A Collection of Cute Quotes

Kids say the darndest things! 

Write them down or you'll forget them!

Check out the funnies from the cousins over the years ... The Blackham Bunch has been compiling a list of their own (here) and Grandma has been collecting some, from emails or Facebook posts. Chris has shared several cute conversations with Integrity in his letters (find them HERE). There's also a post with Grandpa/Lamar-isms - he's had a few custom sayings! There are probably a TON more, but this is what has been compiled thus far ... this is pretty easy to add to, so sent more cute quotes my way (email/text) and I'll stick them in as new things are said. Share them, and I'll update! I've done this list chronologically. 

April 2025 (Chris and Charlotte) 

While Hiking down a steep hill…

Lottie: Can you carry me so I don’t break my head?

Christopher: (picking her up) Sure, how many heads do you have?

Lottie: Three.

Lottie: Can I ride with you?

Christopher: No, we don’t have a car seat.

Lottie: Can I ride in the trunk?

Lottie: I want some treats.

Christopher: I don’t have any treats.

Lottie: (excitedly and confidently) Oh, I do!

February 2025 (Derek's Girls) As the crew went to a Jazz game, Derek wrote done some of the cute quotes said while they were there ...

• "Dad, were all of these girls Miss America?” (During the Jazz Dancers)
• “Number 00 is very beautiful, Dad.”
• “Dad, even though the Jazz don’t really win games, I give them a 74 percent chance of winning. That’s more than 50 percent, Dad.”
• “Dad, what other sports do the Jazz play? Can we come to a Jazz soccer game?”

December 2024 (Calder) As the group started to gather at the annual Westra Christmas Eve party, Calder came in and saw his cousins Landon, Keaton and Cooper. He said to his mom "tell me the names of these guys again ... they look like fun" and proceeded to pull the Blackham boys downstairs to join him in some video games. 

December 2024 (Everett) Saying goodbye Everett said "see you later alligator ... that's what Grandpa Westra says". 

October 2024 (Everett) Janika and Brandon were discussing the "peacemaker talk" from General Conference and Everett said "And do you think we should be an ice maker? To help Jesus?

May 2024 (Calder) When it was time for Adria to be set apart for her mission, the Stake President asked each person what their feelings were. Calder said, "Well Rella's going off to college and Adria on a mission----I feel abandoned!" The President said what else do you feel? Calder said: "I'm bored, can we get on with this?"

November 2023 (Cooper) During an intense game of ping pong, Cooper went for a wide ball and ended up hitting the wall, and almost falling forward. I wasn't sure if he'd hit his hip or arm on the table and asked "Are you hurt anywhere" to which he gravely replied "my heart" (he hadn't got the ball). 

October 2023 (Derek's Girls) #fbfunny #ldsconference

July 2023 (Josh) “So, a calzone is basically a bigger hot pocket.”

Summer 2022 (Layla) Layla begged her very heights averse Dad to take her on a ropes course. It was terrifying, but our group got a kick out of this tiny girl saying “You can do it Dad! Don’t look down! Just look at me and be brave!”

December 2022 (Margie & Fidelity Rep) Grandma has been encouraging the kids to save with more birthday/Christmas money if invested in their RothIRAs rather than cash. Most of the grandkids would take her up on the additional investment. This would require multiple transactions in December for Christmas infusions. Grandma/Margie was on the phone for quite a while with the Fidelity representative putting $50 in each of the grandkids separate ROTH IRAs. As December is also birthday month for Colton, he got an additional $50 of birthday money. The representative said to Mom "Well I can tell who your favorite grandchild is!" 

January 2022 ~ Funny conversation between Kim and Alexa while Kim was baking sourdough bread. There’s nothing like a good conversation between a polite AI (artificial intelligence) and Kim without her hearing aids in.

Kim: “Alexa, set 30 minute timer for”… (Alexa can’t hear her)
Alexa: “Sure, what is the timer for?”
(Kim doesn’t hear Alexa’s question)
Kim (flustered): “Sorry, what’s the question?”
Alexa: “OK - Sorry, What’s the Question Timer set for 30 minutes”

June 2021 (Derek shared on Facebook)

N: “Mom, were dinosaurs alive when I was born?”
D: “No. Dinosaurs have been extinct for a really long time.”
L: “Yeah - they died in the 90’s.”

June 2021- (Derek shared on Facebook)

Yay Summer! Haha, the kids are not too thrilled about “mandatory reading time.”
The youngest keeps saying “I’m SO boring!”

March 2021 - Scott (email reply)

Jen had been having some success with weightloss using IMF (Intermittent Fasting) and Derek inquired about it. Scott has his own input  "I have been trying the intermittent fasting – 30 minutes on, 30 minutes off for years. Hasn’t helped."

February 2021 - Derek and Corin (Facebook Exchange)

Derek: Congrats on the new house Corlie! (Combo name). Happy for you guys.

Corin: Thank you. It's actually Kylorin. Ha ha. 

