EFY

My mom is often praying to know what she can do to help her children and grand children in ways that will strengthen them.  One such answer to prayer was EFY.  Grandma and Grandpa Westra generously offered to cover the cost for each of their grand children between the ages of 14 to 18 to attend a stay-at-home session of EFY this year.  They also offered up their home for their grand-kids to sleep over throughout the EFY week,  provided rides to and from EFY each day, provided a nice breakfast each morning, and food and snacks in the evening before bed.  

We were very grateful for such a generous offer, especially since we had a difficult year financially this past year and might not have been able to send our kids to EFY this year.  This week (June 24-28) my mom and dad hosted Janika and Jase and their cousins Corin and Seth for an EFY session held at Salt Lake Community College.  Janika also brought one of her friends, Nicole Heinrich.  They all had a wonderful time!  The kids felt the spirit, met new friends, got better acquainted with their cousins, and learned wonderful lessons.  This was Janika's fourth time at EFY.  This was also the first time she attended a session anywhere other than BYU and the first time at a stay-at-home session. She participated in the variety show with a song she performed a few years ago ("Modesty").    

Jase accidentally forgot his camera on the last day which is the day when everyone takes most of their pictures.  So I snagged two group pictures (at the end of this post) that he was tagged in on facebook.  Rick drove to Salt Lake in order to pick up the kids from EFY Friday night and drove them back home to St. George, arriving around 2:30 a.m.  He wanted to make it back for our workshop on "Theatrical Interpreting."  Janika also had a job interview Saturday morning.  It wasn't long before Janika's cell phone was filled with texts from friends.  A boy asked her for a date that night and suggested a movie.  Janika said, "Why don't we go and do service instead?"  The next day she gave an awesome FHE sharing one of the lessons she had learned at EFY! 

Usually Rick and I session direct at EFY the same week our kids are attending.  It really helped to be able to feel the spirit and be participating in the same events and lessons that our teenagers were. We were able to ask them specific questions about their experiences and understand exactly what they were talking about.  This year Rick and I decided to take a year off from EFY and we REALLY missed it!  I really missed the Session Director training that we usually attend each year.  I missed Rick's excitement that he gets when he is focused on preparing EFY talks and lessons.  I missed the bonding experience that happens every year as we participate in such a spiritually intense week together.  I missed being so connected with the experience our kids were having at the same time we were.  Hopefully taking off this year doesn't kick us out of the rotation because we really want to do EFY again next year!!      

 

Las Vegas and Mom Vacation

I love summer and the slower pace it brings -- sleeping in, swimming in the mornings for exercise, playing with the kids in the pool, having extra help around the house, having older kids around to help with meals and keeping an eye on the younger kids, numerous friends over which help keep our kids entertained and happy, ice cream and movie parties and so on.

While I love it, it can also be overwhelming to have constant noise and a houseful of kids from the minute I wake up to the minute I go to bed at night.  I had told Rick that I would LOVE a little time to myself some time this summer and so he made it happen!  He planned a trip with the kids to Las Vegas and left me home alone for two whole days!  It was great!  He invited his sister, Gerilyn, to come along.  Janika and Jase were up at my mom's for EFY for the week and so Rick and Gerilyn brought the five youngest. 

They headed out Tuesday morning and went to Burger King because they were there before check in time.  They stayed at a hotel called Cancun Resort.  They said that it was really nice -- off the strip -- and there were NO casinos there!  They had nice swimming pools, a water slide, a cave, and a pyramid in the pool.

There was also an arcade with ping pong and air hockey.  The hotel had a kitchen and so they bought a bunch of yummy food and fixed it there.  The kids enjoyed cartoon network and playing games.  The hotel also offered different activities for the kids.  They had a great time and told me all about it when they got home! 

 

 

While they were gone I enjoyed the QUIET house!  I worked a little, had a couple of interpreting appointments, did some journal writing, slept, swam, and worked on the blog book I am making for one of my kids.  I loved the quiet time but I was also ready for my kids to come home and excitedly tell me all about their adventure!

I also missed Rick -- especially since he came home, dropped off the kids and then headed up North with Gerilyn for some obligations he had up there that weekend.  So I was sad that I barely got to see him all week!  It was SO good to finally spend some time with him on Saturday when he got home!  I love the chaos (in limited amounts) and I love the quiet (in limited amounts)!!!

Adult Problem or Kid Problem?

 (I am not sure who typed this up, but it sounds like it was perhaps Grandpa Westra!) 

    Is this an Adult Problem or a Kid Problem?

This story is about Janika, age 17, Josh age 7, and Jenna age 4. 

Janika was tending her younger siblings when Jenna came into the room screaming something about an altercation with Josh. 

Janika looked up from her texting and calmly and softly replied: “Jenna, is this an adult problem or a kid problem?”  Jenna replied, “This is a kid problem”. 

Janika then told Jenna to go back to Josh and explain to him that this is a kid problem.  Jenna ran off.  We can only assume that Jenna explained the situation to Josh, and they decided to work it out at the kid level without getting an adult involved. 

