Janika and Roomates at Snow!

Janika and Roomies at Snow College! 

Ward Talent Show

Jaiden made this picture representing our ward talent show!

Happy Birthday, Josh!

Today was Josh’s 9th Birthday and we had his birthday party after school at Blackrock Park.  I was a bit worried about the unpredictable weather but it was fine.  There were about 20 kids between all of the kids he invited and all of our own kids.  We did the water balloon launcher.  Chris’s family gave that to our kids for Christmas a couple of years ago when he had our name and we have used it at several birthday parties and it is always a big hit! 

We had cake and ice-cream and opened presents early on since a few kids told me that they had to leave early.   He got a lot of money and nice presents!   After that the kids played soccer and basketball and played on the playground and did an obstacle course.  We did have a mishap though – Mariposa fell and hit her wrist wrong and Rick ended up bringing her home early.  Turns out she got a small buckle fracture.  So we felt bad about that!  I was glad that Rick was there to help since we had so many kids and it was a little crazy! 

Josh, First Year of Soccer!!

 Josh is in the fourth grade and this was his first year of soccer (age 8-9). He did awesome!! 

Easter!!

General Conference

I was glad that Rick and the boys were able to get tickets to the Priesthood Session at General Conference tonight!

 They ran into the Hoths!

  While they were gone I took Janika shopping for mission clothes.  We decided to go the cheap route first and went to the DI.  We ran into another sister missionary looking for mission clothes too!  She got a few skirts and tops and then we went to Fashion Place Mall where she got a cute dress! 

Westra Easter Party

I was so excited that we could come up for the Westra Easter party this year!  We usually can't come because it is too far to come for just one party but since the kids had Friday and Monday off school and because Easter fell on General Conference, we decided that it would be a perfect time to come! 

After the New Haven Easter Egg hunt we watched conference and then got ready for everyone to arrive.  We ate a meal of sandwiches, chips, fruit, and cookies and then the Easter Egg hunt began.  Jen had brought an entire laundry basket filled with candy filled eggs!  The big kids hid the eggs for the younger kids.  They really took this seriously!  They wrapped some of the eggs in duct tape and threw them on the high windows.  Then the kids had to try and get them down with these long poles! 

Some of the eggs are hidden so well that they are never found -- until next year.  Jaiden found this egg that had been there from last year -- or maybe the year before that.  The candy inside was complete rotted. Gross! 

 Calder has this look on his face like, "How am I supposed to get that egg clear up there?"

 

Easter Egg Hunt

After we went to Ephraim for Janika to open up her mission call, Rick and I took the kids out to lunch at Costa Vida.  Normally we don't take the whole family out to lunch but Rick's Starving Student Card saved us by getting us three "buy one get one free" items!  Then we drove to Lindon and dropped all of the kids off with Shane and Alicia's family.  The kids were excited to spend time with their cousins!

Rick and I headed to Provo and went to the EFY Session Director Training for the evening and then picked up the kids (except for Jaiden and Janelle who slept over with Adria and Rella) and headed to Salt Lake where we were spending the night.  This morning Grandpa Westra and I took Josh and Jenna to the New Haven's Easter Egg Hunt.  They had live bunnies as well as a visit from the Easter Bunny.  Jenna was much more interested in the real bunnies. 

The hunt was nice because it was spread out through the whole neighborhood.  The houses that wanted to participate taped a bunny picture to their front door and then spread out candy or eggs with candy in them on their front lawn.  The kids had a great time running from house to house!  It spread out the fun and both kids were pleased with their candy stash!