DYW Showcase

One of the responsibilities for the top five winners in the State Distinguished Young Women showcase is to return the next year to help out with the next year's showcase. I had an interpreter job this morning and another one in the afternoon, and then I grabbed Jaiden and we headed up north to Janika's house to spend the night. The next morning I brought her to the school where they were hosting the showcase (same place as last year) and then went to the Draper Temple for a session since it was only five minutes away. 

I came back later that night to watch the showcase. It was fun to watch -- I was surprised at some of the results! Jaiden's friend, Gwendolyn Dooley was on of the participants. They had a lot less girls than Jaiden's group last year -- only 17 girls as compared to 28 in Jaiden's group. Now I guess Jaiden is officially finished with her responsibilities. It was a lot of work being involved with Distinguished Young Women last year, but well worth it! 

Jaiden's write up in her letter to Janelle: 

On Friday I got up and got ready and then went to help at state! when I first got there they were doing a run through, so I just helped girls change into their various dresses or costumes throughout the show. I got to watch some of them perform and it was fun!! then we had lunch and it was such a blast getting to know all the girls, and seeing the girls from last year!!! after that we all started getting ready for the actual showcase and it was SOOO exciting!

I helped people get dressed and run through their self expression answers and stuff and being on the dressing room made me miss it Soo much!! like I wanted to go out on stage and perform haha! also they did the same fitness routine I did so I was like AHHH PTSDDDD but it was funny  the showcase ran really smooth and then I basically just had to go on stage and pass out awards and take pictures with the winners haha! it was really fun!! I was surprised by some of the winners honestly but I'm sure they will do great. 

After the showcase we went to Janika and Brandon's and ate dinner and I did some homework and then we went to bed! today we went to church and it was the primary program and it was SOO FUNNNN they let the kids write their own parts based on specific topics  and they had a Sunbeam sing a solo of I love to see the temple it was AMAZING it was so funnyyyy  she was adorable and pronounced half the words wrong lol....anyway we are just driving home right now so I should be back in cedar soon!!  And  Todd Christofferson is coming to speak to us tonight how exciting is that??? it's my first time seeing one of the apostles in person lol I'm stoked! I have three chem assignments to do by tonight which is also fun  but guess what?? it SNOWED LAST NIGHT!!! LIKE IN CEDAR!!! so I wasn't there but Emily said it was still snowing this morning and I'm SO EXCITED TO GO PLAY IN IT!! anywayyyy I hope you have a great week I love you tons!

Josh: United FC Soccer

Well, Josh just finished up another season of club soccer. They didn't do as well as last year. Last year they were undefeated and took first place. This year they lost a couple of games and tied a couple of games and ended up in third place (I think). Josh decided to continue the season by trying out for the Olympic Development Team (ODP). It was pretty expensive -- $565.00 ($65.00 for registration, $250.00 for the training sessions and uniforms, and $250.00 for the travel expenses for the regional championship tournament in Mesa, Arizona, which covers a few days. So far Josh really likes it and says it is fun being able to play with the top players from the area. I will give an update on ODP later, but for now here are a few pictures of his United team. 

 

Heading Home

Janika and Brandon arrived home from Hawaii very late Friday night and stayed over at Brandon's parent's house. Saturday morning they picked up Evan from Ellen's parent's house in order to babysit him for the day. Ellen was finally released from the hospital today since her contractions hadn't started up again. Tomorrow she will be 32 weeks and then she will be able to go to the Riverton hospital which is closer to their home when she goes into labor again. 

Josh and I played with Everett and Evan and then got ready to head back home. We picked up Jenna from the Westra's and drove the four hour drive home without incident -- although I was very tired! Rick would be arriving home from his cruise Sunday afternoon and I was looking forward to seeing him! 

Red Robin

After visiting Jase and Ellen's place we headed to Grandma and Grandpa Westra's house for a little visit and I found a bunch of photos on my phone afterwards and so apparently Jenna was doing a little photoshoot, ha ha, making memories of their home before they move. We were able to see all of the changes that Scott and Amy did fixing up the basement into a living space, and then we met up with some of the others for dinner at Red Robin! 

