Interpreter Christmas Party

Rick sometimes complains that all of the interpreter/Deaf get-togethers are only for the girls (Girls' Night Out, Girls' Christmas Party, Girls' Hiking Trip, Girls' Camping Trip...) So he said he wanted to host an interpreter party for the interpreters AND their spouses!! We kept this one only for the interpreters, and not the Deaf, because we knew the spouses wouldn't come if the party was all in sign language! Those who came were Kelly and Curt Bunting, Andrea and Ben Luikart, Rick and I, Shauna Evans and Cari Shakespear (they both came without their husbands and so they are pretending to be a couple in this picture, haha), and Tiffany and PC Harding. 

Rick fixed a delicious salmon dinner with potatoes and vegies. Others brought side dishes and dessert. Ben brought his own food because he hates salmon. We will have to remember to fix something else next time! We tried playing a game that Tiffany brought, but it was complicated enough that no one picked up on it very well -- partly because we were all distracted and wanting to visit. If we do a game next time we might have to choose something that doesn't require any kind of concentration, haha! Several couples stayed and visited for quite a while. It was fun to get together! 

Jenna: Madrigal Salt Lake Trip

Jenna went to Salt Lake for the Madrigal Christmas trip the past couple of days and I also had the opportunity to go as a chaperone. I am really grateful that I had the opportunity to go. I have never been on the Madrigal Salt Lake trip before and I really enjoyed it! This would be my last opportunity to go and so I am glad that Mr. Moore approached me about it. 

The Madrigals met at the high school at 3:00 to head up on a school bus. I rode up with my friend Amy Ence, the other chaperone. It was really fun to visit on the way there and back. We left a half hour after the kids did, but still caught up with up them when they stopped for dinner in Fillmore. The kids continued on to SLC where they went ice skating at the Gallivan Ice Skating Rink. It was really cold. I told Jenna that she should bring a nice coat, beanie, and gloves, but she didn't listen and only brought a hoodie, so she probably froze!  

While they went ice skating Amy and I stopped in South Jordan for dinner. Amy was meeting up with some family members and so I had her drop me off at Texas Roadhouse. I got a grilled chicken salad and it was delicious. Then we headed to the Hampton Inn in downtown Salt Lake arriving shortly before the kids. Jenna said that she and Anna stayed up and listened to a scary podcast and then had to watch a Hallmark move after that to get their mind off the podcast. So they were up until 3:00 a.m. apparently, which was definitely not a good move and left them very tired the next day.

Tuesday we had breakfast at the hotel and then we all rode on the bus to the Hartvigsen School, which is a school for special needs students. I guess Mr. Moore had ordered teddy bears for the Madrigals to pass out to all of the kids, but they didn't arrive in time, so that's too bad. But the show went well and they were able to carol to some of the classrooms after. 

Then we all headed to the State Capitol Building and took a bunch of pictures and then did a concert. The accoustics were awesome and I was able to get some good videos. Then we stopped at an area where there were lots of restaurants. Jenna, Anna came with Amy and I to Cafe Zupes. I got a yummy salad. Then we all went to Trader Joes. Who knew that Trader Joes would be such a highlight of the trip, ha ha. They carry lots of yummy gluten free food and Jenna came away with a whole bag filled with snacks. 

We then went to the Joseph Smith Building. That is such a beautiful building! The set up was kind of weird though because they were singing up on the balcony with the audience below on the first floor looking up. I stayed on the second floor and walked around to the other side where I had a more eye level view. It was a bit of a rough performance. Jenna said that it was so hot and so they all felt like they were going to pass out. 

Rick met us here for that performance since he was also in Salt Lake for some work meetings. He had come up on Sunday and then stayed with him mom in Ogden and had meetings all day. He brought his mom out to dinner for a belated birthday gift and went to visit Tanner Wittwer in Primary Children's Hospital. He became very sick a week ago and they found a brain tumor. He is only 15. It is so heartbreaking! Since Rick was going up we asked the RS presidency if they wanted to send up a care package. They put together a huge basket filled with books and fruit and treats and other items as well along with a minky blanket. When Rick arrived Tanner's parents had just learned that Tanner would require surgery. We are praying so hard for him! 

Rick had to teach a class over zoom tonight and so he planned to stop in the seminary building in Fillmore to do that. So he had to rush out right after the performance.  After the performance we all went and looked at the candy display in the Macy's windows, were which so exquisite and amazing! They have these HUGE Christmas ornaments made entirely from candy. Jenna took a little cat nap on a bench in the mall. 

