Les Miserables at Tuacahn!!!

Rick and I went to see Les Miserables at Tuacahn with Janika and Brandon. It was incredible!! The last time Tuacahn did Les Miserables at Tuacahn was back in 2008 when Rick and Janika were in it! You can read those posts HERE and HERE!! It was probably surreal for Janika actually watching the show insteads of being it! Jaiden and Jason ended up coming too because his work gave him some free tickets! All of Brandon's family came to see it as well. Audrey Williams babysat Everett and Callan and Jenna babysat Janika and Brandon's nieces and nephew at their condo. 

Grandma's Little Peanut

This week was the usual interpreting and so forth. I went to a parent meeting for Madrigals for a Jazz Festival at Northern Arizona University in February. It kind of sounds like caroler type music! Janika, Brandon, and Everett came to visit this weekend, so that was fun! We went to Josh's soccer game Friday night, it was freezing! We got a quick bite to eat at Rumbi's on the way home. Saturday morning I had an interpreter workshop on Body Positivity. It was interesting. Josh had activities for Sadies all day long. 

We got to play with Everett -- he had a cute little shirt on that said "Grandma's Little Peanut!" 😂 While Everett was napping Janika and Brandon and I took a tour of the traveling tabernacle. It was neat! Then I brought Jenna and Grace Christmas shopping. That night we watched Disenchanted (a sequel to Enchanted.) But Enchanted was WAY better and so this one was a disappointment. We had church today and then spent time with the family!  

Janika's Last Day of Work!

Janika finally got Covid (the week she was supposed to give birth) and had to miss the last week of her job at this school, which was sad since she didn't get to say goodbye to anyone! 

Congratulations to our College Graduates!!

So proud of all of our graduates!! Janika Jenson graduated from Utah State University with her Master of Education in Psychology! I love what Brandon posted on social media:  

"I'm so proud of my wife Janika Jenson for graduating with her Master's degree from USU! Not only did she do an amazing job getting through this program, but she finished it up while dealing with the challenges of pregnancy as well. Now only a few more weeks until she gets a new challenge to master!" 

Jase Jensen and Ellen Jensen graduated from Dixie State University -- Jase with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, and Ellen with a Bachelor of Science degree in Communication Studies with an emphasis in organization and applied leadership.

Jared Jensen also graduated with his Associate of General Studies from Dixie State University and is continuing on with his Bachelor's degree in Business Administrations. He didn't "walk" for graduation since he is just continuing on at the same school. 

We were sad that we couldn't go to Logan to attend Janika's graduation, and then Dad got the stomach flu and wasn't able to attend Jase and Ellen's either!! So that was a total bummer! At least we were able to watch Janika's through the live stream and Dad was able to watch Jase and Ellen's through the live stream also. Thank goodness for technology!! 

This first collage of Jase and Ellen and Evan below is of photos that were taken on April 20th by Ellen's sister, Lexie. They turned out SO darling!! The second collage are just some snapshots we took right after the ceremony before heading to Cafe Sabor for lunch! 

This is a bad picture on the right (and he took it before I was smiling), but I thought it was hilarious that I happened to be wearing the exact same outfit at Jase's high school graduation back in 2016 that I was at his college graduation six years later in 2022. I guess I don't update my wardrobe very often, ha ha! 

Jase's good friend, Ky Phillips, also graduated from Dixie State University with a degree in Communication Studies. He and Jase have shared graduations from elementary school, high school, and now college!

Janika's Baby Shower

We held Janika's baby shower at my mom and dad's since I figured it would be the most central location between the Westra family and Jensen family. It turned out great! We had a good turn out from both sides of the family and Janika felt very loved and supported! She got loads of nice gifts to help her start off in this new journey! Jenna was a huge help with the shower. She put together the balloon arch (we didn't have quite enough of some of the colors, but it still turned out really cute!) Jenna also made rice krispie treats and scotcheroos, both of which were delicious. She also babysat Evan the night before and also on Saturday while we went to Costco to get all of the food. I was grateful for all of her help! 

We set up a little table for the kids to decorate onesies, and they really enjoyed that! It was so fun to have all five babies on the Jensen side that were born in 2021. We tried to get a picture of them all together, but they were NOT having it! Grandma Westra had a big sack filled with soft balls and all of the babies and kids had "a ball" playing with them! Our girls LOVED playing with all of the babies! 

We served chicken salad on croissants, fruit salad, chips, a big fruit platter, brownies, rice krispie treats, scotcheroos, and swig style cookies (made by my sister, Jen. They were a big hit!) Those who attended on the Westra side were Grandma Westra, Wendy, Janika, Ellen, Jaiden, Jenna, Jen, Alicia, Rella, Adria, Danielle, Lorrie Norman, and Nelva Griffiths. Kim was out of town, but she and Chris sent over a sound machine for the new baby. On the Jensen side we had Grandma Jensen, Jodi Venable, Julie Yearsley, and her grandbaby, Vivee. Connie and her daughter, Chantel, and daughters-in-law, Nicole (Cody's wife), Morgan (Chase's wife) and all of their kids. So we had a good group! Jaiden had gone up to Provo on the bus on Friday for the Solo/Ensemble competition on Saturday. Thankfully Alicia was able to go pick her up after her solo and bring her to the baby shower with them. Jaiden and Jenna went home with them after the shower to have some cousin time Saturday night and Sunday. 

