Jaiden's Senior Pictures

Our friend, Melissa Julien, took Jaiden's Senior pictures at Tonaquint Park. She took about 100 photos and they turned out SOOOO pretty!!! Here are a few!!  

The SpongeBob Musical

We absolutely LOVED the musical this year! It was SO much fun for Jaiden to be involved in and for us to watch and cheer her on. But we didn't feel that way at first! When Jaiden found out that the musical her Senior year would be The SpongeBob Musical, she was NOT happy, and neither were we. We were so disappointed in the choice. The musical had been cancelled last year due to Covid and this would be her last chance to be involved in the school musical. And SpongeBob?? Why?? We had never even seen an episode of SpongeBob before. Our children claim that we didn't even allow them to watch SpongeBob as a kid. I am not sure if that is entirely true since I can't ever remember it ever coming across our TV screen in the first place. 

Anyway, I bought the digital Broadway version of The SpongeBob Musical on Amazon Prime and Jaiden and Emily and I watched it. the girls were bummed because almost of all of the lead parts were for males. Jaiden didn't want to be Sandy or Pearl and couldn't see a part that really fit her. After some deliberation she finally decided to just go for it and audition for SpongeBob. She had been working on a song with her voice teacher for a while and her audition went really well. A few days later the cast list was posted and Jaiden made the part of SpongeBob!! She was very excited! I was too, but I was also nervous. Would she even be able to hit the notes? After all, they were written for a tenor and she was a first Soprano. It was a challenge for sure, but she did it and did it well! 

After becoming familiar with the music I absolutely loved it! The songs are so fun and catchy. I felt like I had them stuck in my head ALL of the time, ha ha! I did her hair for every performance, and for two dress rehearsals and it took a good hour every time! She did it for the first dress rehearsal because I was working, but it didn't turn out very well, which is too bad since that is when they were taking all of the school pictures. But I came to the Matinee and took a bunch more pictures which I shared with the cast later. 

One time Jaiden called me in a panic because their director said that they were filming the show during their rehearsal, which was right after school, and so they needed their hair and makeup done. So I ended up going to the school and doing her hair during one of her classes, ha ha! I am glad that Jaiden didn't have an issue with her mom joining her for school, ha ha! And thankfully it was a chill class and the  teacher was totally cool about it! I went to every single performance of the show -- even the two matinees -- and loved it every single time! Jaiden did such a great job and it was so fun to watch her! The other cast members did great too and they all looked like they were having a great time! So it ended up being a fantastic choice! Here is a video of one of the songs from the show! (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fp_Tsb-s1xI)

   

Since her show fell on the same weekend as Janelle's missionary farewell, I thought it would be fun to see if any of the extended family wanted to come down! Alicia's family decided to come down and said that they would be renting an air bnb if anyone wanted to join them. Then Grandma Westra said that she would pay for the air bnb and food if Alicia was willing to put it all together! So we ended up with Shane and Alicia's family, Derek and Danielle's family, Chris and Kim's family, and Grandma and Grandpa Westra. It was so fun! Everyone from our family came out also. Jared came on a different night (I forgot to get a picture) and everyone else came on Saturday. Fun times!! 

 

Janelle Missionary Farewell and Setting Apart

Janelle had her missionary farewell today! When I found out (a few days ago) that there was no musical number planned we hurried and threw one together. I found a pretty arrangement of "I'll Go Where You Want Me To Go" and we asked a few of Janelle and Jaiden's friends to sing it (Clay McFadden, Jaiden, Emily Williams, Alex Merdes, and Trina Lang). They didn't have much time to practice, but it still sounded nice. Janelle had worked hard on her talk and did a great job. We had a lot of family who came to support her (Grandma and Grandpa Westra, Chris and Kim and Camden and Cayson, Shane and Alicia's family, Derek and Danielle's family, Janika and Brandon, Jase and Ellen, Jared, Jaiden, Josh, Jenna, and of course me and Rick)! She also had LOTS of friends who came to support her! (They took a picture at the church, but I can't find it, so I will have to add it later).

We had a little luncheon at our house afterwards for our immediate family and also for our family members who were in town and for Janelle's friends. I also invited a few of our friends (the Williams, Phillips, Wildes, and Amy Ences family). We had a variety of soups (taco, white chicken chili, vegetable, broccoli cheese and potato) and desserts. I wish I had thought to get a picture of Janelle with Grandma and Grandpa Westra! Rick and I had talked about doing a poster for the door (as shown below) and Rick was about to order one online but thought that it would be nicer (and cheaper) to make one. So her enlisted Brandon's help and Brandon made the sign and Rick got it printed. It turned out really nice! 

Sunday night Janelle got set apart at the church. We had all of our immediate family members (except for Janika and Brandon who had already headed back to Pleasant Grove) and Grandma and Grandpa Westra were also able to come since they were not going home until the next morning. President Nadauld had everyone share some thoughts and advice for Janelle (so that was emotional!) and then he set her apart. Her blessing was SO incredible and powerful and she was given some amazing blessings!!! 

All Abilities Park

A bunch of family came down for Jaiden's play and Janelle's missionary farewell. Grandma and Grandpa Westra stayed at a condo with Shane and Alicia's family and Derek and Danielle's family. Chris and Kim came down with Camden and Cayson and stayed at another condo nearby. Jenna stayed overnight at the condo also. Today we arranged for everyone to meet at the Thunder Junction (All Abilities Park) so that the cousins could play and the adults could visit! We had a fun time!! After the park some of the cousins went to the condo to go swimming. Later we met back up at our house for a pizza dinner and then we all went to see Jaiden perform in The SpongeBob Musical!! Jaiden did a great job in the show and we were grateful for all of the family support! After the show Jaiden, Janelle, and Adria went to Emily William's house for Emily's surprise birthday party!! (See last picture)

Emily William's Surprise Birthday Party!! 

Youth Conference: Bryce Canyon

 Jenna, Josh, and Jaiden all went to Youth Conference at Bryce Canyon this weekend! 

Eva Conover, Emily Williams, and Jaiden Jensen

Janelle -- Missionary Photoshoot

Our good friend, Melissa Julien, did a missionary photoshoot for Janelle this afternoon. We got some good ones!! 

Janelle: Candy Bar Poster

Janelle's manager at work made her this darling candy bar poster! That was so sweet of her!! She also got her passport in the mail today!! And we tended Evan tonight -- here is a cute picture of a sleepy baby with a sleepy SpongeBob!