January 2021 - Derek and Layla

Derek wrote this on Facebook, with the accompanying images ... "Someday I want Layla to write a book called “How to Get What You Want - The Art of Pleasant, Persistent Persuasion.”

December 2020 - Jen and Cooper

While playing ping pong, we were reflecting on the year, different activities and such. I was mentioning how we hadn't been out to eat much this year. 

Cooper:  Keaton and I just went to In and Out the other day.

Jen: Did you go through the drive-through or did you go in?

Cooper: We went in.

Jen: (laughing) ...

Cooper: Mom, no ...

Jen: and out?

September 2020 - Derek overheard from his office as Layla had a friend over for a playdate

Friend: Let’s do the Monkey Bars!
L: No - we need to stay over here. My dad's office is over there.
Friend: Oh, so you don’t want to bother him? He's way quiet.
L: Yeah, he makes us money by having lots of calls.
Friend: Why do you need money?
L: 'Cause we only have five million dollars, and we eat a lot of food and it costs lots of money.

May 2020 - Calder to Chris
Calder (age 8) brought me out a couple of "cemetery" (sedimentary) rocks.

May 2020 - Jen (in an email to Mom/siblings)
I love ellipses ... I use them way too much ... we've joked they can just put on my tombstone -
"Here lies Jen ..."

April 2020 (Alicia/Linden Update) We finally broke down and signed up for Disney+. I was disappointed that the Mandalorian doesn't play the mandolin. 

March 2020 -  Scott (email exchange)

Alicia wrote: Adria and her friend go over once a week for French lessons, chocolate, and gum.

Scott replied: I am sure I would be bi-lingual today if chocolate and gum had been part of the equation.

December 2019 - Derek Upon hearing Jase had gotten engaged (actually two different emails)

Congrats! I'm already making their celebrity combo-names in my head: Jallen, Ellase, Jasellen, Ellenase. All of which sound like any Utah-born child. :)  I know how busy things must be with Christmas and then a wedding to plan, so I saved you some time and already dropped Ellen into the photo for the Christmas newsletter. You're welcome! Congrats again!
Sincerely, Derielle/Daniek

September 2019 - Ani to Derek (about Mom's fall)
We got the text that Mom had broken her wrist. I told the girls what happened and Ani said, "I'll bet Grandpa told Grandma: "Don't break your bones Mr. Jones!" but this time she actually did!"

September 2019 - Calder (about Mom/Margie's fall)

When Calder heard that Grandma had broken her wrist in 2 places, he said, "Well, she'll have to quit going to those two places."

September 2019 - Derek/Scott (family email chain)
Mom wrote that Dad had to go in for biopsies, and they came back as basal cell cancer, so he would have to have the Moh's surgery again on his arm and by his eyebrow. Scott wrote a poem and Derek put it to a picture (as Chris has been doing lately with his Prosperity Poems) ...

(see more of Scott's poetry in the Covid-19 collection)

  
July 2019 - Chris/Scott/Mom (family email chain)
The parents are trying to be prepared, to make things easier when they are gone, even to preplanning some funeral requests ...

Mom: It would be nice if you all spoke or sang or both, if you are able.
Chris: Scott, we will incorporate some of the ideas you had, including a song for you to sing at the funeral.
Scott: Exactly what would you like me to sing at your funeral?
Mom: Dad requests “Oh my Father”

June 2019 - Layla to Derek about Jaiden
Derek: "Hey, what's wrong L?"
Layla: "I just miss my cousin Jaiden so much and I really want to see her!"

June 2019 - Email from Scott to the family

It is once again time to celebrate all of the fathers at the annual Draper Westra Father’s Day Spectacular! We have arranged for Emeril Lagasse and Guy Fieri to cater dinner and Cirque du Soleil to provide entertainment. Festivities will begin at 5:00 pm.

January 2019 - Jensen Family

It was Josh's turn to teach the "Come Follow Me" lesson this week to our family and I was helping him put the lesson together. One suggestion in the lesson was to take an object and get it dirty and then have the family members wash the object off and then discuss how it relates to baptism. I said that maybe he could get a small rubber ball or something like that and roll it in the dirt. Anyway,  he decided to go get a rock from the sand pile. So we gather around the kitchen sink and he has Jenna start to wash it off but it wasn't getting any cleaner. Then someone says, "I don't think that is a rock -- I think that is poop!" She immediately lets out a gasp, drops the "rock" and starts washing her hands in the other sink. Josh picks it up and smells it and says, "I think you are right!"  Gross! I guess our neighbor's cats were using our sandbox as their little box! Talk about an object lesson gone wrong!  

November 2018 - Noelle to Derek

Noelle (almost 3 years old): “Mommy is beautiful. I am pretty. You...you are funny.”

April 2018 (Scott and Chris in an email)

Mom had posted about a music box and other heirlooms (see post), including the old elephant tusk and some beer steins.

