Easter was April 21 this year. I think this may have been the first Westra Easter in a few years. It's hard with some families being further away, and not so many littles around. But this year, it was EARS and everything. Jen has been in charge of filling oodles of eggs in the past, but with only Derek's crew of kidlets and Integrity (Chris and Kim kidnapped her for this event), Mom/Margie said she could handle it. She'd bought lots of candy for the LRC game and had extra. I think Ani was going on a no-sugar challenge though ...
What exactly is Keaton doing to Grayson's head in the picture above?
Who knows! He's a weird kid.
In fact, don't leave your phone unattended or you just might get some surprise pictures like this ...
Some years - this set of stairs has been FULL of grandkids.
The Jensen family lives in sunny St. George, so they don't see snow as often as the rest of the Utah crew. After Christmas, the Jensen's had a cousin sleepover with Shane's crew, and they woke up to snow! Derek's girls came out and the cousins had a fun time building snow creations and doing a little sledding over in the commons area.
Jen's family made it out too ... and as Colton's December birthday almost always get's swallowed up in all the Christmas celebration, we had a little family birthday party with cake. Okay ... Jen (and Mom) really like the yummy white cake from Sam's Club, so maybe it was also an excuse to eat cake. One can't help but compare the singing and harmony with the extended Westra family to the singing when it is only the Blackham Bunch alone!
There have been pictures posted of the outside of the Havenmoor House ... and here's a peek at inside the garage. Garages can get crazy, and I've definitely seen worse. There is an extra fridge and a couple freezers. All sorts of stuff hanging from pegboard along the walls. Shelves holding all sorts of stuff, some organized in apple boxes. Look at all those racquets! That blue metal shelving unit (below) I remember from the Hermitage House. It was right outside the basement backdoor, under the deck. I remember we kept all the "newspaper logs" stacked in it (newspaper logs were papers soaked in water then rolled up and then used in the fireplace instead of wood).
In 2018, Grayson did a complete redo of the Blackham garage. He spent quite a bit of time (and money) but anyone who has ever seen it is quite impressed. Do you know who else was impressed? Grandma and Grandpa. Probably a little more Grandma ... she decided it was time that the Westra garage was reworked as well.
Here's a peek at Gray's Garage ...
Thus started a big job at the Westra home (well ... garage). A lot of things given or thrown away. Shelves emptied and repainted. Recreating some of the same look with the Gladiator shelving and wood paneling, getting a similar wheeled drawer and some nice big lockers. Crates to replace all the apple boxes, and Grayson even broke out his (up until then unused) CriCut machine to make matching labels for the crates.
... a little look at some of the changes
Some pictures Derek took while over working ...
We need some "after" shots when it was ALL done.
Grandpa doesn't spend quite as much time in his garage as Gray does, he's more known for his love of working in the yard. His pond and plants and buckets ... and holes. In fact, Grandpa has the ULTIMATE hole, a CAVE. It's under the deck. He built a nice set of stone stairs down to his cave entrance (and to the basement backdoor). The stability of the cave got to be a bit worrisome, so some time and money was spent reinforcing the walls and shoring things up.
Chris helped set up the construction, getting bids and deciding which route to take to ensure no cave collapse. After the workers came and did their job they told him " We appreciated serving you. We are here to handle any future cave projects. Keep digging." Future cave projects ;) Dad did once have dreams of having a raquetball court under the house/garage ...
Derek got a little song idea in his head ... Stairway to, instead of Heaven ... to Nowhere. He actually took the time to write the words down, and then to record it. He gave me the clips to work up into a video, and here it is ... Stairway to Nowhere!
Stairway to Nowhere
There’s a man named LaMar
And he works very hard
And he’s building the stairway to nowhere
When he gets there he knows
He can store potatoes
And hoses and junk from anywhere
Oh, oh oh oh, and he’s building the stairway to nowhere
In July 2018, Shane and Alicia were coming in to visit. Wendy's crew wanted to connect, and we managed to get most of the family together for a group gathering.
It all started with an email, and then more email exchanges ...
Alicia: I’m finally organizing our schedule for our trip! As always, there are lots of people to see and we’re trying to balance time with both sides of the family, a few close friends, and time to relax. We have two open evenings for family dinners...Sunday and Tuesday. Which one do you want (you get first pick...my family gets the other evening.) I should mention that by family dinner I mean going to Red Robin or something.
