With the end of the school year, come graduations! Quite a few graduates, like last year (2021 Graduates) although this year was definitely dominated by the Jensens.
Starting with high school. First up ... Jaiden (featured in the collage above). Wendy did a full write up on her blog. Of Jaiden's Graduation, and all the other end of year activities surrounding it. ConGRADulations to Jaiden!
Cooper was the other high school graduate this year.
ConGRADulations to Cooper.
Both of the high schools featuring a navy cap and gown.
For Derek's birthday in May 2022, Danielle arranged a great gift ... here's Derek's FB post:
I like old things. For my birthday Danielle gave me this framed page from a year 1595 Bible. When this page was printed, Shakespeare was 31 years old and one of my favorite Italian painters (Michelangelo Caravaggio) was 24. Rembrandt would be born a decade later. Christobol Colombo discovered the “New World” (aka The Bahamas) a century earlier. Did you know he didn’t actually set foot in North America?
Until this piece, the oldest “man made” piece in our home was our beloved 1883 piano. Anyone got me beat? I need photographic proof that you have something older than 1595.
Derek received several interesting responses. Chris wrote "I was going to post a picture of one of my billion year old rocks. Until I saw man-made." Jen added "I just read a book (The Personal Librarian by Marie Benedict), a historical fiction about the woman hired as librarian for J.P Morgan in the early 1900s. He was setting up a personal collection (later turned into a public library) and they were going to auctions and bidding on old bibles and other books (yours is actually older than what they were going for!) It totally made me wonder about who and when someone bought that 1595 bible, and when they took it apart and started selling it page by page, wondering how much it cost, and how much they made selling pages individually. How many people like you would love a single page, and if some pages would be worth a lot more (like I'm sure you loved one with music on!)"
Derek clarified further:
I was able to select the page that I wanted. It was almost a complete bible but other customers had purchased many of the more well-known and popular scriptures already. I leafed through the bible and found this page in Psalms. I selected it because it had text, sheet music, and also a small woodcut. The pages with intricate woodcuts were the most valuable, but this was one of the only pages I could find with music and I thought that was so cool! The text is in English (old-English). It's really cool. A fun piece.
Dad mentioned an old bible in his missionary journal, July 23, 1958. Here's the quote:
July 23 - I got up late, 6:45, studied, went out tracting with Elder Brewster. We held two cottage meetings then and Elder De Vries and I held two more in the afternoon, all first lessons. We met three of the cutest little girls I’ve ever seen, while we were tracting - Thea, Carla, Mona. - They tracted with us for a while. In the evening Elder Thompson and I tracted and I tracted and held two cottage meetings, one with three ladies, 2 young, 1 old. The young ones were interested. Then we spoke with a student and his father who didn’t believe in anything but had the biggest and oldest Bible I’ve ever seen, 1674.
When the box of old records was discovered ... I think I was most anxious to check out the "Animals" music again. Little Red Caboose was probably the song most remembered by the Westra Siblings as a whole, and Music Machine was a favorite, that I'd been lucky enough to find digitally. But "Animals" ... I'd done searches on YouTube and other music sites, general Google searches - and just hadn't been able to find any results. "Animals" is just too general a term.
So when the records resurfaced, it was fun to look over the booklet with illustrations and lyrics. When I received a record player, it was one I definitely wanted to listen to. There was one little problem ...
... the record had been dropped at some point, and the outer edge was broken in one part. This really only affected the first song, and I was able to listen to the rest. So next I was debating on how to share here on the blog. Make a video? Attempt to convert the record to digital (my record player has a USB input and seems to indicate this was a possibility). Looking at the cover in hand however, I saw the "and other things" and tried a Google search one more time, including the full phrase and there it was!
A full recording on YouTube, including the first song on each side -unlike my broken album. Easy to share here (and an MP3 copy has been saved to Dropbox, as I never know if external links will stick around). I found I remembered almost all of these songs, more so even than Music Machine. Like Music Machine, all the songs are about a quality we should strive for. Faithfulness, Diligence, Contentment, Perseverance, Loyalty, Self-Value, Thriftiness, Generosity, Boldness, Cheerfulness. Like Music Machine, the record case is actually a little booklet, with several pages featuring illustrations and lyrics. Here, there is a quote (scripture), a "story" and a "living lesson". While not LDS per se ... each song and story could be a family home evening lesson! The tunes are so cute and catchy, I found myself singing along and remembering the words some 35+ years later. When I was over to the folks, I sang several of the songs. Mom and Dad didn't remember them as much as me, but as I started singing ... they both said "I remember that one!"
I'm a Galapagos. I'm a Galapagos. I am a G-A-L-A-P-A G-olopagus.
And though I sound like some disease, I'm a tortoise if you please,
least that's what they call my mama and my papa-gus.
So here's the full album on Youtube, with timestamps for each song.