Chris wrote: I think Scott has an emotional attachment to the beer steins.  If you ask Scott if he knows German... he does, but it's only "Das Beer" and "Der Wine

 From Scott: Nein, Nein on the stein.

January 2018 - Aniston to a friend

“Guess what Ava, my grandpa digs holes in his backyard, like really big holes, like caves and they have spiders in them, and guess what – he likes them, the spiders. My grandpa likes spiders.”

December 2017 - Email from Shane to Scott

I subscribe to Google Alerts for any news including the word (name) 'Westra', and this came up today.  Scott Westra, Ames, Iowa, raising pigs. Scott, your experience is even more impressive, as raising kids for 20+ years is harder (and messier) than raising pigs for 15. 

November 2017 - Email to all from Mom 

Sunday in the Family History room, I was telling Carma Monson that we were going to Wendy's for Thanksgiving. A man in our ward that doesn't know our family was shocked that we were going to "WENDYS" for Thanksgiving! Love those Burgers!

April 2017 - Calder-isms

Calder said, "I'm bored!"

Shane: "Do you want to play with my phone?"

Adria: "I want to play with the phone."

Calder: "I'm bored-er than her!"

• While holding a caterpillar at Elizabeth Gamble Gardens, "I love you. Do you love me too?"
• "I want to use the forks for Chinese" (he wanted to use chopsticks)
• (During a prayer on the food) "We thankful for the day. But not the food, because no pineapple...only pineapple is fun."

Early in the morning, Calder comes into our room with a couple of stuffed animals in tow. He climbs into the bed, and snuggles right up to me. Then after a few minutes:

C: "I love you"

Me: "I love you too, Calder"

C: "No, I been talking to my stuffed animals"

March 2017 - Layla

Layla at Stake Conference today:

"I don't like this show. Can we watch something else?"

March 2017 - Derek regarding Layla

Even our children appreciate abstract art. 

Layla did this one. I call it: "Unlucky Charms Descending a Staircase."

March 2017 - Jenna

I asked Jenna to do a job and after she did it she said, "Can I get a treat for doing my job?" I told her that I appreciated her doing her work, but she didn't need a treat for every little thing she did. "Besides, you are a big kid now, and doing your work is just part of the responsibilities one has in a family." Then she launched into this cute anecdote. It went something like this:

"Everyone is always telling me -- 'you are a big kid.' When I was in preschool, Mrs. Kathy would say, "You can do it -- you are a big kid now!" Then when I was in Kindergarten our teacher would tell us to be quiet and say, "Remember, you are big kids now!" In first grade we sang a song that said, "We're first graders and we're big kids now!" Now I am in second grade and you are telling me that I am a big kid. So I must not have really been a big kid in preschool, in kindergarten, or in first grade!" "Are you a big kid now?" "Yes! Can I have a treat?"

March 2017 - Laylaisms  

L: Daddy, you cannot be my friend.

D: Oh really? Why not? I really want to be your friend!

L: Well, you need to have a small head, and a small face like mine, and also tiny shoes.

L: Daddy, is it true that I can be anything I want when I grow up?

D: It sure is sweetheart! You can be anything you want!

L: Okay. When I grow up, I want to be your cousin.

D: Um...well...hmmm...”#goals

L:  Mommy, what is that? Hehe... a little Taxi?? (pointing to a VW Bug)

D: Haha... its a car. It's called a VW Bug, or Beetle. 

L:  Hehehehe, that's not a bug!! That's a little Taxi!! (cracking up)

L: Mommy! Hurry! They're catching us!

M: Who's catching us?? 

L: The monsters!!

M: What monsters? 

L: The monsters. They're scary!!

M: Oh, it's okay. Monsters aren't real. Nobody is chasing us. 

L: Well, they are here now.

March 2017 (Jared)

The Youth in our area are invited to this big family history event called KiNnect You.  It is be a big event with popular speakers and entertainers. I told Jared and Janelle that they needed to hurry and register before the deadline so that they didn't lose their ticket. Jared said "I don't want to go spend all day doing family history -- besides, I think I have a track meet." Janelle piped in, "Jared -- James the Mormon will be there!!" Jared came back with "Well Jared the Mormon won't be!" (If you aren't familiar with James the Mormon -- he is a popular entertainer/rapper). 

March 2017 Jen regarding Layla

Derek's family had come over and Layla was looking at the kitty toys saying ""oh, I like this ball, it's sparkly! Oh, I have a necklace like this!" But one of our kitties is not very nice, and Layla ended up with a small scratch. Layla had to talk to both kitties and told them in a very serious tone that "no you should not scratch me."

February 2017 - Jenna (after a long day)
Mom: Are you tired?
Jenna: No, I'm not tired...unless it gets me out of work -- then I AM tired!

January 2017 - Layla

Ani: Ow! Layla stepped on me - on purpose!

Mom: Layla, can you please tell Ani that you're sorry?

Layla: No, I can't tell her I'm sorry.

Mom: Oh! Why not?

Layla: I not sorry ...