Mom: Shane & Alicia leave today and will get here about noon tomorrow. We are planning on dinner at Red Robin on Tuesday for any family that can join us. They don't usually take reservations, but I hope they will for a large group. Earlier would be easier to get that separate room, but hard for our working men. Let us now if you think you can come or definitely can't come, so we can give them an approximate number. Then we can come here after for dessert and a longer visit and so the cousins can play. Derek came at 8 this morning and will work all day to finish putting up the decorative panels on the garage wall. Thanks Derek! Grayson stopped by last night and went to Home Depot and purchased and brought home the Husky work bench we had chosen to get. He was able to get a floor model so no assembly required! So it is nice to have that taken care of! Thanks Grayson. He said he will probably stop by Mon. with some hooks, etc. to show us and ideas for us. Now we just need to finalize our cabinet choices. Jase and Janelle & her friend will be staying here tonight. Jase is picking them up in Logan, as their Stay-at-home EFY ends tonight. They stayed with Janika and Brandon this week. Then they will drive on to St. George tomorrow morning. We had a nice dinner and visit at Derek and Danielle's on Sunday and Rick and Jase were able to go there with us. They had never seen their house and Jase was a big hit with the girls, playing with them. Monday Rick & Jase went to the New Haven summer barbecue with us at the common area. Rick was able to buy a car. Jase finishes his training up here today for his new job at Deseret Federal Credit Union. Chris came last Tuesday to take Dad hiking, but Chris ended up feeling sick and awful and could hardly make it down the mountain, so he wasn't able to enjoy it. Corin's wife Kylie's birthday is today, so we can all wish her a happy birthday.
Scott: Tuesday is a state holiday so there shouldn’t be work conflicts. Amy and I will be out of town.
Derek: We should be able to join on Tuesday. We'll plan on it! Sounds fun! If we are going to Mom and Dad's house afterwards, we can bring some small fireworks (unless they are banned in your hood like they are in ours). :)
Mom: Fireworks are not banned in our area, so that would be great. Linthorsts did quite a show in the circle on the 4th, so I don't know if they will be doing more on the 24th or now.
Mom: Instead of going to Red Robin and trying to work around everyone's schedule, we will just buy a lot of Papa Murphy's pizza and have a family get-together here. You can come anytime in the afternoon or evening you want---swim if you want---have pizza when you want and have ice cream and cookies and brownies, visit, and play in the yard. You can visit with Shane and Alicia's family while they are here from California until Fri. And Wendy and her 3 girls are arriving later today until Fri.
Chris: We will bring some gluten-free boysenberries from our gluten-free boysenberry vines, and also gluten-free cinnamon French toast cookies. Sorry Wendy they will have almond flour.
... so, Wendy did NOT pay close enough attention to Chris's email and thought those Snickerdoodles looked good. They tasted good. But they didn't make her feel good! She had to go lay down (and take some Benedryl?)
There were Papa Murphy pizzas galore (although Jen forgot to grab the Cinna-wheel dessert she'd ordered with them, not set aside with the pizzas at pickup, but too much bother to take a trip back) and said brownies and ice cream... and fireworks.
Why are all the kids looking into the pond in the picture at top?
There was a snake!
Jen brought out some duck eggs for Derek to take home, but he forgot them ...
and then Mom used them up.
... this video is pre-party, as the Blackham Boys got in the car to come out.
But it's a favorite memory of the day (and month, and year ... maybe life!)
The next day, the available Westra Women DID go out to lunch ...
but did Chuck-a-Rama instead of Red Robin
Family fun and ladies lunch ... reminiscent of a year earlier, July 2017
There were some fun family times as Shane and Alicia's family came in from California, and Wendy brought some of the kids to see their cousins. After those two traveled so far, Blackhams even came all the way out from West Jordan!
First, there was a family party on Sunday, July 16. Grayson made pulled pork and it was tacos and sliders for dinner. Chris had been in the hospital for surgery on his colon/complications and barely got out (and felt well enough) to come. There don't seem to be any pictures from the party, but there's a little video of the crazy Blackham boys below.
On Tuesday, Wendy and Alicia went out to West Jordan to join Jen for Zumba.
Then the cousins met at the pool ...
Not all, but quite a few cousins!
Josh didn't want to go swimming,
but stayed and played with some classic Westra toys.
The "Days of 47" Float Preview Party was going on at the Expo Center in Sandy. It's a great way to see all the floats up close and in air-conditioned comfort. Three of the families went to that. Jen even got the older boys (Landon and Callahan) to come and join the fun. Cooper really wasn't as miserable as he looks in every photo, he was just NOT in a picture-taking mood ... and now that fact is preserved forever!
A couple of the families and Grandpa went to hike Timpanogos ...
The Westra Women who were available had a lunch date ... Red Robin, YUM!
Wendy's kids had some s'mores in the Westra backyard,
while Alicia practiced her photography skills.
