Join us at Johnny's

It started out as a few families attempting to get together for February birthdays. Let the emails begin ...

• Jen: We should really have a big Westra Side birthday bash, don't you think?
• Mom: Derek has invited us and Danielle's family over Sat. evening for cake and ice cream for her birthday--kind of a surprise, so far. I told him that Chris and boys would be over and we'd maybe be tending your boys. We could have D & D over to dinner the next day or something--or have them join us if we take you out Fri. night. We could take them too for her birthday.
• Derek: I think it would be fun to do a dinner Friday night -- I think three nights this weekend might be a little much (as far as the Westra bash goes) since we'd be doing something Friday, Saturday and Sunday -- but we're fine with whatever. Let me know what you want to do. But if we did Friday with Westras and Saturday with Taylors, that would work out.
• Mom: Sounds like Derek would like us all to go out to dinner together Friday night. We could still do cake and ice cream on Sun.
• Jen: Everyone could come over to our house after dinner for cake and ice cream and to sing Happy Birthday the birthday people are there ...
• Mom: Scott and Amy, Friday night Sh & A, D & D, J and G, and we are going out to dinner at 6:30 at Carinos to celebrate Danielle's birthday--our treat. Can you two join us?
• Jen: I haven't run this by my boys yet, but we have had Landon and Callahan tending for us for a while now. If SH&A wanted to come out and leave the girls here, Carinos is only a minute away ...
• Shane: That would work for us if it's okay with your boys. Rella would be in heaven...
• Mom: Scott and Amy said they can make it. We'll see everyone at Carinos in Jordan Landing at 6:30 on Friday, with ice cream and cake at Jen's afterwards. So that will be 10 of us. Jen, you know the place best. Do you want to call and see if they will take reservations for 10 for our little birthday party, so we don't have to wait, or should I do it? Shane arrived home late last night from Oklahoma City. He heads to Austin, Texas next week. We went to Grandma's last night since we are busy Fri. and Sat. again this weekend. Chris and Conner and Cayson are coming for dinner Sat. and to sleep over. 
• Mom: We will go at 6 tonight to get our name on the list, so the rest of you won't have to wait.

Johnny Carinos, yummy Italian food . Unfortunatly, this Jordan Landing location would close down in 2018. We know what Jen had ... chicken alfredo. Even without the picture proof, you should know that ... that's about the only thing on the menu that she will eat. They did have a little gluten-free menu for Scott and Dad.

After the eating, a few families headed to the Blackham home (just a minute away) for some cake ... 

Callahan's 11th birthday.

2009 Calendar Pages and Slideshow

... and the slideshow

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!