Stetson finished 1st grade

We're out of order here and I'll get this in the right spot when I print my book but I wanted to mention how awesome Stetson's 1st year of school in Montana was.  The first month or so I had my doubts as he definitely experienced an adjustment period to moving and everything, but Mrs. Paulson's comments about his progress just kept getting better and better throughout the year.  She might say these amazing things about all her students but it sure felt great when she said it about Stetson.  She talked the most about his writing.  She held onto a lot of his writing assignments to show to other teachers and to use as future examples.  I'm being a bragger, sorry.  I'm almost done.  He was recommended for a gifted program called extended studies.  You have to score at or above the 95th percentile for math and reading and he just barely missed it.  His letter said we should be proud that he was even recommended for the program and Mrs. Paulson thinks he can be re-tested next year.  

Mrs. Paulson was great.  A tender mercy really that he wound up with her.  This was her last year of teaching for thirty something years but she didn't seem burnt out at all.  Stetson adored her.  Here's her comments about Stetson for the last quarter:

What a wonderful year Stetson has had!  It has been a joy to watch him learn and grown.  Stetson works hard and goes above and beyond all expectations, especially in writing!  I love the fact that he has strong convictions and is not easily influenced by others.  He is very kind and caring to his classmates and has become quite a leader.  Stetson will always have a special place in my heart!  

Stetson and Kandace at Ward talent show

zoo Montana

Yesterday we met up with some Lovell ladies for a day at the zoo!!

Michael asked if we saw any cows and I said we sure did!! Janelle is the cutest cow

We were all so excited to see grandma!  The kids had been talking about it for days.  Kandace was actually mistaken though and thought she was going to stay at gmas so she packed her bag. :)

When he's through with me

We have lots of baptisms in our ward which has been a blessing for me.  I've been to lots of "traditional" baptisms for 8 yr olds but since moving to Billings, Michael and I have been able to see lots of converts get baptized into the church.  Today Stetson and I went to the baptism for Ivy Haynes and her parents.  Michael and I subbed for her primary class a couple of times and Ivy was a treat to have in class because she was very reverent and seemed happy to be there.  Michael has recently been called as one of the primary teachers for this class so Ivy asked if Michael would confirm her tomorrow and she asked if I would speak on the HG.  It was great.  Baptisms are a great "break" from the daily grind I'm in as a mom of 3, especially when Michael's working a 24 hr shift in Powell.

The best part of this baptism though was when the RS president welcomed the mom into the ward.  I've always loved this RS pres.  She is down to earth and genuine.  Noone in my ward reads my blog so I get to talk about them. :)  She talked about the fact that she'd dealt with the ups and downs of depression her entire life and that her husband has stayed true and supportive to her this entire time.  One time she asked him why he's stayed with her this entire time and he said it was his love for her and the fact that he'd seen "glimpses" of what she will be in the next life when Heavenly Father is "through with her" so to speak.  This touched my heart and was something I loved hearing and thinking about.

I know Heavenly Father has very deliberately given us each our set of trials and they will make us great!  They are stepping stones to get back to him and especially to be like him, which is someone so much greater than who we are.  Knowing this doesn't make trials seem any easier and when we're in the thick of them its almost impossible to take a step back and recognize the value of them, but in this moment during this baptism and when I feel the spirit the strongest, I can understand and appreciate my trials a little better.
I loved to see that this awesome woman had a gospel perspective of her trials and was willing to share it with all of us.

Foulger Family Reunion 2014

 Last Thursday (7.3.2014), me, Stetson and Kandace drove to Cody and hopped in with Joel & Kambrie in their car and rode to Park City for our Foulger Family reunion.  I'd actually decided I wasn't going to go because I didn't want to go by myself (Michael had class) but Joel said we could go with him last minute so we bumped Janelle's b-day party up a day so we could do both!  We realized at Thermop that I'd left my bag in the van at Joel's place in Cody (whoops) so we picked up a few essentials at one of the Wal-marts along the way and it worked out fine.  We got there in the evening, said our hellos and went back to our cabin where I shared a room with my 2 HS age cousins, my neice and Kandace.  It was awesome.  The next morning we had a big breakfast at our cabin that Matt fixed for everyone, then me and my kids went to the Park City 4th of July parade with mom, Elizabeth, Fallon and her kids.  I realized I love parades a lot more when they're in my home town and I know everyone on the floats.

 After that, Fallon and I ran to get Cafe Rio and some extra white t-shirts for the kids to tye dye.  I had to bribe Kandace and Stetson to wear theirs for the family pics.  Later that afternoon, me, Laura, Rachel, her boyfriend Tyson, aunt Lisa, Gabi and Tylie went back to our cabin where there's a pool and the kids went swimming.  My kids thought Tyson was the coolest and loved racing him in the water.  Rachel and Laura thought it was so funny to watch Kandace swim.  They said she's just like me because she plugs her nose when she jumps in.  Didn't everyone do that when they were little?!  Whatever.

 Rachel and her millionaire boyfriend.  He won Survivor this year and they were both on the show.  I only watched until Rachel got kicked off which wasn't that many episodes.

 Kandace, Gabi (my uncle Brad's daughter), Tylie (Laura's oldest) and Stetson

 one of the races

 Here's all the grandkids and greats.  We tried to do one with just gma Foulger and the grand kids but a lot of the great grand kids are older than the grand kids (my uncles like to have their babies late:) so we just threw everyone in.  It was awesome.

