The Graduate

One of the most exciting and unexpecting things that happened while I was in Idaho was that I recieved my diploma. It came in the mail one day and I whooped and hollared all over the house showing it to all my family members, very humbly pointing out the "suma cum laude" part and rejoicing in closing this chapter of my life. "But Janelle," I hear some of you thinking (yes, I have that skill- it came with my degree) "I thought you already graduated." Okay, okay so here's now the whole thing happened and why the date on my diploma is about 1 1/2 years later than it should be. So when I found out I was expecting Lynette I changed my major from Music Ed to BA in Music to shave off a couple years. This meant that though I didn't have to take all those education course I now did have some extra general credits to do. I finished up all of my in-class stuff about 2 years ago and had only one lousy math class left to take that I fingured would be best to do correspondence so I could stay how with Lynette. I figured this would take me, oh 3 months. Hahahaha. Yeah I finished the class more than a year after I started it. Then after that it took me months of calling counselors, advisors, deans, and whatnot to make sure I received not only the credit for this class but also two others that I had tested out of but for some reason they were not being credited to me on my transcript. I wasn't even sure if it had all gone through until the day that lovely little envelope arrived in the mail at my parents house (I sent it to that address since I was moving and didn't know my new address.) Anyway after years of tears and toil I am officially a college graduate and am SO HAPPY. My husband is proud, my parents are thrilled (they really doubted my ability so finish after Lynette was born...silly people) and I am ecstatic.
Of course I could not write such a lengthy rambling of my success without giving credit where credit is due. Thank you so much, my darling Michael for your love, support, and help. I can't tell you how many times this man put off studying for important medical school tests and whatnot so I could go to class or get homework done on my stupid math class. I need to also acknowledge my amazing, incredible, selfless angels on earth Chelsey, Holly, and Lacie- three dear friends in St. Louis who watched Lynette for countless hours every week. I owe them so much- oh sure it was supposed to be a babysitting swap and I watched their kids a bit and did a little piano teaching- but the truth of the matter is they did twice as much if not more for me than I did for them. I owe them so much. I'm even tearing up right now thinking about it. I love you girls- you will always have a soft spot in my heart. Thank you.

Melissa's Wedding

One of the hardest things about traveling by yourself with kids is you can't seem to take any decent pictures primarily cause I've got screaming baby in one arm and trying to corral Lynette with the other. So this is all the pictures I've got of Melissa's wedding. Sad. It was a great wedding- it was a party, as it should be. We had a bridal shower with good food, friends I haven't seen in years and a random break out session with Kim and Melissa. They tried to get me to join them but I didn't want to intimidate anyone....actually when I dance with those girls I look like a fish flapping on dry land so I try to avoid that in public as much as I can.

Our next event was the bachelorette party Melissa threw for herself. I've never been to a bachelorette party- mormon girls don't tend to do that too much, but Melissa threated disownment if the sister's didn't show up. So we did. I'll give you one guess as to what we did- that's right, dancing at a night club in Salt Lake. I brought Trevor with me because we both suffer from separation anxiety and for the most part it was just fine. The club that night started 1/2 hour after we got there and then it was a country dance class for the first hour, both things Melissa did not expect. We enjoyed it anyway. There was some real dancing after the class and a whole bunch of people showed up, lights were dimmed, flashing lights were turned on and the club was jammin'. It was way fun. I think my favorite part was watching my younger sister Kim go and ask all the guys to dance with her- she's guts-y.

So after the dance we headed back to Melissa's house for poker, pizza and the highlight of the night, our PG-rated Gorilla stripper. That was so dang funny. Trevor, thankfully, went to sleep so I was able to enjoy it all and listen to Kimberlee ask at least 20 times if the pizza was done yet.

The day before the wedding we ladies got manicures and pedicures, followed by a dinner with the new in-laws- great time. The sisters then headed over to Melissa's place for a sleepover so we could talk and be there to help her get ready in the morning. The morning was, of course, chaotic but we all got to the temple of time enjoyed a fantastic ceremony with twice the amount of family than we expect and one of the funniest sealers I have ever heard. It was odd laughing that much in the sealing room. It was perfect for Melissa.