Janika Maternity Photos!!

 

Janika in Snow College Magazine -- 40 Under 40

 Way to go, Janika! 

Janika Graduation from Snow

Janika graduated from Snow with her AS today!!  Rick and I left yesterday afternoon to head for Ephraim.  We had downloaded some books on CD, but ended up just talking the entire three hours of the drive. We stopped for dinner at Sizzler and checked in to the Willow Creek Inn. We went to Janika's apartment after her date to visit and pick up the graduation tickets.

Saturday morning we at breakfast at the hotel and then went to the Activity Center for the graduation. It seemed so tiny compared to Burns Arena where Jase's high school graduation was held. It is obvious that they have a great music program there -- the orchestra and choir were awesome!  The speakers were very good too. We especially enjoyed the talk from Spencer J. Cox  and his wife Abby Palmer Cox. He is Utah's Lieutenant Governor and a graduate from Snow. He and his wife spoke together and Rick even pulled out the program and took notes.

There ceremony was a little long -- we were there an hour early and then the program lasted another two to two and a half hours. But it was nice. Snow offered a luncheon afterwards for everyone, so that is nice, considering there were over 1000 graduates and their families! We took pictures afterwards and then Rick and I went to the Manti Temple to do a session while Janika finished cleaning her apartment. She also needed to finish packing and have time to say all of her goodbyes! Rick and I haven't done a session in the Manti Temple since we were dating (Manti Mini Vac with the Canyon Club!)  I had forgotten how huge it is! It is such a beautiful temple -- one of my very favorites!

Then we took Janika and her roommate, Meagan, out to dinner at a Mexican restaurant and headed back home! It was a great way to spend my birthday (I can't believe I am 49!) 

I graduated from Snow 29 years ago, in 1988 -- during the 100 year centennial celebration!  Here is a picture of me at my graduation next to Janika's picture!

Jase's Birthday, Dicken's Festival, Janika's Release

Friday, December 2: Happy Birthday to Jase today!! I love how Janika’s mission has a Facebook page with the mission president’s wife constantly posting pictures. We can also post pictures and I usually would for my missionary’s birthday sayingm “Wish this Sister/Elder a Happy Birthday today!”  But Jase’s mission doesn’t have a FB page. I did text the one contact I have in his mission to let them know it was his birthday today (and one of his companion’s birthday today too!)  I think she already knew and said that they were coming over for dinner the night before (last night) and that she would have a cake for them.  So that is nice!

Since everyone got to bed late last night Rick had told all of the kids that they could sleep in and go late to school, but none of them wanted to – except for Jared – he was happy to miss his first class. The others didn’t want to miss any school – which means I had to get up early too. Jaiden had to leave at 6:40 a.m. to go to Student Council. I kept saying, “Now are you sure you want to go – you don’t have to!” But she wanted to. She said they were practicing in first period for her concert at the Dicken’s Festival that day. Josh wanted to go to his early morning choir practice too and Janelle didn’t want to miss any school. So much for sleeping in! Rick has prep period first period and was able to get someone to cover his second period in order to go to Janika’s release.

We went to the Stake President’s house this morning at 9:00 for Janika to get released. The spirit was really strong and it was quite a somber and emotional experience for Janika – and for us. He asked her about her mission and had her share some experiences and told her that her mission was the MTC for the rest of her life. He counseled her to continue with her scripture study (he said a lot could be done in just 15 minutes a day) and prayer (especially in the morning since most of us are in a hurry and forget morning prayers) and asked her to set an attainable goal for how many times she could attend the temple in the next 90 days. She goes back to school in 32 days and so some of that will need to be done there (if she can find a ride – she doesn’t have a car).  He said that he could tell she was a great missionary and that she carried the missionary spirit.  She cried when she was released and when he told her that she could remove her name badge and Rick and I were crying too. 

I took Janika to the Dicken’s Festival to see Jaiden’s concert.  Janika had the same choir teacher when she was Jaiden’s age and so it was fun for her to say hello. Rick met us there too and then went straight to work afterwards. We did some shopping and then I came home and took a nap!

Tonight we had a nice family dinner and then had Janika share experiences from her mission. She started going through her packed away clothes and Tori came over to help. I have a lot to do this weekend but haven’t been able to focus on anything!  Rick is going to leave at 6:30 a.m. tomorrow morning to interpret in Vegas for the day and evening. That sounds really stressful to me. Jenna has a birthday party tomorrow and I have a baptism to go to tomorrow night. Rick and I will go with Janika Sunday morning at 7:00 for her report to the High Council. Wish it weren’t so early!