends to a paintball arena and they had a blast. Bailey said it was his best birthday ever. Mission accomplished:)

Boys and guns-a great way to turn 12.

12 means moving up in Boy Scouts. He was able to go to Scout Camp (and comes home today or tomorrow!!) He learned to pack everything up and be prepared.

I didn't take his picture when I actually dropped him off. The hug was all he could take:)

His first day passing the sacrament. And he had a youth fireside the same night. I almost wouldn't have sent him since I am not used to listening to the announcements for the Young Men. Guess I better shift my thinking! 

The other boys in the Deacon's Quorum were so awesome with Bailey showing him what to do that Sunday. Bailey sat down with a sigh of relief when he was done. 

We are really proud of Bailey and all he has done to prepare himself to receive the Aaronic priesthood. He is faithful in reading his scriptures daily, saying his prayers and trying really hard to do what is right.

She's HOT!!

I don't often come blog an event right after it happens, especially if I don't have pictures. However this might be one of my favorites...

To preface:
Bailey turns 12 next week, but our ward has already gone to Scout Camp. We got permission for him to go with another ward. To help him get used to the ward/leaders, we started last week sending him to their youth activities. Today was a lake trip.  I assumed it was a Scout lake trip...but when I got there saw that NOPE, it is a combined Young Men/Young WOMEN trip. Oh my goodness, my little boy is now old enough for combined activities with girls. In bathing suits.

So, of course what is a mom to do except call her mother in law, mother to five boys. Of course, calling my husband and squealing oh my goodness while he is at work probably isn't the best use of his time:) (But now he gets to read this blog!) While I am laughing/almost crying that Bailey is actually old enough to go to the lake and ride on boats and jet skis (and I mentioned the girls, right?!), Nathan was listening. I hung up the phone and this is what happened...

Nathan: Mom, is Bailey going to the lake with hot girls? (I never used this phrase in the phone conversation)
Me: Hot girls?!
Nathan: You know, the cute ones. I think I saw one at least that was. She had on a bathing suit...giggle giggle...

Looks like I need to worry more about Nathan's first co-ed lake outing than Bailey's. Sigh.

Nathan's Kindergarten Graduation and other scary animals

 Another Oram made it through Kindergarten. Not that Kindergarten is hard, but for Nathan it was borderline. I had to convince the teachers to let me work with him through the summer for him to be able to go to first grade. Call it middle child syndrome, call it Nathan first needed to learn to poop...but I was convincing enough and he moves on!

 Getting his rose

 And his diploma

 Nathan and best bud Rayce.

 Nathan LOVES these two ladies. Good thing he gets them for another year in 1st grade.

 The crew

 His diploma. 

 That same day I drove on a field trip. I almost died when I realized what we would be doing. I am scared of a lot of things but I am really scared of turtles, lizards, snakes, etc..

 Ah! This thing was nasty.

 And a snake?! Emma touched everything. I am glad she did because I am such a scaredy cat and she isn't.