Jase, Ellen, and Evan

Friday, October 15: After doing baptisms at the Draper Temple we went to Chick-Fil-A with the Williams and then Josh, Jenna, Rella, and I went to go visit Jase and Evan and see their new place. We weren't able to see Ellen because she was still in the Murray hospital. She and Jase had gone to the Murray hospital last Monday (at 31 weeks) because she was having contractions. The next morning she was dilated to a six and they had given her an epidural, expecting imminent delivery. We were all very nervous about this and praying hard for her. Then a few hours the contractions slowed way down and then dilation did not continue, and so they ended up taking out the epidural and eventually moved her out of labor and delivery. So she was still in the hospital, but it was Jase's day off and so he was taking care of Evan. 

Jase gave us a tour of their new place in Herriman. Below is a picture of the house (they are in the basement apartment). It definitely has some quirks (notice the picture of the outlet -- they are all like that, ha ha), but is spacious and roomy -- 2000 square feet! They seem to like the area and ward, and the  landlords who own the house and live upstairs have a couple of young boys and so they get along well with them and have been able to trade babysitting. Jase and Ellen have enjoyed living there and are exciting to finish furnishing it when they can. They have a lot on their plate right now! 

Draper Temple

Last night Jenna stayed at Rella's house and Josh stayed with me at Janika's house. Jenna and Rella watched a movie there and Josh and I watched Thor. I tried to anyway, I kept falling asleep, even though it was only 9:30! In the morning Josh and I picked up Jenna and Rella and then headed to the Draper Temple where we were meeting the Williams. Josh baptized Jenna for her five names and then he and Bradley baptized each other and then Bradley baptized his sisters and cousin. We had brought family names (Dutch) and so they were all difficult to pronounce! I was a sweet experience feeling the peaceful spirit that was there and witnessing Josh baptizing Jenna! 

Cornbellys!!!

Since Rick was gone interpreting on a cruise over Fall Break, I decided to bring the kids on a little outing up North. Jaiden was still in school at SUU and Jared was recovering from his ACL reconstructive surgery that he had on Tuesday, so it was just me and Josh and Jenna. The night before we left I went to visit Jared and bring him some groceries, and then went to watch Josh's late soccer game. Josh and I stopped at the mailbox to get the mail after the game around 11:00 p.m. and then my car wouldn't start! After trying and trying we finally left the car there and walked home and went to bed. 

The next morning I walked over to the car and prayed that it would start. It hesitated and then thankfully it started!  I gave a prayer of thanks and then drove straight to Dixie Battery to get it checked out and sure enough it needed a new battery. I had to wait at the battery place for about an hour. It was a nuisance, but I was really glad that it went out BEFORE our trip and not during it! It took us a while to leave since we had to pack and clean the house and eat lunch, but we finally made it out the door. 

We drove four hours to Janika and Brandon's place (they were in Hawaii) and Alicia and her kids met us there and then we rode with them to Cornbellys in Lehi. Alicia's friend is a realtor and had a booth there and so we were able to get in for half price (around $13.00) each and so that was nice! Derek and Danielle met us there with their kids as well and we got a couple of pictures with them. Then the Williams, who had already spent four hours there earlier in the day, came back to meet up with us as well. Cornbellys was WAY bigger than I was expecting! There were tons of people there! It was fun though -- games, corn maze, haunted houses, animals, a giant slide, hay ride, and a really cool fireworks show! There were lots more activities that cost money, but we kept to the free stuff since we had already paid a bit to get in! 

After we left Alicia dropped off me and Josh at Janika and Brandon's and Jenna went with them to sleep over at their house. Josh and I stayed up to watch the new Thor movie. At least I tried to watch it -- I kept falling asleep though! The next morning I picked up Jenna and Rella and we headed to the Draper temple to do baptisms!