November 2016 - Layla, from Derek

Layla LOVES church nursery, and looks forward to Sunday all week. On Saturday she woke up later than normal and ran to her window all excited. She climbed up onto her couch and opened the curtains and her shutters and said "Look! It's sunny! It's sunny day! I go to Church on sunny day!" I guess she thought that Sunday means any day that she wakes up to the sun shining. :)

November 2016 - Alicia and Rella

After Trump was elected president, Alicia remarked: "I can only hope he has a good cabinet." 

Rella (10years old) responded, "To keep him in?"

October 2016 - Calder to Alicia

Calder asked me to finish his sandwich, and I declined and told him about fasting. To which he shook his head and replied, "No, fasting is when you go super speedy in your car to church" 

September 2016 - CaldeR (he wanted a big R at the end of his name)

His stuffed alligator is now named "Smelvis" because he (the alligator) likes to smell things. 

September 2016 - Aniston (text from Danielle to Derek)

September 2016 - Keaton and Jen

Keaton: I want some bananas and Nutella, but we don't have any bananas :(

Me: Yes we do, they are on the table.

Keaton: But YOU said we have no bananas!

Me: No I didn't

Keaton: Yes you did

Me: Did I sing it? There's a song like that, I guess I might have sung that without thinking about it.

Keaton: Seriously, there is a song that says "we have no bananas?" What kind of stupid song is that?

July 2016 - Josh

The other day the girls were talking about animals and how it was fun when a cute little animal like a squirrel came right up to you. Josh said, “Ya, but you need to make sure that they don’t have Diabetes!”  I said, “you mean rabies?” 

July2016 - Chris and Rella

Building forts reminds me of a few years ago when we were over at your house with the family doing our "yard evening" at your house.  Rella took the branches that we were trimming, and made a little fort.  She told me about her "Secret Portal"

Rella: "Uncle Chris, this is my secret portal".

Chris: "Very nice.  Do you know what a portal is?"

Rella: "It's something secret, silly!"

June 2016 - Josh to Wendy

I cut my hair short again (layered chin length). The kids all freaked out like they do every time I switch things up. “Why did you cut your hair? I liked it better before!” Josh said, “You can’t have that hairstyle until you are a grandma. Grandma’s always have short hair!”

June 2016 - Jenna 

Rick took Jenna out shopping with him. I asked her how it went and she rolled her eyes and said, “Dad made me listen to Dave Ramsey ALL the way there and ALL the way home!” I asked her if she learned anything. She said the only thing I learned was… (and then she starts humming the tune of the Dave Ramsey jingle that comes on before he speaks). 

May 2016- Cooper

We've been having issues with our wi-fi lately. It will say we're connected, but nothing will update. Cooper announced "We have lie-fi ... it SAYS we have WiFi but it's a LIE".

May 2016 - Jenna 

Last night I asked Jenna what she wanted for dinner and she said "scrambled eggs." I fixed her scrambled eggs and she took a couple of bites and then dumped the rest into a container and put it in the fridge. I asked her why she did that and she told me that she was making me breakfast in bed for Mother's Day and that she didn't know how to make eggs! 

May 2016 - Josh (age10)

Jaiden and Janelle's friend was over for dinner and they were teasing Jaiden about liking a boy in one of her classes (which she doesn't).   I asked which class and Josh teased in a mocking voice -- "It’s CHEMISTRY!!!"  

April 2016 Ani (will be 6 in June)

Ani: "Daddy, let's play freeze tag!"

Me: "Okay! But I can only play for a few minutes because I still need to go on my run."

Ani: "Boo. All you ever want to do is lose weight and kiss mommy."

March 2016 Ani: Ani's prayer tonight: "Heavenly Father, we're grateful for these two wonderful, wonderful babies Layla and Noelle, BUT we pray that we can have no more babies join our family please. Amen."

February 2016- Jared

Josh was in the kitchen juggling some oranges from our refrigerator (he is learning from Jared) and accidentally dropped one on the ground. I said, “Josh, please don’t juggle the oranges!” Jared said, “Yah, Josh, juggle the eggs!”

February 2016 -Calder (age 4)

One quick funny from Calder...we've been filling out assessment forms for him this weekend and running little tests to see if he can do certain things. One of the questions was something like, "Does your child ask you questions?" We were trying to determine if he knows what a question is, so Shane asked Calder, "Do you have any questions?" Calder immediately, without taking any time to think about it, asked "How the fridge spin around?" It took us a few minutes to figure out that he was asking about the microwave. Shane gave him a quick tutorial on the microwave and we had a good chuckle.

January 2016 - Ani (age 5 1/2) 

From Derek: One of my four New Year's Resolutions is to learn to do my girls' hair. This morning when I did it Aniston said: "Ugh! Dad! You are NOT good at hairstyling and I DON'T look cute!

2016 January - Calder (age 4) 

One of the ward members invited us to dinner tonight with their family -- they moved from Utah (Sugarhouse area) to Redwood City exactly a year before we did (also on New Year's Eve). They have a daughter a bit younger than Rella and a 5-yr-old boy. All the kids had a blast...when it was time to leave, Calder announced "No, I live here now".