I've bolded my favorites *Ü*
00:00 Animals & Other Things 01:29 Cock-A-Doodle-Doo 03:56 It's So Great To Be A Beaver 06:30Penguins 08:53 Gorilla Walk 11:04 The Waggin' Of A Tail 13:22 Itty-Bitty Flea 14:13 I Love Animals 15:41I'm a Galapagos17:55 The Nutty Factory 19:49 Livin' That Givin' Way21:51 The King of the Jungle 24:56 Howdy-Do Kangaroo 26:54 I Love Animals (Reprise)
https://youtu.be/plhF4WHruWE
... and I took pictures of the booklet to showcase and share. I noticed that the complete lyrics aren't included (but just ask me, I probably know them!) All the songs aren't printed up either. The second "intro" song (first song on the second side) "I love animals, you love animals, we all love animals too. From chipa-munks, squirrels to each hip-pip-o-otamus, monkeys to the kangaroos" and a short final song on the first side "Itty-Bitty-Flea" (I always got a kick out of this one!)
Ping pong is first mentioned in Dad/Lamar's history. In the Grandview Circle years, he mentions playing with his friend Dick Van Wagenen. After high school, ping pong was mentioned as an Institute activity up at the University of Utah. The Havenmoor House featured a ping pong table in the basement, and many table tennis tournaments pitting grandkids against Grandpa. If you check out Dad's letter (December2021) he mentions playing ping pong a couple times.
In 2012, Kaden made a little video, with the Westra ping pong table playing a major role ...
https://youtu.be/XFSnGsgXN3k
This last week, it was an end of an era as Mom/Margie wrote in an email ...
Derek took photos of our barbecue and posted it on ksl for free, as well as 2 bookcases and the ping pong table, etc. A grandpa and his son, from Magna, came for the ping pong table and ended up taking the little billiards set too for his grandkids. As Derek helped them load things in their truck, the older man cried and said it was an answer to prayer as his wife has Alzheimer's, but she loves playing/hitting a ping pong ball back and forth.
I asked if there might be a ping pong table in the new house, and Alicia confirmed that was in the plan.
Chris's crew added a ping pong table to their home in 2021, and it's been a fun addition for them.
The Blackham's added a ping pong table back in 2011, and while use has been on and off over the years, it's been an integral addition. There have been many wild games of "around the world" and "sting pong", and in 2020&2021, Jen and Cooper would play almost every day. Sometimes Joy would join in ...
D&D sold their table ... but they still have THIS setup!
Wendy had an early ping pong entry in her journal ...
January 11, 1982: My friend, Tammy Tisdale, and I were pingpong partners in doubles for a little school tournament and we got first place!
Jensen's had an old ping pong table that came with the house when they bought it, but it wasn't in the best shape and gave out. They still have managed some ping pong adventures ... Wendy shared their 2018 Father's Day Flee video, which showcases the aforementioned "Sting Pong" (see it here https://youtu.be/10Ar5HQfCis?t=1029). They had a nice setup in their 2020 Father's Day flee as well (photo below).
Josh suffered a ping pong injury to his eye (from a flailing paddle) in 2019.
... and while not ping pong per se, Josh and Jaiden made a fun "trick shots" video with ping pong balls when they were homebound and bored during the Covid shut-down in 2020 ...
Over the years Growing Up Westra, and the later years observing interactions with grandkids, Dad/Grandpa/Lamar has become known for some specific statements ...
Calling all kids George and Henry (irrespective of gender)
Calling all kids Mr. Jones (also irrespective of gender). If a kid is doing anything remotely dangerous: "you'll break your bones Mr. Jones!"
If a kid has in fact hurt some body part "it's okay - you've got another one!
Another nickname for a child who has hurt themselves ... "Limp-along-catastrophe"
When kids were dealing with some eczema and other issues, Dad would start to sing (to the tune of "Yesterday") Leprosy, I'm not half the man I used to be, all my skin is falling off of me, oh I believe in leprosy!"
Whenever seeing a hole or grate or sewer, saying "there are Heffelumps and Woozels down there!"
Saying "No thanks, I just ate a bar of soap."
Telling all male kids/grandkids that girls were "nothing but trouble," and telling the girls the same about boys :)
“Rootie toot toot, rootie toot toot, we’re the boys from the Institute. We don’t smoke and we don’t chew and we don’t go with girls who do!!”
The words "paramecium cheese" and "flutterby" (butterfly)
Shake a Tower (take a shower) ...
Merci buckets (merci beaucoup)
Dad singing "Oh What a Beautiful Morning!" or "On Moonlight Bay"
Dad using Dutch words exclusively for "green beans" "shoes" and other things
Dad teaching us all the "sinterklaas kapoentje" song at Christmas, and what it meant
"Peas, cheese, and chocolate pudding"
Dad switched up the little rhyme to remember how many days are in each month ... his went "30 days hath September, all the rest I can't remember".
"Friday the 13th came on a Wednesday this month" ... said on random 13th of the month, non-Fridays!