The reception that night was lovely, with only a few musical numbers, good food and- guess what- more dancing! It was a great night. Lynette was bopping around inbetween times playing with the fountain and getting all wet and Trevor was happily passed from person to person. It was a great wedding and I'm so happy for Melissa and my new brother-in-law, Eric.

What party of Melissa's would be complete without dancing?

Sorry, bad picture.

The Stripper

No one can get down like a Gorilla.

Independence Day

So the Fourth of July this year was spent in my very favorite way, with a BBQ picnic at
Veteran's Park, a lovely bike ride along the Green belt to Julia Davis Park, and watching fireworks with the family. The kids loved it. So one of the great and terrible things about Boise is it is on the far western part of the time zone so fireworks weren't schedule until it got dark, 10:15pm. We got to the park at 8pm, had a nice dinner- of course we had a nice little argument when mom tried to feed Trevor peanut butter brownies and I, of course, overreacted. After than we saddled everyone up with the kids in a pull-behind bike trailer thing- Lynette with Hunter and Trevor with Dakoda. The ride was lovely with only a few minor mishaps of Trevor stealing Dakoda's binky and then Trevor getting cold/wanting to see mom. Anyway, we got there in one piece along with half of the population of Boise. The fireworks were great. I was worried that the kids, particularly Trevor, would be freaked out by the loud noise, but they loved it. Trevor was mesmerized and Lynette kept informing me everytime I turned my head that I was "missing it." The ride home was in the dark with Trevor screaming most of the time until he fell asleep, poor kid. It was a great day. My only wish was that Michael could have been there to enjoy it with us. Turns out he had the whole weekend off since he was working at the VA. He got together with some friends and enjoyed the fireworks in Chicago. I was glad he was able to enjoy himself. Overall, it was a great Independence day.

Lynette and Hunter take dinnertime very seriously.

Watching "fire in the sky", as Lynette calls it, with Grandpa

The gang.

And here we have Idaho!

Every year I make at least one extended trip to Idaho and since Melissa was getting married that was as good as an excuse as any to say goodbye to Michael, cross my fingers, and fly the kids out to reacquaint themselves with my family- or in Trevor's case to introduce him to my family. Its always a little difficult to take the kids for a long stay like that- their schedules get completely thrown off, they get freaked out meeting all these new people, and Michael isn't there to help- but all in all it was a fantastic trip. Lynette enjoyed playing with my siblings, particularly Brennan and Collin, my youngest brothers, and munching on chocolate chips, oreo cookies, and ice cream with Grandma. Trevor even did pretty well despite his growing separation anxiety. He loved having a larger space to roam around in, especially learning how to crawl upstairs, and loved the outdoors, though I couldn't blame him. The evenings in Idaho are to die for- perfect weather, nice sunsets, not many bugs, soft grass- the only not so fantastic thing about it is it doesn't get dark until 10pm (11pm our time) so Lynette stays up WAY later than she should have. Trevor especially had a hard time adjusting to the new sleeping environment- he woke up every night at least 4 times. Thankfully, Trevor quickly jumped into a normal schedule, he's evening sleeping all through the night now, thank goodness.
Anyway, the following posts are of our adventures in Idaho, enjoy.

While in Idaho we spent a spontaneous evening at Whazoo- formerly known as Boondocks. We hit the mini-golfing and had a great time. Granted, it was a little annoying to have to remind Lynette not to pick up my golf ball after every single time I hit it.

Granpa helps Lynette out with her form

Hole in One!!! Yeah Lynette!

One of our days there I headed out to Eagle Island with my sister-in-law, Nicole, her two kids, and four other kids that she babysits. It was a wonderful time. The kids splashed in the water, played in the sand, and even checked out the playground. My sisters Kim and Rebecca also showed up to chase the kids around a bit. Lynette was so happy to plan with other kids her age- she's been feeling a little friendless and lonely since the move