2009 Christmas Letter

Look to the PDF to enlarge. 

Father's Day 2009

I think we had everyone + this year. Quite the crew! In addition to all the people, we had TONS of pictures taken. Pretty sure Alicia had a new camera and was experimenting. Jen was into action, taking several photos right in a row, and Wendy was there with her camera.  So in addition to the annual family photo (above) and the outtakes (below) we feature wagon pulling, tramp jumping, swingball and of course, toads! These collages capture most of the activities, but there are more photos in Dropbox.

Some assorted snapshots ...

 The who knew how much fun a simple wagon could be?

 

You can see the swingball set in the background of the photos above. Here's an unobstructed view.

I believe the Blackhams brought this ... I don't know where it is now!

Trampoline time ...

... and toads!

In addition to the big family photo, there was this cute one of Scott's family

... and the Jensens.

... but where is Josh? Oops!

Family 5k for MLD

Saturday, June 6, 2009, there was a 5k race in Bountiful. Cousin Nikki (Mom/Margie's niece, daughter of her brother Merrill) and her Callahan (can you believe there are two Callahan's in the family?) were hosting a run to raise fund and awareness for MLD. Their daughter Eliza was diagnosed with Metachromatic Leukodystrophy, a rare genetic disorder that affects nerves, muscles, other organs, and behavior. 

 Here's an excerpt from Jen's Journal from the day of the race ...

We had talked about going as a family and had decided to do it, all of us. The older boys were pretty excited, I brought a scooter for Keaton to participate and keep up easily, and the two babies would be in the stroller. The two oldest were up and at it early, but I practically had to dress Colton while he was sleeping. We were out the door by about quarter to 7:00 and made it there in good time (in Bountiful). Shane and Alicia were there. I had known they were coming, but was surprised to see Chris and Corin and my dad, and Derek and Danielle. So lots of support from the Westra side, plus of course many of my cousins. Gray was pushing the stroller (I’d end up walking if I did) and he started with Keaton, while I started closer to the front with the big boys. They were off at the start and I didn’t have a chance of catching up to them. Gray caught up to me shortly, passed Keaton off to me and took off. Keaton was good, going just a little faster than me, keeping me jogging the entire time. My only stops were at a stoplight as needed for traffic, or when we came upon Landon near the end (his sprint at the start had used up all his energy, and he was sitting by the side of the road).  He took over the scooter and Keaton ran the remaining half to quarter mile. I was just under 32 minutes ... usually I’m at least 40 for three miles *Ü* so that made me happy. I felt pretty dang good. I wished I had remembered the camera!

 As I mention not having a camera - I'm not positive where the pictures came from. Maybe Alicia? Or an event photographer, with the photos shared online afterward? It was fun to see so much family and community support.

Eliza passed away July 8, 2015. You can read a little of her story here. 

Easter 2009

 In 2009, Easter was on April 12. Chris's crew, the Blackham Bunch and Shane and Alicia and their girls were the grandchildren in attendance. D&D brought their doggy. There were oodles of eggs.  Landon decided he was one of the "older" kids this year (hid eggs instead of hunting for them). Cooper's bucket was overflowing, he couldn't fit any more in it! After the hunt, there was the opening of the eggs and a lot of visiting and eating in the Westra backyard. Kaden had his wrist in a splint ... in just a few years (Easter2011) Cooper would have to collect his Easter eggs with a broken arm in a cast.

I see Alicia with a camera taking pictures ... are there more photos from the day out there?

Here's a little "live" look ...

2008 Christmas Letter - Real and Fake

There was the annual Christmas letter ... but Derek also made up a spoof (below)

 ... and the silly one!

Father's Day 2008

Rex and Zada ... A Lasting Marriage

As we were organizing and labeling pictures we came across the photo in the upper left. The Manti Temple. Mom thought it was Rex and Zada's wedding day but wasn't sure. We asked around and cousin Nikki wrote "This was in an album I scanned years ago with their wedding picture. I’m almost positive it’s Rex and Zada’s wedding day. I love it because those stairs are no longer there. I remember Grandma telling me it was a very low-key and small event. She said Rex’s dad drove them to the Temple and there were very few in attendance. I believe they had a little celebration with a few friends after, but not a big wedding like we have today."  The other pictures may also not be of the wedding day, but with the professional shots (likely shortly before) and with Rex's dad (their wedding day was his birthday) and how dressed up they are, it's a good guess that it is. 

Mom noted that early on, Grandma Zada had actually been Zadia on some documentation. 

I had never seen that, or never noticed, but sure enough ... if you look closely at the certificate above!

This is what Grandpa Rex wrote in his history ... 

"In 1937, I got a job as a bookkeeper and parts manager for a Chevrolet garage that opened in town. After a few months, I purchased my first car. It was a new 1937 2-door sedan and was I proud. Up until that time it had been necessary to wash the truck, after getting it unloaded, in order to go out on a date. During this time, I met a girl I was interested in by the name of Zada Howell. I started dating her and finally asked her to dance. She took me and said the answer was yes. Needless to say, we arrived at the dance just as it was letting out. We decided to get married on April 13, 1938, in the Manti Temple."

Grandma Zada recounted ...

"Rex always kids me about proposing to him since I said "yes" on Girl's Day. In a month or two I had a pretty diamond ring on my third finger. We hoped to be married on my birthday but the Temple was closed for Conference, so we waited a week and got married in the Manti Temple on Dad Norman's birthday. This was April 13, 1938. Daddy Howell was having cancer problems by this time and Mother had spent a lot of time in Salt Lake with him... Dad couldn't go to the Temple with us but Mother went and we had a beautiful sealing. Due to Dad's illness a big wedding was out of the question; however, Miriam and Leota gave me a shower and Eva Cox had a wedding party for us."

Rick and Wendy did some interviews with Grandma and Grandpa so you can hear a little about their story in their own words!  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b7RBNwtkP2U&t=61s

Golden Wedding Anniversary ~ 50 Years

(check out Mom&Dad's Golden Anniversary too)

... and 20 more. 70 years!