December 2015 - Colton to Jen

Conversation in the kitchen ...

Mommy: Thanks for unloading the dishwasher Colton.

Colton: No problem.

Mommy: Well, it seemed like a bit of a problem since I had to ask you three times to do it.

Colton: Well then ... "You're welcome?"

June 2015 - Colton to Jen

I called and invited my folks over for dinner and games, but my brother Shane and his kids were there visiting Grandma and Grandpa that night. When I told the boys why the grandparents weren't able to come over, Colton said "Well they can just leave!"

January 2015 - Aniston (age 4 ½) 

Ani: "Mommy!! This is the bad day of my entire life!"

Danielle: "The worst day of your life?"

Ani: "Yes!!"...

Danielle: "Wow...really? How come?"

Ani: "I don't know. I'm tired. I don't want to do my hair."

June 2015 - Jenna (age 7)

For Father’s Day Flee Rick had invited the full-time missionaries to come up for dinner and a lesson.  Then Rick divided us all up into teachers and investigators. Jenna and Rella were my teachers and I was the investigator and they were so funny!  I asked what they believe and Jenna quoted the fourth article of faith.  I asked what “remission of sins” meant and Rella explained that you could be forgiven of things you had done wrong.  I said I would love to be forgiven of the things I had done wrong, and Jenna nodded knowingly and proclaimed, "Yeah, like yelling at your kids!"    

July 2014 - Josh

After spending a few days with Grandma and Grandpa and doing lots of fun activities, Josh asked Grandma  "What do you and Grandpa DO when we're not here!" (Well, Josh, we just sit and stare at the walls--------we hope it doesn't really come to that some day!)

Jan. 2014 - Jenna

Rick likes me to tickle his back during church. Jenna often sits on my lap and tries to play a trick on him by tickling his back too without him knowing it is her. She thinks it is pretty funny. One Sunday we were doing this and Rick would lean over and whisper, “Wow, Mom you are the best back tickler ever!” Jenna would look at me and cover her smile. We started tickling his back again and she turned to me and said, “Daddy is getting suspicious!”

February 2013 - Josh (age 6) 

"Jase is my brother. He plays store with me. I buy quarters from him by giving him dollars. Sometimes he will even let me jump on the trampoline with him. He makes me peanut butter bars and he would make me top ramen, but I don’t like top ramen. Sometimes he even lets me clean his room! I love him. He is a great older brother and a great example! I’m so glad Jase is getting his eagle scout. Maybe one day I will be able to get mine!"

August 2013 - Jenna

Jenna was eating some gummy worms and she said, "Heavenly Father knew that kids wouldn't like to eat real worms, so he made candy worms!"

July 2012 - Jenna-isms

• Jenna put on her shoes and asked, "Are these on the right feet?" I said, "No." Then she lifted up her right foot and put it over and next to her left foot so that her legs were crossed and said, "Now are they on the right foot?"
• Jenna woke up this morning and looked outside and said, "Look outside! It is a beautiful day to play with friends!"
• Jenna asked Gerilyn, "What is your favorite color?" Gerilyn told her that she didn't have a favorite color -- she liked all of them. Jenna said, "Lynn -- God says you can't go to heaven if you don't have a favorite color!" 
• Jenna was standing on a little plastic playhouse in a way that her legs were in semi-splits. She exclaimed: "This is awkward!"
• Jaiden was giving Jenna a piggy back ride and started running with her and Jenna said, "Don't startle me!"
• When giving Jenna a stern "talking to" about some things she had done wrong, including lying, she said in a very worried voice, "But I am repenting!"
• Jenna was helping me do some work around the house and I said, "You are such a great little helper! (She beamed). Then I said, "You are my little buddy!" To this she exclaimed, "I am NOT your little buddy! Buddies are boys, I am a girl!"
• Jenna was over playing at a neighbor's house and when I went to pick her up I overheard them saying something about getting married. I said, "So you two were pretending to get married?" With wide eyes Jenna said seriously, "No, we real got married. He kissed me -- on the lips! I tried to get away but he was too fast!" (I guess she is going to have to learn to run a little faster to get away from those boys!)

October 2012- Cooper

Helping Cooper with his homework last night, he needed to write down the names of various shapes. As we counted eight sides on an octagon, Cooper asked why isn't OCTober the 8th month of the year? Hmmmmm ....

December 2010 - Jenna
A couple of nights ago Jenna didn't want to go to sleep and so Rick had her lay by him for awhile. She sighed and said, "I want Mom..."
"She is not here..."
"I want Ja-ka."
"Janika already went to bed."
"I want Jase."
"Jase is in bed."
"I want Jared."
"Jared is in bed too."
She went on to name every member of the family. After the last one she paused for a minute as if thinking and then said "....I want Ky!"