"Hello, toast!" when the toast pops up (Shane's family says this now)
"Faster than a terd of hurdles"
(While moving the limbs of a baby), "Exercises, exercises!"
(to little Wendy) Pretty baby, pretty baby, how I love my pretty baby, how I love my pretty girl, pretty baby, pretty baby…”
Encouraging the young grandkids to eat bugs "they're good for you" ...
More of a MOM or general Westra-ism ... "boughten" bread
I'm sure there are many more we've missed - this post can be easily updated as needed!
It was April 2015 when Scott discovered a box of records. Probably the most memorable for all Westra kids is the Chip and Dale song "Little Red Caboose" but Music Machine is a close second, especially for Wendy and Jen. Alas, the record itself was NOT in the "box of childhood". Many years ago, the record was left too close to a heating vent on cold winter day. It warped. I remember being SO sad about it! But unlike the "Little Red Caboose" song, which I have been unable to find anywhere online, I was able to locate Music Machine out on the Interwebs. MP3s of all the songs are now in the family dropbox (in the Media/Music/Video folder. Remember Westra grandkids, we have a general login for you if you want to check out Dropbox! Contact Grandma, Chris or Jen for the login and password) and the entire album is online as well (here).
In all honesty, I don't remember ALL the songs from this album. On side one: Land Called Love, The Music Machine, Whistle Song, Smile, The String Song, Patience, Gentleness. Side two: Faith, Joy, Peace, Goodness, Love, Self-control, Kindness, Reprise.
It may be obvious from the song titles, this came from a Christian group, teaching "Fruit of the Spirit". It's a little reminiscent of the Young Women's Values (there are songs for all of them too! That would need to be another post). The main premise (as this is a story, not just random songs) is that in Agapeland, there is a ...
Music machine, music machine
Like no other gadget that you've ever seen.
Whatever you want to sing about,
Put something in and a song comes out ...
The album cover was more than just a cover. It was a little 10-page booklet with illustrations and lyrics. The "Music Machine" song (shown above) was one that we would sing over and over again. It's a melody I remember 40+ years later!
One of the other favorite songs was about Herbert the Snail, about PATIENCE ... I sang a little of this song to Landon and he said "so that's where that came from?" (Cooper and Colton didn't seem to have any recollection of my singing it to them though, I'll have to ask the other boys). The audio is fun, and Herbert's father's voice is SO low and slow!
The other favorite was about self-control ... it's the only way to go!
... as mentioned, there is a YouTube of all the audio.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CqWVr_U6EfE
Music Machine is at 4:00
Patience is at 13:00
Self-Control is at 29:00
There's even an animated episode with some of the songs (Herbert is in there, at 10:00 minutes in) This looks familiar to me, although I don't have a memory of watching it (would it have been on a VHS tape we had?) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o_D67IOdqR0
Here's a few final snapshots of the booklet in full ...
Now ... who remembers the record "Animals"???
Similar idea, songs about virtues, with an animal theme ...
Jen still sings several songs from that album!
Can't find anything online ... but we do have the record (it is chipped on the edge though).
Spring of 2016 ... Jase Jensen was named Sterling Scholar in Mathematics for his high school. He was not the first in the Westra line to achieve Sterling Scholar, nor the last, not even just within the Jensen family ... Wendy has created blog posts showcasing her Sterling Scholars (see links below).
The Westra Sibling Generation produced two Sterling Scholars ... in 1984 and 1994, Chris and Shane respectively. Christopher nabbed the position to represent Cottonwood High School in Business. He had some trips, to USU and Atlanta, Georgia, dealing with his business exploits. Shane was Sterling Scholar for Art, also for Cottonwood High (all the Westra siblings attended there). A couple of his pieces are still on display in the halls of the school (see below).
We have an ART label here on the blog, as while Shane was the only Sterling Scholar in this area, others in the family also enjoyed drawing and painting (although Wendy says the artistic gene skipped her).
Jen totally planned on being Sterling Scholar for Drama her graduation year (1989). With many productions and leading roles and a 3.9 GPA, it seemed like a lock. Then Emilie DeAzevado (you may have heard of the DeAzevado name, well known in the LDS music world) moved from California, with even more experience and stellar grades, and the nod went to her. Jen was quite crushed to miss out on this goal ... but the whole Sterling Scholar process IS a lot of work in the preparation of a portfolio, interviewing, etc., and even more competition beyond the school level. So ... she survived (and still made it through college on scholarships to graduate debt free).
I did some searches in newspaper/yearbook archives, I DID find a Shane showcase ...
He's there in the top left corner ... his quote says "This art stuff is great, but what does it have to do with the Iconoclastic controversy?" Asking Shane what his quote meant, he replied "Haha, that iconoclastic controversy quote was an inside joke that only the best of Mr. Bill’s art students would understand!"
Here's clippings from the newspaper featuring Chris and Shane and the other competitors.
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