As promised ... pictures and video of the crazy Blackham Boys! The left photos are from the July Sunday gathering (the cave and the jumping over the flowerbed). The jumpROPE was actually a little later, a September birthday gathering with extended family ... but again, NO photos! Only some video of five little Blackham Boys jumping rope (I snagged a couple still shots from the video). I guess everyone was having too good of a time to take out their phones/cameras for pictures.
The Blackham Boys were a little JUMPY when going to the Westra's house this summer!
The Westra kids have memories of running down the side hill at Grandma and Grandpa Norman's house, swinging around the pole at the bottom of the stairs and daring each other to go down the laundry chute ... the Westra grandkids will have memories of Grandpa's cave, jump rope, the pond , the pool and more!
Here's a little bit from Mom ...
We had an enjoyable week with Shane's family here--they arrived Fri. afternoon, July 14. Wendy and her 3 youngest came straight from their annual "Father's Day Flee" which was at Bryce Canyon this year. The cousins had so much fun together and went swimming every day but Sunday. We played games and watched shows . We had a nice family dinner here last Sunday so everyone could see each other and visit.
Shane's family left Friday about 4 and were invited to a barbecue at a friend's home, then went on to Elko to sleep over and then arrived to their place in Calif. Sat. evening.
Wendy and kids headed to Ogden Fri. afternoon to stay over a night at Grandma Jensen's, meeting Rick and Janelle & her friend there. Then Rick and Wendy and Janelle & friend were heading up to BYU-I where Rick is an EFY Session Director and the girls are attending EFY.
Janika finished 2 weeks as EFY Counselor at the Y and headed up to Ogden Sat. morning to take the 3 youngest kids back to St. George where she and Jared will tend them for the week. Janika was so tired that Wendy had her stop at our place and nap for an hour before the long drive. Janika said being an EFY Counselor is so fun. She works two weeks on and then one week off. During her off week she works a 40-hour work week doing housekeeping at a Veteran's home for Seniors. Busy girl! She has done EFY 3 weeks at BYU, Wyoming, and Atlanta, Georgia so far. A lady in our ward said she had 2 granddaughters attending EFY this past week at BYU-----I wonder if they might have been in Janika's group.
Shane is flying back here Wed. evening for business meetings at his old work place Work Front at Thanksgiving Point. He will sleep at our place 2 nights and use our truck. Then fly home Fri. for Alicia's birthday.
Easter 2015 ... EARS to you! Jen brought the eggs, and the ears (and who knows what silly sunglasses and mustaches have to do with Easter Bunny poses, but they make for fun photoshoots). There are a few April birthdays too, and Jen was craving cake ... so throw in a little birthday celebration along with Easter!
Easter was April 4th this year. The Westra celebration was Saturday, April 3rd. Wendy's family had come up earlier after a lot of excitement (Janika's mission call) ... the cousins had some extra time with Shane and Alicia's family, and extra Easter activities with Grandma and Grandpa. Dying eggs, and a New Haven Neighborhood Hunt, with REAL bunnies (both big costumed, and little live ones).
... then it was the group gathering in the Westra backyard for the annual Easter activities.
Lots of little toys, trinkets and candy in the eggs.
Big kids hide them, little ones find them.
Gather all the grandkids on the stairs for a group photo ...
And a picture of all the adults snapping away too!
... another picture tidbit from the time.
Recreating a Derek/UpsideDownBaby photo
Back in 2011 D&D had the cute picture taken with Ani.
Now to create a similar scene with baby Layla.
Random Memories//Did You Know?
Grayson jogged over halfway to get to the party. He left before the Blackham Bunch, sporting a new Fitbit Surge (he ended up not loving it, returned it). He made it about six of the 10 miles before Jen caught up in the car, and accepted a ride for the rest of the way. He'd planned ahead and brought a change of clothes, and took a quick shower.
Easter at the Westras! Easter was April 20 this year. The family party was held the day before on Saturday. Looks like we were missing Scott's family and the Jensens... but still, gotta make sure there were enough eggs for everyone. They were hidden, then ... the HUNT!
... and then the haul!
... I think a couple of the boys enjoyed the foam stickers!
We got some funny bunny pictures ...
... and in bunny fashion, there was some jumping. Jumping rope! Grayson had a new phone/camera and caught some of these cool shots. We've had some Westra jump rope before (check out Cookies and Cousins ... Ani has grown up a bit since then!)
That evening, as the Blackham's were winding down, they felt the house shake ... it was an earthquake. 3.2 in Tooele. Checking with the folks, they hadn't felt it. Foreshadowing ... everyone would feel it in 2020!
Easter 2013 ... it was early, in March this year. The Westra party was on Saturday, March 30. Jensen's couldn't make it up this year (see the Jensen blog for their Hunt and Easter), but a couple of the girls and Alicia's girls had an even earlier Easter at a Grandparent sleepover a couple weeks before. 2013 was the year Landon set up a drink bar and this classic photo of Margie/Grandma reading to all the grandkids is a classic one!