Ky is our 12 year old neighbor boy (Jase's friend). Poor Jenna -- she figures there must be someone out there who can save her from her bed-time!

November 2010 - Jared

When we had my brother and sister-in-law over for Thanksgiving one of the kids mentioned that in Japan you could get heated toilet seats. My sister-in-law said that you could probably get them here too if you paid enough money. Then Jared piped up... "or if you just sit on them for awhile!"

September 2010 - Colton to Cooper

Colton was tired of Cooper telling him what to do. He turned to him and said "YOU are not the boss of me .... Daddy is."

September 2010 -Landon

 It doesn't matter what he got in trouble for ... but Landon was grounded, unfortunately on a night when he had made plans with friends. He actually said "It's no fair to ground me when there's somewhere I want to go!"

September 2010 -Colton

Mom and Colton had gone out to Grandma and Grandpa's during the day. Mom and Grandma went out to lunch while Grandpa tended Colton. When Mom asked Colton how it went he said "Well, it was kind of scary ... we were downstairs alone, just me and Grandpa ... and I thought there might be ZOMBIES ..."

September 2010 - Josh (age 4)

We had a family swimming/potluck party for all of the interpreters and their families in the area. They had a cooler filled with different kinds of cans of pop – including root-beer. We were all eating and visiting when Josh (age four) announces to the group, “I want some more beer!” Then one of the guys that was there shouts out, “Hey – the branch president’s son wants some more beer!”

June 2010 - Colton 

I've been derelict in teaching my youngest about jokes ... knock knock jokes in particular. A little friend TRIED to tell one to Colton. The friend would say "Knock knock" with absolutely no response from Colton. The friend tried again ... still silence. The friend tried one more time, to which Colton turned to him and said "this is NOT a door!"

June 2009 -Cooper

Keaton had made a little bird feeder at scouts, and brought home an extra bag of birdseed. When I told Cooper it was birdseed, he asked "If we plant it, will it grow birds?"

October 2008 - Camden (age 6)

Casandra usually uses this little scrub brush to scrub the little boys in the bath.  Camden doesn't like it so she just used her hands to scrub his head instead. Camden said, "Mom, I like your claws better than the scrub brush"... He meant fingernails.

August 2008- Jaiden (age 4)

I had all of the kids gathered around me and we were reading and discussing the story about the pre-existence and war in heaven. We talked about Jesus and Satan and Jared said, "Satan can make you do bad things!" I explained that Satan can't "make" you do anything. He can tempt you but it is your decision whether or not to follow. Then the kids started talking about temptations and four year old Jaiden pipes up, "Yeah -- like he can tempt you to get into the bathtub with your clothes on!!"

September 2008 - Cooper 

"Do you want to take a hug of me?"

September 2008  -Janelle (age 5 ½)  Jaiden (age 4)

Janelle and Jaiden usually get along so well together, but lately they have been fighting a little too much! After an argument today they had the following conversation:

Mom: "Jaiden, say you are sorry."

Jaiden: (in a sarcastic voice) "Sorry."

Janelle: "That was a mean 'sorry!'"

Jaiden: (more sarcasm) "Sorry."

Janelle: "Mean!"

Then Jaiden screwed up her face like she was about to cry and in a whimper said, "Sorry."

Finally satisfied, Janelle said, "Apology accepted."

Then Jaiden put this cocky smirk on her face and said, " I was just ACTING like I was sad!!"

She knows exactly what she is doing, doesn't she?

August 2008 - Josh (age 2)

The other day, we were all sitting around the kitchen table when Josh started singing twinkle twinkle little star. We thought he was so smart until we heard the rest of the song! he sang it like this: "Twinkle, twinkle little star, how I wonder arr arr arr arr!"

April 2008 - Jaiden(age 3 ½)

In the middle of the night Jaiden comes in by my bed and says:

"I had a bad dream." 

"What was it?" I asked. 

 Whining she says, "I had to wash my hands and eat and sleep and do good stuff."

Summer 2006 - Kellen and Kemery (Mom's Memories from an email in 2014) 

One time when Kellen and Kemery were about 8 and 10 maybe and we were tending them...we were busy bottling peaches. I had them load peaches in the bottles, round side up, with a slotted spoon. I said, if you will just help us load this batch of bottles, then Grandpa will take you to play tennis. They enjoyed the canning so much, one said, "If we will go play tennis with Grandpa, then can we load some more bottles?" 

June 2006, Callahan to Jen

While shopping at the store, I picked up some Western Family products, Callahan looked confused and said "I didn't know Grandma and Grandpa Westra made those" ... Westra Family brand! I do always think about similarity when there is talk of the "Western Nut Company" ... Westra Nut Company isn't such a stretch!

January 2006 - Jared

I was fixing dinner and Jared asked what we were having. I said, "Chicken Taquitos -- you like Chicken Taquitos, right?" He sighed and said  sadly, "I'm afraid I don't."