 L-R: Greg, mom, Jeff, Brad & Matt & Gma Foulger.  I miss the old gma.  She doesn't remember my name but recognizes my face.  My best childhood memories are get togethers with the Foulgers.  When we lived in CA we were close enough geographically to get together with most everyone so we had lots of sleepovers at gmas, trips to Marine World and trips to Pleasanton.  My gpa John died pretty young so I can really appreciate all the effort my gma put forth to keep the family strong and together.  Family was the most important thing to her and she always put family above herself.

4 generations.  Gma, Mom, Kandace, me and another baby girl to add to the generation pic. :)

pictures off my phone

 These pics are way out of order but I'm over it.  This is me at like 25ish months prego, and right before I chopped my hair.

 This is just an ordinary day for Janelle.

 Here is Kandace after one of her swim lessons.  Her teachers take a more aggressive approach to lessons than Lovell does and I like it.  She has to work a lot harder but she's progressed a lot.  They said she can almost pass the swimming test to be able to swim alone in the pool.  They have to swim the short length of the big pool and tread water for 30 seconds.  I think she can tread for 20 and she can almost swim the short length but not quite.  She's fearless and works super hard.  She loves jumping in the Rose Park pool and swimming back to the edge.  She's a little fish.

Kandace and I went to go see my friend Amyntas sing at the symphony in the park a couple Sundays ago.  It was awesome.  I love symphonies and it was free and the weather was beautiful.  Kandace got burnt out by intermission so thats how long we lasted but at least we go to hear Amyntas.  Her and I sang together lots in middle school and High school.  Listening to hear sing made me wish I'd sing more and keep practicing voice.  I've sort of let it go and now prefer playing for my kids and helping them but I do miss it a lot.

Steiners

This is Raegan and Kandace.  Raegan is one of the bishop's 4 daughters and my kids think they're the greatest (and they are).  They met us up at pool the other day and Raegan played with Kandace in the "big pool."  Great day!

haircut

 Janelle had her first haircut a couple months ago.  I got to take her all by myself and I'd forgotten what a little delightful girl she is.  Its hard to enjoy her as much when there's 2 other kids competing for my attention.  We had so much fun.  She sat so good and loved it.  I think its so much better!

31st birthday

Stetson's school had a bbq for families that fell on my 31st b-day.  Of course I had to go so we buckled Janelle in her stroller and the 3 of us girls walked over.  The weather was beautiful and lunch with my kids was delightful even though I'd anticipated a little bit of havoc having them all by myself. :)  It was probably the best party of my day.  I love doing things with Stetson and being with him at school.

Janelle's 3rd birthday par-tay

 We celebrated Janelle's 3rd birthday 1 day early this year, which I think is the first time we've ever not celebrated our kids' b-day on their actual birthday.  I was planning on leaving for Park City on her actual birthday so we bumped it up a day.
We had swimming at Rose Park pool from 3-5 and then a bbq after.  I was so glad the weather cooperated.  It'd been overcast the entire week and Michael and I kept checking the forecast in hopes of good weather on Wednesday and we got it. :)  I am SO grateful for our family who was able to come support us.  We love them so much and appreciate their fun and support.  It wouldn't be much of a party without all our "party-ers" so THANK YOU!!  WE LOVE YOU!!

 Michael and Chloe getting ready to head out.

 Here's Carson and Janelle partying in the wading pool.

 Jill snapped this pic of Janelle in front of her balloons and cake and presents.

 Dad & Brenda

 gma Asay, Michael, Kandace & gma Dorothy having cake

 the party girl

Janelle got the best presents ever.  Everyone asked what she wanted/needed.  I mentioned that she loved clothes, shoes, frozen and needed some summer pjs and she got it all!!  Yesterday while getting ready for church she said something to the effect of wanting to wear her "let it go" dress.  I was so confused until I said it out loud and then it dawned on both Michael and I that she wanted to wear the dress from Frozen that Jill got her.  She loves it so much and I can't wait for her to wear it. :)
Happy birthday to our super special darling girl with all the personality.  We love YOU!

3 on the 3rd of July

Today my girl turns 3.  I'm taking Stetson and Kandace to a family reunion in Park City though so she's in Lovell with her gma and gpa.  

Oh Janelle.  We love you.  At 3 years old you are:

*very enthusiastic about life.  I think almost everyone on staff at the Y knows you by name because you bust through those doors every day going a million miles a minute with a huge smile on your face ready to conquer the world.

*You take 1 nap in the afternoon and sleep great at night

*You are notorious for the following phrase: "I want gomething (something)" meaning you want a snack or...something.  We're not always sure what

*You love to swim!  

*You are a great talker.  Since the start of this year, your vocabulary has taken off and listening to you verbalize your wants and communicate with the world is a little piece of heaven.

*You got your first haircut and now you think its pretty cool.  I took you in for a trim a week ago and it entertained us all to see how much you loved sitting in that chair perfectly still while you got your hair cut.

*You love to listen to mom read princess fairy tales and talk about how the wicked step sisters and the witch in Sleeping beauty are "SO mean."

*You love to look at mom's belly and talk about the baby who is joining our family this year

*You love all your grandpas and grandmas and cousins, you especially like to talk about your girl cousins in Wyoming, Chloe and Paige.  You think they are so cute and you are very interested in them.

*You have no problem bossing your 2 older siblings and telling them how its going to be.

*Janelle you are a handful but we are all smitten by you.  Happy birthday beautiful girl!