We then walked over to the Church History Museum for a performance there. Jenna's feet were killing her because of her church shoes. They are typically supposed to wear black performance shoes, but several of the girls had comfortable shoes, boots, or even slippers, which were a lot more warm and comfortable for walking around so much. Their feet didn't show anyway under their dresses, in fact they all had pajama pants or other pants under their dresses too, which I thought was funny. I wish we had known they could get away with alternate shoes because she would have been a lot more comfortable. 

After the performance at the Church History Museum Jenna and Anna decided that they were more tired than hungry and so they skipped dinner and took a thirty minute nap on some couches in the building. Jenna said that she slept great and that the nap really helped. We then went to the tabernacle building for the next performance. That is such a beautiful, iconic building with great acoustics. Being there brought back a lot of memories from when I sang with the Mormon Youth Chorus as a young adult. 

Jenna said that they loved singing there because the building was so cool. After that there was time to walk around temple square, but it was really cold and so everyone headed over to the conference center, where they had their final performance. It was a busy day, but fun to follow them around and hear them sing. 

Then we headed back to the hotel for a meeting with the group, where Mr. Moore emotionally gave a sad announcement that he wouldn't be with them after this semester. All four of my girls had Mr. Moore as their director in Madrigals and we really grew to love and respect him. He retired in 2020 after a wonderful, successful career of directing Madrigals, band, and orchestra. Then when Mr. Leonard had to leave at the end of last year because of his family situation, Mr. Moore felt prompted to come back. But so much has changed in the past five years and it was a really rough transition for everyone. There were lots of differences in opinion, and drama in the group, and kids started dropping out. About ten members of the group ended up leaving, which was really unfair to everyone else. This is why the numbers are so small. It was all very unfortunate. 

As for Jenna, I wish she enjoyed Madrigals as much as her sisters did. She was in Madrigals last year with Mr. Leonard and seemed to enjoy it okay, but wasn't passionate about it. She wasn't going to do it again this year but I convinced her to audition again. I was so excited that Mr. Moore was coming back and wanted her to be able to have him as a director. But then there was conflict in the group and she really struggled with the earlier time. With Mr. Leonard they met Monday through Thursday at 7:00, with Fridays off, but with Mr. Moore it was every other day at 6:40. The previous time worked better for Jenna and she and her friends went to the temple every Friday morning since they didn't have Madrigals that day. 

Jenna is also taking lots of college classes and an AP class this year and kept both her jobs (Tuacahn and lifeguard) and so she doesn't have a lot of down time. Mr. Moore required (or very strongly encouraged) them to take Concert Choir along with Madrigals and so I signed Jenna up for Concert Choir. She was at FSY in the summer during Class Choice and so I am the one who put together her schedule. But she hated Concert Choir. She said that the only reason she survived Madrigals last year was because she had a free period right after on some of the days (not really a free period, but an online class). So she could roll out of bed and go to Madrigals and then come home and take a shower and get ready for the day. 

She said that having Madrigals and Concert Choir back to back was exhausting. So I wished that I had listened to Jenna and let her take an online class after Madrigals, like last year, and not forced her to take Concert Choir. She would have had to get special permission and learn the songs on her own, but it definitely would have been better than listening to her complain about it everyday. 

The school will be getting an new director, and I wish Jenna would continue, but she has already decided that she is not going to, which makes me so sad! I have LOVED watching my children perform through the years! I was already so sad that Jenna didn't want to be involved with the plays anymore and will miss hearing her sing with the Madrigals. 

On the upside though, Rick has decided to put together a caroling group again in conjunction with Liberty Village. Jenna only got to be a caroler one year, several years ago, and she is excited about being able to do it again. So I guess the timing is good in that way. So I WILL be able to still watch her perform, and I am excited about that! Carolers is a lot smaller, more personal, and includes acting, bells, and sign language. I think it will be a better fit for her. But I am grateful that she was able to participate in Madrigals under TWO amazing directors over the past couple of years. I am sure she has learned a lot from her experience and I look forward to seeing her perform in a different way in the future.  

Jenna and Anna Ence 

Thanksgiving Week!!

We had a great Thanksgiving week! I had the week off from work at Utah Tech and Jaiden had the week off from SUU. We went shopping for wedding dress and she narrowed it down to two dresses that she really likes! We will wait and check out some other stores. She isn't officially engaged yet, but since we know it will happen soon we wanted to set up some appointments while she was home for the break! (We did come back two months later to Bell Tower Bridal to buy the one that was her favorite!!) 