February 2005 - Jase 

Last Monday was my turn for choosing the activity for FHE and so we all walked to the park and played soccer and basketball. Janika has been teaching Jase times tables and he knows some of them. We were walking to the park and Jase saw a truck that said "4X4." He exclaimed matter-of-factly, "There's another one of those 16 year old trucks again!" 

Feb. 14, 2005 Janika (age 9) 

On Valentines night we all went shopping and when we came home there were some plates of cookies on our doorsteps. Janika asked me if she could call and thank our neighbors for the cookies and I said, "sure!" Well, she called and they weren't home and so she left a message on their answering machine saying thank you for the cookies...(and then she must have been in prayer mode because she said)..."in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen!" When she told me she accidentally ended the message like that I laughed so hard that tears were rolling down my face. It seems like one of us did that as a kid too...probably me!

February 2005 - Janika (age 9)

Yesterday we were sitting in church and the first counselor in the Bishopric got up to conduct. Janika said, "Is he like the "Vice Bishop or something?" I said, "They are called first and second counselors." She said, "So that's sort of like the first mate on a ship then?"

January 2004 - Jase

I was packing up books in the kids room and made a big mess with books all over the place. Whenever any of the kids went into the room they were quick to blame the mess on one of their siblings. Jase said, "Look at this big mess that Jared made!" and Jared said, "Look what Janelle did!" I confessed to the kids that I made the mess. Well, when Dad got home from work Jase marched up to him and exclaimed, "Dad! YOUR WIFE made this big mess!!"

January 2004 - Janika

Yesterday in church the speaker was posing the question, "What is Zion?"

Janika leaned over and whispered in my ear, "It's a bank!"

January 2004 - Jared

Today Jared was pointing to the pictures on the computer and said, "That's Janika, that's Jase, that's Jared - that's DEFINITELY Jared!"

Oct. 2003 - Janika (age 7 ½) When Janika and Jase were fighting the other day she yelled, "Go away Jase! I'm starting to feel really tense!!"

February 2003 - Jase

We finally got caller ID a couple of months ago and I told the kids that we don't need to answer the phone if it says "UNAVAILABLE." The other day the phone rang and I didn't answer it. I explained to Jase that it said, "unavailable." He said, "Boy, she sure calls a lot, doesn't she?!"

Feb. 2003 Janika (age 7)

Last Saturday we went to a wedding reception and as we all sat at the table eating dessert, vegies, and little sandwiches, Janika said, "This is fun! I can't wait until I get married! Let's see what should we eat....I know, HOT DOGS!!!!" We all laughed at that and said that maybe she could have a popcorn stand too. 

Christmas Eve 2002- Callahan

Callahan used to be into “Superman” everything, wearing superman clothes day and night. (He will be 4 in February). Now he is into “Spiderman” and will wear only red. On Christmas Eve, he proudly showed Grandma his shirt with a picture of a spider on it. Later in the evening, Grandpa Westra opened a present--a white dress shirt. Callahan came up and looked at it and looked sadly at LaMar with empathy. No spider (on the shirt).

October 2002- Jase

A few weeks ago in Primary Jase was called up to give the closing prayer. The Primary President must have thought he needed help because she started whispering things in his ear to say. She whispered "We thank thee for the Holy Ghost" and Jase said loud and clear, "We Thank Thee for Legoes!"

October 2002- Jared

Last night Jase fell out of bed and started to cry. I don’t know how it happened because he had just barely gone to bed and was still awake. Well I gave him hugs and kisses and then Jared leaned over until he fell out of bed too and then he started into some fake crying. It was so funny. I guess he wanted hugs and kisses too!

October 2002 - Jared

Whenever Jared tries to pick up scissors or a knife I always tell him "No,  danger!" We were shopping in Staples a couple of months ago when he  suddenly yelled out, "Danger!!" I looked on the shelves and sure enough there were scissors there for sale.   

October 2002 Janika age 6 ¾ (Wendy 9 months pregnant with Janelle)

I was in line with Janika at her school when the lady behind me asked,  "When is your baby due?" Janika then whispered to me, "Mom, how does she know you're pregnant?" 

Hmmm……must be that motherly glow….

March 2002 - Kemery talking to Scott

Last night I was talking to Kemery. We had had a family home evening lesson on the resurrection on Monday, so I asked her why we we celebrate Easter. 

"Because Jesus was arrested."  she said. 

"Resurrected" I corrected her.  

She asked if we would all be resurrected. I told her yes, we would all be resurrected.

"I don't want to hang" she said.  

She thought she would have to hang on the cross.  

She was glad that she didn't. It shows how careful you need to be when talking to kids.

February 2002 - Jared

Jared continues to talk more and more and when he wakes up in the morning we can hear him shouting from his crib: "It's awake, it's awake!"

July 2001 - Landon to Jen

Tuesday we went to see Derek get set apart as a missionary and to say goodbye. I told the boys that they wouldn’t be seeing Uncle Dunk for a while, and Landon asked: "like till next week?" I had to tell him it would be longer than that.