As with many group gatherings ... it started with an email:
From Mom: We all need to know what to plan on............. Chris prefers 1 p.m., no one else has expressed an opinion----------1 or 2 p.m.? Scott and Amy have a nice buffet dinner to go to and a Jazz game, so they would probably prefer early. Chris and Kim said they would bring rolls and a dessert--cake with layer of cream cheese, strawberries and glaze (kind of right?) Though just one or the other would be fine, as long as we know. I've got turkey, ham, cheese, for the rolls, and will get tomatoes and lettuce, pickles, I have olives and some tortilla chips and sour cream and onion chips. We'll just keep it simple. Ice water for a drink. Jen, if we can count on you for most of the Easter eggs, you wouldn't have to bring anything else. Just watched the weather from last night's news (Sat. night). It said 62 deg. for Sat.'s party and just a slight chance of rain. So that sounds pretty good.
Another Westra Backyard Group Gathering ...
... time for the egg hunt!
... and opening the eggs to see what's inside.
The kids always seem to enjoy the stickers and toys as well as the candy.
... I don't think it was related to anything at the Easter party, but all five Blackham Boys got the barfies, the extended Blackham family too, and then Grandpa/Lamar did too. Not to be left out, Mom slipped on some water leaking from the fridge and hurt herself, and the ipad. Looking at other emails from right around this time, it seems like other sickness was going around too (strep and/or flu). At least everyone was healthy for the family party, although Wendy had blogged about Jenna being sick for some of their Easter festivities.
Easter was on Sunday, April 8 this year. The Westra party was Saturday, April 7.
It was a slightly smaller gathering this year. Jensens didn't make it up, and Chris didn't have his boys. Callahan and Keaton got home late from a scout overnighter, so Jen, Landon and the littles came out and Gray brought the older boys when they got home. Jen tried a few new treats (Pinterest inspired) ... sprinkle rice krispie treats, M&M snaps, homemade oreos made with white cake mix (colored pastels) and an old treat (Mother Goose Popcorn, a recipe picked up in her elementary school years).
The older kids are always creative when it comes to hiding the eggs. Up high in trees and taped to windows. This year, there was a jackpot hidden in the cups on the serving table and Colton was the lucky kid who discovered it.
As we were growing up, we always had a lot of interaction with Uncle Merrill and his family. As we all got older, it was harder to have family gatherings with all the spouses, kids, etc., because it was such a big group. But today, Mom/Margie hosted a "Cookies and Cousins" party, and we had a great turnout. It was so fun to visit my cousins that I hadn't seen in a while. There were plenty of cookies, and while it was drizzling a bit outside for a good portion of the evening, that didn't deter the kids. Jen brought jump ropes, hula hoops and catch games, Dad/Lamar set up the golf shoes, and everyone stayed quite busy. There aren't many photos/video, but we caught some action in a little video ...
At the end of the evening, a huge rainbow formed across the sky ...
Easter was April 24th this year. The Westra family party was the day before, Saturday, April 23, 2011. Lots of pretty flowers all over the yard. Cooper had broken his arm just a few days before and was worried about the hunt, that he wouldn't be as capable with just one hand (and yes, it was his right-arm that he broke ... this was his second break in six months!) We told him that he could start with the "littles" group to give him a little extra head start before the other big kids came collecting.
Here's a quick clip of Ani and her first Easter egg hunt ...
Looks like Cooper did just fine finding and collecting eggs!
That broken arm didn't slow him down at all. Got a bucketful!
Scott doesn't seem to think it's fair that his egg is so little compared to Camden's big egg! While the Blackham Boys have used Easter "buckets" instead of baskets for years, looks like other families had buckets this year too.
Who knew stickers would be such a hit ... on heads! Funny faces!
You can check out the Jensen Easter 2011 in Wendy's family blog ...
Easter was April 8th this year. The party was the day before on Saturday, April 7th, 2007.
Scott had rented a cotton candy machine for a ward party earlier in the day and was brought it to the Westra Easter party. Grayson also loaded up the bicycle built for two (I swear I have memories of photos of the kids on the bike. Can't find them though.) At the party we ate, then hid the eggs and let the kids have their hunt. Scott, Shane and Derek were funny hiding them, using duct tape to stick eggs way up high. Everyone laughs at how many eggs Jen brings, but it really isn’t that many divided among all the kids (and Wendy’s family didn’t come up this year).
Some Adria additions I found after I made the first collage ;)
and a cute one of a little Rella-bunny
An egg "oops" at the Blackham house prior to the party. Colton was "helping" ...