Monday night I met Tiffany Harding at Tuacahn so that could preview the musical, Elf, since we will be interpreting it in December. Tuesday Jenna had a dentist appointment and Jaiden and I went to another bridal place called Mae's bridal. This was a little rental shop in someone's house. But there wasn't a very big selection and she didn't find anything she was interested in. We stopped by a few possible venue places on the way home. 

Janika and Brandon's family arrived on Tuesday night. It was nice that they could come for so many days! Jase and Ellen's family, on the other hand, headed up north -- so they swapped places!! Ellen's brother, Danny, was getting home from his mission the day before Thanksgiving and having his Homecoming the Sunday after and so they went up for all of that!

Janelle and Bryton also came down. They stayed at his the Gustins, but came over for our Thanksgiving lunch and other activities. Jason also came down on Tuesday or Wednesday. Wednesday night we had the BIG two and a half hour interview with Jason!! The rest of the family watched a movie. It went well! We have the questions and answered documented for posterity, ha ha!  

Wednesday included a lot of baking. The girls were a huge help and Jenna made a ton of stuff. Then we had our Thanksgiving meal thursday around 1:00. Everything was delicious! 

We spent the day and evening chatting, playing games, watching movies, and just enjoying each other's company! Janelle and Bryton headed to the Gustins for their Thanksgiving dinner that night. 

Friday we went to the Mall to participate in the Light the World Giving Machines! It was the first time I had been to one. Jared and Hallie spent Thankgiving with her family, but decided to come down on Friday and so they met us at the Mall. We did the Giving Machine and then did a little shopping before heading back home! 

Jase and Ellen also went to the Giving Machine up north too! 

Saturday morning Jaiden and Jason left at 3:00 a.m. in order to drive clear to Arizona for Jason's friend's wedding!  It was a long drive, but they had a great time! 

Thanksgiving Blessing

My former missionary companion, Juliette Landsem Holdaway, now lives in Korea with her husband, who works for the military. Juliette also served her mission in Korea for a short time before serving in the ASL program in Atlanta, Georgia. She knew our son, Josh, was serving in Korea and made arrangements to pick up Josh and his companion and bring them to a nice hotel on base for a traditional American Thanksgiving feast!! It looks amazing! 

Not only that, but she had asked Josh and his companion what treats they missed from America that they weren't able to find in Korea. They surprised them with a total haul of treats!! Josh was in heaven!! Josh loves Takis and Korea doesn't have them and so he was excited to receive Takis along with everything else!! Hearing about this experience made my mama heart so happy! Thank you Holdaways for treating our missionaries!!  

Jaiden's Missionary Books!

I gave Jaiden her missionary books! I made them through Pixxibook.com. I had to split it up into two different volumes since she had so many pictures!! It was a ton of work editing the books! You actually can't edit the books directly, but since the books come from a blog (in this case, her missionary blog) I was able to edit various pages by editing the blog. So I was constantly going back and forth between the blog and the book preview until it looked close to what I wanted! It took a lot of time, but they turned out really nice! They were also really expensive -- $300.00, yikes! Thankfully Grandma Westra helped pay for them, which was a huge blessing! I hope they will be a treasured keepsake from her mission! 

Evan's Primary Program

The Sunday before Thanksgiving was Evan's primary program and so Rick, Jenna, and I went to their ward to watch. Evan did well! They had the teachers of each class come up and say a few words about their class and introduce their students. Then they had mock classes up on the stand near the sacrament table with two teachers holding a microphone and their class sitting in a half circle around them. They would ask their class questions and then have the students respond. Evan did well, especially since they accidentally put him in the wrong mock class and so he had to answer a question that he wasn't prepared for. But he handled it well and when it was his turn he answered "be nice," which was an appropriate answer for the question. 

Evan sang the songs well. The program leaders had the nursery kids come sing a song or two also and so Eli got to participate. There was a temporary hiccup when he dropped whatever it was he was holding for the song because he wanted a different one. But thankfully he recovered. The program was really cute! The one drawback was that it must not have been timed out very well and it went over by a good twenty minutes! The other ward was anxiously waiting to get in as everyone was leaving. We headed home and then Jase and Ellen and the kids came over for dinner later. 

Jenna: Sadies!!

 Jenna had a great time at Sadies!! 

Jenna was in the same group as her second cousin, Caroline Williams, so that was fun!