September 2000 - Janika

Last Sunday Janika came out all dressed in her church dress and tights and church shoes. I was telling her how grown up she is getting and said “what am I going to do? My little girl is just growing up so fast!” She gave me a hug and said, “It’s okay momma, I will always be your daughter – just like you are still grandma’s daughter!” It was sweet even though it was actually my own words echoing back to me from a few weeks ago. She had been asking if I would still be her mom when she grew up and left home and got married. I had explained that I would always be her mom just like Grandma was my mom even though I am married and have kids. Today Janika added that I could always come to her birthday parties.

Feb 2000 - Landon

Here is a cute little thing that happened while Grayson and I were gone - (Pam told us about it)

Kolby was over to the house asking Landon who his friends were -- Landon replied "Janika, Kayla, Rachel . . . My best friend is Christopher ... He is brown with black hair"  

To this, Kolby replied "Oh, is he brown like Ana?"   

Landon looked at Kolby and said "Ana's not brown"

Kolby told him that Ana was in the other room, and he should go look at her.

Landon came back, eyes wide and said "Ana IS brown".

I think the only reason Landon noticed Christopher's color is that I did a scrapbook page of them both in their superman outfits - I made two little paper dolls - One with brown skin and black hair, and the other light skin and brown hair.  Kids can be colorblind ;)

Feb 2000 - Janika (told by Wendy)

The other day Janika asked if Landon was still four.  I said yes and she asked when she was going to get to see him and I said I didn't know.  She said, "I miss Landon, I want him to come and live with us!"

June 1996 (from Jen's Journal) Margie

There was an air show going on by our home in West Jordan (airport 2). The folks were out and we were watching the planes flying over. Landon was not quite one year old, and as I pointed out the planes, I said "Look at the plane Landon" and Mom/Margie/Grandma joked "it's not landing, it's flying!" 

In the OLDEN days ... when the Westra siblings said cute things as kids.

In The Olden Days ... Scott

(Mom Memory) When Scott was about four, I asked him what he wanted to be when he grew up. He replied, "A passenger.' Being puzzled, I asked, "A passenger??" He said, "You know.... those guys who pass the sacrament in church!"

In the Olden Days ... Chris

At 26 months, for several days after Christmas whenever Mom put him to bed he'd say "I go sleep. Lanta Laus (Santa Claus) come!"

At 20 months - after a mosquito bite "Owww, kee kee bite hurts"

In the olden days ... Wendy

Mom remembers ... when Wendy was little and we had just paid the baby sitter and taken her home. Wendy said "Did you pay her money?" I said "Yes." Wendy: "Well, SHE should pay US, because she got to come here and have fun!"

When Scott was in cub scouts and Wendy was not quite four years old, she said "I want to be a pup scout too!"  Mom told her she could be a brownie scout when she turned seven, to which Wendy replied  "Can I be a purple scout?"

When Wendy was about 4, we were out for a walk and I was pointing out things in nature and how God made the flowers, and the trees, and the clouds, etc. Wendy pointed out a butterfly and asked if God made the butterfly. I replied with a mini-science lesson and said that actually, a butterfly comes from a cocoon. Wendy replied: "Oh, good, that saved God some work, didn't it!"

When Wendy was about 4, and we knew she was getting a new primary teacher that day, I asked her, Me(Mom): Wendy, who is your new primary teacher?" 

Wendy: "She told us her name, but I forgot." 

Me: "Well, was she old or young??  

Wendy: "I don't know, she didn't tell us that."

At 3½, Wendy would ask Mom "Can I fold a bed" (meaning "make up the bed").

At age two, Wendy would bring Mom her toothbrush/toothpaste and say "brush tee."

In the olden days ... Jen

(Mom Memory) When we came home from church, when Jen was about 4, she told me about the treat they got in class that day. But she quickly added, "But don't worry, Mom, it's SLOW SUNDAY!" (NOT Fast Sunday).

Mom has told the story about how when Jen was a little girl, she overheard them talking about genealogy. She stomped over and corrected them "I am Jenny Westra, NOT Jenny Ology!"

Jen had a little stuffed bear. She named it "me".  That caused some confusion at times ...

"Mommy, I left me at Grandma's house!" 

In the olden days ... Shane

Check out Shane's creative "money" for mother's day ..

Take a peek at Shane's Journal - Age 9 "now I'm going to bed" ...

In the olden days ... Derek

Say "Der" (he'd say "Der")

Say "Ick" (he'd say "Ick)

We'd do it a little faster ...

Say "Der" (he'd say "Der")

Say "Ick" (he'd say "Ick)

Say Derek ... he'd yell "gigick"

In 1989 when Chris returned home from his mission, while they were in the car coming home from the airport, Derek said  "You've only been home a few minutes and I'm used to you already!"

When Shane returned home from his mission in June of 1997, Shane and Derek were catching up.   Derek came downstairs laughing and told Mom and Dad, "Shane has been talking to me in Portuguese for 15 minutes, and he doesn't even realize it!"