Cookies&Cousins (and Cakes&Coins!)

Cookies and Cousins ... and cakes and coins. Mom/Margie was trying to host monthly family gatherings, and for February, we were celebrating some birthdays too. Mckenna, Alyssa and Callahan. So in addition to lots of cookies, there was cake. And coins. The "penny plunge" where the birthday kids could attempt to grab as many pennies as they could from one container and carry them to another.

Here's Jen's Journal entry ... "Made some cookie-press cookies for the “Cookies and Cousins”. At 6:00, we went out to my parents, we were actually the first ones there. Mom set up a “penny plunge” for the birthday kids (McKenna, Alyssa and Callahan) to see how many pennies they could transfer from one bowl to the next in 30 seconds. Shane and Alicia brought sugar cookie hearts for the kids to decorate. Landon ended up going home with Scott and Amy, as his sleep overs with Kellen are one of the highlights of his off-track time."

Later in the year (in August) Grandma and Grandpa would come out to the Blackham house for more birthdays (Cooper and Keaton) in the Fall. They brought the pennies and the bowls. This Penny Plunge was caught on video camera.

https://youtu.be/CtTQ9jItlrY

2006 Christmas Letter

The original 2006 PDF is available in Dropbox.

Birthday Limo and Family Dinner

While we didn't get the whole Westra clan together for Jen's 36th birthday, Mom/Dad and the younger brothers made it for dinner ... and a ride there in a limo! Grayson arranged it all as a surprise. Here's Jen's journal entry from the day:

November 10 (Friday) Happy birthday to me.  Gray sent an e-card a two separate flower arrangements.  VT dropped off a gift, RS dropped off a card, Mom called. Then a third arrangement was delivered (3x12=36). The babysitter showed up at 6:00 as scheduled ... but no Grayson. Not a huge surprise, I knew he was planning something and it was taking longer then anticipated. Olivia had let the cat out of the bag a little, calling to wish me a happy birthday saying sorry she couldn’t come tonight (letting me know that it was a group gathering). Gray finally showed up around 7:00, with a huge limousine.  Inside were Clay and Courtney, my parents, Shane, Alicia and baby Rella, and Derek and Danielle. We drove to Ruby River for dinner, then dropped everyone off. Gray wasn’t overly impressed with the limo service, the ride was a bit jerky (Gray started to get a little carsick), one of the TVs didn’t work, it had a “Vegas” smell, and the driver didn’t know much about the controls (to heat or cool things down). Gray also gave me a new video-recorder as a gift. 

 

Father's Day 2006

Scott and Amy moved into their new home on Old English Road in Draper in February of 2005. They didn't host a Father's Day gathering that first year ... but every year after, the Westra Clan would come each June. This back patio would become a classic backdrop for the annual family photo. 

Looks like Derek and Danielle were at the party (picture below) but must have left before we took the group picture. The new babies are Cayson and Josh, with Rella on the way! Colton was about six months old. I don't remember Wendy's hair being this dark ever (WHO is that in the photo, I had to look twice!)

Trampoline Time!

Easter 2006

Easter in the Westra backyard.  We were missing Jensens this year ... Wendy was pregnant with Josh, and she had him the very next day! Probably good they didn't come up for the Easter party ;) (Colton had been born in Dec. Cayson and Rella were on the way ... this was the most "prolific" grandkid time frame!)  And Callahan is in jammies ... any clue as to why? That's right, he fell into the pond. Jen was lucky she at least had some pajamas on hand in the car.

... and they're off to find the eggs!

As per usual ... Grandpa had taken the littles on a walk away, while the eggs were hidden. The littlest get to start first, to get the "easy" eggs before the bigger kids are let loose. There are always plenty of plastic eggs on the ground, in trees, hidden in silly spots (like the gas cap flap of the car) and HIGH up on the window ledges over the front door.

Here's a little old video from the day. 

(sorry, it's a little Blackham heavy, that is who was holding the camera ...)

2005 Christmas Letter

The original 2005 PDF is available in Dropbox.

Derek in Concert

 Derek and Blake performing at the Tahitian Noni

Wendy and Jen were very involved in music throughout high school and college ... but it was Derek who ended up playing at a couple of concerts. After finding several pictures in Dropbox, I reached out to Derek and asked if he'd share his memories ...

When I was at BYU, music was a big part of my life. My high-school friend and college roommate Blake Stillman and I had a little band and played lots of small gigs in Provo (a couple restaurants, Velour, the Tahitian Noni building, etc.) I had recorded a little album of guitar, piano and vocal music (I actually released it online under the name Three Three Three (our apartment number at BYU). You can find it here. :) I didn't use my name when I published these since I'm sort of embarrassed about college-age songs.

https://music.amazon.com/artists/B08NSR1R5F/three-three-three

 

In 2005, I was working at Zions Bank  (I had a huge crush on Danielle but we weren't dating - just working together). I had recorded a little demo CD and had sent it to some of the locals (Jon Schmidt, Peter Breinholt, Ryan Shupe, etc.) I heard back from several of them which I now realize was super nice of them to consider me. Peter and Ryan both pulled me on stage to sing with them in different shows. Jon Schmidt was starting to get really popular and I was thrilled when he called me and asked if I could open for his Thanksgiving Point show (which was his biggest show at the time.) He asked if I could do five songs. Blake and I practiced hard and were ready to do three originals and two covers. I printed and hung posters at the bank and in our apartment complex and secretly really hoped that Danielle would come.

Our student ward at BYU bought so many tickets that I think Jon Schmidt was really pleased with his choice of opener when he saw the crowd we brought with us. Blake's parents and my parents came to support which was meaningful since I can't remember Mom coming to much of my stuff growing up (Dad always came to my soccer games and tennis matches, but it was special that Mom made it!) That night was SO cold! It was in September 10, 2005 and it was absolutely frigid. Blake's Dad brought some hand-warmers and Blake and I needed them so much so our fingers didn't freeze (he played piano and drums and I played guitar). It was a full-house with hundreds of people there. It's fun because when I've posted about this on FB, people I know now, but didn't know then will say "Oh my gosh! I was there! I totally remember you singing!"

Danielle and her friend did come to the concert. :) When they got there and parked, I was already playing and she said "oh no! He's already on stage, I can hear him!" They ended up following the sound and were able to get into the show without paying somehow. Haha. I've teased her that my concert was the only thing she has ever stolen! When I got off the stage and Jon Schmidt started playing, Danielle came up and gave me a hug and told me good job. We started dating six months later!

I still play music, but I don't sing anymore. I was never a good singer and I always knew that, but since I wrote the songs, I had to sing them! Now, I just do piano albums. I've released 4 and I'm working on the 5th now. Our girls like to listen to "Daddy Music" at bedtime on their Alexa, so I've tried to record all my piano music as slow, lullaby style music.

Derek's Piano covers will need to be another blog post with the "music" label, but here is a little peek. Such creative covers (and I mean the visual, although the piano pieces are too) and love how he incorporates their piano into each one!

Derek's Instagram handle IS @DRockandRoll (https://www.instagram.com/drockandroll/) which is appropriate for this music part of his life!

Back to September 10, 2005 ... Mom's had mentioned the concert in one of her emails:

"We've only been to one concert in our life---Peter Breinholt (sp?) at the Sandy Amphitheater with Derek back in his dating days before Danielle. Oh, and I guess the Jon Schmidt one at Thanksgiving Point when Derek and his friend Blake, opened for him, when he just started dating Danielle. It was Sept. and we about froze to death."

Ah, musical memories ... and cold fingers!