We must again assume that the groundwork for this happy resolution was prepared with some previous lessons from adults to children, perhaps in one or multiple Family Home Evenings.  There it was likely explained that it was much better for the kids if kid problems were resolved by kids and not by adults.

 

Roses

Roses from my hubby "Just Because."  Thanks, Honey! 

Happy Father's Day!!

Jaiden, Janelle, and Janika slept over at Shane and Alicia's and so they aren't in these pictures, but here are my handsome men!  Rick is wearing the fancy tie that Josh decorated for him for Father's Day!  Jenna didn't want to cooperate for a picture, but we tried!

We enjoyed church with my mom and dad and then headed over to Scott and Amy's for the Father's Day BBQ!  Rick and the kids headed out right after dinner in order to get back in time for Jared to leave for Scout Camp at 6:30 the next morning.  I stayed an extra day with Jaiden and Janelle.  My mom and I did water aerobics in her little pool and then went out to lunch with my sister, Jeni Blackham, while Grandpa took the girls swimming.  Later that night I took the two girls swimming again. The next morning we headed back to St. George in our "new" car that we bought from my mom and dad (Gold Honda CRV)!  It drove great -- I love it!  

Happy Father's Day Rick!!

Janika made this darling collage for Rick for Father's Day...

And then I had to switch Jenna's picture so that the "E" was even with the rest of the letters...

Happy Father's Day Rick!!

Since Janika was taking pictures for her cute collage, I tried making this little sign for Rick.  I didn't really know what I was doing, but I tried!  Rick is such a wonderful father to our children.  I am so grateful for him!!

Temple Sealing and Birthday Party!

We were able to go on a quick trip to Salt Lake to see Chris and Kim get sealed in the Mount Timpanogos Temple on their first Anniversary (June 15th)!  My sister-in-law, Alicia Westra, offered to have Janelle and Jaiden sleep over Friday and Saturday night so that they could spend time with their cousins, Adria and Rella.  Saturday we were to bring our girls to our niece, Ani Westra's Princess Birthday party.  She turned three yesterday!  Danielle went all out on it!  We were excited to see Derek and Danielle's beautiful new home and share in Ani's special day!

 My mom and I went out to dinner at the Blue Lemon and then we met Rick and my Dad and the others at the Timpanogos Temple.  It was a beautiful ceremony.  I will see if I can get some temple pictures from Alicia to post later.  Kim and Chris invited everyone over to their house afterwards for treats.  It was a beautiful evening and the kids had a great time playing on their playground. 

June 3-9

Monday 3:  Jared and Janelle got their braces on today!

Wednesday 5:  Janelle got two teeth pulled.  Rick and Janika and Jase left for Youth Conference in Salt Lake City.  Over the next few days the Youth Conference group went to the visitor's center, to an organ recital, to the movie "Ephraim's Rescue," "Legacy," Hogle Zoo...  Rick was able to go visit with some friends while he was up there.  

 

Janelle got two teeth pulled.  This has been a tough week for her!  Tonight Jenna went to Clarissa William's birthday party with their family at Pirate Cove.  She has been talking about Pirate Cove ever since and asking if we can go there for her birthday!  

Thursday 6: Josh and Jaiden went to Mari Posa Purdy's "Garden Birthday Party."  They made these cute Garden homes and Mari ordered cute little gnomes and fairies to go with them. They ended up inviting Janelle and Jenna over too.  The kids had a great time except Jenna started feeling sick and feverish and came home and went to sleep for three hours!

 

 Friday 7:  After the Youth Conference dance in Salt Lake Rick drove a group of youth home early to be home for Saturday commitments.  He had driven up there so that Janika would have a way back for her  "Princess Tea" that was part of the upcoming Washington County Fair.  There were some other girls who were involved as well and so they came back early too.  Jase decided he might as well go early with them.  So besides Rick Jase was the only boy with 8 pretty girls!  They arrived home around 3:00 a.m.!!  I was relieved that they all made it back safely!

Saturday 8:  Janika went to her Princess Tea.  She and her girls are supposed to be in charge of making a float for the Washington County Parade -- yikes!  They also have different shifts where they are to come and work and participate at the Fair.  

 Emily Bryan and Jaquel Bozarth:  Ivins Royalty

 Sunday 9:  Janika was called to be on the Seminary Council for Tuacahn.  She was set apart today after church.  Congratulations, Janika!  Rick ended up getting sick (a bad cold has been going through our family) and missing church.  But he was still able to go to her setting apart.

BRACES!!

Jared and Janelle just got braces today!!!  We were at the orthodontist from 9:00 to 12:30.  Both kids were so sore!  Jared has to wear a metal jaw expander that is glued to his teeth (like a permanent retainer) for three months.  He has to turn it with a "key" three times a week.  Janelle is scheduled to get two teeth pulled on Wednesday.  They will both have braces for the next two years!